Tiling Problem

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi

I am encountering a problem with laying out 600 by 600 mm ceramic floor tiles in an open plan room which has a fireplace / opening for a wood / solid fuel stove jutting out from the wall by 300mm. Since the fireplace is one of the first focal points to be seen on entering the room I have balanced the tiles round it so they are symetrical. When I dry lay the rest of the tiles into the bay window I am left with a strip which is 90mm which is obviously much less then the half a tile width rule for tiling. If I adjust the layout to have approximately half a tile left in the bay then the tiles round the fireplace become unsymetrical.I can't have both things so is it just a case of what looks the best in this particular instance?

Regards
Gavin

 

[Bolter]

Hi Gavin, welcome to the forums

Might work still. There are two ways to centre the room with a tile. One is to mark the half way point on the floor, and start a full tile off this point to the wall. The other is to mark the tile half way, and start with that mark on the centre mark on the floor. Does this make sense?

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi and:welcome:as Bolter for me.

 

[Dontiler]

hello and welcome as above

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Bolter

Yes, have tried it both ways and in my particular case when I get to the firepalce the tiles end up unsymetrical round it though for one of these ways I am left with more than 90mm in the bay.

 

[suave]

welcome!

 

[DHTiling]

Welcome.. yes your post did register and you have replied to it.

 

[Ian]

Welcome along

 

[Brian the Tile]

hi :welcome: if the fireplace is the focal point is it near enough centre of the room ,i would go centre of fireplace dont forget what is going inthe bay ,the cuts may not be seen but everybody will be sat in front of the fire definatley centre

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Brian
The firepalce is not in the centre of the room nor near the centre of the room, as it has been extended but it is a focal point as when opening the door into the room it is the first thing seen and yes the room can be modified as required to have a table or couch / armchairs in front of it. Thanks for the thought as I had not fully considered this.

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome..

 

[Martyn Leeds]

The fireplace might be the 1st thing you see when you walk in the room, but is the surrounding floor area around the fireplace the 1st thing you see also?
I'd be more inclined to centre the room - obviously play around and see whats best.
& thats just an opinion without seeing the room or the fireplace!

 

[Martyn Leeds]

Oh, & welcome to the forum!

 

[Spud]

whats the set out like if you diamond set the tiles ? it may work out better and take your eye off unbalanced room

 

[peteablard]

whats the set out like if you diamond set the tiles ? it may work out better and take your eye off unbalanced room

I'm with Gary on this one, I'd personally go for diamond. If you didn't want to do this then I'd go with your plan of setting out from the fireplace which as you say is a focal point. As already stated above when sofas, tv's, units etc are put in the room then a lot of the edges are hidden. Let us know what you decide on

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Gary

Had thought of tiling on the diagonal but in this large area it looks busy - when the tiles are laid out standard pattern the lines look cleaner and make the floor look more fashionable or less patterned?

Hi Bolter
Did a bit of slight modification with your suggestion , as shown in the second of the two diagrams as per picture attached, and managed to get the tiles centred on the fireplace with 400mm at the bay and thought HORRAY !!!! but when I took the measurements to the door I have a tile width of 80mm @door saddle and 30mm at the skirting board - which I can't cover unless I move 80mm towards the door ( as I have enough to play with at the bay) but this knocks the symmetry at the fireplace out by 80mm- darn. Maybe I'm being too fussy?

 

[charlie1]

Hi Gavin

Consider the tile and grout colour! If you are grouting with an uncontrasting grout colour then this wont really be an issue however I would go with your first option and have the 90mm cut within the bay window!

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi charlie1
You are earlier than I am this morning.The tile is a creamy, mottled marble type with cream grout with grouting gaps of 2mm- the minimum I can use -I think-so yes I am now convinced that the 90mm @ bay option would be the best of my available options since laying diamond fashion was ruled out as an option from the start of the job. Had a look at your 42 pictures - hope I can do as neat and professional looking a job as you obviously can.

Thanks
Thanks to all of you - you are a very helpful bunch making constructive suggestions which help others, like me, who are not in the same professional league.
Gavin

 

[charlie1]

Thanks for the compliments Gavin!! I'm sure if you take your time and level every tile then it will work out ok. 2mm grout line will be challenging, hope the calibration of your tiles are ok!

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Charlie1
Not sure if the tiles are what you guys called rectified in calibration terms ( they are from Porclenanosa) but they look to be pretty good quality and accurate as I have measured quite a few of them and on dry laying with the 2mm grout gap they look as if they can be keep in line! Will be making a start on them later on so will soon find out.

Gavin

 

[charlie1]

Yes, callibration in terms of (all the same size). Get that first tile perfectly level (all directions) using your largest spirit level, this will get you off to a good start!
Good luck Gavin!

 

[Bolter]

90mm at the bay window would look best.

Hi Charlie1
Not sure if the tiles are what you guys called rectified in calibration terms ( they are from Porclenanosa) but they look to be pretty good quality and accurate as I have measured quite a few of them and on dry laying with the 2mm grout gap they look as if they can be keep in line! Will be making a start on them later on so will soon find out.

Gavin

Porcelanosa, for me, stock some of the highest quality in tiles. And by that i mean every tile normally is the same size and shade as the last, which is not the case for an awful lot of tile manufacturers. Good choice.

Top tips for tiling the floor. Make sure the substrate is really flat. If its nearly flat, but not quite, you will end up with problems. Use a long straight edge to check for humps and dips in the floor. If there is, come back and ask, and we can explain latexing

Centre the room at one end, make mark on floor. Centre the room at the other end, mark on floor. Ping a chalk line, or run a laser line between these two lines to centre the room properly.

Use a notched trowel. If the floor is super flat, an 8mm trowel will probably be fine, but could use a 10mm if you wanted. Just do a few spot checks, lay a tile, then lever it up again, and check the coverage of adhesive is good.

Comb the adhesive in one direction

When laying the second row, put the tile in so it butts up to the previous row, and push down and pull it away from you, and pop the spacer/s in. Next tile along, you can butt it up to the previous row AND the tile you just laid, and pull it away from those tiles diagonally 2mm and pop a spacer in there. Easier and cleaner to do this than to push the tile into position

Use a straight edge to line the tiles up when you are laying. Just lay a few tiles in a row, and for each extra row butt the straight edge up and use it as a guide to make sure all straight.