Doing tile in Japan...

[matsuki]

Yes, tile, not time!!

So my tile arrived for my kitchen, was all excited to install it when...

Thinset? Grout? Fuuuuuuu

Can't find thinset at all, the Musashi staff were trying to sell me superglue?? The closest stuff I could find won't work on marble or glass according to the manufacturer. The only grout I can find looks like its sand, is snow white, and the coloring they sell to get the light gray color I want actually says it weakens the grout.

How can the land of veneer and horrible colored tiled apartments be this shitty when it comes to what they offer? Where is the high poly stuff? Am i missing some sort of secret codeword for thinset or grout?

[matsuki]

Anyone have any suggestions?

So far the only place I can find that carries what appears to be decent thinset/grout for something like this is this place:

http://www.tilelife.co.jp/topics/tile_t ... e/#05-yuka

But....they also want 23,804 Yen for some no-brand stuff that should be around 5,000 for the best sheeeeeet...

[Russell]

Unfortunately I do not know, but I hope you get some useful pointers, because I also plan to do tiling in the future (that is, in a few years time or so).

So, anyone having some info on tiling?

I think those tubes shown in your link should be available in home centers too.

I am actually surprised that they could not help you at Musashi. Maybe you hit on the wrong staff member.

[matsuki]

Local Musashi had some really shitty thinset...at least I think that's what it was...but that stuff only works with ceramic tiles. They also had a really poor quality grout and separate color packs which the staff said "not only suck at achieving any kind of color, they weaken the grout" as described on the package. As a bonus, a different staff sent us packing to the Musashi Super Center which is pretty huge and amazing...yet had even less shit for tiling. Staff there said they used to have a til section but shut it down. Tried two more home centers before I gave up and posted this thread.

So far it seems that tiling is pretty locked out of the DIY scene here. (sad cause it's damn easy to do if you have the right stuff and take your time) No experience, most of the home center staff had no clue why I'd want to tile on my own. Loved their faces when I explained my tile is a mosaic of glass, natural stone, and brushed aluminum. (see below) "Japanese tile is all ceramic..."

mosaic.JPG

The stuff in that link I posted is so expensive, I think it kills any savings of DIY....and I doubt it's anything special. I haven't found any real alternatives either. (google keeps giving me Chinese supplier pages in Japanese) Unless someone else here has some really good recommendations, I'm already thinking it will be best to mule back some more useful 'merikan tools, thinset, and hi polymer non sand grout next month.

This is the sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeet I want:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Build ... /100553533

[J.A.F.O]

I tiled the entrance way to the gym with a bunch of donated building material. When I ran out of grout the tiler's said just use mortar. It's actually better material but more expensive (For the guys who have easy access to grout) and since it was the last corner where no one will ever see I didn't care. No problems so far.

I'll talk to one of my guys when he comes in on Thursday. He's kinda one of those contractor types who know how to get things done in j-land.

[J.A.F.O]

I snapped off a pic or two in case your interested.

Tile 1.jpg

Tile 2.jpg

[Coligny]

looks good. Can't grey silicone be used too ?

[GomiGirl]

Doing tile???

This is different from laying cable right?

[matsuki]

I tiled the entrance way to the gym with a bunch of donated building material. When I ran out of grout the tiler's said just use mortar. It's actually better material but more expensive (For the guys who have easy access to grout) and since it was the last corner where no one will ever see I didn't care. No problems so far.

I'll talk to one of my guys when he comes in on Thursday. He's kinda one of those contractor types who know how to get things done in j-land.

Problem with mortar is it's sanded...which is fine for what you did. Unfortunately what I'm making my backsplash out of will get scratched up if I use mortar or a sanded grout After some more googling, it seems I'm just better off importing what I need from the US. I've got a bunch more natural stone I want to tile with and the junk they sell here isn't likely to hold. Might as well play it safe and safe some money. I guess the positive way to look at it is my custom tiling will be even more unattainable to the average Japanese and look that more expensive

With the kind of markup that no name crap they sell here has, one could make a killing importing the good stuff...but I'm sure there is a bunch of BS regulations and certification needed to sell in Japan (trade barrier much?) as the no name crap had certification and whatnot labels all over the packaging.

[matsuki]

looks good. Can't grey silicone be used too ?

