Tiling external corners

[jmac]

Has anyone any advice on tiling external corners?

I have an external corner 3 tiles high, how should the tile edges be applied?

thanks in anticipation

jmac

 

[Softus]

For an external corner, buy some edging. Like this stuff:

http://www.tilerite.co.uk/CatPage.asp?CategoryCode=73

I don't understand your question about the three tiles.

 

[jmac]

I am using the tile edges, but where the tiles come together at the corner you can put tile edge above the tiles (ie 3 tiles high) and also verticaly up the corner, I can cut a 45 degree angle for the trim at the top of the tiles, but how should the vetical edge be cut to butt to the top trim

Hope this is clearer

 

[Richard C]

I assume you are trying to butt 3 lengths of trim; 2 horizontally on top of the tiles & one vertical on the outside corner. I did not want to use trim, particularly on the vertical corners; I had it in my previous kitchen & thought it looked a bit naff!

I chose a thin mosaic border for the top, a bit more expensive but it looks nice. A really neat vertical, external corner can be achieved using a diamond wheel tile cutter. These are a boon & really cheap now; even the budget DIY ones will produce excellent results as long as you don’t rush it.

Cut the back edge of the tiles at 45 degrees, leaving about ½ mm below the ceramic face to avoid it chipping & just butt together the external corners. Once you’ve got the cutter set up, cut enough tiles for the whole job to make sure they are all the same.

 

[jmac]

I assume you are trying to butt 3 lengths of trim; 2 horizontally on top of the tiles & one vertical on the outside corner. I did not want to use trim, particularly on the vertical corners; I had it in my previous kitchen & thought it looked a bit naff!

I chose a thin mosaic border for the top, a bit more expensive but it looks nice. A really neat vertical, external corner can be achieved using a diamond wheel tile cutter. These are a boon & really cheap now; even the budget DIY ones will produce excellent results as long as you don’t rush it.

Cut the back edge of the tiles at 45 degrees, leaving about ½ mm below the ceramic face to avoid it chipping & just butt together the external corners. Once you’ve got the cutter set up, cut enough tiles for the whole job to make sure they are all the same.

 

[Moz]

external corners
trim always looks better IMHO....

 

[Richard C]

external corners
trim always looks better IMHO....

Sorry but in my opinion it don't!

 

[Moz]

Richard C
Tiled external corners ...

as always its a matter of Opinion .....

but as someone who has been doing this work for 20 odd years , trust my opinion here ..

 

[jmac]

many thanks for the alternative option, but, if I want to use edges how do I butt the 3 corners neatley?

 

[Moz]

jmac
well its aways a face front of course , lol ..lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


hasnt anyone said that to you .. lol

 

[Richard C]

jmac
well its aways a face front of course , lol ..lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


hasnt anyone said that to you .. lol

I'll try to be a little more helpful! The problem is profile trim will only match properly on 2 edges & with an external corner, you’re always going to be trying to butt 2 sharp corners with a rounded one - if you see what I mean! You could try butting one horizontal with the vertical on the tile face that’s most prominent, then butt the other horizontal behind it & file the top corner until it matches the rounded profile of the trim behind it; exactly as I said earlier, it looks totally naff!

Plastic profile trim is quick & easy to use & was great when it first appeared but with the options now available, will always make your tilling look like a Sunday DIY job that was put up 20 years ago! Also, when you consider the stupid prices charged for this stuff, ceramic edging is not that much more expensive & looks so much better.

 

[gcol]

Tile trim not only finishes the edges, it also provides a protective edge. If you have a mitred edge, if you knock it, it'll chip.
Personally, I'd always trim the edges.
The other thing is, don't buy trim from B&Q - they're cheap for some stuff, but tile trim they ain't. Aim to pay no more than £2.50 per 8 foot length.

 

[Moz]

Topps tiles are very good for edging an will do cuts for you