Floor tile spacing

[tiler tom]

As a rule I use a 2mm spacer for wall tiles although it can change to a 3mm spacer to eradicate any small cuts and a 5mm spacer for floor tiles.
Recently an acquaintance asked me to tile their kitchen diner floor but as I was too busy I couldn't do it "yesterday" as they hoped. Anyway on paying them a visit last night I noticed the tiler they had employed had used a 2mm spacer on a large format 500 x 500 porcelain tile. The job is unfinished so the grout isn't down but I wanted to know the reason for this small gap and if it is usual.

 

[grumpygrouter]

BS recommends a minimum of 3mm for floor tiling, though personally I usually go for 5mm as most of the floors I do are suspended timber. I wouldn't be happy putting in a 2mm joint as you are reducing the "movement" capacity of the installation.

 

[cornish_crofter]

What surface had they tiled onto?

A client asked me to quote for tiling a while back, she said she didn't like wide grout joints and she wanted me to make them as narrow as poss.

I never got the job, so I don't know what the outcome was. IIRC it was onto concrete.

 

[Perry]

I mainly tile shop floors with 600x600 rectified porcelain which we put 2mm joints in but we also put expansion joints in most of my clients would except anything larger than a 2mm joint as most of the manufactures recommend a 2mm joint ete

 

[cjbombero]

I have done three or four porcaline jobs with 3mm spacers, the finnished product looks great but you do have to be very careful. If you lose 1 mm one a joint it stands out like a sore thumb, bearing in mind the size variations you get in tiles. Thats the main reason I wouldn't go below 3mm.

cjbombero

 

[grumpygrouter]

I have done three or four porcaline jobs with 3mm spacers, the finnished product looks great but you do have to be very careful. If you lose 1 mm one a joint it stands out like a sore thumb, bearing in mind the size variations you get in tiles. Thats the main reason I wouldn't go below 3mm.

cjbombero

Very true CJ, unless they are rectified tiles with very close tolerances, this is a very big issue, I feel.

 

[Daveyboy]

Most of my floor tiles are laid with a 2mm grout line, mainly because the wall tiles are the same size and I have to line them up - you can't line up a 2mm wall grout line with a 3mm grout line and I don't like using 3mm on walls.. but I agree with cjbombero and grumpy grouter that you have to watch tile drift or else the job looks sloppy...

 

[The D]

I use 1mm 2mm 3mm 4mm and 5mm on walls and floors depending on the tile I am fixing and the look the customer wants.

 

[doug boardley]

I agree with cj and grumpy,I know what daveyboy is saying 'bout lining up your wall and floor joints,personally I explain to client why I've to use wider floor joints and they're quite happy as I suggest marrying up floor tile joints from centre of wall.That way increments aren't as obvious. imvho. I usually use 5mm but never less than 4mm