How Square Should Tiles Be??

[Robert19306]

Me and my mate who is a building contractor have just started to tile my new house with some 560x560 polished porcelain tiles and are having a bit of trouble getting things square. I have only a little tiling experience and he has been tiling on and off for about 10 years with his father of 30 years experience sometimes they tile the houses they build and sometimes not but both men are extremely tidy and fussy. Basically our problem is the front edge of the tile measures 560.5 and the back measures 561.5 some 562, so we have tiles that are a bit off the square with a 3 mil grout space so we can have 4 corners meet perfectly but then the next set will not as there's always one corner sticking out too far. We have tried to rectify it with leaving some of the grout joints a minuscule amount larger but neither of us are quite happy with it and as its a large area kitchen/sunroom approx 80m2 it is getting a bit annoying. So far we have only dry laid the tiles in case of exactly this problem and are unsure what to do next. How square would you expect tiles to be? Ps their not paid for yet luckily.

 

[StevieBoy]

Me and my mate who is a building contractor have just started to tile my new house with some 560x560 tiles and are having a bit of trouble getting things square. I have only a little tiling experience and he has been tiling on and off for about 10 years with his father of 30 years experience sometimes they tile the houses they build and sometimes not but both men are extremely tidy and fussy. Basically our problem is the front edge of the tile measures 560.5 and the back measures 561.5 some 562, so we have tiles that are a bit off the square with a 3 mil grout space so we can have 4 corners meet perfectly but then the next set will not as there's always one corner sticking out too far. We have tried to rectify it with leaving some of the grout joints a minuscule amount larger but neither of us are quite happy with it and as its a large area kitchen/sunroom approx 80m2 it is getting a bit annoying. So far we have only dry laid the tiles in case of exactly this problem and are unsure what to do next. How square would you expect tiles to be? Ps their not paid for yet luckily.

Firstly, are they ceramic tiles?

 

[Robert19306]

Sorry they are polished porcelain.
Original post edited also.

 

[StevieBoy]

Sorry they are polished porcelain.

Ok and what is the size difference in mm's again - just so I'm clear.

 

[Old Mod]

It generally tells you on the box the tolerance levels.
Porcelain that is rectified should be spot on, other porcelains, not so much.
Have a read of this, it may hold some answers for you.

Tile Manufacture Size Tolerances - Tile Size Tolerances Allowed?

 

[Robert19306]

Basically one end is 1-1.5 MM. wider than the other.

 

[StevieBoy]

Basically one end is 1-1.5 MM. wider than the other.

Hmm, it's not uncommon and you can make a decent job with them, just don't use spacers.
Not easy, if your not entirely happy you could always try to get them changed - but the next batch may be as bad.

 

[J Sid]

B&Q 3rd's

 

[StevieBoy]

B&Q 3rd's

More than likely.

 

[Robert19306]

They came from a small local supplier. The brand is I believe halcon but says emotion ceramics on the box. The tile is Kenia marfil. Can be seen at emotionceramics.ca.
So not b and q

 

[StevieBoy]

They came from a small local supplier. The brand is I believe halcon but says emotion ceramics on the box. The tile is Kenia marfil. Can be seen at emotionceramics.ca.
So not b and q

Just out of interest, what country?

 

[Old Mod]

One way to deal with it is to use a chalk line and grid your floor out.
It's extra work but it'll overcome the problem.
Take the most common size and using chalk line grid out your floor in a chequerboard pattern of 9 tiles. Every 3 rows and columns. Allowing a 3mm joint on the top of the tile. So if they're 560, then grid a line every 1689mm in both directions.
So effectively u start on the left hand line, and finish SHORT on the next line, that's because the next line is the START of the next box. Clear as mud?

Forget spacers and just make sure all 9 tiles fit within your box.
As long as your chalk lines are correct u'll end up with an acceptable finish.
As you fill every box, stand back and adjust by eye an even joint.
Otherwise change em.
U won't able to use spacers, the floor will twist.

 

[Brian the Tile]

If they are not right they will never be right ,take them back

 

[Andy Allen]

They differed at batches..?
Check the calibration number on three box.

 

[Old Mod]

If they are not right they will never be right ,take them back

Does that mean u don't tile with BCT tiles Brian? Haha

 

[Just Rizzle]

welcome to the past tiles were all like that in the 1980 used to get em straight with a 3mt feather straight edge no spaces just a good eye and a tight string lineand the feather edge

 

[StevieBoy]

welcome to the past tiles were all like that in the 1980 used to get em straight with a 3mt feather straight edge no spaces just a good eye and a tight string lineand the feather edge

Agreed mate, yep you have to have laser eyes.

 

[Markltile]

Make sure you have the arrows on the back pointing in the same direction and the joints might meet up.

 

[Robert19306]

Thanks for all the help guys it really is much appreciated as my wife loves the tiles so bringing them back is a last resort and the woman who sold them to us is extremely nice lady so I don't want to be going back complaining without good reason. Just as a matter of interest how accurately sized would you expect this size of tile to be? And if the s**t really does hit the fan and they all go back are there any recommended brands that I could look at? I also think I will take my mates advice and send back the Dunlop set fast adhesive for something that will give us a little more time to fiddle with each row.

 

[Two-Trowels]

Just done a floor with Nero Granite 600x600 polished porcelain and every one was bang on the same size and square.

 

[Old Mod]

Thanks for all the help guys it really is much appreciated as my wife loves the tiles so bringing them back is a last resort and the woman who sold them to us is extremely nice lady so I don't want to be going back complaining without good reason. Just as a matter of interest how accurately sized would you expect this size of tile to be? And if the s**t really does hit the fan and they all go back are there any recommended brands that I could look at? I also think I will take my mates advice and send back the Dunlop set fast adhesive for something that will give us a little more time to fiddle with each row.

Was the link in post 5 not of any use then?

 

[Dave]

Another option to overcome sizey tiles is open the joint size...3mm might not always be possible.. Just a thought.

 

[Robert19306]

Was the link in post 5 not of any use then?

Yes mate. I did read it and it seems my size problems are very mild compared to some of the acceptable ranges quoted in that thread lol. Think I'm just going to have to get on with it and stop moaning. Just can't stand the thought of having a tile corner slightly out of line and having to look at it forever. Lol

 

[Old Mod]

But the overall size of your floor is large, u can't dissect to the mm, tbh as a person with limited experience you're expecting the impossible!
So splitting it into manageable bays I think is the best shot you have of giving a good overall effect.
You just don't have the experience to do anything else.
This way u'll achieve the best u possibly can.
As @Dave says maybe 3mm from top of joint is a little tight. Measure 3mm from underside giving u approx 4mm joint at the top.
And unfortunately no matter how many batches u try the sizing of the tiles could be perfectly normal for this tile!

 

[Dave]

Yes mate. I did read it and it seems my size problems are very mild compared to some of the acceptable ranges quoted in that thread lol. Think I'm just going to have to get on with it and stop moaning. Just can't stand the thought of having a tile corner slightly out of line and having to look at it forever. Lol

Once grouted with a suitable grout joint width , itll look fine.