how close should the space be between porclain?

[bocean02]

Hey boys and girls, I am laying pocelain tiles on a small bathroom floor next week and was asked if I could put them flush together. I am concerned that for one it needs some sort of sealant and another, that tiles are never square enough for this to be done effectively. If this is the case should I just stick with a 2mm space and use a dark grout to match the tile??

Thanks

 

[Gazzer]

Match the grout to the tile.

 

[grumpygrouter]

Yes match the grout to the tiles (in consultation with the customer) and you will definately need at least a 2mm grout line IMO.

 

[bocean02]

nice one guys cheers

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

Hi all i disagree , i have laid many porclain floors and butted the tiles up together as customers have asked.

I then grouted them with a fine wall grout same colour as the tiles just to seal the joints.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[grumpygrouter]

Hi all i disagree , i have laid many porclain floors and butted the tiles up together as customers have asked.

I then grouted them with a fine wall grout same colour as the tiles just to seal the joints.

Hope this helps and good luck

My comment was based on the assumption that the floor is a timber based substrate as is most comment in the questiones asked on here. If so I personally would not tile without a grout line of at least 2mm and flexy grout not only because it is porcelain but because of movement in the subfloor. If it is unheated screed/concrete then that may be a different matter.

 

[DHTiling]

I do not recommend anybody to butt joint tiling.....this method does not allow for grout to fill the joints unless you slurry grout and does not give any room for tile sizing.

And also on larger area's butt jointing will increase the chance of tiles tenting and de-bonding....bs5385 recommends a 3mm joint but i think 2mm can be used .....

 

[mz30]

Hi all i disagree , i have laid many porclain floors and butted the tiles up together as customers have asked.

I then grouted them with a fine wall grout same colour as the tiles just to seal the joints.

Hope this helps and good luck

No offence ,but you have laid many a porcelain floor wrong,it's your job to tell the customer that the tiles should not be butted up and also you should not be using wall grout on floors.

 

[Gazzer]

Of course the customer is always right ....as long as they sign a disclaimer:mad2:

 

[bocean02]

It looks like the majority win, I will use 2mm spacing. Now stop squabling kids!!

Thanks for taking an interest everyone, cheers

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

With all due respect to everyone i`ve been doing the job long enough now to know what can and cant be done.

It is down to the customer what look they are after.

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Just to confuse things on 600x300 porcelain tiles I asked for thicker joints of 3mm and my tiler was happy to oblige

but then I WANTED to emphasise the brick pattern so chunky 3mm was the order of the day.

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

Sorry guys tiles i was refering to was polished porclain just thouhgt i would make that clear.

 

[grumpygrouter]

Sorry guys tiles i was refering to was polished porclain just thouhgt i would make that clear.

Not sure what difference that makes with the size of grout lines!

 

[Gazzer]

Surely you should follow Adhesive Tile Grout manufacturers spec. After all in the event of a failure they may not be liable if you had not followed their instructions.