Laying 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 get the job done, and laser equipment is expensive. However, there is a simpler solution to 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.
Tile 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. Make sure to wash them after each use, as the tile adhesive will ruin their shape over time.
Why do tile spacers help and why is spacing so important? As stated, the spacers help to place the tiles in a perfect pattern without relying on costly methods or ineffective techniques. Before you start cutting and laying the tiles in the room, you will need to set the tile spacing. That’s important because you don’t want to cut tile to fill in the corners or areas next to the walls, because this will ruin the flooring design and you definitely don’t want it. If you refuse to use tile spacers and try to do the entire process by eye, this will likely make the grouts uneven and give you an unwanted asymmetrical feel. What you want to avoid that asymmetry is to place your tiles on a grid.
When deciding how much space you want to have between your tiles, keep in mind that this will also be the width of your grout line when you are done with the project. In Australia, the standards are that the minimum space between the floors is not less than 3 mm and the minimum space between the walls is 1.5 mm. Then sizes vary but are no more than 6mm for floor and wall tile spacing. These sizes are chosen because they give the final project a uniform proportional appearance.
The spacers chosen are determined solely by the look you want to achieve and their aesthetic value. There are also no specified standards on the relationship between the sizes of the tiles and the width of the grouts between them. However, for obvious reasons, the tiles and spacing should be adjusted with a minimal amount of cutting to 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 instead go for small ones. This will reduce maintenance costs and you won’t have to go through the whole process again for a couple of years.
Tile and grout require regular maintenance, regardless of the methods, technology and equipment used to lay them. About once a year, the tile should be resealed to prevent moisture from entering.