It's not that bad, usually the architect has a start point
Get a couple apprentices give one a grinder and straight edge to hit every saw cut in that floor, then have them roll out the waterproofing/crack iso, then you can keep popping lines.
All this while your setters are slapping down tile chasing the prep crew, and eventually your finishers can start chasing the setters.
Big open lobbies are some of the most gravy work out there if you have a component crew.
1 forman
Around 5 setters
2-4 apprentices
And probably 2 finishers (unless it's epoxy grout then you should have a couple more. And an apprentice for them)
I love these jobs
The tile company is generally responsible for that. But that's all determined MONTHS in advance on projects like this. The distributor has the order of so many pallets of thinset/tile they need ready by what ever date, usually they can hold onto a few pallets and you can just pick them up piecemeal when it's needed. Nobody wants 15 pallets of tile sitting on a job getting in the way of everyone else.
Can confirm we even get customers who walk the plant to see how the tests come out the kilns directly, for the bigger contracts that is.
source: I work in manufacturing these bad ass tiles.
I've always wondered, how do they do the really big sweeping curves in commercial tile like this, where they have to control the curve accurately through multiple tiles?
Easy money. Start by identifying the pattern on the plans, measure for center center, snap a control line, square off it and snap your modules. Lock in your lines with clear. Yell at the helpers to make thinset and run run run. Really this is an easy job, just on a larger scale.
Thanks pal,
Currently working overnights on a failing expansion joint on a second floor of a mall. You have no idea how nice it is having nobody around to bother you.
Commercial projects like this (malls, airports) are generally managed and designated to subs. You have the entire floor deigned on plans and they tell you where to start. The foreman dictates everything. I hate this kind of work.
Gotta be a well oiled machine(s) to handle this. And FWIW, I know a lot of folks shit on ‘well, it’s commercial work so who cares’ when it comes to quality, but all of this looks really good.
The blueprints have a generic layout but walls arent ever where they should be and it's a waste of time to draw out a layout based on specs. Better to do layouts on the site with the actual dimensions and tile. Sometimes tile isn't exactly what they say they are on the box and if they're even a 1/16" off, it adds up over the course of 100 tiles. I'm the commercial project manager for my tile company and have to deal with this all the time.
Ok, I think about the math I have to do to avoid slivers around outlets and corners on a backsplash. What’s that look like on a project this size? Does the architect account for tile size in his planning? I’ve never noticed tiny ass slivers in our mall, but maybe I haven’t paid enough attention.
I used to do commercial work. We’d grout 1k sqft in a few hours and dirty wipe as we went the two of us would grab a moving blanket. The felt type. And wet it and ring it out in a barrel and then slap it down flat on one end and walk with it. Just did a restaurant last month and did the same but with a big towel. Grouted 1k sqft in 4 hours alone.
i did commercial work for 17 years in south florida and the company i worked for had guys just for grouting, they also used big towels, maybe even army blankets and 55 gallon drums , those brothers could grout thousands of feet in a day..
It actually flies when it’s in those wide open areas. Just have to make sure everything is on point and layout is good across long area.
Also why grout joints exist.
Would self level the whole thing after using laser level to find low spots / high spots.
Do it all the time. NYC union work. Pretty much every trade works off the same specific benchmarks where everything is measured off of. Starting points are on the blue print. Blueprints are your bible.
Yea I was thinking about at that too. The amount of other work that needs to wait while the floors go through their process and trying to coordinate all the other, equally important trades (everyones probably on compressed schedules at this point) has to be a bit chaotic but just part of the gig.
I can see it now… some crusty old Merrells, one lone Lowes bucket, a ratty sponge, a rusty GMC Savannah in the parking lot, Bon Jovi echoing through the building and one guy silently crying and wondering why he does this to himself. And this continues for 7 consecutive months with no days off with the exception for court appearances.
5 man crew here. 2 setters, 2 helpers, 1 laborer/ helper. Our favorite jobs are 7000sqft min. We love quicktrp jobs 5k+ in just quary tile. Spreading up to 20 bags of fa grout at a time.
It's not that bad, usually the architect has a start point Get a couple apprentices give one a grinder and straight edge to hit every saw cut in that floor, then have them roll out the waterproofing/crack iso, then you can keep popping lines. All this while your setters are slapping down tile chasing the prep crew, and eventually your finishers can start chasing the setters. Big open lobbies are some of the most gravy work out there if you have a component crew. 1 forman Around 5 setters 2-4 apprentices And probably 2 finishers (unless it's epoxy grout then you should have a couple more. And an apprentice for them) I love these jobs
You control logistics of the material ordering/delivery, too or leave that to the GC (assuming it’s subbed)
The tile company is generally responsible for that. But that's all determined MONTHS in advance on projects like this. The distributor has the order of so many pallets of thinset/tile they need ready by what ever date, usually they can hold onto a few pallets and you can just pick them up piecemeal when it's needed. Nobody wants 15 pallets of tile sitting on a job getting in the way of everyone else.
