spacers under tiles

[sstilingservice]

Right chaps

I have just started tiling a kitchen for a customer finished the tiling and now he has questioned me about why I haven't put spacers under the bottom row of tiles. Now I have never done this but just wanted to know for my own mind how many of you space the tiles of the worktop and how many tile from the worktop.Be honest !!!

[timeless john]

Good evening SS.
I can see where your customer is coming from if there is to be a silicone joint onto the worktop!
However I cannot remember when if ever I have used a spacer to give a joint on the first row. Possibly only to stop the tiles falling down the gap left by badly fitted worktops.
John.

[user123]

Uhm, that really surprised me - I thought you'd always put spacers under and then silicone between worktop and tiles? Otherwise there would be no space for movement? Actually I would make the space a bit bigger, as for all movement gaps -am I being a wally here?

[foxman]

Got to admit i start from the worktop if level

[sstilingservice]

No MG Your not being a wally. I have never seen a tiler puting each tile on a spacer to start with but just wondered how many did.

[timeless john]

Hi Wally!
Your right about the movement especially on timber floors but the gap tends to get bigger over time and it ends up with too much silicone.IMO.
Only joking about the Wally bit Gisele.
John.

[frankenfurter]

I have never seen a tiler puting each tile on a spacer to start with but just wondered how many did.

Are leaving any amount of movement joint? Or are you resting the tiles straight onto the worktop?

[sstilingservice]

Thats the question to space or not to space that is the question

[grumpygrouter]

I was taught to run off the worktop....if it was level!

[doug boardley]

I put spacers under first course of tiles to give silicon something to bite to

[Fekin]

I normally leave a small gap, 1 to 2mm from the work surface if the whole things level.

[chille]

I tile off of the worktop, only packing tiles up if the worksurface runs out

[Eddie]

I put spacers in between worktop and first course of tiles.

[andy-p]

normally straight onto worktop , dont think ive ever seen a tiler use spacers on a level worktop..

[mikethetile]

i always space

the main reason is that i get a lot of worktop changes and theres a chance you will pull the tiles off when your removing the old tops

so please consider the maintenance issue and space under first row

[brian c]

tiled one yesterday and the worktop was running down into corners,so no need for spacers,but generally i do use pegs under first row.

[sranners]

Hi, i do space of the work top but i use a steel rule to tile from (ontop of) i find it quicker than rubi wedges, iv seen some bent work tops.

[frankenfurter]

Surely you must be leaving a couple of mil for a movement joint same as you would in the corners of a wall. What about vibration from the worktop when it's in use, when it's got a load place upon it, or some engineer banging about under it; not all worktops are made of granite. You should be putting a flexible material between two different types of material eg tile & worktop.

Plus having seen loads of worktops installed over the years by the best fitters, they all use those battered stabila levels that they've had for 10 + years which were +/- 0.3mm / m tolerance when they were brand new. Plonk them on top and level whole length of the worktop with a 3 foot level. Not exactly accurate, why would you want to work off that?

[whitebeam]

Allways leave a gap 1-2mm on the first row of tiles on worktops

[lucius]

Always leave a gap the sillicone needs to work as an expansion joint usualy use 2mm pegs and add with wedges if needed.
Lucius.

[jay]

always leave a 1-2mm joint use wedges much easier

[LM Ceramics]

I was taught to run off the worktop....if it was level!

same as ive always gone of the worktop a good silicone joint can still be achieved

[robbbin]

Straight off worktop never use spacers ever only on large format then only as pegs Worked with an Austrian tiler a few years ago he told me,you would be sacked if they ever saw them things

[Newtiler723]

Keen amateur here - Just tiled my splashback and put spacers under just in case / when - I can afford to replace the worktops.

I have read that worktops are rarely flat and there is the possibility of movement so I would have thought spacers was a given.

I really have no idea what I am on about - as an amateur - I am interested to find out pros views.

HTH

[Newtiler723]

Sorry guys - just re read posts and gap seems to be the consensus - Glad I did it right!!

Movement / Expansion and in my case possibly reinstating a new worktop.

Thanks majority!!

[bassman]

Have to agree with leaving a gap especially on a long run so if it gets weight in the middle the silicone will allow for movement in the work top. also soon worktops lifted to insert washing machines and the like.

[Alan.P]

No MG Your not being a wally. I have never seen a tiler puting each tile on a spacer to start with but just wondered how many did.

I do, always, allows for expansion and or movement

[mart08]

I use 2mm pegs or wedges, always have and always will

[frogeye]

I was taught to run off the worktop....if it was level!

Taught by the same 'comic' as me then grumpy?
I was also told to cut the tile to the bath tight as and use clear silicone!
I ditched the clear silicone idea but cut a tight fit on the bath.
refer to previous posts - now I see where the water ingress was coming from.
Currently repairing and leaving a good 2 mm between bath and tile.
Will do the same on kitchen splashback - leave a 2 mm gap althoug I was told to #tile off the work surface.

Oh dear pts


frogeye