Tile Spacers, leave them in, or take them out, What say you!!!

[SCCB]

We are having a constant battle with learners and employers of apprentices regarding leaving tile spacers in the joint. This is something I have never done on any job ( that I can remember:rolleyes5. There are loads of YouTube vids and many pieces of literature that show the spacer in the joint but it will never state that is has to be removed (annoying :mad2: ). There are lots of reasons why it isn't acceptable. Has anyone had any experience with this, e.g., customer, site agent , Clark of works, architect or another fixer, OR tiling lecturermg_smile:. Want side of the fence are you on!!
(apologies if this has been discussed before..)

 

[Ian]

There is another thread somewhere discussing this topic, I'll have a look later and post a link to it. If I recall, it is always advised to remove the spacer for expansion and to allow grout to go the full depth of the joint, also if I recall from the other thread, there was a link to an article from the TTA and that also says to remove them.

 

[Andy Allen]

Take them out..... there was a thread on this a while back. .....if I remember correctly your not supposed to leave them in. .

 

[Time's Ran Out]

No doubt from the last time it was discussed the EEC has changed it policy in relation to the movement of tiles and the effect it has on the ozone layer!
A lot of the peg manufacturers have open designs which allow the spacer to be left in and as a fixer the effort to remove them once the adhesive has set can cause more damage to the tile edge then it's worth.
I've always been on the outward facing side of the fence where for the purely financial aspect of the job, I place the spacer in the middle/edge of the tile and pull them out when cleaning to reuse down the line. If you employ/contract to a couple of Tilers it can be a holidays worth each year!

 

[prceramics]

why would you leave them in and have to buy more ? it only takes 5 mins to take them out or am i just tight ?

 

[Fliselege]

I'll only use them on very heavy wall tiles, and it's a good few years since I've had to use big heavy buggers, and have never left them in. Don't use spacers at all really, tile string much better, quick and cleaner, but can squash with heavy tiles. And I'd rather accidentally kick over a cylinder of string than accidentally kick over a tub of spacers....

 

[Andy Allen]

kitchen splash backs using 100X100 tiles I can do by eye using no spacers with a decent non slip adhesive.

 

[Ian]

Ok here's a link to the other thread http://www.tilersforums.com/43-tiling-forum/65515-tile-spacers-4.html Unfortunatley the link to the TTA article (post 14 from John Benton) doesn't work any more, which is annoying as it was quite a good read. I'll see if I can find it somewhere else.

 

[Simons70]

Its a joke?I never take out and to be honest I find spaces when we rip out the tiles fixed 20 years ago......Just think your job need to resist 10 years,after is not more nice and clean,so what can happend with the spaces?Something more for make our job hard?What about plywood or plasteboard or plaster?During more then 10 years?Never....

 

[Tony73]

I always take spacers out. only when I fit heavy stone on walls, (I use flat packers) I leave them

 

[nybor62]

i only space on the vertical and horizontal joint , never shove in the cross section , and if they will hang no spaces at all

 

[Simons70]

When you do the commercial jobs let see if you have times for take out spaces in 300-400 sqm....

 

[Rookery]

I always put them in the horizontal vertical joints, not in the cross, so they're never left in.

 

[Simons70]

The spaces was invented for leave in...If don't want leave in nothing please use some different stuff,like in Norway....

 

[Tony73]

When you do the commercial jobs let see if you have times for take out spaces in 300-400 sqm....

I have labourer , to do that ...

 

[Simons70]

I have labourer , to do that ...

We do right now 1000 apartments,metro tiles bathrooms and kitchen. 44 spaces at sqm.Price at sqm,site work.If we need take out the spaces,better clean the tools and leave the site tomorrow morrning.We work in site for 28 years,never see someone to take out the spaces.This is for domestic work,10 sqm in 1 week.

 

[Tony73]

I'm sorry Simon.... it's first year I work as a tiler . I am also slow.... usually do 5 sq,m per week.

 

[Andy Allen]

I can only do 2 meters a week..:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Simons70]

I'm sorry Simon.... it's first year I work as a tiler . I am also slow.... usually do 5 sq,m per week.

Sorry,I don't want offend no one Tony,I just try to write my experience.I'm sure your labourer not take out all spaces,or damage more tiles if try to take out some spaces with adhesive around.This is what I learn at my cost.If is not british standard,just use string,realy easy and clean.About 10 sqm at week,I see myself tilers who do 1 bathroom in 6 days,so again,I not want offend no one,is just my opinion.

 

[Tony73]

I can only do 2 meters a week..:smilewinkgrin:

don't worry, you will learn Will get faster in some 10-20 years...:sofahide:

 

[Simons70]

Thanks guys,this is how can learn something and have experience.Write something even if have nothing to write....Sorry for my post,please just ignore me.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

always take them out, been using 1000 x 1000 lately....I only manage 1m2 a week:lol:

 

[Tony73]

:lol: how long did it take to grout? (I mean 1 sq.m ) :lol:

 

[Simons70]

:lol: how long did it take to grout? (I mean 1 sq.m ) :lol:

You never count right Tony?I can tell you:for metro tiles is 44 spaces,for 100x100 is 72 spaces.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

:lol: how long did it take to grout? (I mean 1 sq.m ) :lol:

an extra week, 2 days to take out the spacers and 3 days to grout and polish,,,,you can't rush a good job :lol:

 

[Tony73]

Thanks guys,this is how can learn something and have experience.Write something even if have nothing to write....Sorry for my post,please just ignore me.

Hello and :welcome: to TF

 

[Tony73]

an extra week, 2 days to take out the spacers and 3 days to grout and polish,,,,you can't rush a good job :lol:

:lol::lol::lol: HAHAHAHAHA...........

 

[Simons70]

Hello and :welcome: to TF

I'm not newbie.....You give me some''like'' times ago.I just delete my old account when my friend Sir Ramic was in charge here.

 

[Simons70]

Anyway,If someone give one good reason for take out the spaces and lose 1-2 h at day,I'm here to learn.Thanks guys!

 

[charlie1]

I only use spacers as pegs so they must be removed, on floors I leave them in though as I'm using the whole spacer bellow the depth of the tile, trying to remove spacers fully inserted would be very time consuming and simply unnecessary IMO.