What are you all up to

Didn't get home from CAB until about 6pm (1.5 hours to do 10 miles - see, it's not just in London!) then had to finish off the bit of tiling down to the floor in the kitchen, so that I can do the grouting tomorrow evening.

There were still a few tile spacers sticking out of the joints of the tiling that I did yesterday. I pulled one out wih a pair of pliers. A tile fell off the wall and smashed 

And of course, it was the tile with the awkward cut-out for a light switch, that took me ages to nibble out.  So I had that to do it again.

Remarkably, after 24 hours, the adhesive had still not hardened. Maybe due to the lack of heating in the kitchen at the moment?

What type (ready mixed or powder?) and make of tile cement are you using?

And did you have to  have it thicker in some places due to the banana shaped wall?

Some tile cements need air to set and if it is thicker say towards the centre of the tile then the edge cement sets faster and seals in the still unset stuff in the centre, so it is very difficult for it to set.

Be sure it is all properly set before you grout it all in or it may never set!!

I quite enjoy tiling, but hate grouting.  In the past I think I have tiled 6 kitchens, 3 utility rooms,  6 bathrooms and a porch (not all our own),  but that was all quite  a while back now.  An electric tile cutter is great for those awkward shapes, but is rather messy in use.

After years of no tiling, I am soon starting on our daughter's utility room and kitchen.  She is keen to assist, so I think I will delegate the grouting to her!

see here.......

http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/9250/Ready-mixed_versus_powdered__96_the_big_debate.html

Caravanning does seem much harder with the shorter hours of daylight. All the outside jobs have to be done between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. unless you do it by torchlight! Furthermore, you have to hope that the outside tap doesn't freeze, otherwise no water!

It's almost a month now since the winter solstice yet sunrise is after 8 a.m. and sunset just after 4 p.m. so only 8 hours of daylight followed by 16 hours of darkness.

The tile cements do take longer to go off if cold. When I did my bathroom and toilet 4 or 5 years ago I used a powdered quickset cement. Unfortunately the weather turned hot and it was going off far too quickly. I returned unused bags to the tileshop and they exchanged for a slower set. I did feel better in that there were professional tilers doing the same. One chap told me that he was doing an upstairs bathroom. Mixing was outside the front door of the house and the mix was starting to go off by the time he was reaching the bathroom. Might be worthwhile going for a quickset cement this weather? 

Had my X-Trail repaired yesterday. Two front coil springs and I also had the front shock absorbers replaces at the same time. I had guessed at a cost of £300 to £325. Actual cost was £380. Please with labour costs but the front shockers were £82 each with VAT. Very dear but when I checked on line I could not see any cheaper prices.

I trust my mechanic to do his best and play fair which he does. 

Will have to get the tyre replaced today.

OH has spent several weeks on floor and wall tiling in an outside conversion, trying to get things done when he can. Unfortunately the tile boxes were very heavy so he strained his back and has had to have a few days off. The types of cement and grouting, waterproofing and the temperature have added to the timing of the work involved. He's caught my cold and cough now so that's not good. 

My washing machine has died. . The engineer can't come until next Tuesday afternoon and even then they might not be able to repair it immediately, if at all.  It Is 8 years old - I see a big bill coming up. .  Luckily I am up to date with the washing at the moment as daughter's washing machine is also playing up.  I might have to ask DIL if I can take some washing over there at the weekend.

Glad you have got your XTrail repaired EasyT.  We have one which we find invaluable when towing. Great robust vehicle.

Oh dear not good Millie, hope your DIL lives fairly near to you.

Wherenext wrote about a Somerset CL on the previous page near Chew Lake, I can't find it either!  The CL search isn't working properly. We're in South Somerset so not much help for places north of Wells.

Thanks brue. Yes son and DIL live about 12 miles away.  They have turned up trumps. Asked if we would like to go over on Sunday for tea and do the washing at the same time.  Son even offered to call in on his way home from work and pick some up if I was desperate.