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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

subway tile offset with 12x24 floor tiles?

6 years ago

We are using 12x24 floor tiles in our kitchen, offset by 1/3. We love how this looks and blends nicely. For our back splash, we chose a simple 3x6 ceramic subway tile, but wondering how to place these tiles as our contractor is coming to install later today and we need to decide. Do we do the typical 1/2 offset so it is different from the floor or keep withe the 1/3 offset to match the floor pattern? Thanks for your help!

Featured Answer

Judy Mishkin

6 years ago

there was a dilemma yesterday regarding 1/3 offset subway tile. unhappy home owner, you end up with more sliver tiles at the ends because thats geometry for you. it also looked odd. large format floor tiles require the 1/3 offset for lippage, not the same issue for wall tiles.

i'd advise against it.

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Comments (11)

jj610
6 years ago
I would do the 1/3 offset with those as well.
Ohio Mom thanked jj610
palimpsest
6 years ago
How obvious is the pattern on the floor going to be? How close is the grout color to the tile color?
Ohio Mom thanked palimpsest
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Ohio Mom
Original Author
6 years ago
We have medium/dark gray tile with light gray grout so it stands out quite a bit. Our subway tile will be a light gray with white grout, white cabinets.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I would do a darker gray grout with the subway tile and 1/3 off set.
palimpsest
6 years ago
How would you feel about doing stacked tile for the backsplash. (Grid rather than running bond).

However, I think the scale of the tile is so different you don't have to repeat the 1/3 offset, I think regular running bond for the subway tile would be fine.
Ohio Mom thanked palimpsest
PRO
Creative Tile Eastern CT
6 years ago
I would advise against the 1/3 with a 3x6 on a backsplash for simple layout reasons. You WILL have sliver cuts as ningret mentioned. I personally see no reason for a offset on the splash but I'll leave that up to the professional designers.
Ohio Mom thanked Creative Tile Eastern CT
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
The scale is exactly the same for the floor and the subway and alivers occur when no planning is done. To be honest I would choose a larger format subway tile
Ohio Mom thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
palimpsest
6 years ago
The scale is not the same. The floor tiles are 12x24 and the subway tiles are 3x6.

The proportion is the same, not the scale.
Ohio Mom thanked palimpsest
PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
50/50. why do a 1/3 with 6" tiles??? that would leave you w/tiny 2" slivers. no. regular offset is fine. one is a floor, one is a backsplash. no need to match layouts.

look into doing a 2x8 or 3x9 tiles. they look better.
Ohio Mom thanked Beth H. :
PRO
JAN MOYER
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
3 x 6 is too small for that. Do 50/50. Or select a different tile
Ohio Mom thanked JAN MOYER

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