View Full Version : Tiling unsquare room
lachie
11th December 2006, 10:32 PM
Firstly apologies if this question has been posted before I did do a search and found nothing that could assist me. Just wondering what options I have when tiling an unsquare room. I know I can cut some tiles but in this case it would be really noticeable. Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time
Lachie:)
Gumby
11th December 2006, 10:40 PM
Only thing I could think of is to use tiles which aren't square.
With these, you can alter the gaps between the tiles to suit and it isn't noticable.
see attached photo for the style I mean.....
Then again, I don't think any room is square. It all depends on how far out it is i suppose.
Sturdee
11th December 2006, 10:55 PM
Find the centre point of the room by drawing diagonals from each corner and from that point divide the room into four rectangles.
Start laying your tiles from the centre point diagonally out to the walls in each rectangle and cut the tiles at each wall to fit. That is the normal way of laying tiles, not only on floors but also walls.
Peter.
boban
11th December 2006, 11:39 PM
I have actually never seen that way of laying tiles Peter but Im sure it works. How do you do it on walls given that gravity will play its part.
I would lay out your tiles and try and start with a cut and finish with a cut tile. While the size of the tiles will vary it wont be as noticable as a full tile where the gap varies. That is what your eyes will go straight to.
joe greiner
12th December 2006, 12:31 AM
A diagonal layout might make the edge variations less noticeable. Best to make a reasonably accurate layout on graph paper to avoid tiny little triangles. It seems this would require more cutting, but I'm not so sure. A baseboard could also be added to the walls to cover minor variations.
Joe
mic-d
12th December 2006, 07:36 AM
Choose the most noticeable wall (furniture considered etc)and bring a line parallel to that through the centre of the room, chalk a line perpendicular to that one through the centre of the room. Determine whether the centre lines will be the centre of a tile or a grout line by measuring to the edge or by running a row of tiles from the centre to the wall, to obtain the widest tile at the border. Because the room is unsquare, also measure from the centre lines to the wall at the ends of the room just to be sure that the wall has not tapered right through a grout line(if it has then the room must be really out of square and the simpest thing is to go to a larger tile). Once you've determined how to position the tile around the centre point, I like to strike a grid with the chalkline so I can see the layout and make all the cuts before I begin (measure every tile width+grout width or every second one)
SWMBO is calling so must go. Hope this makes sense...
Cheers
Michael
lachie
12th December 2006, 08:14 AM
Thanks fellas hubby is looking more optimistic!
Sturdee
12th December 2006, 02:07 PM
I have actually never seen that way of laying tiles Peter but Im sure it works. How do you do it on walls given that gravity will play its part.
The tilers I have seen working when I worked for a builder in the 80's did it that way. In fact if the edge tiles at one end of the floor (or wall) was much bigger than the edge tiles on the other side they would have been required to rip it up and replace it at their own expense, as my boss was a stickler for doing things the right way. Thgerefore the rooms used to be square as well.:D
For convenience on the walls when the horizontal line closest to the floor was calculated they would nail on some tempory battens.
Peter.
lachie
13th December 2006, 08:28 AM
Sturdee we have used your method and all looks good thanks again!!!!!