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I have decided to tile my kitchen and family room with 24" x 24" porcelain tile.
I have a few questions on how to start:
1. Do I start on the bottom wall (as in the picture) or start in the center?
2. If starting at the bottom wall, do I need to put in a large enough grout so that the baseboard won't cover part of the uncut tiles (like the second illustration in the second image? Or do I just tile right next to the wall like in the first illustration in the second image?
I have always measured and snapped lines making the room in quarters. Basically starting in the middle. Make sure your lines are 90 degrees to each other, and that you are centered with the room. Work from the center out doing all of the full tiles first. After all of the full tiles are done, do the cut ones.
First off, you need to leave about 1/4" spacing away from the walls to allow for expansion, so the tiles should end near your baseboard line. As others have said, you should start somewhere near the center of the room. I'd also shift the pattern slightly to the right. You're getting some tiny slivers on the left side, especially at the entryway, that can be made bigger with a small shift.
Other things to consider are the flatness of the floor and the condition of the sub-floor. Does it have the deflection to be tiled? I suggest you check out the forum at JohnBridge.com. They have tiling professionals who are willing to help DIYers and offer advice on proposed plans to be done by a contractor.
First off, you need to leave about 1/4" spacing away from the walls to allow for expansion, so the tiles should end near your baseboard line. As others have said, you should start somewhere near the center of the room. I'd also shift the pattern slightly to the right. You're getting some tiny slivers on the left side, especially at the entryway, that can be made bigger with a small shift.
Other things to consider are the flatness of the floor and the condition of the sub-floor. Does it have the deflection to be tiled? I suggest you check out the forum at JohnBridge.com. They have tiling professionals who are willing to help DIYers and offer advice on proposed plans to be done by a contractor.
That shift you're suggesting will leave more unsightly cuts than the shift would ever solve. Look at what happens across the bottom of the room if you shift it right.
JimmyBirdie.....The top drawing works great. Use it as a template, and let 'er rip.
Ok, here is the final layout, minus the black accent tiles. I use the entry way as the center. Here I am using 1/8 grout size. The tiles are rectified.
That shift you're suggesting will leave more unsightly cuts than the shift would ever solve. Look at what happens across the bottom of the room if you shift it right.
JimmyBirdie.....The top drawing works great. Use it as a template, and let 'er rip.
Regards,
Streamer1212
You shift over far enough to get rid of those small cuts too.
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