Hi All,
I have a question regarding laying floor tile. I have a kitchen floor with two adjoining hallways that I am going to tile. I’m using 12 x 12 tiles throughout. I know it is not the standard way to lay tile, but I was thinking about preparing all my lines to run the tile and then setting all the full tiles at once, leaving all the tiles that need to be cut for last. The reason I am considering this is that I only have one day before the holiday to tile, and it will be 4-5 days before I get back to tile again. I’m worried about the homeowners tracking back and forth over the mud floor before I get a chance to lay all the tile. As much as i ask them to stay out of that area I know they are going to go back and forth ( I won’t even mention the “4” dogs). the bathroom and bedroom are only accessible by going across the floor. So I figure if I get most of the floor covered in full tiles, basically only the perimeter will be left, other than a few odd tiles here and there, the chances of them “dinging” up my mud floor will be minimal. So my question is basically does anyone see anything wrong with this approach to laying all the full tiles and then filling in the cuts? Has anyone out there ever done it this way. I don’t really see any downside to this, but it helps to have an outsiders view on things sometimes when your going against the grain. Thanks up front for any responses
Mick
Replies
Mick,
I have run across the same situation a number of time and I did exactly what you are considering. If only cuts are left out that means they are against walls, cabinets, etc. That means the only mud exposed will be in those areas. The main traffic patterns will be over the tile that is set. You could also cut some cardboard to cover mud you may be concerned about.
Happy Holidays
Buntzy
Thanks B
I used to work for a guy who believed this was the proper way to lay tile...he`d install the feild one day....then pee and moan when it took someone "too long" to finish the job he started. Nothing terribly wrong with this method, so long as you`re the guy going back to finish the job.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I sub a good bit of tile...and this is how I do all but the smallest jobs.
Just makes for quicker work for me...a one man operation. Most kitchens..the one's I tile are usually of the larger scale.......or average basement.......or big master bath suite.....usually take an easy day to lay and tape the backerboard.
Layout time depends on that particular job.......
Laying the tile is usually a full day for the field......another full day.....sometimes even longer than the first..for all the peremiter tile......then back another day to grout.
Lotsa my work is on the diagonal......or square, but chopped up with walls everywhere......so the light "next" day of running the peremiter never seems to come.
Nothing wrong with doing it like you describe.........rare is the job for me where I can do a whole floor in on day with the snapper by my side.....and running to the wet saw adds time.....so I fell better covering lotsa ground one day...then cutting and fitting the next.
Jeff
..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
There's no problem that I know of setting field tile on day one and perimeter tiles the next... just have to remember that on some cuts (like sliding the cut tiles into the undercut portion of door jambs) it's best to also leave a few field tiles around it unset, otherwise you'll play heck trying to get that cut tile into it's spot without breaking it. I know you can cut the tiles in half and fit the pieces, but that's always seemed a little tacky to me especially when it could have been avoided. Best of luck!
I basically do it that way all the time. Why set up my wetsaw more then one day. If I can use my snap cutter I keep making the cuts cause its pretty fast anyway but if I need the wetsaw and have to keep running outside to make cuts I just save that detail for last.
Namastile
Andy
You don’t complete your inner work before you do your outer work. Nor do you say, "Well, the hell with the inner work: I’ll go do the outer work because it’s so important and pressing." That’s not conscious either. The conscious thing is the simultaneous doing of both. "Ram Dass"
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