Grout line thickness

[why tile]

HI ALL,

is there any reason why i cant use 1mm spacers on a floor when laying 900x450 tiles brick bond style?

[Ken Bruty]

Can't see any reason why not, you will just have to use a special fine floor grout as opposed to normal grout. Also I explained the 3 4 5 scenario on your previous post as I missed your original reply. Hope that helps

[united]

British Standard is a Min of 3mm on a floor.... I think?

[diamondtiling]

If the floor is as smooth as glass and all your tiles are exactly the same size then you might get away with it but I have yet to see those conditions. I dont like to go below 2mm.

[why tile]

British Standard is a Min of 3mm on a floor.... I think?

i here alot about british standard, but is this the law?

[diamondtiling]

Its not a law but it is best practice, BS are there to maintain standards.

[Daz]

I agree with Dom (Diamondtiling), so if you ignore the advice - Good luck.

[why tile]

If the floor is as smooth as glass and all your tiles are exactly the same size then you might get away with it but I have yet to see those conditions. I dont like to go below 2mm.

same as but i have a customer who asked if there was any reason why i couldnt make the grout line as small ass possible, and to be honest i didnt have an answer so thought i would ask the question.

thanks

[united]

i here alot about british standard, but is this the law?

It's not a law as such, more of a guide to what is an acceptable level

[Ken Bruty]

i here alot about british standard, but is this the law?

It's not the law, as you can do whatever you like in your own place, BS5385 parts 1-5 are guidelines for a proper tiling job and usually required more in the commercial sector, however, myself, and Im sure, a lot of others on here do our tiling to BS5385 anyway for peace of mind and no comebacks.

[why tile]

I agree with Dom (Diamondtiling), so if you ignore the advice - Good luck.

yeah i here you on this was just asking the question

[why tile]

It's not the law, as you can do whatever you like in your own place, BS5385 parts 1-5 are guidelines for a proper tiling job and usually required more in the commercial sector, however, myself, and Im sure, a lot of others on here do our tiling to BS5385 anyway for peace of mind and no comebacks.

i dont meen to be funny with you but your first reply conficts with this reply dont you think?

[Scott]

yeah i here you on this was just asking the question

That what the forums for

[Dan]

I think it's to do with expansion and retraction of all the materials. Not saying anything is flexible but I'm pretty sure everything will still have an expansion and retraction rate given the temperatures adhesives can cope with you floor could be 1 degrees in winter mornings or 25+ in the summer heat.

[diamondtiling]

i dont meen to be funny with you but your first reply conficts with this reply dont you think?

Ken stated in your own place you can do anything, when in a customers property its a different ball game.

[Ken Bruty]

i dont meen to be funny with you but your first reply conficts with this reply dont you think?

That would depend on whether BS5385 would recommend a 1mm joint or not, I can't honestly remember without checking it first, but I wouldn't do it on a stone floor.

[why tile]

thanks all for your replies

mark

[dock]

BS minimum (5385 Part3 for porc floor tiling) recommends minimum 3mm this is because;

1 Grout joint is not purely decorative it is there to compress and to accomodate some
expansion which will occur due to the natural variation in temperature and moisture
levels within the service life of the installation. More flexible sealant is used in
movement joints at 6 - 10M centres dependant on construction.
2 To accomodate dimensional variation in the tile.

[mikethetile]

Dock is spot on

[Gazzatile]

with 1mm joints if you have any size difference in the tiles this would make the job dam near impossible
I like Docks answer though very impormative

[diamondtiling]

with 1mm joints if you have any size difference in the tiles this would make the job dam near impossible
I like Docks answer though very impormative

Porm? Where?

[Gazzatile]

Never could spell must have had my mind else were

[Scott]

Trust you Dom

[Phil Hobson]

As above, 3mm min joint the bigger the tile the bigger the joint imo. If I am working with a 600mm x 300mm I would go for min 3mm joint, better still 4mm, for expansion reasons. The more tile area the less joints. Less grout to accommodate lateral movement

[diamondtiling]

As above, 3mm min joint the bigger the tile the bigger the joint imo. If I am working with a 600mm x 300mm I would go for min 3mm joint, better still 4mm, for expansion reasons. The more tile area the less joints. Less grout to accommodate lateral movement

Good points Phil but what about rectified 600 x 600 polished porcelain that looks bad with a 4mm grout line, I always want to close them up as much as possible for aesthetic reasons.

[Phil Hobson]

I know what you mean Dom, but I would never go less than 3mm. In the days of 6"x 6" a tight joint was OK, plenty of joints to expand/contract. With large format tiles more tile less joints, just my opinion

[Dave]

Don't forget perimeter joints....

[deanotile]

i have fitted rectified tiles with 1 mm and butt joint but i don't like doing it.