Help!: Tile Spacer Norm Size?

[RichTile]

Hi all,

Need to get some tile spacers for the following:

1. Entrance/kitchen FLOOR: 33sq/m of 10mm porcelain tile, tile size 300x600mm
2. Bathroom Floor: 5sq/m meters of 12mm porcelain tile, tile size 200x200mm
3. Bathroom wall (also used as shower backing) 20sq/m of 8.5mm 250x400mm.

Is there a norm for wall and floor spacer size?
Is a bigger gap better? Silly question I know but would having a stronger flex in a a bigger gap be better for the overall stability of an area?

Any help appriciated, thanks.

[hillhead]

If it's polished porcelain on the floors i'd go with 2-3mm there,in showers i keep to same 2-3mm.
If floors aren't polished porcelain i would normally go with 5mm.
That's just spacing you might have to think about movement joints etc too.

[Phil Hobson]

As Joe (Hillhead) for me, perimeter expansion also

[RichTile]

Thanks guys,

None of my floor tiles are polished. 5mm seems to be the biggest spacer tilegiant do, so a bigger spacer will cope better on more uneven surfaces?

So 2-3mm for wall bathroom tiles, same for floor bathroom tiles?

Finally, what is 'perimeter expansion'?

Kind regards,

[doug boardley]

as above from me.

[Phil Hobson]

Thanks guys,

None of my floor tiles are polished. 5mm seems to be the biggest spacer tilegiant do, so a bigger spacer will cope better on more uneven surfaces?

So 2-3mm for wall bathroom tiles, same for floor bathroom tiles?

Finally, what is 'perimeter expansion'?

Kind regards,

Perimeter expasion is a joint around the outer edges of the floor, eg. if you are fitting skirting boards after tiles, leave a 5mm gap and fill with silicone ( you can buy preformed perimeter expansion) Hope this helps.

[hillhead]

As Phil above, 5mm expansion is the norm so as you cut to a wall you have to chop 10mm off the dead measurement if you are using a 5mm spacer i.e 5mm for spacer and 5mm for expansion.

[RichTile]

Thanks guys, think I understand that. Could someone please confirm the amount of grout I will need for the following please? I have a rough figure but just looking for someone to back it up please.

1. Entrance/kitchen FLOOR: 33sq/m of 10mm porcelain tile, tile size 300x600mm
2. Bathroom Floor: 5sq/m meters of 12mm porcelain tile, tile size 200x200mm
3. Bathroom wall (also used as shower backing) 20sq/m of 8.5mm 250x400mm.

At the moment:

5mm spacer for kitchen floor.
2mm spacer for bathroom wall, what about spacer size for bath floor?

Kind regards,
Rich

[hillhead]

Bathroom floor usually 3 to 5mm also unless walls are running with floor which means 2mm joints in your case.
The tile shop usually knows how much is needed but there is a formula on here somewhere for calculating it.

[RichTile]

Many thanks guys,