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More costly to lay slate in brick pattern with small grout line?

17 years ago

We are going to have montauk blue slate tiles (12x12) in the kitchen and all wet areas of the home. I would like for them to be laid in a brick wall pattern. Will this look funny since they are square and not rectangle? This particular slate does not come in rectangles. Also, will the tile layer charge more to lay in this pattern?

I also want a thin grout line (not as thick as what you would use for ceramic and porcelain). What is the "proper" grout line for slate floors and will this cost more?

After building a home for the past six months, I've learned that just about anything that is not "standard/the norm/what people usually do etc." will cost extra. Thus, I'm figuring the brick pattern and smaller grout line will cost more.

What do you think?

What type of grout to use and which color for a dark gray blue slate--looks very similar to the vermont blue gray slate.

I'm looking at Mapei grout colors from Lowes. Are these okay?

thanks,

bridget

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Comments (4)

floorguy
17 years ago
Yes, patterns are more costly for labor.
ryandoege13
17 years ago
Yes, it will cost more to lay in a brick pattern, also known as a running bond pattern, but you will have difficulty getting an installer to lay it with grout joints smaller than 1/4". Slate is not typically cut perfectly square, and joints smaller than 1/4" make it more difficult to lay. On the grout use sanded grout and a couple good Mapei colors are gray, sahara beige, and charcoal. Mapei makes very good grout also, it has a chemical inhibitor in it to prevent mold and mildew growth.
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glennsfc
17 years ago
I wonder what Bill Vincent's response will be to your question.

As for me...why should it cost more to do a running bond install? Same amount of cuts...I don't get it. But then, builders find any little stray thing to tack on an additional charge...regardless of whether or not it is really justified.
floorman67
17 years ago
because it takes more time to ensure the half-tile drop pattern every other row is in proper alignment. In initial layout for the control lines, to more grid lines, and/or periodic checking.

To do it absolutely right, you would install 2 sets of grid lines one way. One that you set the initial pattern to, and the second to set the half-tile drop pattern to that designates the brick/running-bond pattern overall.

Also it can be more time consuming to cut the same number of cuts, but in more dimensions/sizes, which means more frequent measuring and setting of the wet saw cut width guage or snap cutter width guage.

the latter is less of an issue when net-fitting to finished baseboards becasue they are all independently measured, but more of an issue if rough fitting to a wall that is going to be covered with base where you could make one setting for a wall and adjust it 1/8" here and there as neeeded depending on the previous cut for the standard install.

time is money.

more time is more money.

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