Tile Clean Up

angus242

Hey guys,
I'm doing a small tile job soon in my first high rise condo. I was wondering how I'm going to clean up. Anyone have some stories about clean up on a job without a place to hose things down?
The customer had the place built brand new but didn't have the builder do all the tile work. The problem is the condo is brand new and I won't have anywhere to dump my buckets and wet saw trays. I have a Dewalt saw so the tray(s) is pretty big. I take care of my tools cuz they take care of me so I would prefer to not leave with a dirty saw. I may have a common utility room for clean up but I'm not counting on it.
Thanks
Angus

MattCoops

The job we finished last month in a high rise condo had a parking deck on the bottom. We had to cart buckets down an elevator and dump in a "wash area" in the parking deck.

Is there a parking deck attached to the building?

Check it out for a hose location.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Bill_Vincent

Adam (CCSOwner) and I did a job this past summer in an open and operating corporate health club in downtown Hartford, Ct., that was mudset ceramic mosaics with epoxy grout. We ended up bringing a bunch of bucket tops with us to the job, and "bucketing" the waste water out and dumping it elsewhere. As for the saw, all you need is the single trayful of water. Just drain the water, scrape what you can, and then use the same water to rinse it. It won't be PERFECTLY clean, but it'd be better than nothing.

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"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

firemike

We run into that once in a while. Does the unit have fresh water and a toilet installed yet? If so, you can drain the waste water in the toilet (provided it is not on a septic tank). You might be able to make a deal with the homeowner to have a utility sink installed so you can do your work.

Did a job once and bought the plumber lunch and he hooked up one of those $39 el-cheapo utility sinks for us and the painters to use to wash up. you could also clean up the best you can, then take the tools/equipment to one of those self-serve car washes and wash them down good there.

__________________
-Mike-

Bill_Vincent

NOT ON A BET!! The waste water from grouting and setting aside-- even the water from the saw could cause the homeowner, and ultimately YOU, a fortune in plumbing repairs!! Have you ever tried to scrape the tile residue off the bottom of the saw pan after letting it sit for a couple of days? if you have, then you've seen how it can cake up. Now, imagine that in the waste pipes of a highrise condo building, and what it could cost if that were clog up a waste pipe somewhere in the building. Talk about HOLY SH*T!!

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"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

MattCoops

I agree 110% with Bill.

I choked on my drink when I read what firemike said about dumping down toilet.

That's a huge no no.

At least you didn't say to dump it down a sewer.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

firemike

I said (meant) drain the waste WATER down the toilet, not the slop in the bottom of the tray or buckets. I should have been more explicit. I pour off the liquid water after the fines settle, then put the rest (solids/semi-solids) in a bucket(s) and dispose off site.

I was in a hurry when I answered the first post and assumed that everyone would know better than dumping the solid waste from thinset/grout down the drains and didn't think of elaborating on it, sorry, I should have been more clear in my meaning. No matter where I work, I always take rubber spatulas and scrape all the remaining solids possible from buckets, tools, equipment, etc. and dispose of in an old/worn bucket or empty thinset bag, never down a drain. Only a minute amount of residual material gets washed down during final cleaning.

__________________
-Mike-

Bill_Vincent

Mike, I wouldn't even take it THAT far. All it would take is one little problem with the plumbing, and God forbid someone sees you pouring that water, or knows you have, and guess where the finger will point? And as notorious as tile guys are for plugging pipes, they're going to charge first and ask questions later. Do you really want, or need those kinds of headaches?

Take your water off site. You'll be alot better off for it.

__________________
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

angus242

Thanks guys. I'll just bring more buckets with. Shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's only 50 sq ft or so. I'm checking out the site for the first time on Monday so I'll have a better idea on what I'm dealing with then.
I appreciate the replies.

Angus

Floordude

Just make sure you account for the extra time and hassles of what you just described. It may be the difference in profit, and breaking even.

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Bill_Vincent

And make sure you bring TOPS for thse extra buckets!

__________________
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

angus242

Yep. I'm charging a flat rate per sq ft BUT since I'm picking up the marble, there's a charge for that too. There is a nominal fee for the fact it's a high rise. I also have in the contract a fee if I have to wait for the freight elevator...up OR down. And finally, customer has to reimburse for all parking expenses. Trying to park a 21' long pickup off Michigan Ave in Chicago is NOT easy!

Yes, bucket covers are a must!

MattCoops

I love fees.
I remember when we were in Boston remodeling old brownstones around mass ave, charging customer parking fees for all the tickets I was gonna get for my van at the meters. They're ruthless there. Don't miss those parking and traffic messes.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

SelfContract

Dust & noise saw control too. Avoid evening hour saws.

angus242

Finished and I have too say, I'll never do that again. I got paid well and was even given a $400 "tip" but it was TOO much work.
I had to go from the 21st floor to the 5th floor parking garage to dump buckets. I brought 10 extra buckets and ended up not even bothering to clean my mortar buckets. I just threw them out as cleaning ANYTHING was a pain in the rear.

The customer chose the tile so I wasn't responsible for the overall look. And I was totally misinformed about the amount I had to do. The bathroom ended up laying 176 tiles of which, I had to cut 121.

The point.....a high rise condo is NOT an easy place to do tile work!

(at least for me it wasn't)

EDIT: I tried to post pics but apparently I don't have enough posts so i couldn't. I will as soon as I can

angus242

OK, I can finally post pics.

Here was the view:


My working view:


Bathroom before:

After:




There were no before kitchen pics but you all know what a bare backsplash looks like.
After:



I'm glad it's over!

415moto

nice work

Bill_Vincent

I agree, and not under the easiest of circumstances.

__________________
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

Mr. Green Genes

I was reading this with interest because I am still trying to figure out how to make money in a high rise condo. You have to carry all your waste water out with you. You will be blamed for any and all future plumbing problems if anyone sees you pouring anything down a drain. And, some plumbers will say, "rightfully so".

Bill_Vincent

Some tile guys will say rightfully so, too.

That's only ONE of the reasons why prices for highrises are so much higher than normal prices. Angus was lucky he could set his wet saw up in the unit!! I did one years ago down in South Beach, where I had to pay a helper to stay all day with the saw because it had to be set up outside-- couldn't be brought into the building, and I was working up on the 10th floor.

__________________
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com