Starting at the center of a window or center of a wall ?

[jactac]

I'm just about to start tiling our bathroom, but not sure where to start, my problem is that we have a window that is NOT in the center of the the wall, so should I start from center of window and have even cuts around the window or center of the wall and have the even cuts on the wall at the corners.

Another question I have is when tiling around the window do I work my around one side, (say from left to right) or work up in rows from floor to ceiling.

I ask the question because I know someone who tiled around their window from floor upwards then worked his way around both sides and met in the middle at the top, and found that his last tile for the top of the window was not lining up and the tile was too small for the space that was left. It was a right cock up.
Its hard explain what he did to be honest.

[haveagohero]

Lay the room out however it will look best, if you are left with ugly cuts by centering the window then center the wall. The way i tile a reveal is to start from the floor and tile my way up untill i get to the bottom of the window ten do a column of tiles going up either side of the window and join them at the top, make sure you use a level to check the columns are right and when everything is right carry on with your horizontal rows utill the wall is tiled. make sure you use a straight edge on the front of the tiles to make sure your levels are correct. also make sure your cuts for the window are level on both sides, the top and bottom, don't just do your cuts at whatever angle your window is currently at, this leaves a perfectly square window, leave an overhand of one tile thickness so that when you put your trims in this leaves room for your reveal tiles and adhesive. If the window is out of square pack the difference out with adhesive (this will have to be bagged cement based adhesive as most tubbed adhesive has a maximum bed of 3mm but most bagged adhesive can be used up to about 50mm). Hope that isn't too complicated?

[jactac]

Thanks for your reply.
I have replaced all the wallboards so everything is nice and square, including the window, I was just a bit confused about doing around the window.
As you suggest I will lay things out to see where the cuts will fall best.
So when I start, from floor up and reach the window sill should I take a colume up either side of the window ( making sure of good levels both sides) then once at the top tile in over the window meeting in the middle ? This is where a mate of mine went wrong with his, the space left for the tile to fill in over the window was too big for the tile, so he had to move other tiles in that row to make everything fit, but this then threw the lines out. I dont want to make the same mistake.

[dewaltdisney]

Take your time to plot the tile runs that suit. If necessary lay them out on the floor with spacers in to get an accurate idea of the layout that suits. With careful measurement you can get a good idea how it will work best for you. Laying out a load of tiles might seems a bit laborious but as a bonus you can spot any batch variation in the tiles and swap them around a bit so they do not notice.

Hope this helps

DWD

[jactac]

Thanks for the tip, I will lay it all out as I dont want to mess it all up.
Still a bit concerned about going around the window though and meeting in the middle above it.

[haveagohero]

Thats right, a column each side joining in the middle above the window. Because you are only doing a single tile column you can adjust slightly to allow correct spacing so that the tile in the middle at the head of the window will fit. Complete the courses of tiles to the left and right of the window and then the next tiles that will go in above the window will be a full row from left to right (or right to left) so you won't have to worry about the tile in the middle not fitting. Just make sure you make good use of a spirit level!

[jactac]

Right ok thanks.
Looks like there might be a run in the ceiling so i may need to finish off with coving ? Didnt really want to have coving but we'll see how things go.

thanks again. appreciated.

[haveagohero]

Ceilings can bit a bit up and down, i normally follow the run of the ceiling as close as i can with the cut on the tiles then put a bead of silicone round

[jactac]

This ceiling is good all the way round apart from one corner where the ceiling board raises about 1/2 inch . Probably have to cut the one tile in to fit but I think it will stand out too much
other option is coving but its a small ensuite so coving may look a bit out of place.

[haveagohero]

Without seeing it its hard to make and more sugestions, would it be really noticeable if you just carried the line of cuts on straight where the ceiling dips?