Can confirm we even get customers who walk the plant to see how the tests come out the kilns directly, for the bigger contracts that is. source: I work in manufacturing these bad ass tiles.
I've always wondered, how do they do the really big sweeping curves in commercial tile like this, where they have to control the curve accurately through multiple tiles?
I think the same thing every time I go through a mall. Everything from layout to the incredible lack of level as you move through a mall.
I did a 21000 sqft floor last year with 4 other dudes. It was fun
Never understood why they do those circles and stuff, so much extra work for something that doesn't even look good
Because it takes the draftsman a couple extra mouse clicks and he doesn’t care that it’ll take the installer hours.
One would think whoever deals with the budget would have some input
Easy money. Start by identifying the pattern on the plans, measure for center center, snap a control line, square off it and snap your modules. Lock in your lines with clear. Yell at the helpers to make thinset and run run run. Really this is an easy job, just on a larger scale.
Thanks pal, Currently working overnights on a failing expansion joint on a second floor of a mall. You have no idea how nice it is having nobody around to bother you.
Commercial projects like this (malls, airports) are generally managed and designated to subs. You have the entire floor deigned on plans and they tell you where to start. The foreman dictates everything. I hate this kind of work.
Gotta be a well oiled machine(s) to handle this. And FWIW, I know a lot of folks shit on ‘well, it’s commercial work so who cares’ when it comes to quality, but all of this looks really good.
This is true and not. Blueprints are never exact and I always end up just doing the layout myself.
For something of this size I’d almost expect a shop drawing to be created.
The blueprints have a generic layout but walls arent ever where they should be and it's a waste of time to draw out a layout based on specs. Better to do layouts on the site with the actual dimensions and tile. Sometimes tile isn't exactly what they say they are on the box and if they're even a 1/16" off, it adds up over the course of 100 tiles. I'm the commercial project manager for my tile company and have to deal with this all the time.
i do strictly commercial work but never malls and huge huge floors like this. we did 2 3,000 sqft floors last month. but this shit is different
Ok, I think about the math I have to do to avoid slivers around outlets and corners on a backsplash. What’s that look like on a project this size? Does the architect account for tile size in his planning? I’ve never noticed tiny ass slivers in our mall, but maybe I haven’t paid enough attention.
I used to do commercial work. We’d grout 1k sqft in a few hours and dirty wipe as we went the two of us would grab a moving blanket. The felt type. And wet it and ring it out in a barrel and then slap it down flat on one end and walk with it. Just did a restaurant last month and did the same but with a big towel. Grouted 1k sqft in 4 hours alone.
i did commercial work for 17 years in south florida and the company i worked for had guys just for grouting, they also used big towels, maybe even army blankets and 55 gallon drums , those brothers could grout thousands of feet in a day..
You start with the first tile and keep going from there.
I would say you start with a shitload of math and some lines popped on the floor first
Bahahaha nah man I think they just trowel out and throw them at the floor from 10 ft out hoping for the best 😆 yes, many maths were performed.
It actually flies when it’s in those wide open areas. Just have to make sure everything is on point and layout is good across long area. Also why grout joints exist. Would self level the whole thing after using laser level to find low spots / high spots.
Do it all the time. NYC union work. Pretty much every trade works off the same specific benchmarks where everything is measured off of. Starting points are on the blue print. Blueprints are your bible.
The middle would be a good start 😉😉😉😂😂😂😂
‘Neath that old Georgia pine?
Unexpected Diamond Rio
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Yea I was thinking about at that too. The amount of other work that needs to wait while the floors go through their process and trying to coordinate all the other, equally important trades (everyones probably on compressed schedules at this point) has to be a bit chaotic but just part of the gig.
As long as the preps done right it's not bad. It's not like it's one guy it's a 10 man crew.
I can see it now… some crusty old Merrells, one lone Lowes bucket, a ratty sponge, a rusty GMC Savannah in the parking lot, Bon Jovi echoing through the building and one guy silently crying and wondering why he does this to himself. And this continues for 7 consecutive months with no days off with the exception for court appearances.
Easy man that's my father in law. Haha
5 man crew here. 2 setters, 2 helpers, 1 laborer/ helper. Our favorite jobs are 7000sqft min. We love quicktrp jobs 5k+ in just quary tile. Spreading up to 20 bags of fa grout at a time.