Tile Spacers, leave them in, or take them out, What say you!!!

[SCCB]

We are having a constant battle with learners and employers of apprentices regarding leaving tile spacers in the joint. This is something I have never done on any job ( that I can remember:rolleyes5. There are loads of YouTube vids and many pieces of literature that show the spacer in the joint but it will never state that is has to be removed (annoying :mad2: ). There are lots of reasons why it isn't acceptable. Has anyone had any experience with this, e.g., customer, site agent , Clark of works, architect or another fixer, OR tiling lecturermg_smile:. Want side of the fence are you on!!
(apologies if this has been discussed before..)

 

[CJ]

Take out.......cos I'm tight.

 

[widler]

Leave em or take out, you can do both .
Don't see the problem myself with leaving them, somebody please explain this super science where if left in it causes problems , like expansion problems or something more sinister ? [emoji33]

 

[Simons70]

Take out.......cos I'm tight.

This is!...good reason...I preffer to fit in right,push the spaces,use the right trowel for can grout easy in the same day.What about grout in the same day?Even this is wrong,but not reason.Like fit the doors before tiling,skirting before tiling,plywood in the floor,ditra,etc...all good reason,but can't be explain..Cos I'm thight!

 

[White Room]

I don't use spacers in-bedded in the corner of tiles in case there slight size variations....

 

[widler]

I find it easier with them bedded in if theres variations in the tiles whitebeam , unless of course its a good few mm.
Ive gotta admit though, ive never come across a addy that can hold a 60x30/60x60 or bigger porca tile without a spacer, id like someone to put a video up if possible [emoji106]

 

[Tony73]

I think, I know who you are Simons....... :lol:

 

[White Room]

I think, I know who you are Simons....... :lol:

Care to expand on that one Tony...

 

[Simons70]

We rip out tiles in Tesco,Harrod's,Mc Donalds,Asda,etc.I never see the spaces modified,or destroyed after 10 years,but we see the plywood moldy and smelly,the plasterboard moldy,plaster destroyed.So,what is the point to take out?Guys with experience,who win the JOTM and xxxx post can explain to a newbie?Thank you in advance!Please no be offended,can you help me?

 

[White Room]

If you embed the spacers how does it allow expansion on the floor....

 

[Qwerty]

If you embed the spacers how does it allow expansion on the floor....

Very valid point

 

[widler]

Very valid point

Not really,it's a bit of plastic,probably softy than the grout we use,which a lot now are hollow,remandi ones I use are,they will move just as much as the grout IMO .

Simon ain't that Swiss Pratt is he ?

 

[Simons70]

If you embed the spacers how does it allow expansion on the floor....

Expansion on the floor not push the spaces,contrary.....

 

[Andy Allen]

Expansion on the floor not push the spaces,contrary.....

How come you keep posting but your post count stays on 20?..........and is your name mike?.....and is it snowing?.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

How come you keep posting but your post count stays on 20?..........and is your name mike?.....and is it snowing?.

No..

 

[Fliselege]

How come you keep posting but your post count stays on 20?..........and is your name mike?.....and is it snowing?.

Nah, can't smell anything burning...

 

[m3fitter]

#
to be honest boys........ get a grip......its a spacer ! enough said... if you have enough time to dedicate any brain time to take out spacers or not.... @@ !! life's far too short

 

[John Benton]

Ok here's a link to the other thread http://www.tilersforums.com/43-tiling-forum/65515-tile-spacers-4.html Unfortunatley the link to the TTA article (post 14 from John Benton) doesn't work any more, which is annoying as it was quite a good read. I'll see if I can find it somewhere else.

The two main points were these:- It can weaken the joint because of the lack of grout in the joint and also because the depth of grout is not the same throughout the joint, the colour shading could possibly vary i.e. the thinner the grout, the lighter it becomes.

 

[widler]

John,that's the problem, I've taken out many a bathroom,kitchen ect after years of being down, with all the spacers in,never seen a problem yet .
Does this make it right I here the few say?
Of course it does, if it's never been a problem for decades ,why should it start now ?
The internet and forums are the main culprit for this,someone can say ' I've never left a spacer in, it can make you house fall down'
2 months later it's spread around the internet and the worlds ended just cos of a little plastic spacer
I will put money on every tiler leaving spacers in a job ,especially them who have been at it like me since the 80s, when we plastered the sites( big detached) we tiled them as well, spacers left in, never a problem

 

[charlie1]

I just can't believe someone would actually attempt to remove a spacer that's been fully inserted, there either daft and think that's what your meant to do...or...they have too much time and I'm sorry, I just don't believe people actually do this.

 

[Andy Allen]

In 32 years of tiling I've never left a spacer in..
I use spacers as pegs and only space the horizontal line.....and I've never put a spacer in a floor tile on my life just do it with stright edges and a keen eye. .
Just the way ive always done it and always will. .

 

[nybor62]

When you do the commercial jobs let see if you have times for take out spaces in 300-400 sqm....

i do commercial all he time ,just peg on the joint no need to shove in ,remove end of day ,simples

 

[Diggy]

I do either or , depends wot it is , type of tile etc etc, ufh or not if flooring.

 

[widler]

Wow, even serving you time, as a kid,never left one in, not one , hard to believe and can't be proved,but well done Andy[emoji106]
,I knew you would be the 1st to answer my question with a negative , you hate us so called multi traders with a Charles bronson kinda vengeance [emoji7][emoji8]

 

[Andy Allen]

Wow, even serving you time, as a kid,never left one in, not one , hard to believe and can't be proved,but well done Andy[emoji106]
,I knew you would be the 1st to answer my question with a negative , you hate us so called multi traders with a Charles bronson kinda vengeance [emoji7][emoji8]

We'll make a tiler out of you one day mate. .:lol:

 

[Andy Allen]

Dont get wrong I couldn't give a toss if you leave them in or take them out can't see it makes much difference.
Just saying when I started tiling most tiles were pilks or crystal and didn't need spacing wasn't till you got the influx of foreign tiles that needed spacing then you generally used pegs.....and we never used spacers on floors and I find it easier to do that way...

 

[Andy Allen]

And I've got nothing against muti traders...

I think every tiler should have one as a labourer..:lol:

 

[widler]

Ha ha love the last post andy [emoji106]
Actually i forgot about the pilkington and crystal tiles with the nibs on,horrible things,.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

In 32 years of tiling I've never left a spacer in..
I use spacers as pegs and only space the horizontal line.....and I've never put a spacer in a floor tile on my life just do it with stright edges and a keen eye. .
Just the way ive always done it and always will. .

likewise andy.

 

[Simons70]

I think is just a preffered method to do the job,like tilers who use the tapes measuring and tilers who use the tiles for measure and cut.If need take out the spaces in this tiles take the same time we tiled.

 

[Tony73]

So you have plenty of time cutting spacers....:lol: