skip to main content

Help! Wood looking tiles being laid in a wrong pattern!

10 years ago

Hi all,

My contractor laid my tiles in halves instead of what we agreed upon (1/3th or more random). He said since kitchen, which have totally different tiles and size, was laid in halves, it would look better if the living room tiles are laid the same way. Now I'm stuck at the point where, what should I do?? Rip these tiles and redo? I guess these tiles cannot be reuse anymore? Does it look bad to leave it halves like this? I don't have enough experience to make this judgement. Can someone give me an input? Thank you very much!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

tae763
Original Author
10 years ago
Just for you to see the room pattern. It's basically 3 rectangular rooms and be hide the wall is the kitchen.
User
10 years ago
I'm really conflicted on this. I generally prefer the random look but since the tiles are all the same length and aren't all that long, I don't mind the uniform pattern.
At the very least I'd be irritated that I asked for it one way and got something different without being consulted.
Related Discussions
help! our wood look tile was not laid in a random pattern!
Q
Comments (11)
With hardwood, boards are all different lengths, so it's easy to get a random pattern. With tile, every tile is exactly the same length, so you're never going to achieve anything near the randomness of wood. You can start each row off with a randomly different length tile, but whatever the pattern is of seams nearest the wall where you start will be exactly replicated every 3 feet, or however long your tiles are. I wouldn't have picked that pattern. I thought brick pattern was the standard way to do it. But I just did a quick houzz search on "wood look tile" and there are lots of ways to do it. In retrospect, the tiler should have consulted with you on what pattern you wanted. And you should have specified your expectation. But you know that now. :-/
...See More
Herringbone brick tile - laid wrong way?
Q
Comments (17)
I think it’s right because you want to have that direction when you walk in the door. We are going to have that problem with our hallway. The entry and great room will all be correct and going the long way but the hallway will be the short way. Don’t like it but it’s how it has to be. With tile though, if you really wanted the mud room to go the other way you could have had them lay tiles straight in the doorway and then switched directions.
...See More
Need help deciding wood floor colors to go with new wood looking tile
Q
Comments (35)
The hardwoods are extremely valuable. I would work in a medium brown that eliminates all yellow/orange/red. To do that, the stain will have to have a green undertone. That means a specialized mix for your situation. A HIGH END hardwood flooring professional can do this for you. It will take a couple of weeks to find the right colour/mix. The professional will come in and strip a section of flooring (like 20ft x 20ft). S/he will then apply different stain mixes to this area for you to view. You will then choose the colour that is the best fit for your situation. At a mutually agreeable time, the professional will come in and refinish the entire house - including the stairs (quite expensive but well worth it). The banister can then be stained/painted to match the hardwoods. The only time I would look at moving away from hardwood is in the DEEP south or in very hot climates. And it would be VERY helpful if the entire house was built on concrete and not wood joists. Tile is very heavy. It often requires wooden subfloors to be beefed up (decrease the deflection rating = no movement that would damage the tile). The wood is worth saving - unless you absolutely hate it (disregard the colour). If you love tile and wish to have it everywhere, then go for it. But realize that hot climates are some of the few places where this is considered normal. Everywhere else (any place with "winter") would find this a nuisance should you wish to sell the home. Besides, you mentioned budget. Ripping out the hardwood and replacing with tile would be double the cost of refinishing the hardwoods.
...See More
Help? Flooring tile needs to be laid in two different directions
Q
Comments (11)
Probably wood. You will need to have the areas that are NOT covered in tile to be assessed. The subfloors need to be assessed for deflection ratings. Tile is REALLY heavy. Like super heavy. So heavy it can crack under it's own weight. The area that is currently tiled is probably fine. Are there any areas that have cracked or loose tiles that feel like they are "popping up"? The carpet would be considered "very light". Which means the subfloor underneath doesn't have to be very strong. Which probably means it is as thin as code allows. Tile needs a very STIFF subfloor. Carpet needs nothing but 'hard'. You will need to have your VERY SKILLED installer do a subfloor assessment to reach a deflection rating (there is a document that carries these ratings...and it has to do with joist distance + thickness of subfloor). A carpeted subfloor is often VERY poor. I hope you have already seen the "worst case scenario" quote for a FULL SUBFLOOR revamp to ensure all floors are even AND thick enough to carry the tile. Please look over your quote to ensure it contains this option. That's just about all I would worry about. Ignore the hardwood direction. You will be removing it sooner rather than later. Set out the tile in ONE direction and keep going. The wood doesn't matter because it isn't staying.
...See More
tae763
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for the reply JFC. Yes, the tiles are not very long, and I have no idea if I will or will not like the uniform way. I guess my question is, is the uniform way look normal? Do people lay these kind of tiles like that? I don't want to rip the whole thing out if it's not necessary, so is it necessary is the main question (necessary = bad looking and will bug me so bad that it has to be redone)?

This post was edited by tae763 on Wed, Jan 8, 14 at 18:01
StoneTech
10 years ago
Wood-Look tiles should be typically be laid in 1/3 dimensions BECAUSE they are generally somewhat "bowed." If you lay them in halves, you'll get lippage. If you go with "thirds," it is minimized.
tae763
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you StoneTech. That's my thought too, but is halve really "bad"?
glennsfc
10 years ago
I have to agree with Stone Tech. Visually I find that halves looks good with this tile. If there is no serious lipage between the tiles, I'd say leave it. A more random layout of this tile might give you a result that would look chopped and possibly a little odd.
User
10 years ago
My feeling mirrors that of glennsfc. If the product had longer and random lengths I'd say lay it random. With the shorter uniform lengths it's harder to get a decent stagger distance between the end joints. I think the 1/2 overlap is acceptable. It looks nice in the picture and will look great once it's grouted.
tae763
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all for your input!
tracey3
10 years ago
SO!!!!???? what did you decide to do?
i was in a very similar situation early december. so curious to hear more!!!!

also. what is the name of that tile? it looks like it might even be the exact same tile as ours too.
StoneTech
10 years ago
"Halves" can be bad if there is significant "bowing" to the material....that's why the 1/3 plan seems to work best as it minimizes the "toe trippers..."

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Why Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom

By By Any Design Ltd.

You love its beauty and instant high-quality appeal, but bathroom marble has its drawbacks. Here's what to know before you buy

PATTERN Fit to be Tiled: Get Some Pattern on the Floor for Excitement Underfoot

Get all the visual delight of a rug with more durability by treating your floors to a pattern done up in tile

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Laid-Back Comfort in the New York Woods

By Mary Jo Bowling

Expanded for a family, this unpretentious cabin puts a fresh face on rustic sensibility

REMODELING GUIDES 10 Tile Patterns to Showcase Your Floor

By Debbie Snider

There's more to a tile floor than the tile itself; how you lay out your tile can change the look and feel of the room

TILE Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look

By Becky Harris

Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles

TROPICAL STYLE My Houzz: New York Chic and Laid-Back Hawaiian Style on Maui

By Ashley Camper Photography

A relocating New Yorker designs an island home influenced by her former city life

MOST POPULAR Trend Watch: 13 Kitchen Looks Expected to Be Big in 2015

By Natasha Saroca

3 designers share their thoughts on what looks, finishes and design elements will be on trend in the year ahead

WINDOWS Diamond Muntins Help Windows Look Sharp

By Rachel Grace

As the real deal or a decorative grille, diamond window muntins show attention to detail and add traditional flair

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: Laid-Back Style in a San Francisco Home

These first-time homeowners re-create the beach vibe of their SoCal hometown in a 1902 Victorian flat

MATERIALS Raw Materials Revealed: Brick, Block and Stone Help Homes Last

By Buckminster Green LLC

Learn about durable masonry essentials for houses and landscapes, and why some weighty-looking pieces are lighter than they look

Sponsored

Buckeye Restoration & Remodeling Inc.

7 Reviews

Central Ohio's Premier Home Remodelers Since 1996

More Discussions

Somerset Red Oak Floors

1

Red oak floors refinished ORANGE?!?

19

Need help with Kitchen floor next to hardwood

12

Countertop vs. Floor Terrazzo HELP!!

11

walnut stain cabinets with Brazilian cherry floors??

4