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Flooring Design Dilemma

Wood-Look Porcelain Tile Floors 6" x 48" - How to Stagger/Grout Lines

6 years ago

We are having 6" x 48" tile installed next week and I want it to have the best look and function. What is the proper/best offset (how many inches) between grout lines? I've seen floors laid where the lines are all 'lined up' and that looks awful. What is best for a pleasing appearance and proper function?

Featured Answer

PRO

Cinar Interiors, Inc.

6 years ago

Tell the installer to lay it random, no pattern. Tile unfortunately comes the same size box to box whereas wood is random length. If you want a more realistic look, no pattern when laying wood plank tile.

Comments (7)

frenchtarragon
6 years ago
Usually planks are staggered by fifths, quarters, or thirds, or some combination of the three. This yields a more natural look where a pattern doesn't jump out. Be sure not to do anything over 1/3 as the pattern will become very obvious.
TJW thanked frenchtarragon
TJW
Original Author
6 years ago
Wow, you rock! Thank you so much! You advised, explained so I understood AND in a way I could actually copy/paste and edit in my email to the contractor. Thank you!!
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Level is academic. What you want is "Flat." From the pictures, I don't see that. He should have used a leveling system such as the MLY system, or at the very least, made the floor flat. NTCA specs specify that the floor should be FLAT to within 1/16" of an inch over four feet of 1/8" over 10 feet. Kinda doubt he adhered to that spec........
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A real wood butcher block top would look a LOT better. It's not only the grout lines, although that's a biggie. It would just look, well, "college dorm apartment", without the inexpensiveness of it. You can be creative on a budget, but sometimes thinking outside the box needs to stay outside the box if you want a certain look. If you're doing the tiling, it might end up being as expensive as a nice Boos butcher block. (A lot more than Ikea) If you have to pay to have it tiled, granite slab would be cheaper. You could even do a simple stained plywood top with real wood edging for a fraction of the tile and have a nice looking counter until your budget recovered to get the one you really want.
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Fun2B3Here, I canÃ¢ÂÂt tell you how happy I will be Not to be a floor slave in this area of the house. I have a big Rottweiler and a Maltese so donÃ¢ÂÂt need any more labor like my lighter tile gives me in living areasÃ¢ÂÂ¦even though I have a big floor steamer. Bbstx and Holly-Kay, thank you!!! Kswl, I hold your complement very highly, thank you! Seagrass, for porcelain that is a good price but you can get ceramic cheaper. I do hope you donÃ¢ÂÂt think me rude for bringing up price but sometimes I think it good to show things for those of us on a tighter budget who seek to achieve a nicer look. However, so glad you like it! I have been looking at cement floors since just after purchase. It had stinky stained beige carpet that was gross ( and immediately ripped out) and a hideously remodeled moldy bathroom. On another note, now I canÃ¢ÂÂt wait for the baseboards!
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TJW
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you! This particular tile comes in 6" x 48" ... 8" x 48" .... and 6" x 24". I almost wanted to mix the three but was told that anywhere I used 8" would have to be. Full room-length run and so would stand out, and while adding a relatively few 24" might help with the randomness I want, the installers could also put too many together creating choppy looking areas that would also stand out. In one flooring shop I visited I saw a wood laminate that actually. Ones with varying lengths and widths IN THE SAME BOX! It looked awesome on the floor display, very real wood like. I wish tiles came that way.
chiflipper
6 years ago
I have 1200 sq ft of 8 x 48 porcelain tiles. BE SURE you get a Pro installer who does his own floor prep (leveling) AND uses the clip and wedge method. There are three homeowners in my area who "went cheap" on the installer (because "tile is tile" isn't it ?) ...and are paying the price by having to live with lippage.
TJW thanked chiflipper
TJW
Original Author
6 years ago
Can you tell me more about this 'clip and wedge' method? This is a local company who was recommended. Our concrete subfloor had issues and they handled that well (had to grind - and used proper dust extractor/containment equipment in many spots and and used leveling compound in others). I'm pleased with that work, I just need to educate myself to ask the right questions beforehand and know what the answers should be.
PRO
JAN MOYER
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Please check the manufacturers recommended installation for your tile? Unless you want a problem later. Both are generally specified, offset, and gout spacing.
TJW thanked JAN MOYER

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