Experience installing 60x60 tiles yourself?

  • Erstellt am 2024-07-14 11:13:46

Renovator123

2024-07-14 11:13:46
  • #1
Hello dear forum,

this year we bought a house from the 70s and are now having it completely renovated.
As a fairly skilled hobby craftsman, I do some work myself, e.g. tiling in the basement.

Since the house and the renovation are already expensive enough, we don't want to spend too much money on the tiling material in the basement.
Nice 30x60 or 60x60 porcelain stoneware with rectified/calibrated edges is already available on clearance for under 20 €/sqm, whereas 30x30 or 45x45 are only available at regular much higher prices. I would tend to go for the 60x60, but I am still unsure about the "large" format.
Who else is an ambitious hobby craftsman and has already laid 60x60 tiles themselves?

Years ago I laid 30x60 in a half-bond pattern due to lack of knowledge and only made slow progress because of leveling/avoiding lippage. Even if I would now lay the 30x60 in a third-bond pattern, 60x60 with a cross joint is probably still easier/faster?
The basement rooms are more or less square, which is why square tiles would also fit better visually (but it is purely a utility basement, so appearance is not so important).
There is untreated screed on the floor in the basement, type unknown. So not skimmed and without leveling compound. The screed does not have local unevennesses, but I would not rule out waves or height differences invisible to the eye.
 

nordanney

2024-07-14 14:48:24
  • #2
It is actually even suitable for not so ambitious DIY lovers. The floor should be reasonably flat and you should use a leveling system – I lay up to 90x90 myself as well, for larger sizes I don't have a tile cutter at home. Depending on the surface of the tile, you can also work with a tile lifter (I mean the handles with suction cups). Then the tiles can be placed very well on your own.
 

motorradsilke

2024-07-14 15:04:12
  • #3
I laid 50 x 50 tiles myself in the utility room, it worked very well with a leveling system. Our screed was also very even, and our walls absolutely square. If you are unsure about the walls, draw a line beforehand where you start.
 

Renovator123

2024-07-14 17:58:59
  • #4
Thanks already for the encouraging responses!



As far as I understand, the problem with not 100% even screed and large tile formats is the risk of hollow spots. Especially in combination with leveling systems, with which, in the worst case, a tile can be pulled out of the adhesive bed again. Have you had problems with hollow spots regarding the 90x90 tiles and "reasonably flat" subfloor?
 

Renovator123

2024-07-14 18:00:26
  • #5
In this context, another question occurs to me: Is it possible to remove a tapped-in 60x60 tile without damage, in case the screed is not completely level somewhere and some adhesive needs to be taken out or removed?
 

nordanney

2024-07-14 18:01:49
  • #6

No. No problems. Took the new screed as it was. Thanks to buttering floating you can make a lot of allowances
 

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