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Home: How-To Information: Ceramic Tile: Planning Your Job

INSTALLATION

Planning Your Job

Make a Tiling Plan:
A paper drawing of the area to be tiled will help to determine the proper number of tiles
and other materials needed. You will need graph paper and a pencil.

Basic Rules for Planning:
1) Use as many full tiles as possible, try to minimize the number of cut tiles.

2) Cut tiles should be located away from the focal points of the eye, such as in an entryway
or at the front of a countertop.

3) Avoid small or narrow cuts. Do not cut a tile less than 1/2 its original size if at all possible.

Floor Layouts
Floors should be tiled from the center of the floor, outwards, so that any cut tiles will be at
the edges of the room.
 

1. To find the center, measure each wall around the area to be tiled. Determine the center points of wall and mark those points on the floor. From one center point, snap a chalk line to the opposite point. Do the same for the other two points.


 

With a carpenter's square, check that the intersection is made in the center of the room at exactly 90 degrees. This will be the starting point.

2. Lay out single rows of tile along the two lines as shown in the diagram below. Space the tiles according to the desired grout line width, or use plastic tile spacers.

 

 

3. If there is a gap between the wall and the last tile that is less than 1/2 a tile, snap 
a new chalk line that is 1/2 a tile closer to either wall. This will compensate for an 
unwanted small cut.

4. From the center point of the room (or from the intersection of the new chalk line if you needed to snap one) lay out tile in an area of approximately 2'x 3' along the guidelines, remembering to space for grout lines.

 

 

Measure this area of tile, and use it to construct your layout grid.

 

 

 

Wall Tile Layouts

Wall Tile Planning:

For Wainscoting:
Plan to keep all cut tiles at the bottom (expansion joint) of the wall. All full tiles are
placed at higher elevations to be more pleasing to the eye. The cut tiles can be 
covered with baseboard.

For Backsplashes:
Lay out tiles with all cuts near cabinets so they are out of focal points. 
Molding application can hide any cut tiles later.

 

1. Use a level to determine the lowest point along the bottom of the wall. Place a single tile at this spot and mark the wall just above it. From this point, draw a horizontal line with a level and straight-edge all the way around the area to be tiled.

2. Find the center along the top of the wall and hang a chalk line down to the base. Snap the line after making sure that it is at a 90 degree angle to the horizontal line.

3. Lay out a row of tile from the center point to a wall on either side. If there is a gap of less than 1/2 a tile remaining, adjust the vertical line you drew 1/2 tile in either direction so you will avoid small cuts.

4. Check walls for plumb. Slight adjustments can be made to make the layout more visually pleasing. You can now mark other 90 degree reference lines and a grid on the surface. The use of tile spacers is a good idea. These must be removed after the adhesive is set but before the grout applied.

 

For Countertop Layouts:
 

1. Begin your layout from the front center of the counter. Lay out a row of edge trim tiles from the center point to the wall or corner to the left or right. If a gap remains at the end of the row that is less than 1/2 a tile, adjust your center point 1/2 tile in either direction to avoid small cuts. A corner should start with a whole tile, so make your adjustment on the opposite end. 

2. Keeping the edge trim pieces in place, lay a row of tile from the center point or inner corner out to the wall or corner. 

3. Lay out a row of tile from the center point back along the center line. This will create an "L" shape that you will fill with the same pattern all the way into the corner.

4. With the edge trim in place, lay out tiles around sink or other fixtures that will need to be compensated for. Cut tiles as needed.


Cutting Tile:
Always wear protective eyewear when cutting tile!
Before cutting tile, all cut lines should be marked with a pencil.

  • Use a tile cutter for all straight cuts. It scores the tile and then snaps it along that score.
     
  • To cut away small sections of tile, use tile nippers which take small "bites" out of tile.

  • For more complex curves or edges, use a rod saw which can make more accurate and smooth cuts.

 

After making any tile cut, smooth the edges with sandpaper or a tile sander.

If you need to drill a hole in tile, use a masonry bit in an electric drill. If the hole needs to
be enlarged, use a rod saw blade detached from the handle.

 

 

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