Do I need to attach a baton to tile correctly?

[diy_dude]

I've noticed some tutorials for setting up, use a baton attached to the wall one tile space up from the bottom. Tile everything above, then the bottom row at the end.

(Some tutorials don't even bother with a baton, just start from the bottom)

My question is why do tilers use a baton? (What's it's purpose)

I was about to start tiling my kitchen this weekend (without a baton) but curious now as to why it's used and if I need to check something first which might indicate if I need to use it or not.

Thanks in advance.

 

[One Day]

Main reason is floors are usually not level, so it's faster to work off a level datum and then cut to the floor afterwards.
In a perfect world you could tile right up off the floor, but then there's this thing called "builders" who think they can screed and construct floors...🙁

 

[WetSaw]

The baton is to give you a perfectly level surface to start from. Floors aren't always level so if you start with a full tile from a wonky floor you can end up with a whole world of problems. If your floor is perfectly flat and level and starting with a full tile doesn't leave you with a slither at the ceiling you can forget the baton.

 

[Wayne Brown]

A kitchen you will probably be ok without a batten if its behind units the worktop should be level but please check because even a few mm out of level will throw you out over the length of the wall , bathrooms is where a batten comes in handy as you can tile and grout the majority of the room before fitting the bath or other sanitary ware just leaving the cut above the bath this minimises the risk of damage to the bath or shower tray etc like this one I am doing this week . Cheers Kop

 

[MattB]

Do you not usually tile a little way below the bath edge Kop?

 

[Flintstone]

I never use a Batton, I cut the bottom row in then work off that

 

[Wayne Brown]

No mate tile down onto the bath with a 2-3mm gap to allow for a neat Silicon joint as below, obviously the bath is fixed and Silicon in then filled with water when you finally Silicon up . kop

 

[MattB]

What's the green strip around the bath?

 

[Wayne Brown]

Low tack masking tape avoids scratching and peels away clean

 

[MattB]

Had you already done a strip of Silicon around bth to fix to wall then taped up?