Tile Size Question -- Or Why Nothing Gets Done

11 years ago

I hate decorating decisions -- especially expensive ones! This is $5K labor only. (Mainland costs do not apply in Hawaii.)

We need to re-tile floors in two small bathrooms at our condo. The areas to be tiled are each roughly 3 X 6.

The rest of the condo has 13" tile, laid on the diagonal. I'm thinking bigger tiles in the bathrooms -- fewer grout lines being less 'busy'. What do you think?

We also need to re-tile a tiny (not even 34 X 34) shower in one of the baths. Same dimension tile as the floor tile?

I think diagonals on the floors. Not sure about the shower. You?

Also, the main floor tile is a motled 'Maui Dirt Red'. I'm looking at a less deep red mottled tile for the bathroom floors -- not to make a shocking change to something light colored. Does that make sense? I can't match what we have -- no longer available. But...can I then go lighter for the shower walls? (Don't want to shower in a 'dark cave'.)

Toilets, sinks and tub are beige porcelain.

The tile I like is American Olean Costa Rei. Floor tile comes 12 X 12 and 18 X 18. Shower wall tile comes 3 X 6, 6 X 6, 10 X 14.

I'm looking at Oro Meiele for floors and Peitre Bianca for shower walls.

(I'll also post on the Decorating Forum.)

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Comments (10)

morz8 - Washington Coast
11 years ago
I don't visualize well, would need to see a picture of the bath before I could place a vote...

But when you said same size tile for the shower floor my 'slippery alarm' bells started sounding.

This house has three 1955 tiled baths. Something has to be said about the workmanship and quality of the components - They are spotlessly clean, fully functional, and dated. I'm ignoring them and will make a decision on them at a later date when a remodeling mess sounds more acceptable to me ;)

My shower floor tiles are slightly under 1 1/2". There are lots of grout lines to keep anyone from ending up in a wet heap on the floor.
chisue
Original Author
11 years ago
My post was misleading. Sorry. *Shower floors* are usually laid with a 'mat' with small tiles. I'm questioning if I need to use the same color tiles on the bathroom floor and the shower *walls*. I sort of think I do, just to avoid yet another 'clash' in a small room.

If I need to continue with 'dark tiles' into the bathroom flooring, I'm concerned that using the same color on the shower walls will be too dark.

If I can use a lighter tile -- no problem using the same thing on floors and shower walls. Is this a no-no because the hall floors are dark?

None of the tiles under consideration are heavily glazed, shiny/slick.

The current tiles in the bathrooms are individually laid, glazed, 2" tiles -- what a labor!
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sjerin
11 years ago
I vote for as light as possible. Would it look so bad to use off-white in the shower? I hate the showering-in-a-cave feeling!
nicole__
11 years ago
I do a lot of remodels. Is there a window in the shower? A canned light in the ceiling of the shower?

Usually I find porcelain tile that's on sale....you have Home Depot as I recall seeing them where I was visiting....? You can also shop online & send it to the store.

If your going to spend that kind of money on labor....how do you feel about incorporating marble or granite into your plans?

Subway tile is a safe....in style and lasting look...

Edited to address tile size:

I cut 12"x12" tiles in half so they match the floor but are smaller on the shower wall. Big tiles, even 18" ones will work diagonally like you suggested and a light color is GREAT! The floor and walls need to be VERY similiar to get a consistent look....

Earth tones are in...slate is VERY "in" right now. Porcelain tile is better than ceramic....

White/grey Carerra marble and a mat floor of it is VERY IN!

This post was edited by nicole__ on Wed, Jan 28, 15 at 16:37
chisue
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks! I need a LOT of help! Seems we all agree on diagonals and as close to 'same' as possible for floor and shower walls.

Advice here has been to be color-consistent, hall-to-bathroom, but y'all think that's not important?

Wouldn't 12 X 12 be just enough 'off' to look odd adjacent to to 13 X 13. Better to have a bigger difference.

Nicole -- No high-maintenance materials possible. We rent when we're not here and have to depend on cleaners -- who vary from spacey to downright destructive. No windows, but the vanity side of the shower bathroom has mirrored walls and two 100 watt sconces on dimmers. There is also a ceiling exhaust fan light. Maybe with enough glass, a dark tone would not be a 'cave'.

