Tile spacing

[easyt]

Advice sought. I am due to lay some floor tiles (310 x 310 ceramic) on a cement screed sub base. What tile spacing would you recommend. I thought 4mm. Could I go less or should I go more. Any views ??

Similarly I am going to put up some 250 x 335 ceramic wall tiles. These will be on a variety of substrates (sand cement render, plasterboard and aquapanel. I thought 3mm. Could I go less or should I go more. Any views ??

EasyT

[Dan]

British Standard states minimum of 3mm for floors, and 2mm for walls. You can go thicker than that on either, that's just personal preference.

Before and after shots/pictures uploaded to the forum earn you brownie points.

[Ceramico tiling]

British Standard states minimum of 3mm for floors, and 2mm for walls. You can go thicker than that on either, that's just personal preference.

Before and after shots/pictures uploaded to the forum earn you brownie points.

Sory Dan do you know the reasons behind those standards?

[Scott]

Expansion is the reason. What size floor area are you doing?

[enduro]

I like doing ceramics and porcelain at 3mm on floors, Natural stone at 5mm.

[nybor62]

3 mil for me

[Scott]

Just a random thought, what happens with butt jointed tiles then?

[easyt]

Expansion is the reason. What size floor area are you doing?

Floor about 2m x 2m in largest section (bathroom)

[easyt]

Just a random thought, what happens with butt jointed tiles then?

They crack (or maybe) lift from what I have seen.

[easyt]

3 mil for me

Is that on floors?

[timeless john]

British Standard states minimum of 3mm for floors, and 2mm for walls. You can go thicker than that on either, that's just personal preference.

Before and after shots/pictures uploaded to the forum earn you brownie points.

Just to repeat Dan's post in case you missed it!

[easyt]

No, I didn't miss it T John. Just wondered if nybor was talking of his peronal preference regarding wall, floors or both.

EasyT

[Abstract tiling]

i went to a job in london it was a hugo boss shop 600x600 limestone and they wanted 1 mm grout lines. the arciteq, soz 4 the spelling just dint understand. how did he know the tiles were perfect?? some people?

[Pebbs]

Some Architects have a crazy idea that a 1mm joint is the answer to everything. When in fact it opens up a can of worms when the stone starts to crack. 600x600mm stone can run out by 3mm and that is the tolerance. Unless he had them water cut, there is no way they will be running in at a perfect 600x600mm. I spend hours trying to explain movement and expansion joints, before the specification is drawn up. Where they are insisting on 1mm joints 99% of the time it all ends in tears, and the Stone Federation are called in to repeat what I'd told them 2 years before.

Pebbs

[andy allen]

i never use spacers on floors i do it all by eye, comes in handy when using cheaper tiles from the sheds as they can there sizes can be all over the place

[merlecollins]

i never use spacers on floors i do it all by eye, comes in handy when using cheaper tiles from the sheds as they can there sizes can be all over the place

That was always the way Andy mate

I've only noticed a great rise of using spacers on floors coming through in the last 8years, it is loads easier mind when using well calibrated tiles