I normally don't do it, but in this case I'm glad I clicked on the link provided by the previous poster. Let me try to clarify... For typical tile, the clay is stamped or cut, then fired. During the firing process, the tile can shrink in this dimension or that, or even slightly warp a bit, so the tiles may not be perfectly uniform or perfectly square, or even perfectly flat. Because of the non-uniformity, it's difficult to lay non-rectified tile with a small grout line. The varying dimensions of the tiles will throw your lines off and you'll get a helter-skelter installation. Rectified tile is cut to size after the clay has been fired. So the tiles are all perfectly uniform in size and they are all perfectly square. And flat. This dimensional perfection allows them to be set with small grout lines for a very slick looking installation. Even with rectified tile where they are uniform in size, setting tile tightly together also requires that lippage (differences in height between adjacent tiles) be minimized. With 1/4" grout joint, a slight difference in height can be "hidden" in the width of the grout. With a smaller grout joint it can't be hidden. So installing rectified tile, which normally gets installed with a tight grout joint, is more labor intensive. Not just in getting the layout lines dead on, but in getting zero lippage as well. More labor means a slower installation which means more money per square foot to install. Mongo

Weedyacres, I agree that a good tile installer does a dry layout first to assess the best way to install the tiles to create as little cuts as possible. If the tile installer would have started the diamond design at my door next to the rug area and worked his way forward so that at least the door area had tiles right up against it and most of the rug area did also, the window area would have no gaps and there would only be a 2" gap by the wall opposite the door. That gap would have been covered up by a 1 7/8th diamond cut of the tile in a few areas leaving the 1/8th width between the other tiles. The tile would have not fell out after being glued and having a quarter round on top. The installer started in the middle of the floor and then told me if he did not due the border I would waste so many tiles since he would have to put tiny pieces about 1/4th to 3/4th all along the edges. After he was done, I only saw spaces of 1 3/8th to 1 1/2 spaces at the door so he was wrong. He also forgot about the other wall on the other side of the door not having to have the tiles 1/8th from the wall since a quarter round would be covering the area. He tried so hard and I know I could have never cut those tiles so I feel very bad but in person, the problems were more noticeable. I also did not want a border in such a little area and I had shown him a picture of what I wanted and he told me 1/8th width was no problem for him with the spacers. I wish when the installer asked me where we should start the tiles, I wish I would have told him, let's lay them all out first and then we shall see how they fit and then I would have realized the tiles should start at the door. I was busy with ear plugs on trying to work but I could not work once he started the border since it was upsetting me. If I had a bigger foyer area, the border would have been nice if it was straight. Once the quarter rounds would have been put back on the sides of the wall, the tiles would have not looked centered anyway and the 3" wide X 12" boards would have not been the same size any more as on the other two walls without the quarter rounds. I now have no tiles and only cement floors blocked by gates but I could not let him do the middle foyer that had 4 doors since I do not feel he knew how to handle doors. Here is a link that might be useful: Album with some pics of the uneven grout lines mainly due to putting a border in that I did not want that created more cuts of the tile making it busier

A Pet's Plea If it should be that I grow frail and weak And pain should keep me from my sleep Then you muct do what must be done For this, the last battle, can't be won. You will be sad- I understand Don't let your grief then stay your hand For this day, more than all the rest Your love and friendship stand the test. We've had so many happy years What is to come can hold no fears You'd not want me to suffer, so When the time comes, please let me go. I know in time you too will see It is a kindness you do to me Although my tail, it's last has waved From pain and suffering I've been saved. Don't grieve that it should be you Who has decided this thing to do We've been so close, we two these years Don't let your heart hold any tears.

11/19/15 1) 65in with 9 tomatoes 2) 55in with 4 tomatoes 3) 51in with 1 tomato Still have very warm weather down in central florida. One thing I have noticed with all my tomatoes is that even with optimum temps now I am not seeing a bunch of tomato production. Anyway, my non fertilizer tomato plant finally has 4 tomatoes and I noticed my premade mix with fert that is lagging behind actually had a sucker about 8 inches long that I somehow failed to see even though this is a single stem so maybe that was holding it back a bit. It did outgrow the potting mix with no fert so who knows maybe it takes off in the next couple weeks.