Floor tile spacing

[Skinbob]

Hi everyone,

I have a kitchen and entrance hall floor to tile next week, tiles are 450x450 white glazed porcelain. the customer would like the floor to look like one lovely, big shiny glass top, hence no big grout lines. I was intending to use a 1mm tile spacer and thought i would put it out there to see if anyone would detere me from this method!?

The floor is a block and beam subfloor, with 50mm battens at 300 centres (screwed down), with 18mm chipboard, then 6mm hardibacker (screwed and taped), electric underfloor in the kitchen and between 6-12mm of slc.

Appreciate any advice you have for me!

 

[Ian]

Personally I wouldn't go below 3mm on a wooden substrate, if you are determined to use a 1mm spacer, the tiles will have to be perfect. I've moved this thread to the tiling forum.

 

[charlie1]

I think bs is minimum 3mm for floors. I would be concerned with expansion! I have done a few floors in last 2 years (small bathrooms) with 1mm joint and all well so far! You will need very well calibrated tiles, trying to achieve the look your customer wants is extremely difficult and will be time consuming!

 

[afright]

I,am afraid you will not get the floor to look like glass, a lot of porcelain tiles are not dead flat I find some curve down on the corners.so giving them tight joints will make it stand out like sore thumb.

 

[Gazzer]

3mm joints and black grout

 

[adamunited]

I'd definitely use 3mm especially with having the ufh.

 

[peteablard]

3mm minimum for me too

 

[Del W]

If you use 1mm spacing,every tile you use will have to be 100% the same as the last. 3mm spacing for me on floors.

 

[ringw]

3mm for me no tiles are perfect

 

[radim]

btw is there a floor grout suitable for 1mm on the market?

 

[andyb1]

3mm for me with UFH

 

[ringw]

have to be fine and flexi

 

[Skinbob]

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for their comments and advice. No surprise I opted for a 3mm joint, which the customer is fine with, once the reasons were explained. Have started tiling today and I am sure it is going to look very nice indeed.

Incidentally, the self levelled floor was not perfect by any means, so a 3mm joint was a must!