900x150 Porcelain Planks Spacer Size

[ProPrecisionTiling]

Hello All,

Looking for a little bit of advice for an upcoming job...

900x150 porca planks - what spacer size would you use? 3mm, 5mm or other? Customer wanted them laid in half brick bond but have advised should go for 3/4 running bond to help avoid bowwing/lippage issues. Don't see too many 900's around here, so what spacer size would you go for?

Cheers

 

[Unused Account 1]

2mm

 

[GoneGuy]

2mm would look nice

 

[ProPrecisionTiling]

Looks like 2mm is the shout - cheers lads. Never gone below 3mm on floors before, that rule a bit of amyth then?

 

[GoneGuy]

Not necessarily it’s 3mm for floor by British standards I think ( I’m sure someone will correct me ).
Plus if the tile is bevelled edge using 2mm will give an appearance of 3mm once grouted

 

[ProPrecisionTiling]

Not necessarily it’s 3mm for floor by British standards I think ( I’m sure someone will correct me ).
Plus if the tile is bevelled edge using 2mm will give an appearance of 3mm once grouted

Yeah 3mm is BS standard and always followed that. But in your experience 2mm is more than okay as well? I see the benefit in using 2mm. I will make a decision when I get my hands on the tiles

 

[GoneGuy]

Yes 2mm is ok as long as substrate is solid etc.
I’ve even gone down to 1mm in a small area

 

[On one]

30mm for me.
Seen a few plank floors where 2mm spacers have used and it ''just didn't look right''

 

[LM]

2mm for me, but I do wonder if you’ve use levelling clips before? Perhaps you have but if not this job is the ideal scenario for them.

 

[LM]

BS standards could do with a massive update imo.

 

[WetSaw]

30mm for me.
Seen a few plank floors where 2mm spacers have used and it ''just didn't look right''

That must have taken some grout!

 

[Simon Dale]

Ive done 1mm before looks good and didn't use clips lol

 

[Andy Allen]

I would use eye's and a straight edge..🙂

 

[ProPrecisionTiling]

Thanks for the replies everyone looks like a toss-up between 2 or 3mm then.

Probably go 2mm as it appears the British Standards are a bit outdated and a lot of you are disregarding them anyway! Ha. My only worry was they were there for a reason but it seems pros are having no issues with 2mm (or even smaller)

 

[Italy]

You have not yet said if the product is rectification or not

 

[ProPrecisionTiling]

You have not yet said if the product is rectification or not

None rectified tiles

 

[Italy]

None rectified tiles

then no more than 2 mm is ok, just my opinion 🙂

 

[Dumbo]

Why do people believe bs needs updating as my understanding was 3mm grout joint was to help allow a modicum of movement in the instalation and nothing to do with the quality of the sizing and shape of the tiles . As @Simon Dale mentioned earlier today customer wants 1mm joints can he do it , i expect so , is it wise different story . I know its one extreme to another but i am highlighting a point. Please educate me if I am wrong

 

[Italy]

I do not understand why there are still the BS rules,
when there are the latest UNI 11493 standards available,
written by all European associations, including BS.
Uni 11493 says:
IN NO EVENT SHALL BE PRESCRIBED OR ADOPTED ONE
WIDTH LOWER 2 MM.
appendix recently added,
difference between large and small sizes, given that
the structural movement of large format slabs is much more
accentuated of small sizes due to lower rows of grouting
it is advisable to be 3mm wide. (Advisable).

peace be with you, amen. 😉

 

[Qwerty]

We won't be in the EU soon! 😀😛

 

[Italy]

We won't be in the EU soon! 😀😛

are you sure geoff?
but it does not matter that, europe also includes uk,
European continent. stop (I'm not talking about European Union)
I repeat, UNI rules have also been written by the British association.

 

[On one]

That must have taken some grout!

Yeah,no lips either!

 

[Qwerty]

are you sure geoff?

About as sure as I am that nobody in the UK has any concern or knowledge of the UNI 11493 standards when they can barely understand let alone follow British Standards.

 

[Italy]

About as sure as I am that nobody in the UK has any concern or knowledge of the UNI 11493 standards when they can barely understand let alone follow British Standards.

great I'd say

 

[Tile Shop]

For anyone who cares, its all about covering ones posterior and no-one wanting to take responsibility for anything less than what BS recommend. Chances are going for smaller grout joints will not be a problem providing the preparation is perfect and you have the appropriate movement joints and/or decoupling in place.

But, adhesive/grout manufacturers will give a condition along the lines of "products are guaranteed on the strict condition that the relevant standards for tile fixing are followed (BS-5385)". Gives them a quick get-out if the defecation hits the oscillation. Then its down to the tile manufacturer to whether they will guarantee their tile if fitted with a smaller grout joint than what BS recommend.

Minimum recommendations:

BS5385 Part 1 - Internal wall tiling (7.2.1.6):
1-2 mm

BS5385 Part 2 - External wall tiling (6.3.3):
Extruded tiles = 5-10mm
Dust Pressed (ceramic/porcelain) = 3mm
Natural Stone calibrated = 3mm
Natural Stone un-calibrated = 5mm

BS5385 Part 3 - Internal and External Floor tiling (7.1.5):
minimum 3mm

All the above dependant on tile dimension irregularities.

Parts 4 and 5 are additional standards based on different service conditions and natural stone types. No specific joint widths given so revert back to the underlying parts 1, 2 or 3 which should always be followed.