I can frankly say I'm not one of nature's tilers. Yes I can do it, and I probably would get useful at it if I was doing it more but I'd never enter that place that would go the extra yard.
Many years ago I helped a family friend who trained in his youth as a master plasterer. Not just the guy that slaps up the muck on a wall, but the fellow that can make the plaster rose or any other moulding you'd care to mention, from scratch. He then moved into large scale construction and engineering projects specialising in motorway bridges and intersections.
Anywoos, I had to redo a section of shower tile for the guys that put it up had left a secret passage behind the junction of the floor tile and the wall tile. So that water, or rather damp, crept up inside the tiles destroying the adhesion in the tile fixing compound.
Now, it's far from bad, but it's equally far from a thing of beauty either. Still the reasoning for doing it, being afraid the tile would fall off and hit the dog, means it really won't be seen by anyone other than Jessy and I'd say tiz fairly unlikely she'll be bothered by the lack of perfection. :-)
Many years ago I helped a family friend who trained in his youth as a master plasterer. Not just the guy that slaps up the muck on a wall, but the fellow that can make the plaster rose or any other moulding you'd care to mention, from scratch. He then moved into large scale construction and engineering projects specialising in motorway bridges and intersections.
Anywoos, I had to redo a section of shower tile for the guys that put it up had left a secret passage behind the junction of the floor tile and the wall tile. So that water, or rather damp, crept up inside the tiles destroying the adhesion in the tile fixing compound.
Now, it's far from bad, but it's equally far from a thing of beauty either. Still the reasoning for doing it, being afraid the tile would fall off and hit the dog, means it really won't be seen by anyone other than Jessy and I'd say tiz fairly unlikely she'll be bothered by the lack of perfection. :-)
Isn't that the truth about most diy. If you had time to practice to get good at it and know what does and doesn't work, the diy project would go amazingly better. But for most of us the diy is the first and often last time. You see all the mistakes and "if I'd only knowns". On the other hand, we are our worst critics and feel the need to point out all the mistakes. If we just kept them to ourselves, I'm almost sure no one would ever know. I'm sure your work looks great to an eye who has no idea that you did it or had any frustrations with it. Good for you for taking the project on. Tiling doesn't look easy. I'm sure Jess thinks it's great! ;)
ReplyDeleteIndeed you are correct. But there are some things that fit our general tilt. I'll bet if I let you loose on a house with a set of stencils, heavy card to make your own and 30 pots of quality paints it would be playing into your hand. Tiles aren't really my thing. At least not on walls, and not with me doing them. :-D
DeletePretty much none of it is my thing. It's too much stress. Even if I were capable, there's something about it being for the house that makes me want to "hire a guy" too.
DeleteI don't mean your own house. But if you were given all the art supplies you could want and a house to work on you'd go for it I feel.
DeleteI agree with Kimberly - we're our own worst critics. Perfectionism can be good in some circumstances, but is far over-rated in most.
ReplyDeleteOhh I think it'll be OK. In fact looking at it tizn't too bad at all.
DeleteAnd yes, perfectionism is the curse of youth.
Oh but I become frustrated w DIY jobs. I do fine under supervision such as when I have worked with a mission organization and someone gives me an assignment and guide me along. On my own I am dangerous. I know my limitations and when I need to, I just pay "the guy." I do appreciate those of you who have a knack for these projects though.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, that building for humanity type of project really does need professionals to keep things on track.
DeleteSome things I won't try. Roofs for instance.