Setting out metro tile pattern to avoid thin slithers

[Dh1500]

Hi,

1200 wide tray and tiling shower enclosure recess with metro tiles where the 1200 wide wall is the first thing see as enter room hence would want to centre tiles on that wall. That means on alternate rows you would be left c8-10mm short of a full tile at each end given the grout joints between 6x 200 wide tiles. In this scenario would you generally start afresh with a full new tile on the adjacent side wall rather than putting a 10mm thin cut of tile followed by a full one…..as this would still maintain the wrap around visual (since eye unlikely to pick up that the last tile is just short of a full one) whilst avoiding a potentially not good looking slither on the adjacent wall? And is there a general rule with metro tiles where such a slither / thin cut goes over a certain size that it should be incorporated so as not to spoil the wrap around effect?

Also, when using white metal square edge tile trim for white metro tiles, is it generally best to match the finish, ie gloss white metal with gloss white tiles and matt metal with matt tiles to make the trim blend in as far as poss?

Thanks

 

[Dave]

If your walls are 1200 and the tiles are 200 +2mm joints . Then you won’t have a 10mm gap. Or if you mean the return wall ? . Then as long as the long wall is plumb then return with a full tile. How wide is the tray ?

 

[Dh1500]

If your walls are 1200 and the tiles are 200 +2mm joints . Then you won’t have a 10mm gap. Or if you mean the return wall ? . Then as long as the long wall is plumb then return with a full tile. How wide is the tray ?

I mean on the return walls. The tray is 1200 by 800. So on the 1200 back wall you wouldn’t quite fit 6 full tiles due to the grout joints. The two return/side walls of the shower enclosure will actually be tiled a bit further than 800 as will extend past screen/tray a bit. Hence thinking best to continue tiling round onto the return walls starting off with a full tile rather on the return rather than a tiny slither.

 

[Dave]

I agree don’t put it the slither. Will look pants. Let us know how you get on

 

[Kastar UK]

I mean on the return walls. The tray is 1200 by 800. So on the 1200 back wall you wouldn’t quite fit 6 full tiles due to the grout joints. The two return/side walls of the shower enclosure will actually be tiled a bit further than 800 as will extend past screen/tray a bit. Hence thinking best to continue tiling round onto the return walls starting off with a full tile rather on the return rather than a tiny slither.

Tile return wall first the 1200 will become 1190

 

[Dh1500]

Tile return wall first the 1200 will become 1190

Assume you mean tile return wall all way to back wall and therefore the 10mm tile depth (7mm plus 2-3mm adhesive) will reduce length of back wall by 10mm? Though as that would be case on both return walls then would reduce back wall to 1180. Would still leave only small slithers albeit bigger ones of about 1.5-2cm though guess that is around the size you’d need to incorporate them as eye would notice otherwise.

Could start with a full tile at the opposite end of each return wall which would still leave the back wall looking symmetrical and centred since both return walls will be same length?

 

[Kastar UK]

Assume you mean tile return wall all way to back wall and therefore the 10mm tile depth (7mm plus 2-3mm adhesive) will reduce length of back wall by 10mm? Though as that would be case on both return walls then would reduce back wall to 1180. Would still leave only small slithers albeit bigger ones of about 1.5-2cm though guess that is around the size you’d need to incorporate them as eye would notice otherwise.

Could start with a full tile at the opposite end of each return wall which would still leave the back wall looking symmetrical and centred since both return walls will be same length?

Start in center , assuming 200 tile , will be bit off a full tile either side and a bit less than half tile either side next row assuming is a brick bond,
Using depth of return tiles could even start on the 1200 wall in the center
Also your 200mm tiles probably measures 198 mm

 

[Dh1500]

Thanks

 

[Dave]

Thanks

Have you finished the tiling now.

 

[TimelessJohn]

He said thanks at 3.00 in the morning even with the clocks going back he’s on night shift!!

 

[Dh1500]

Yep and still on the night shift trying to work out my metro tiles as tiling not started yet. Issue coming up against in terms of what height to place the tiles is that I have a c2cm sloping ceiling on back 1200 wall of shower area combined with fact my tiles are also continuing out of shower area and above fitted furniture worktop on the rhs wall of bathroom as a splashback.

Ideally I’d start with a full tile row above worktop and therefore have say 3-4 rows of full tiles in total forming above worktop. However, setting out this way means that at top of the 1200 back wall of shower tray I end up with a 3cm high tile in left corner directly below ceiling and then as you go across left to right it decreases to a 1cm high tile in right corner given the slope. Starting with a full tile at the top so as to better hide the slope and avoid these thin cuts means I start with a row of tiles only 2cm high above worktop.

I am thinking it is better to have the thin cuts across ceiling and keep the full height tile row above worktop as not that noticeable unless you look up high and will be a shower screen in front. I would also finish the row of thin slithers with white Silicon above to ceiling so would help blend in albeit I’m using grey grout.

Any view on whether this is the best option (putting aside other options like a new ceiling or changing height of worktop etc)?

thanks