Tile installation questions

[HoLeChit]

I’m pretty handy, but tile isn’t my thing. I have a question regarding this job I’m about to start putting wall tile in the shower.

I'm installing 12x24 11/32 wall tile in this shower. The box says to not to stagger the joints more than 33%, as opposed to the normal 50% brick style. Problem is, I don't see how I can do that in such a small space, the back shower wall is 48" wide. Will I be alright, or am I asking for trouble down the road? Also, will I be alright using 1/16 grout lines?

also, when forming the butt joints inside the corners, do I space the tiles on adjoining walls out to match my grout lines and then caulk the gap? As opposed to letting the tiles touch?

 

[Shoot Summ]

They suggest that spacing due to the long tiles not being flat, makes the "lippage" less noticeable. If your tiles are perfectly flat then you can use what you want spacing wise.

You always start the tile from vertical center line of the wall, helps to also use the horizontal center line for not completely necessary. Any change in plane(wall to wall, wall to floor, wall to ceiling) gets caulked, use the same spacing as the grout lines, but you can get away with a little more or less due to the spread of the caulk.

Forgot to ask, are you laying them horizontally, or vertically? In that shower I would do them vertically.

 

[Catt57]

Managing Lippage: Why Offsets Matter When Installing Tile

In Faux Wood Tile Sophistication, we mentioned how important it is to pay attention to offsets when installing tile. The reason? For managing lippage.

www.tileoutlets.com

"... problems are most common when 50% offsets are used, or wherever the center of one tile is beside the end of another. When such is the case, even minimal warpage can create lippage, because the highest point on the surface of one tile is directly beside the lowest point on another."

 

[HoLeChit]

They suggest that spacing due to the long tiles not being flat, makes the "lippage" less noticeable. If your tiles are perfectly flat then you can use what you want spacing wise.

You always start the tile from vertical center line of the wall, helps to also use the horizontal center line for not completely necessary. Any change in plane(wall to wall, wall to floor, wall to ceiling) gets caulked, use the same spacing as the grout lines, but you can get away with a little more or less due to the spread of the caulk.

Forgot to ask, are you laying them horizontally, or vertically? In that shower I would do them vertically.

I laid two of the tiles face to face and they appear to be pretty dang flat, no rocking. Old lady wants them horizontal, but the more I think about it vertical would likely be better, at least I think. I feel I could hit the 33% mark without as much waste.

 

[Forgalspop]

They suggest that spacing due to the long tiles not being flat, makes the "lippage" less noticeable. If your tiles are perfectly flat then you can use what you want spacing wise.

You always start the tile from vertical center line of the wall, helps to also use the horizontal center line for not completely necessary. Any change in plane(wall to wall, wall to floor, wall to ceiling) gets caulked, use the same spacing as the grout lines, but you can get away with a little more or less due to the spread of the caulk.

Forgot to ask, are you laying them horizontally, or vertically? In that shower I would do them vertically.

I would recommend watching several of this guys videos. He knows how to lay tile and how to make leak proof showers. I copied his tips and suggestions and re- tiled and remodeled both bathrooms 4 or 5 years ago. No leaks, No Mold. No problems!

I used his methods of coating seams and edges with a water proofing coating with a fabric that you coat with the same product. Highly recommend his videos. Hope it helps!

 

[Shoot Summ]

I would recommend watching several of this guys videos. He knows how to lay tile and how to make leak proof showers. I copied his tips and suggestions and re- tiled and remodeled both bathrooms 4 or 5 years ago. No leaks, No Mold. No problems!

I used his methods of coating seams and edges with a water proofing coating with a fabric that you coat with the same product. Highly recommend his videos. Hope it helps!

There is a ton of good how to info out there, I started about 15 years ago and cleaned all of my info from the tile forums at johnbridge.com. Things have evolved, and membranes as you describe(Schluter's Ditra) are the norm for showers now. They also have pan sections with the slope already built in instead of the dry mud method I used.

 

[Forgalspop]

There is a ton of good how to info out there, I started about 15 years ago and cleaned all of my info from the tile forums at johnbridge.com. Things have evolved, and membranes as you describe(Schluter's Ditra) are the norm for showers now. They also have pan sections with the slope already built in instead of the dry mud method I used.

Yep, tons of great info on YouTube for doing great tiling jobs and yes the materials and techniques have evolved. Also, I failed to mention I have a Harbor Freight Tile and Brick saw and have used the heck out of it on tile and bricks..........works great!

 

[xseler]

Red Gard is certainly helpful in sealing a shower!

 

[Shoot Summ]

Yep, tons of great info on YouTube for doing great tiling jobs and yes the materials and techniques have evolved. Also, I failed to mention I have a Harbor Freight Tile and Brick saw and have used the heck out of it on tile and bricks..........works great!

I used to buy the HF Bridge saw for a project, keep it until I was done and resell it for almost what I paid for it, a lot cheaper, and more convenient than renting.

 

[undeg01]

Cover the walls with red guard and use medium set, and you will be fine.