For shower walls generally it is best to use larger tiles from 4 inch by 4 inch tiles on upward to large format tiles in the 15 inch by 30 inch range from a visual standpoint tile smaller than 4 inches square creates a busy appearance.
Large wall tile placement examples.
Aug 10 2020 you ve found your dream tile shape or maybe the perfect color.
Wall installation lippage can be both a structural and an aesthetic concern.
First establish a series of layout lines to serve as a placement guide by finding the midpoint of each wall and drawing a line across to the opposing wall.
For all of msi s rectangular tiles a minimum of a 1 3 or more off set with 1 8 grout joint size is recommended for rectified tiles and a 3 16 grout joint for non rectified.
If this tolerance isn t met lippage can occur.
After all the penalty for poorly installed wall tile is a lifetime of having to look at the stuff.
However wall tile installation has its own set of rules that you dare break at your own risk.
This is a twist on the basic offset pattern where each tile s edge is only offset by one third of the width of the tile above or below.
So let s look at the basics of wall tile installation that will make everything go a lot smoother less frustrating and less costly.
More seams mean more grout and that presents you with that much more grout.
Explore layout patterns to help you plan the installation.
It creates strong diagonal lines in the pattern and is often used instead of the basic offset pattern with larger tiles to hide imperfections like in this danish home from nordic design.
For regular format tiles between 12 by 12 and 16 by 16 inches you can stay with those measurements or go up to 3 16 depending on the tile and the look you want.
When installing large format tiles and planks it is vital to adhere to the recommended grout line widths recommended patterns and all installation guidelines.
Having a flat or plumb substrate is also critical.
Popular on backsplashes subway tiles attain new heights of style in a herringbone layout.
Certified tile installers.
For proper bonding medium bed mortar should be used in installing tiles with a dimensional length greater than 20 x 20 large rectangles or tiles with greater dimensional thickness than normal.
This layout is a classic but more graphic way to install both large or small rectangular tiles.
Back buttering tiles of this nature in the installation process will also assure proper coverage for body.
The weight of a large format stone tile can cause it to sag or slip during installation on the wall.
Again the maximum tolerance is 1รข 8 inch in 10 feet.
From there you can begin dry fitting the tiles around the room s center point working your way outward in manageable sections to avoid uneven spacing.
A contrasting grout color highlights the unique design.