A local handyman in Fulham for the tiling jobs bigger firms turn down
Large bathroom companies tend to want the whole room, from stripping out to new suite. Plenty of Fulham homes do not need that. The tiles are fine, the grout has gone grey and patchy, two tiles behind the basin have cracked and the splashback in the kitchen never looked right. Those are the jobs we are set up for as a local handyman, and we come round, look at the room and quote before we start.
Bathrooms in converted flats are often small, with a bath tucked under a sloping ceiling or a shower squeezed into what was once a landing cupboard. Kitchens in terraced houses are usually in the back addition, with a short run of worktop and a window over the sink. Every one has its own awkward cuts around pipes, sills and boxing in, and we plan for them before the first tile goes on.
Regrouting tired and mouldy tiles
Grout is the cement filler in the joints between tiles. It is slightly porous, so in a busy bathroom it soaks up water, soap and dirt, and black mould sets in, especially where there is not much fresh air. Cleaning only goes so far once mould is deep in the joint.
Regrouting means raking out the old grout to a good depth with a hand tool or an oscillating cutter, cleaning the joints, then pressing fresh grout in and tooling it smooth. On shower walls we use a grout with good water resistance, and we often reseal the bath or shower tray edge at the same time, since mould usually runs along the silicone too. Many people are surprised how much newer a bathroom looks once the grout is bright again.
Jobs we cover
- Raking out and regrouting wall and floor tiles
- Replacing cracked or chipped tiles
- Refixing loose and hollow tiles
- Kitchen and utility splashbacks
- Small bathroom and cloakroom tiling
- Tiling around baths and shower trays
- Rebedding loose period floor tiles
- Resealing bath and shower edges after regrouting
Replacing cracked and loose tiles
A single cracked tile can be cut out without disturbing the rest. The grout around it is removed, the tile is broken out carefully from the middle, the old adhesive is scraped back and a new tile is bedded in its place. The hard part is often finding a match. If you have spare tiles from when the room was done, keep them, because older ranges are frequently discontinued.
Tiles that sound hollow when tapped, or that move under your foot, have lost their bond with the wall or floor. We lift them, find out why, and refix them. Sometimes the cause is a leak behind the tiles. We find and fix that first, because new tiles on a wet wall will not last.
Splashbacks, cloakrooms and small tiling jobs
We tile kitchen splashbacks, utility walls, cloakroom toilets and small bathroom walls and floors. Metro tiles and simple patterned floor tiles both suit the period character of homes in Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway, and they are also popular in the newer flats closer to the river.
In showers, the wall behind the tiles takes a soaking every day, so we look at what is behind the old tiles before starting. If the board is soft or the wall has been wet for a while, we tell you and suggest how to deal with it, which can include a waterproof membrane under the tiles (often called tanking).
Older tiles, old floors and asbestos
Some period houses still have original patterned tiles on the hallway floor or front path. Where a few are cracked or loose, we can often lift and rebed them, or fit reclaimed tiles of a similar size and colour.
Care is needed when lifting old floor coverings. The Health and Safety Executive says asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000, and lists vinyl floor tiles backed with asbestos paper and bitumen adhesive, as well as some bath panels, among the places it can be found in homes. If we come across old vinyl tiles or black adhesive under a floor we are asked to tile, we stop and recommend getting it tested before any work carries on.
Who this suits
- Flat owners with a small bathroom that has gone mouldy in the joints
- Landlords preparing a rental flat for new tenants
- Homeowners who want a new splashback without a new kitchen
- Period house owners with a few cracked hallway tiles
- Anyone selling who wants a bathroom to look fresh for viewings
Common questions
Can you regrout without retiling the whole bathroom?
Yes. As long as the tiles are firmly stuck and not cracked, the old grout can be raked out and replaced. It is much quicker and less messy than retiling.
Why has my grout gone black?
Usually mould. Grout is porous, so it holds moisture in a steamy bathroom. Better airflow and an extractor fan help, but once mould is deep in the joint the grout needs raking out and renewing.
Can one cracked tile be replaced on its own?
Yes, if you have a matching tile. We remove the broken one without disturbing those around it and grout the new one in. If you do not have spares, a close match or a contrasting feature tile can work.
Can you tile over old tiles?
Sometimes, if the old tiles are firmly fixed, flat and the wall can carry the extra weight. It does make the wall thicker, which can affect sockets, sills and trims, so we look at the room before advising.
What happens if you find asbestos?
We do not disturb anything we suspect. The Health and Safety Executive lists old vinyl floor tiles and some bath panels among places asbestos may be found in buildings from before 2000. We would stop and recommend testing before any work goes ahead.
Do you supply the tiles?
Most people choose their own tiles so they get exactly the look they want. We can tell you how many to order for the area, with extra for cuts and breakages, and the adhesive and grout are part of our quote.
How long before I can use my shower after regrouting?
It depends on the grout and the silicone used, as each maker gives its own drying time. We tell you the time printed on the products we used so you know when it is safe to shower again.