Tiling internal corners

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Should the tiles start in the middle and then work outwards, or should the centre line be in the middle [as mine are]?

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

 

[Daz]

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

 

[SandyFloor]

The folded tile look is the way I was taught and practice (not that I do many bathrooms anymore). Another one is no tile cut should be any less than 20% of it's uncut size.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. What I always do is set out the entire room or floor and try to balance it off as well as possible avoiding silly little cuts. For example I might offset the centre line of a bathroom so the grout line or centre of tile line up with a WC or basin as long as it doesnt knock the ballance of the rest of the job too much.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense Daz, I know what you are saying. Main focal point, usually the window should take priority, but in my experience no two jobs are the same. In theory though, centred walls are correct. Unless using brick-bond, then I would recommend wrap around effect.

 

[doug boardley]

As Phil Hobson for me, if tiling back from a centre line gives slither cuts, centre the tile from the centre line and work back imo. On window walls I always use the centre of the window gap as my focal point too

 

[faithhealer]

sorry to read Spongebob, at least he is offering to put it right. Ask him to leave a 2mm gap in the corner for a good quality silicon. Please get back if you ned more advice. That trim has to go I'm afraid

 

[grumpygrouter]

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

I can tell where you did your training Daz!!

 

[Ceramico tiling]

was the substrate waterproof?

 

[spongebob]

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

Thanks Phil this was very helpful. The guy came round today and has agreed to re do the whole shower, and he is going to centre the tile as you suggested!

 

[spongebob]

sorry to read Spongebob, at least he is offering to put it right. Ask him to leave a 2mm gap in the corner for a good quality silicon. Please get back if you ned more advice. That trim has to go I'm afraid

I thought he had used grout in the corners, but he says he used silicon [I just couldn't see it under all that trim!]
He is now re doing the shower from scratch for me!

 

[Colour Republic]

I thought he had used grout in the corners, but he says he used silicon [I just couldn't see it under all that trim!]
He is now re doing the shower from scratch for me!

He may mean he glued the trim on with silicon. the space line in the internal corner should not be grouted at all, if you ask him to leave it clean then silicon the corner it will hold better and take up any movement.

Some people grout the internal corner then silicon over the top, whilst this offers some degree of water protection it doen't allow the wall any movement and as such tiles can become crushed and tent in extreme cases.

Hope you get it sorted and glad he's prepared to make you happy

good luck