The labor cost seems *ridiculous*, but almost everything is a third more here. Three bids are all about $5K. How many man hours do you see here? Demolish existing tiles on floor and shower stall; cut and lay new; re-set toilets. Two 3 X 6 floors; shower 34 X 34; plumbing doesn't move. We're ground floor; park at the door.
Elmer J Fudd
11 years ago
I think no one's eye is going to be able to notice a 1 inch size difference for adjacent tiles on a diagonal. I also think a consistent color attempt isn't all that important. If it's different tile, that will be noticeable. People don't always have the same flooring throughout a unit.

Given that it's a mostly a rental, I would go for some kind of not too light variegated pattern and dark-ish grout. I'd guess a good part of the cost is the shower. It's not like the floor, they need to build in the waterproofing underneath (with whichever of several techniques they use) before applying the tile.

You've gotten competing quotes, that's what it is there. Hang loose, Bro!
nicole__
11 years ago
chisue.......my last rental got grey tile with grey grout for the cleaning issues you mentioned. The bigger the tile...= less work. Fewer man hours. If the tile in the shower goes to the ceiling and your tiling under the vanity? Tile baseboard? Remove the toilet for later use....lots of scraping and I'd remove the wall board & flooring underlayment.

Then I use hardibacker on the floor and wonderboard on the walls. Start fresh. If you use big tiles set square...not offset(more cuts), not diagonal(more cuts) that would cut labor costs too. It just doesn't look as nice.

I seal the grout with an additive, makes it easier to clean AND use Hydrex on it later once it's set.

Sounds like you have plenty of light. As a landlord concentrate on making it LOOK clean. I'd go with grey tile and grout myself...

This is how I'd break it down:
2 people, one cutting tile, one hanging it:

8 hours demo
3 hours hanging wall board & floor board
8 hours on a diagonal cut tile design with a 4" border around the shower and floor

3 hours grouting it all , let it set to dry for a day

5 hours resetting the vanity, faucets & toilet , clean up grout

4 days approx to get it done. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut......if your using a plumber, then a tile guy & they alternate back and forth.....could take weeks to fit you in their schedule.
chisue
Original Author
11 years ago
Ya' Snidely, you're right. DH's favorite name for a business out here is Suck 'Em Up Pumping. (They service port-a-potties.) I'll just have to spend what it takes, and stop driving myself crazy.
chisue
Original Author
11 years ago
Nicole -- Thanks so much for all your time to figure this out. I guess the job is worth the money.

He's also going to apply a backsplash in the kitchen -- another thing I have to choose! I want to remove the over-the-range microwave and have just a recirculating fan. (Guests keep breaking the handle on the M/W; I'll go with the smallest countertop I can find.)

He will replace two hollow core doors with solids so I can hang towel bars on the inside of the shower bath door...and so they feel less cheap!

Thanks to you and to all who have helped. The work cant happen until May, but I want to get the decision-making *over*.
nicole__
11 years ago
chisue....your welcome.

I'd like to ad that I stay in a LOT of hotels, on the ski slopes or Islands.

Here are a few of the places I've stayed. It might give you some ideas...?

http://www.wakatobi.com/vr/vr.html

http://en.hiltonhoteldeals.com/australia-newzealand-southpacific?WT.mc_id=zMWWAAA0EA1WW2PSH3Search4DGGeneric7GW842004&WT.srch=1&utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=paidsearch#australia

click on room details:
https://www.totalrewards.com/reserve/?roomtype=AUG&propcode=clv&_ga=1.165105725.345483018.1422713182#calendar/propCode=CLV&roomtype=AUG&adults=2&children=0amp;LOS=2&roomDetails=%5B%7B%22Adults%22%3A2%2C%22Children%22%3A0%7D%5D&nodate=true&tripCode=&action=FindRooms&arrivalDate=02/01/2015&departureDate=02/03/2015&isExpired=null&isValidOccupancy=null&__cb=1422713234020

Tile Size Question -- Or Why Nothing Gets Done

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morz8 - Washington Coast

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Tile Size Question -- Or Why Nothing Gets Done

Comments (10)

morz8 - Washington Coast

chisueOriginal Author

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sjerin

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Elmer J Fudd

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