Laying Out and Tiling Your Project

I have seen different methods used to lay out for tiling an area. Personally, I start by snapping two straight line and right angles to each other when ever this is possible. I then take the tiles and place them as though I am putting them in the thin set with spacer and all. I like the u-shaped spacers. Once I get to the end, I know what amount I have to cut from the tile to be center in the area or if I am left with an odd thin piece of tile that will be unsightly. From there I can make all the needed adjustments before I am to fare along; I then do the same thing along the other line. Again, this allows me to make any needed adjustments.

Now that I know the cuts I need to make I snap a few controls line to help keep the lines straight in both directions. If I used red for the first set of line, I use blue for these lines so that I’m not confused.

 I do not set the cabinets or the counter tops before I begin the tiling. This eliminates cuts and if in the future I need to change out the cabinet I do not have to re-tile the area again. I like to stat in the center and work towards the edges. On large projects I have some one I trust with a good eye for detail watch me because its hard for me to see the lines while on my knees doing the project. I use the appropriate notched trowel and I spread the thin set in a small area to begin.

 I also butter the back of the piece I am setting and I try pulling a tile back up every once in a while, to ensure I have good adhesion. As I mentioned earlier U use spacer to make sure my joints are consistent. I keen the grout line as I go so that the grout can be applied as soon as the tile is set. At least a day wait.  

I fill the grout packing the lines diagonally as to not have to fight with pull out as I go. When this has hardened in the film off the tiles a couple times being sure not to pull the grout out. When this has been accomplished, I use a buffing rag and I buff off the film left behind from the cleaning. This takes a little time and elbow grease. The next thing I do is seal the grout.

It is important to get up and walk around and look at you tiling ever so often while you can still make correction if need be. I fill the body first and then come back and make the cuts needed to come to the edges.

Take your time. Plan your work and then work your plan. I do not like the look when there are odd cuts at one edge so I center the tile in the area or make corrections. Another tip the gout will look a little wider than the spacer when doing the work. If you use a 1/16” spacers your grout line will look like its 1/8”.

• Note: Images on this blog site are from a free source or taken by the author. No image or group of photos is intended to represent the people the author serves. The author does not care about Race (that is a politically correct term that he does not like because we are all of the same Race, the Human Race. He prefers the term ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, disability, genetic information, national origin, source of income, Veteran or military status, ancestry, citizenship, primary language or immigration status.) He is a service provider for all people. We will all rise together when we band together and help one another. Joseph Erwin is a Real Estate Broker, DRE # O2131799, and a CA general contractor # B 696662. He’s a member of the CRMLS and The East Valley Association of Realtors located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.