Tiling a kitchen splashback / window

[davemul]

Morning all...

I have a kichen splashback and sourrounding areas to tile. About 5m2. Im going to use 10x10mm tiles. Got a few q's if you dont mind taking a look and advising?

I will set out and start from the centre of the wall... but should I start at the very bottom letting the tiles rest on the (covered) worktop? If not.. where should I begin?

For the main splashback behind the gas hob I will start from the middle of the wall. But what about the other surrounding walls.. do I start each wall from the centre or continue from the wall join from the first?

What is the best trowel to use? I have a 10mm square notch that I used to lay my marmox 40mm io the conservatory floor... im assuming this is too big. Would an 8mm square notch be about right?

Also if anyone has any valuable tips, please share 🙂

thank you all, I will post pics of the progress!

Dave

 

[Ian]

Hey up Dave, use a 6mm trowel for tiles that size, any bigger is just wasting adhesive! (I'm assuming you have nice flat walls). As for your setting out, if it works out by centering each wall do it that way, I'd suggest working around the focal points such as the hob and the window. Just make sure you don't have any tiny cuts anywhere, also remember that there are 2 centres when setting out, a grout line and the middle of the tile.

 

[davemul]

Thanks Bri.. sorry to be so dumb but 2 centres / grout line?

Do you mean centralise the wall, mark the tile then gap for grout and mark next tile and so on?

what is the usual grout line width / size tile spacer for 10x10 tiles?

oh and do I start off level with the worktop, work my way along then go up a row?

thanks v much for your help
Dave

 

[Ian]

If you find the centre of the wall and draw a line you can either use this line as a grout line or put a mark in the centre of your tile and line this up with the line, so in your case, the middle of your tile would be 50mm. All this is basically doing is moving your setting out along by half a tile but still keeping the centre. If this doesn't make sense I'll stick a picture up. I always come straight off the work surface but remember not to grout the gap as it will need siliconing, some tilers will put a 2mm spacer between the bottom tiles and the work surface so that the Silicon has a bit more to grab to, personal preference really, the key thing either way is not to grout the gap!

 

[davemul]

Gotcha! All understood.

thanks a mil mate

 

[Ian]

No bother mate, anything else you get stuck with, ask away!