Spacer size and pattern

[Bolter]

The level the ply sits at will be the level the screed is being done too. 50mm. So hopefully it will be one continuous level. The expansion joint, will this sit between the screed and the joists or does it go between the tiles? this is where i am getting stuck.

Can't use ditra matting as i don't have the height in the room, so its got to be straight adhesive. Even went for 8mm tiles to keep it low as poss.

Should i butt the ply up as tight as i can against the walls? or leave a small gap?

A small gap will be fine. A couple of mm or so.

Expansion will normally sit between tiles as a joint, if you like. Make sure you buy a decent, suitable flexi adhesive for the job. And also flexi grout.

5mm spacer is a fairly normal size spacer for floor tiles, but you can go down to a 2mm spacer if required.

 

[mercedism]

Looking at the ruler, 5mm looks good. 2mm looked too small.

Glad to see its coming along, even if its only on paper (so to say).

Plumbers working evenings, so that should be finished later this week, so hope to have the ply down towards the end of the week. Just incase he wants to check any joints. Will update pics and try and source some 5mm spacers.

What sort of size pack should i get???

 

[grumpygrouter]

Personally I think 2mm is too small for timber floor. You are making your flexy grout work that much harder to do it's job, but I know others here will disagree. A small joint is much easier for you to lose the line if the tiles vary even a small amount size wise. I am just laying some top quality Porcs in my hallway and I have plumped for a 4mm joint...on hardie overboarded chipboard. I think it gives a good balance to the tiles. (600 x300 btw in brickbond.).

 

[Time's Ran Out]

When the joint becomes part of the overall design -as in brick bond - I would agree with the wider joint.
However in that seamless polished porcelain trend that prevails at the moment the client preference is as small a joint as possible - and onto a wood substrate 2mm would be required.

Timeless John.

 

[mercedism]

these are not polished, they have a slight riven to them.

i know i am going to need a tile cutter. A girl at work is lending me one, i will let you know what make once i collect it, closer to the time.

What sort of size packs do the spacers come in, 100, 500 ??? Obviously i am not a pro. so won't be laying that quick. I have been looking at some of the work done by people on here and i have seen some blue ones that seem to stick up in the air!!!!

 

[grumpygrouter]

When the joint becomes part of the overall design -as in brick bond - I would agree with the wider joint.
However in that seamless polished porcelain trend that prevails at the moment the client preference is as small a joint as possible - and onto a wood substrate 2mm would be required.

Timeless John.

We start to get issues with BS guidlines then as well John. I know it may not be relevant to a DIY'er but for the pro, to ignore BS guidelines can have the possibility of liability issues if things go wrong, don't you agree?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

We start to get issues with BS guidlines then as well John. I know it may not be relevant to a DIY'er but for the pro, to ignore BS guidelines can have the possibility of liability issues if things go wrong, don't you agree?

I totally agree with the BS guidlines which is why you should take that point up with the administrator then Grumpy as I was only quoting his lead in post 6 with a 2mm joint.

John.

 

[DHTiling]

Bs5385 does state 3mm min floor joints but that is just a guide line ...

Lets say for instance you are tiling a wall and 2mm joints look best with a recitifed edge tile and matching floor tiles then 2mm is fine...imo.

 

[DHTiling]

We start to get issues with BS guidlines then as well John. I know it may not be relevant to a DIY'er but for the pro, to ignore BS guidelines can have the possibility of liability issues if things go wrong, don't you agree?

As mentioned a few times Russ...they are guide lines but experiance tells a fixer what he can do as well.......

 

[grumpygrouter]

LOL...I am sure he will come back and clarify John.

 

[grumpygrouter]

You must have posted at the same time Dave....:lol:

I knew you would have a valid reason for saying what you said, wasn't disputing it. Still don't know if I would put a 2mm joint onto timber though unless I knew the tiles were abso spot on for size and the floor was really solid. My skill levels are not at your level yet....

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I knew we could rely on Dave!
My 2nd post did say 2/3mm so I was hedging my bets.


John.

 

[DHTiling]

I have heard of fixers going tighter......but the least i will go is 2mm if i have to.....

And post 6 john was a typo....should have been 3mm but hit wrong key but i stand by it if we need to use a 2mm joint....as i am now on a bathroom but concrete floor..

 

[grumpygrouter]

I have heard of fixers going tighter......but the least i will go is 2mm if i have to.....

And post 6 john was a typo....should have been 3mm but hit wrong key but i stand by it if we need to use a 2mm joint....as i am now on a bathroom but concrete floor..

Ha! Knew that was out of character for you.........

 

[Bolter]

these are not polished, they have a slight riven to them.

i know i am going to need a tile cutter. A girl at work is lending me one, i will let you know what make once i collect it, closer to the time.

What sort of size packs do the spacers come in, 100, 500 ??? Obviously i am not a pro. so won't be laying that quick. I have been looking at some of the work done by people on here and i have seen some blue ones that seem to stick up in the air!!!!

You will need a dry cutter and a wet cutter. You could do it all with a wet cutter if you wanted but would take you twice as long. You would not be able to do the whole job with just a dry cutter unless you are seriously skilled with tile nippers!

Let us know what cutter it is. A pic is preferable We like pics :smilewinkgrin: