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Nov 6, 2020 · If an offset more than 33% is desired (such as a 50% offset), the specifier and owner must approve a mock-up and agree to the lippage that may result from this type of pattern being installed. The reason for this is that some tiles have what is called warpage as part of their manufacturing process. Warpage is when the tile is bowed in the middle.
- Assuming Grout, Tile, and Sealers Alone Make a Waterproof Shower. Tile and sealed grout is water resistant, but without the proper preparation and installation, water will find its way around them in no time.
- Forgetting to Calculate the Proper Amount of Slope for the Drain. Without the right slope on the floor of your shower, the water will not drain properly.
- Forgetting to do a Flood Test before installing tile. Once you have finished preparing the shower space and before you start installing tile, test out the water tightness.
- Breaching the Waterproof Membrane. Once you’ve created a waterproof zone, be careful to protect it from any breach while you are tiling a shower.
Feb 13, 2020 · The idea behind this pattern is that a number of tiles are laid in a vertical stack, creating a square; meaning if you were using 3"x12" tiles, you would lay four tile next to each other and they would create a perfect square since 12 divided by 3 equals 4. Then directly next to that square, you lay four more tiles but laid in a horizontal stack.
Aug 19, 2020 · This is my first time tiling and I have already completed the shower floor. I need help\advice on how to lay the tile on the shower wall. I am using 12 x 24 inch tiles with 1/8 inch grout lines. My shower wall is 59 1/2 inches in height and 81 3/4 inches in width. The manufacturer of the tile recommends a 15-30% offset pattern on laying out the ...
- Before You Begin: Finding The Right Base
- Creating A Balanced Layout
- How to Avoid Awkward Cuts
- Proper Tile Setting
- Tips For Installing Tile
- Grout: The Finishing Touch
- Directory
Tile needs a supportive, rigid base. If installed directly on a surface that flexes and swells, such as plywood, it can crack and crumble. Here’s how to think about underlayment options.
Properly laid tiles are centered in the space, with roughly equal cuts on opposing sides. Here’s how to plan a layout. 1. For a floor installation, start by creating two perpendicular reference lines that intersect at the center of the room. They should be perfectly square to each other in order to avoid crooked tiles and uneven cuts. First, mark t...
Doing a dry layout allows you to check the size of the cuts that you will have to make. If you’re going to be using less than half a tile or mosaic sheet along an edge, shift the chalk line that runs parallel to that wall by half a tile. You’ll even out the cuts along the opposing walls, and the job will look better with larger tiles along the edge...
Which adhesive should you use?
Also known as the bond coat, this is the glue that fastens the tile to the underlayment 1. Thinset (versatile and reliable):The tiling standard, thinset is sand-and-cement mortar. Although it’s not waterproof, it’s safe for use in damp areas. But it may not be appropriate everywhere: With a porous—or as tile setters say, “thirsty”—concrete-based underlayment and a hard porcelain tile, thinset may not cure properly because the moisture gets pulled into the underlayment. 2. Modified Thinset (a...
How to mix thinset
Follow these steps to ensure it holds well. 1. Mix the entire bag. Don’t try to use partial bags—it’s too difficult to get the proportions exactly right. 2. Put the water or latex additive in the bucket first. Adding the powder to the liquid helps avoid dry spots. 3. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly for the mixer’s rpm and how long to let the thinset slake, or rest, before using it. Otherwise the bonding strength could be compromised. 4. Once it’s mixed, don’t add more water, whic...
What is back buttering?
This technique, recommended for natural-stone tile, eliminates air bubbles to ensure a superior seal. While not every type of tile requires it, Mark often takes the extra step to make sure his tile job is rock-solid After spreading a layer of adhesive onto the underlayment with a notched trowel, use the trowel’s flat edge to apply a thin coat of adhesive to the back of a tile. Set the tile in place using firm, even pressure Check your work by pulling the tile up. At least 80 percent should be...
What is the best way to cut tile?
There are several tools you can use, but a wet saw is the most versatile and gives the cleanest cuts, Mark says. Rental units often come with dull blades, which will slow down your work and can chip the tile. Mark’s tip: Buy a new blade for the rented saw; it will cost about $50 to $100.
When to use caulk or grout
Whenever tile meets another surface—where the kitchen countertop meets the backsplash, or the edge of the tub touches the tile surround—the seam should be sealed with caulk, not grout. If you use grout, it will eventually crack and fall out as the different materials shift independently of each other. Most installers will leave this joint empty, carefully working around it, and then, once the rest of the area is grouted, fill the seam with silicone caulk as a final step. But it can be difficu...
Make mesh-backed mosaic sheets look seamless
The most common flaw with mosaic tile installations: visible lines where the sheets meet. Here are some tips for avoiding them 1. Take your time to dry-fit the sheets together to achieve perfectly even spacing. This may involve trimming away some of the mesh. 2. If the spacing is off at all, “you might need to peel off a tile here and there and lay it independently,” Mark says. 3. If the design of the tile allows, cut some sheets in half, clipping around the tiles themselves, and stagger them...
Picking the right type of grout
When deciding which grout is best for your project, consider how often it will be exposed to water, dirt, and spills. A basic grout is fine for low-traffic areas, but for rooms like the kitchen, a grout with built-in stain resistance is a better choice:
Minimizing grout lines
Grout makes a tiled surface stronger and helps keep out dirt and water, but “there’s nothing pretty about it,” says Mark. “The tighter the grout joints, the better the tile job looks,” he says. He likes to go as small as 1/32 of an inch, but that requires skill, since tiny grout joints leave little room for slight differences in size and shape from one tile to the next. You could end up with two tiles that are touching, or not get any grout in the joints at all. Novice installers who want to...
Tips for a better grout job
1. Mix the grout exactly to the manufacturer’s instructions, always using the whole bag and always starting with the water. 2. Spread it over the tile and grout lines—or just over the grout lines with large-format tiles—with a grout float recommended for the type of grout you are using. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the tile surface, and press the grout into the joints. 3. Allow the grout to set for the manufacturer-specified time. Cover only as much area as you can get back to befor...
Thanks to Scott Carothers, director of certification and training for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation; ceramictilefoundation.org. Ian O’Connor, product manager at Custom Building Products; custombuildingproducts.com. Andy Acker, director of education at Schluter Systems; schluter.com.
Jan 2, 2024 · Consider using an offset pattern on the wall to highlight the subtle shades in the individual subway tiles and a grid pattern on the patterned floor tile. If that doesn’t vibe with your style, you could switch them and do a stacked pattern on the wall and an offset layout on the floor.
People also ask
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Oct 19, 2023 · Here are answers to some of the most common questions about tiling shower curbs: What slope should the shower curb have? Aim for a 2% slope, or 1/4 inch per foot. This keeps water draining back into the shower. What size tile spacers should I use? 1/16 to 1/8 inch spacers are typical, depending on your desired grout line width.
