Ordering material from take-offs

[Calgary Dave]

Normally this wouldn't be an issue for me...but I ran into a bit of a conundrum on my last job.

I was given the prints about two months in advance. Haven't seen the job, and timing was of utmost importance. Picky customer etc. The tile was special order, and takes 6 weeks to bring in. So we do NOT want to be short. Problem is....it's the large 24x48" tile!! So being a few pieces too many tends to get expensive!!

So....here's the game: How many pieces of 24x48 tile would you order to do the following job. Measurements are there.

Key elements:

1. Shower is going to have a lineal drain.
2. The 24x48 is going right on into the shower
3. There is going to be a 6" curb with the same tile. (there's 2 pieces right there!)
4. Don't get to see the physical job. Measurements could be off by a few inches

So the prints show it to be just under 8' wide. But might that be 8'2"?? You get my dilemma.

So...how many pieces would you order for this job? You CANNOT BE SHORT!!!! And remember....you break a piece, and it's a 6 week wait!!!!

[java]

15

Edit: Plus 2 for curb.

17

[Calgary Dave]

Originally Posted by java

15

Edit: Plus 2 for curb.

17

Eerily close to what I had. I'll tell later, as well as how many were actually required, as I just did the job today.
But lets let a few more throw some guesses out there.

The tile are just over $100 each, btw.

[eurob]

Originally Posted by Calgary Dave

Don't get to see the physical job. Measurements could be off by a few inches
So the prints show it to be just under 8' wide. But might that be 8'2"?? You get my dilemma.

The plan says : " Existing plan " , so it is an existing room .No guesses .

[Calgary Dave]

Originally Posted by eurob

The plan says : " Existing plan " , so it is an existing room .No guesses .

Yes......it is a reno. Hence "existing". I didn't get to see the job before it was gutted and then ready for tile.
But thanks for playing along. buh bye.

[eurob]

So what we learn from playing along ?

[Tiger Mountain Tile Inc]

Why can't you physically measure the project 6 weeks in advance?

[tile dummy]

Dave does the tile go under the sink and what direction are the tiles running.also is it a stacked pattern or brick pattern?

[muskymike]

Hi Dave, I figured 19. One extra for a table top.

[Calgary Dave]

Originally Posted by tile dummy

Dave does the tile go under the sink and what direction are the tiles running.also is it a stacked pattern or brick pattern?

Good question. The cabinet is a floating cabinet, so the tile go under, from wall to wall. Straight lay, going left to right (parallel to cabinet)

Originally Posted by Tiger Mountain Tile Inc

Why can't you physically measure the project 6 weeks in advance?

Just logistics. I quite often do bids using just prints. I do a lot of work for this contractor and architect, so I know their style, type of work etc. It's not hard, was an easy job, and six weeks prior they hadn't even begun demolition. But we needed to order the tile, so that it would be here, ready to go.

[silvercitytile]

I say 20 just incase of breakage or miss cutting the comode hole.

[Calgary Dave]

Originally Posted by muskymike

Hi Dave, I figured 19. One extra for a table top.

Haha. Okay..well I feel a little better then. 17. 19. I ordered 18.

Once we got started there were a few changes. Customer didn't want any curb. Just the raised shower floor, sloping down to the infinity drain. And as luck would have it...not one tile broke, chipped, or was cut the wrong way so there was no waste!! If I had only ordered 11 pieces, for sure two would have broke!

Here's the plan with an overlay of the pieces of 24x48:



Shows that exactly 10 pieces would be needed. The distance from the back wall (cabinet) to the carpet transition was EXACTLY 4 tile...to the millimeter!! The width of the room was exactly two tile wide, 8 feet.

So here I ordered 18 pieces and only needed 10. Over $800 of left over material!!!

Thank God, the supplier didn't call it "special order" and let me return the extra. They still hit us with a 25% restocking charge though. But that large tile sure is a pain to deal with. Hard to set, hard to order, hard to cut...but damn it sure looks nice!!!!

I also love those infinity drains. Here's how it ended up looking:

[Tool Guy - Kg]

What? You didn't leave them a couple extra pieces of tile? You cheap-skate!

[ceramictec]

I would have ordered 10

[Tool Guy - Kg]

So would I, Brian. But I didn't wanna rub it in their faces. You're such a show-off!