tile levelling clips. Has anyone used them?

[iaith]

I've seen on youtube , clips for helping to reduce lipage on large format tiling i.e. Raimondi, tuscan, lash clips etc.
They look like a great idea . I wondered if anyone out there had used them, and whether they're as good as they look.

Cheers Mark

 

[jctilingservices]

sorry mate, i for 1 havent used them before

 

[Richard C]

Sorry, I haven’t used them either. No offence M8 but it begs the question that if you need to use an “aid” to prevent lippage then maybe you shouldn’t be laying large format tiles in the first place. The secret is to get the tile base very flat but, even then, it can be a challenge to the inexperienced; what size are your tiles? is it wall or floor?

 

[iaith]

Hi Richard. I've been laying tiles for years, but the more tiles I lay the more critical I become of my own standards. I strive to achieve perfection, but as anyone knows, wanting perfection and achieving it are totally different things. I'm all for new ideas to help create a better finish, after seeing these products being used on youtube I wondered whether they are the real deal or not.
Cheers Mark

 

[iaith]

Sorry to drag this old post back , but for anyone interested , I've now tried these clips and my advice to anyone is, don't bother.
Basically they work but they're so tricky to use and they force you to change your technique, I ended up making one hell of a mess and the clips also have a nasty habit of breaking when you don't want them to. I'm not sure who they're designed for, but I suspect the were the idea of some big boss who wanted to de-skill the job in order to get cheap labour.
So there you have it. I've wasted my money so you don't have to.

 

[1john]

I noticed these clips about, the first concern i had was that they were going to lift a tile away from the addy and create an unsupported void, surely the last thing anyone wants on a large format floor tile!!

 

[iaith]

The tiles I used were 450x450. To be fair the clip makers say that the floor must be flat. and they're not designed to solve uneven floor problems. I've still got a few left over, so if I ever get to lay those really large format shiny tiles, I may well try the clips again.

 

[1john]

He he, show me a flat floor!! Surely if the floor was flat then the clips wouldnt be required?

 

[lifestiles1]

I always laugh when i see the comment that a real tiler doesn't need these aids!! I sell 3 different types and after using them every tiler admits that they wont lay 600X600 tiles without them anymore. The reasons being not lack of skill but the reduction of time spent on the job. Yes a good tiler can lay these tiles without them but if he can save 2 days labour per job what is that worth? You just cant get it wrong with them so why not use them. If the tiles slump in the adhesive over night it is an expensive excercise and a huge waste of time digging them out and re buttering them. Plus in the process the possible damage to the surrounding tiles. Using these systems will provide you with a dead flat floor with zero lippage and a 1.5mm grout joint. And the time saving added in who doesnt want that?

 

[lifestiles1]

When using the clips you must use a 15mm trowel. Out of the 100's of jobs we have laid we have not had one failure with voids under the tile and they are totally bedded in the adhesive when inspected.

 

[Richard C]

Glad you like a laugh but what’s the point in dragging up a 10 month old thread on your first post; or is it just an excuse to plug your tile shop!

Despite what you say, none of the pro tilers I know in the UK would ever need or use them. Perhaps things are different in Aussy & your tilers need more help/training, especially if their tiles slump overnight & they have to dig them up again! If that’s happening then something is seriously wrong with either the adhesive mix, the prep, methods used or the skill of the tiler & possibly all four. Neither can I see how using them & creating an additional process could possibly save on labour time let alone 2 days; many tiling jobs I do will be fully completed in that time!

Do your sell many of them TPT?

 

[tpt]

not one . we also do a lot of commercial fitting (about 7000m2 last month) for some well known chains, all using large format porcelain. If i thought these things would save my lads that amount of time i'd be shouting about them.

That said it could just be that they havent really caught on over here.

 

[lifestiles1]

Sorry I think you are looking for something I have not offered.
I am impressed that you can lay a 100M2 plus of 600X600 porcelain in 2 days do you want a job? No my tilers do not lack skill or the proper adhesives. It is simply a matter of time saving equaling better profit.
There are numerous different types of the systems. Some work some dont. I am simply stating we find we can do the same quality work faster with them than without them. Slump happens it is rare but it happens.
I am so pleased for you that you dont ever have it occur. Our floors here are at best average so anything that makes it easier is welcome these systems certainely do that. Funnily i believe the English invented these.
But hey they invented many things then did not capatalise on their knowledge. Anyway I restarted this link as I read the inquiry and having used these products for over a year have some knowledge of what they are like. The tilers here took some time to try them but once they did many have found them benificial and some have not. All comes down to choice I suppose.

 

[Richard C]

Sorry I think you are looking for something I have not offered. I am impressed that you can lay a 100M2 plus of 600X600 porcelain in 2 days do you want a job?

Bit far for me to travel m8 & your quoting something I never said;

many tiling jobs I do will be fully completed in that time!

All of the work I do is domestic (by choice) so won’t be anywhere near that size but if the floor is good & it doesn’t involve lots of cuts, might be a tall order but doesn’t sound impossible to me.

No my tilers do not lack skill or the proper adhesives. ----- Slump happens it is rare but it happens.

If the tiles are slumping into the adhesive overnight, something definitely isn’t right, with either the mix or type of addy being used; don’t you have Rapidset down there?

I am so pleased for you that you dont ever have it occur.

Never, ever.

Our floors here are at best average so anything that makes it easier is welcome these systems certainely do that.

How do you define an “average floor”; my approach (& that of all the good tilers I know) is to get the preparation right. Getting the base flat & level is essential with large format & if you do that, I think the clips become superfluous. They will obviously do a job & maybe useful for some with limited ability/experience but I wouldn’t use them as a shortcut to getting the floor correctly prepped in the first place & I can’t see why any experienced tiler would need to use them. Replacing conventional spacers with a more complicated process can hardly save time & then there is the additional cost, although I’ve no idea how they compare.

 

[tictic]

Sorry I think you are looking for something I have not offered.
I am impressed that you can lay a 100M2 plus of 600X600 porcelain in 2 days do you want a job? No my tilers do not lack skill or the proper adhesives. It is simply a matter of time saving equaling better profit.
There are numerous different types of the systems. Some work some dont. I am simply stating we find we can do the same quality work faster with them than without them. Slump happens it is rare but it happens.
I am so pleased for you that you dont ever have it occur. Our floors here are at best average so anything that makes it easier is welcome these systems certainely do that. Funnily i believe the English invented these.
But hey they invented many things then did not capatalise on their knowledge. Anyway I restarted this link as I read the inquiry and having used these products for over a year have some knowledge of what they are like. The tilers here took some time to try them but once they did many have found them benificial and some have not. All comes down to choice I suppose.[/quot

IMO....lifestiles....they are s h I t....but only my opinion ......

First time I used them was about 2years ago,they where specced for he job.
The architect sourced them from north America/Canada,....they where not invented in the uk..to my knowledge...anyway....
I found them very awkward to work with they are in two pieces,so costs time(I was on the job with 2other fixers)and they still held us back in time on the job...they leave voids under the tiles at corners thus weak spots...then you have to go round and ..kick...the piece off....found we spent most time getting this bit of the clip out between the tiles....


PTB adhesive is by far a more better product to work with when using LARGE format tiles...

These clips are only sold in DIY stores over here(so I think that sums it up re:them and uk tile fixers)....

Just my 2 pence worth mate....but if they work for your fixers,and aid them then that's good...

P.s I ain't that old and been fixing for a Few Years,and am all for new things to help in tile fixing,but again..re:this product..it's a no from me...

Stick around the forum anyway mate,....we are a nice bunch..

Best off...tictic.