Tile Laying: Why Is Spacing Important?

Placing tiles has its little tricks and things that must be checked down to the smallest detail. One of them is the correct spacing between them. Using simple tools may not do the job well, and laser equipment is expensive. However, there is a simpler solution for the job and that is tile spacers. These are the perfect solution if you want to lay your tiles straight and keep just the right amount of space between them.

Mosaic spacers come in a variety of shapes and are different depending on what you want to achieve. Probably the most common is the cross-shaped spacer. You can get one at any hardware store and it’s cheap too. All spacers are molded from plastic and this makes them reusable. Be sure to wash them after each use, as tile adhesive will ruin their shape over time.

Why do tile spacers help and why is spacing so important? As stated, spacers help lay tiles in a perfect pattern without relying on expensive methods or ineffective techniques. Before you start cutting and laying the tiles in the room, you will need to establish the spacing between tiles. That’s important because you don’t want to cut tiles to fill in the corners or the areas next to the walls, because this will mess up the floor design and you definitely don’t want that. If you refuse to use tile spacers and try to do the entire process with the naked eye, this will likely make your grouts uneven and produce an unwanted sense of asymmetry. What you want to avoid that asymmetry is to place your tiles on a grid.

When deciding how much space you want between your tiles, keep in mind that this will also be the width of your grout line when you’re done with the project. In Australia the regulations are that the minimum floor clearance is not less than 3mm and the minimum wall clearance is 1.5mm. Sizes vary but do not exceed 6mm for the gap between floor and wall tiles. These sizes are chosen because they give the final project a uniform and proportional appearance.

The spacers chosen are determined solely by the look you want to achieve and their aesthetic value. Norms on the relationship between the sizes of the tiles and the width of the grouts between them are also not specified. However, for obvious reasons, the tiles and spacing must be adjusted with a minimum amount of cutting so that they cover the entire area.

There are a couple of tips to know when choosing the right spacer. For example, if you want to tile a floor that has its flaws and is uneven, you should not use large spaces and opt for small ones. This will reduce maintenance costs and you won’t have to do the whole process again in a couple of years.

Tile and grout need regular maintenance, regardless of the methods, technology, and equipment used to lay them. Once a year or so, the tile should be resealed to keep moisture out.