Standard Brick Pattern or More Offset?

[mmmadman]

Hi All

I will soon be starting my bathroom walls using large format (450 x 300 approx tiles) and was wondering how many of you use more of an offset pattern as opposed to the standard brick joint.

I was in a local showroom and they had a bathroom wall tilled in this style, I'm not sure of the exact offset but as opposed to 50% I think it was more like 30% and it looked very effective.

My bathroom is only 1.7m x 2.4m!

Are there any rules as such, what do you guys do?

Cheers...

[Mike]

you shouldn't use any more tiles laying brick bond or offset in relation to standard set. make sure your walls are flat for brick bond tho.

[doug boardley]

some tiles look better offset than others, depends on the tile. As Mike says, your walls need to be pan flat for an offset pattern to avoid lippage/shadowing.

[mmmadman]

some tiles look better offset than others, depends on the tile. As Mike says, your walls need to be pan flat for an offset pattern to avoid lippage/shadowing.

Thanks Doug, this leads me to another question that is really bugging me, do I tile over the existing wall tiles? They are flat and a lot smaller than the new tiles and the odd ones that I have tried to remove were stuck fast and broke insted of coming off in one go.

I understand the issues of around doors and windows but I'm putting in a new window so I can solve that and some new architrave for the door should sort it.

Help.......???

Cheers.....

[Sir Ramic]

Definate no to tiling over tiles as you will no doubt be going over the weight limits for teh substrate with 2 layers of tiles.

[hillhead]

Most definitely get them off,weight issues related.
Even if it's skimmed plaster the extra pull could cause it to fail.
I have seen this lately when pricing work.

[garretridge]

defo take off and start fresh as above dont want anyone getting hurt with those size of tiles i lost a job two weeks ago because i wouldnt tile over tiles but reputation on the line so turned it down!

[Phil Hobson]

As above with tile on tile, as for brick bond if your walls are flat OK, but with large format tiles if you place two tiles face to face, ensure there is no gaps, or rocking, so the tiles are perfectly flat. If there is a slight bow in the tile, try quarter bond or third bond, rather than half bond. Hope this makes sense.

[tommyzooom]

I was working with long tiles, wood effect, 900x150 and they came with instructions to overlap them by no more than 200mm, They were slightly bowed, but the OPs tiles aren't that big so should be OK

[Sean fsy]

this is 1/3 bond:

[Phil Hobson]

This is 1/3 bond also