According to British handymen "That would be a cowboy job!" (which I think translates to "something they might do in China but that doesn't mean it's a good idea")

[J.A.F.O]

Sent you a p.m.

Good luck

[nikoneko]

Don't know if it will help but here are some links to the biggest DIY online shops here. I especially like the first one.

http://www.diy-tool.com
http://www.homemaking.jp/default.php
http://www.monotaro.com
http://www.kendepot-pro.com/shop/index.php
http://www.dogudoraku.com/catalog/default.php

[Coligny]

One of them sells selekshiun of aluminum profile ?

[nikoneko]

Go here and click on the ones that say アルミ　http://www.diy-tool.com/fs/diy/c/gr10025

[Coligny]

Ermargerd... Thnacks !!!

[matsuki]

DSC_1668.JPG

Still finishing things up a bit but imported non-sanded grout success....also managed to use "Simple mats" instead of thinset. (Sooooo much easier...to use and fit in your suitcase!)

[J.A.F.O]

Dood that looks fvcking sweet! Way to go man.

[Coligny]

tsss... gut nuthing on mah kitchin...

VedranSmailovic.jpg

We got rid of the hobo playing cello though, unpossibul to sleep at night with this guy playing non stop...

[Taro Toporific]

Dood that looks fvcking sweet! Way to go man.

That looks like a damn good job (and that's coming from the lame half of my step-brother's interior trim company*). Congrads on your choice of materials.




*My step-brother and I always try to talk clients out of the now trite-and-too-expensive granite countertops because they going to look very dated in the future. Our favored look used to be seamless, pored-in-place, tinted terrazzo or high-temp fired, one-off, custom terracotta tile from Mexico since both are half the price of boring granite countertops.
Recently we have been using Iron Corten for super tough, cost-effective countertops and floors.

[Coligny]

Do you have 'before' pics ?

Did you use a trick on the lower corner cabinet to avoid losing the storage space ?

Any oven ?

Did you put some gas plugs at counter height for plugging movable stuff like takoyaki grills or them big rice cookers ?

[J.A.F.O]

My step-brother and I always try to talk clients out of the now trite-and-too-expensive because they going to look very dated in the future. Our favored look used to be seamless, pored-in-place, tinted or high-temp fired, one-off, custom from Mexico since both are half the price of boring granite countertops. Recently we have been using for super tough, cost-effective countertops and floors.

Was looking into doing my entire kitchen in butcherblock, pros / cons?

[matsuki]

Dood that looks fvcking sweet! Way to go man.

That looks like a damn good job (and that's coming from the lame half of my step-brother's interior trim company*). Congrads on your choice of materials.

Thanks guys

*My step-brother and I always try to talk clients out of the now trite-and-too-expensive granite countertops because they going to look very dated in the future. Our favored look used to be seamless, pored-in-place, tinted terrazzo or high-temp fired, one-off, custom terracotta tile from Mexico since both are half the price of boring granite countertops.
Recently we have been using Iron Corten for super tough, cost-effective countertops and floors.

This is just the JDM IKEA man made stone(colored resins?)....granite or something you suggested will go in my log-mahal palace whenever it gets built. The tile is all legit stone, marble granite, glass, etc. etc. Nothing too fancy but looks clean and modern.

Do you have 'before' pics ?

Did you use a trick on the lower corner cabinet to avoid losing the storage space ?

Any oven ?

Did you put some gas plugs at counter height for plugging movable stuff like takoyaki grills or them big rice cookers ?

I'll dig up the before pics....and the really before pics. This place went from hobbit sized basics to human sized comfort.

Nothing too fancy here with outlets, ovens, etc. The next step in my lemur empire is taking over the connecting building when we rebuild that bitch. I'll have that shit prewired, insulated, and ready for all kinds of awesomeness when the time comes. Until then, just making this place nice and livable.

[Coligny]

Thanks Choko, need the before/after to make me Julie drool... So maybe she'll move her ass to find me a company to get rid of the useless trash that prevent me from doing anything here...


Regarding marble topping, the French coffee table style age usually well...

I'd kill to have one here, made excellent electronic/modelling bench, strong, fireproof, paintproof... Had one in Paris... Should have brought her with me...

image.jpg

[matsuki]

So before tiles...

0t1.jpg

...and slumdog hobbit status

0t2.jpg

0t3.jpg