Tile spacers

[stephenoneill]

often overlooked by many tilers a good tile spacer is important ;having used many over the years i have found the raimondi 3 mm spacer to be the best;the spacer is large and holds the tile perfectly in place and due to its shape it is easy to fit between the tiles and more importantly easy to remove; it does not bend and is easily cleaned with a quick soak overnight between jobs :well thats my lot about tile spacers lol

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

i use my spacers as wedges with ceramics on walls, the further you push them in the wider the joint. I keep an eye on my vertical joint consistency to keep lined up and a 1.8 level on top of each course for final check. A dodgy off square tile will throw you out anyway and the quality of some ceramics means constant adjustments.

Snap Mark, you just beat me, must be my age.

 

[charlie1]

Snap Mark, you just beat me, must be my age.

my previous career in IT gives me an unfair advantage when typing lol

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

No one likes a smarty pants Mark.:lol:

 

[charlie1]

No one likes a smarty pants Mark.:lol:

how are you doing for work phill, good times?? I'm run off my feet just now thankfully

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Just ticking over Mark, not breaking any records. Glad to hear you are busy mate.

 

[charlie1]

Just ticking over Mark, not breaking any records. Glad to hear you are busy mate.

ticking over is good enough when you lucky enough to do something you love mate!!

 

[afright]

Only use spacers on heavy tiles if the tiles hold up I dont use spacers if I do I always remove them and use again never use spacers on floors just do it by eye.If the tiles are bad quality and different sizes I tend use a few wedges to get them back level.

 

[glasgow_tiler]

i usualy use 2mm peg spacers but the last cpl of months i have been usen nicobonds 2mm cross spacers and there pretty good i normaly use them as pegs but there are times were i just jam them in the corners and push them in, coz i need to grout instantly after tiling a kitchen on this job so there quite handy

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I always remove spacers. I use cross spacers as pegs and pull them out when I'm giving tiles a buff up before grouting. I've seen too many tiling jobs where spacers have been left in and you can see them through the grout.

 

[BuilderMCR]

I just use the B&Q ones there only cheap so just sweep them up and thrown them in the bin after I've pulled them out.

 

[Mr T]

ive been told you only need to remove them when there proud and tbh its a pluss to be able to leave as many in as possible isn't it?

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

ive been told you only need to remove them when there proud and tbh its a pluss to be able to leave as many in as possible isn't it?

Nah mate take em out, bad practice leaving them in.

 

[Mr T]

ok buddy

 

[charlie1]

Slightly off subject, doing a 35 m2 ensuite this weekend, eagle polished porc or polished porc from porcelanosa. I usually use 2mm joint with these tiles but was thinking of going down to 1mm, what do you think?

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

What bond are you doing Mark? I think 1mm is a bit tight, I would feel more comfortable with 2mm rectified edge might stand 1mm but then you have to think about expansion, cement based grouts allow for a little bit of movement not a lot granted.

I do remember when rectified edge tiles came in and people were talking about butt joints, where is the grout going? also expansion issues?

 

[ishi69]

Never liked 1mm joint don't think it looks right or is practical from a fixing point of view.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

looking at the poll I can't honestly believe that those that always take them out are below 50% :shocked3:

 

[White Room]

Never leave them in......

 

[Mr T]

is there a tool to take them out with ease and no risk? or is it a flat head job? lol

 

[Dougs Third Go]

if you peg them, there's five, possibly ten tools for taking them out,,,,fingers:lol:, failing that I use my tile nippers.

 

[Gazzer]

is there a tool to take them out with ease and no risk? or is it a flat head job? lol

Yeah there is a spacer remover
Vorel heavy duty tile spacer remover tool (04675) on eBay!

 

[White Room]

I bought a Marshall town spacer popper, brilliant.

Your lads sorted out those spacers that got mixed up together Doug:lol:

 

[prceramics]

always use them as pegs and always remove them ( the parrot pincher's are great for this) and the rubi ones are my spacer of choice

 

[Mr T]

no way lol

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I bought a Marshall town spacer popper, brilliant.

Your lads sorted out those spacers that got mixed up together Doug:lol:

no Mark, I think all 20,000 of them are still in gorilla tub going green at back of garage now:lol:

 

[Dougs Third Go]

Yeah there is a spacer remover
Vorel heavy duty tile spacer remover tool (04675) on eBay!

or there's always these..

 

[charlie1]

What bond are you doing Mark? I think 1mm is a bit tight, I would feel more comfortable with 2mm rectified edge might stand 1mm but then you have to think about expansion, cement based grouts allow for a little bit of movement not a lot granted.

I do remember when rectified edge tiles came in and people were talking about butt joints, where is the grout going? also expansion issues?

Ye phill, it's going to be a rectified tile, eagle porcelain or porcelanosa porcelain. I just thought 1 mm would make it look sharper but it may all go wrong as tiles differ in size. Will stick with 2mm I think.... Cheers bud

 

[High Peak Tiling]

I always use Genesis spacers where possible because they are tough & dont bend!
why exactly is it bad practice to leave them?

 

[DHTiling]

I always use Genesis spacers where possible because they are tough & dont bend!
why exactly is it bad practice to leave them?

Can cause grout to dry lighter at that point is one reason.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I always use Genesis spacers where possible because they are tough & dont bend!
why exactly is it bad practice to leave them?

It's good practice to remove them - 2 jobs a week x £4 x 52 weeks = £208 = holiday.