Laying Wood Effect Porcelain - Advice and grout selection

[Tile Shop]

Get 2 planks, lay them face to face, clamp them together dead centre so the gap created by the bow is equal at both ends, measure the gap an divide it by 2 to get the amount of bow per tile. If its more than 2mm, its technically out of tolerance to comply with BSEN14411.

But with the correct layout you should still be able to get round it without it causing lippage. Could also have some levelling clips on hand for the odd tile here and there.

 

[Tile Shop]

Side note, no manufacturer recommends half bond. But i think thats a good thing anyway. Shorter random bond looks better imo and makes it look closer to real or engineered wood, rather than having a uniform stagger or step which takes the naturality (is that a word?) out of the appearance.

 

[LM]

Hi @Buckfast, hope you go easy on the stuff lol
One aspect that is always important, but even more crucial to a class looking job with planks is good prep. Make sure the substrate (floor) is flat, I can't emphasis enough how important that is to a real good looking plank effect floor. Have a chat with the tiler and builder before tiling starts and make sure that the floor is flat every where, around the sides and through the thresholds etc. Time and money spent getting that right to start with will be well worth it in the end, good luck

 

[Old Mod]

Side note, no manufacturer recommends half bond. But i think thats a good thing anyway. Shorter random bond looks better imo and makes it look closer to real or engineered wood, rather than having a uniform stagger or step which takes the naturality (is that a word?) out of the appearance.

Can you draw me a diagram of a short random bond Paul please, don't quite follow.

 

[Buckfast]

Can you draw me a diagram of a short random bond Paul please, don't quite follow.

 

[Buckfast]

View attachment 87691

Which grout colour do you recommend?!

 

[Old Mod]

Obviously it's personal choice, for me, I'd go for a darker contrast.
Reasons being that with a darker colour it won't as a rule change colour with wear,tear and washing.
Also if you look at the average timber floor,there is a noticeable joint between the planks, which in a lot of cases appears very dark.
If you have a lighter colour it instantly looks like tiles.

 

[Tile Shop]

Can you draw me a diagram of a short random bond Paul please, don't quite follow.

In this, the tile is 1200x230. The stagger is random between 100 and 300mm (quarter). You could go longer if the tile is flat enough. but this is my preferred layout.

 

[Italy]

In this, the tile is 1200x230. The stagger is random between 100 and 300mm (quarter). You could go longer if the tile is flat enough. but this is my preferred layout.
View attachment 87697

these, straighten with rls there is a trick

 

[LM]

I wouldn't be bothered tiling planks now without clips, so much quicker, better and a God send for bowed tiles