Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - tile spacing in shower

Is it necessary to space 1'x1' beveled ceramic tiles on a shower wall? If we don't space them, they fit perfectly across the back wall (5'). If they must be spaced, how wide should the space be? Also, is it better to stagger (like laying block) or install vertically? Thank you.

Hello Jack,

Yes, you must space tiles at least 1/16 for grout. (the smaller the tiles, the smaller the grout joint.)

Do you mean stagger so they look like a checkerboard? Then yes, that would look fine.

Connie

I'm not an expert by any means, but I've been studying up on this quite a bit (hoping to do my own house soon!), and from my understanding of what you are asking:
1) YES--the tiles will have to have a spacing big enough for grout--maybe someone could tell you the maximum spacing so that you can leave out one tile all the way up on that back wall.
2) Installing vertically would probably be easiest if you are using square tiles (which you are) firstly because they already come in sheets with mesh backing that way most times, and also because it seems silly to cut more tiles (and possibly increase waste) if you don't have to.

Now, that is just my opinion, and there are probably some experts on here that could tell you better than I. Check out thisoldhouse.com or someplace similar and see the videos on installing tile to get a better idea of what you should do. Good luck!

As mentioned above, you should have a minimum 1/16the space for your grout between the tiles - you can purchase spacers at any tile store/big box store. You're gonna have to trim that last row of tile about a half inch or so to make them fit. Sorry!!

Laying them... Not sure of your terminology... As you're laying pretty good size tile, you don't want them to slide downwards on the vertical surface as you install them... To that end, I lay my bottom row first - using a spacer to maintain the bottom gap (1/8th - 1/4 inch)against the tub/shower. From there I work my way upwards - using tile spacers to maintain my lines.

Hello again, Jack,

Are you just using individual 1x1" tiles, not webbed?

Are these tiles just an accent row on the shower wall...you're not doing a whole wall of those small tile, are you?

And is this a shower or a tub surround?

Hi Connie,

Thank you for your advice. The tiles are 1 foot x 1 foot, not 1" x 1". I will be doing the entire wall surrounding the shower. Since I have to make cuts anyway, I will probably stagger the placement.

Thank you to all who replied.

Jack

OKAY! That's a huge relief!

I posted a link for Mark in this thread
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=341234

that will take you to a tutorial for how to install, how to space, where to start, etc.

Let me know if this info helps you out.

Connie

Hi Connie,

Thank you for your advice. The tiles are 1 foot x 1 foot, not 1" x 1". I will be doing the entire wall surrounding the shower. Since I have to make cuts anyway, I will probably stagger the placement.

Thank you to all who replied.

Jack

D'oh! Sorry--I read them to be 1 inch by 1 inch....:o :o