Is there any reason I should not cut all the tile for my kitchen prior to starting to set it in thinset?
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cut all the ones you're positive about the exact measurement and fit. Cut the tougher ones as you go, you'll have working time with the material.
Chuck
When I'm using the score-n-snap cutter I'll cut the simple straight cuts as I go along. If I have to set up the tile saw I get all the full tiles down and let it dry so I can walk on it, before setting up the saw.
Bottom line is you do whatever is most efficient for the situation. The tricky cut's could take too long, allowing the mastic or thinset to skin over. That would be the only issue I can think of.
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The only reason I know of to not cut them ahead is that it requires that everything lays out exactly the way you had planned within very tight tolerances. If you end up off one half inch over ten feet, then that last tile against the wall has been precut one half inch short....
Not that it can't be done....
I've precut all the tiles for a small bathroom. For larger rooms, I've precut the tiles I was starting with, then I've cut others as I've gone along.
If I get to a point where I need to mix more thinset, then I precut a few before I mix it up.
Rich Beckman
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"Is there any reason I should not cut all the tile for my kitchen prior to starting to set it in thinset?"
It is very hard to cut the tile after it is set in thinset.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Good reply.There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
I've done it that way a few times. Worked out fine. Makes laying the tile go quickly.
Have a good day
Cliffy
I think you'd be better off cutting as you go, but not spreading so much thinset on the wall/floor that it will skin over while you're cutting. Thinset in the mixing bucket has from one to two hours of open time. On the wall or floor, it'll skin over in less than 10 minutes. As a rule, I don't spread more thinset than I can cover with tile in 5 minutes.
Trying to pre-calculate all the cuts for a whole room before you've set your key rows and worked your way out to the perimeter is taking a big risk. Experience tells me that the chances everything will fit on the wall exactly the way it fit on my layout drawing are slim. No building I've ever worked on is that close to square, plumb, and level.
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How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
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I've worked with enough tile that wasn't square to say no.
When you start adjusting the grout lines to compensate for irregularities in the tiles, your measured pieces aren't going to work.
Joe H
One thing I've done that works well is to layout the floor in a grid of say 9 tiles or 16 tiles.. depending on how large the tiles are. Then I just make sure to keep the spacing consitent. No spacers, all done by eye. This is especially useful for some hand-made tiles, of which I've seen as much as 1/8" difference between tiles pulled from the same box.
One thing about using a grid is that you can cut the edge tiles before laying the first tile. The drawback is if you inadvertantly space the tiles at the edges of the 3x3 or 4x4 squares differently from those within the square, you'll see the grid as you step back to admire your work. --------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
We do a lot of bathroom remodels and my brother does most of them. He always lays out the room dry and then sets it in one shot. I cut as I go. Doesn't seem to be a difference except preference. DanT
I was thinking of cutting and putting the tile in place, with spacers. It's a kitchen that is sort of T shaped and about 130 sq ft. I'm going to make a border about 4-6" wide and install the inside tiles at 45 degrees to open up the room. I was thinking of centering the inside tiles then cutting the border to fit.There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
I'll often draw all the whole tiles on the floor, then cut and piece the partials around the edges and obstructions, and stack them in order.
Forrest
The tiles I'm going to put in are porcelain that look like marble. There are six different tiles in the bunch so I'm probably going to lay each of them out where they will go. I'll probably number them, using a small piece of masking tape, and take a couple pics to be safe. That way I can have the Emperess give a nod of approval before starting to permanently set them. Make sense?There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
Sounds good.
I have even cut and laid all the edge and cut tiles one day, then filled in the solids the next day, without having to worry about walking on 12-24 hour-old thinset.
Forrest
I ended up cutting all the tile to fit then installing the whole floor in one shot. check out the pictures that are attached. I cut a 6" border then put the center field on the diagonal. I used porcelain tile and installed warm wires heating under the tile. I used epoxy grout. The grout was tricky but I'm happy with the results. Plus, I'll never have to seal it. It was a lot of work. Thanks to all for your advice.There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin