Tile spacers.

[grumpygrouter]

I remove them too!

 

[chris.tiling]

I remove them now - used to leave them in but got fed up with ghosting

 

[Colour Republic]

Well I'm surprised you all take them out, my spacers are neigh on impossible to get out. I push them right to the back of the tile as in some cases the shoulder of a tile can be as much as 1mm front to back but is in most cases at least 0.3mm. So if i push them back I know they are sitting on the thickess part of the tile and tiles won't creep off level over a distance, this is also the reason I try to only use spacers that are well made rather than a different size front to back.

As most of you know I'm not trained but time served so apart from possible ghosting what other reasons are there for removing?

 

[dhsanta65]

I always pull the spacers out & reuse if possible, anyway I'm scared of ghosts :yikes:

 

[brian c]

Well I'm surprised you all take them out, my spacers are neigh on impossible to get out. I push them right to the back of the tile as in some cases the shoulder of a tile can be as much as 1mm front to back but is in most cases at least 0.3mm. So if i push them back I know they are sitting on the thickess part of the tile and tiles won't creep off level over a distance, this is also the reason I try to only use spacers that are well made rather than a different size front to back.

As most of you know I'm not trained but time served so apart from possible ghosting what other reasons are there for removing?

i also am aware of the different thickness's from front to back of spacer and tend not to use these spacers.The problem with these spacers is obvious..when you push them in there is a chance of slight movement and possible debonding of tile and grout line moving..well thats all i can see problematic.Each to their own.imo.

 

[Colour Republic]

i also am aware of the different thickness's from front to back of spacer and tend not to use these spacers.The problem with these spacers is obvious..when you push them in there is a chance of slight movement and possible debonding of tile and grout line moving..well thats all i can see problematic.Each to their own.imo.

Cheers Bri, when you say push them in, do you mean before or after addy has gone off? I think you mean after as this might debond the tile as you say.

When I lay the tile i push the spacer to the back as I go not after the addy has set, this is why i can't remove them with out a lot of grief because the addy has hold of my spacer and refuses to give it me back. So i have more chance of debonding the tile just by trying to remove the spacers.

Are you guys taught to place the spacer at the front of the tile so it's easier to remove after?

 

[grumpygrouter]

Cheers Bri, when you say push them in, do you mean before or after addy has gone off? I think you mean after as this might debond the tile as you say.

When I lay the tile i push the spacer to the back as I go not after the addy has set, this is why i can't remove them with out a lot of grief because the addy has hold of my spacer and refuses to give it me back. So i have more chance of debonding the tile just by trying to remove the spacers.

Are you guys taught to place the spacer at the front of the tile so it's easier to remove after?

I was taught always to push them to the back of the tile as this is where the mould dimensions are taken from and therefore the tiles should be more consistant measurement wise on the back...unless they are rectified of course.

 

[Eddie]

I use + spacers, but only push one leg of the spacer into the joint. I use a lot of them, but can remove them easily, and re-use. I've never had any probs.

 

[Colour Republic]

I was taught always to push them to the back of the tile as this is where the mould dimensions are taken from and therefore the tiles should be more consistant measurement wise on the back...unless they are rectified of course.

Yeah that's what I said in my last post but didn't put it quite as well.

... push them right to the back of the tile as in some cases the shoulder of a tile can be as much as 1mm front to back but is in most cases at least 0.3mm.

This is what I do but that makes it very difficult to remove the spacers because they are stuck to the addy, but all you guys say you remove them so you must spend quite a bit of time removing them?

 

[brian c]

yes CR push them in before it sets otherwise if you use the said spacers then you might get probs if you push the spacers in at a later date.