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Quick tile estimating question

Heck | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 29, 2007 05:05am

I will be ordering 18″ x 18″ tile for a kitchen remodel, basically a rectangular area. The client wants to run the tile diagonally, which will look great in the space.
The question is how much more to order to account for running on the diagonal?

10%?
12%

What has worked for you?

_______________________________________________________________

tagline under construction

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  1. User avater
    JDRHI | Jan 29, 2007 07:48pm | #1

    I have always used 15% for square layouts, 25% for those done on the 45.

    J. D. REYNOLDS
    Home Improvements

     

     


    1. User avater
      Heck | Jan 30, 2007 03:57am | #2

      Would the size of the tile make any difference as to the amount of waste you would expect from diagonal?

      In other words, would you expect less waste from large tile (fewer cuts) than small tile?

      Would the % be the same?_______________________________________________________________

      tagline under construction

      1. User avater
        EricPaulson | Jan 30, 2007 04:55am | #3

        What JD said.

        Cheap insurance against coming up short and bringing the job to a halt. Buy extra.[email protected]

         

         

        It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been

         

         

         

      2. User avater
        JDRHI | Jan 30, 2007 05:08am | #4

        I would think it would be the same.....maybe more for larger tiles in reality.

        One bad cut using larger tile screws up a larger surface area. (More square footage going to waste.)

        Free dovetail & splintie!

        (they're gonna drive the guards bonkers)

         

         

        1. stevent1 | Jan 30, 2007 05:31am | #5

          Heck,

          This is a link for a tile estimator at John Bridge.com

          http://www.ceramic-tile-floor.info/te/tyw/tileEstimatortyw.html

          Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

  2. BobKovacs | Jan 30, 2007 05:41am | #6

    If its a simple rectangular area, why not lay it out really quick on graph paper and figure out how many tiles you'll need for the cuts?   A few inches difference in the dimensions of the room could make a big difference in how much extra tile you need.   If you don't do the layout, I'd run with 25% overage just to be safe- nothing sucks more than coming up one tile short on special order material...............

    Bob

    1. User avater
      Heck | Jan 30, 2007 06:27am | #7

      Consider this basic 10' x 10' tile grid:

      View Image

      View Image_______________________________________________________________

      tagline under construction

      1. User avater
        Heck | Jan 30, 2007 06:33am | #8

        12" x 12' diagonal:

        View Image_______________________________________________________________

        tagline under construction

      2. User avater
        Heck | Jan 30, 2007 06:41am | #9

        Try again:

        View Image_______________________________________________________________

        tagline under construction

        1. User avater
          Heck | Jan 30, 2007 06:44am | #10

          Diagonal:

          View Image_______________________________________________________________

          tagline under construction

  3. User avater
    Dinosaur | Jan 30, 2007 06:49am | #11

    Heck, you got an ACAD program on your 'puter? Draw the floor and lay in an 18x18 grid rotated 45º. Count the tiles and half-tiles. Then order 10% more for breakage, bad cuts, yadda-yadda.

     

    Dinosaur

    How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
    low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
    foolish men call Justice....

    1. User avater
      Heck | Jan 30, 2007 07:03am | #12

      No ACAD, no CAD, so SAD. But my trusty pencil tells me that for regular dimensions to the full tile or the half tile diagonally, the count is the same. In the case of the ideal layout for 12' x 12" tile, the count is less for diagonal!

       I know that this almost never happens in the real world, so there will be more waste than in my trail studies, but I believe the numbers of tiles are closer than most would think, especially using large tile._______________________________________________________________

      ##&@#@%#!!!

      1. User avater
        Dinosaur | Jan 30, 2007 07:40am | #13

        Okay; pencils still work, too, LOL. But call the supplier and find out how many tiles come in a box. Then figure your order so you've got at least one whole box too much, including the standard 10% wastage. You can return full, unopened boxes for credit (at least my suppliers allow that), and if you do run short and have to go into that last box, the HO has to pay for it but gets the savings of you not having to run back to the store for another box at the last minute.

        You are doing this on T&M, I hope...?Dinosaur

        How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

        1. User avater
          Heck | Jan 30, 2007 08:22am | #14

          T & M? Actually, yes, but I have bid tile jobs like this many times. This is just part of a large remodel I will be starting soon. The question about how much tile to add due to going diagonal was really mostly a mental exercise for me; I wondered how much effect tile size would have on the application of a 'percentage'.

          I know about the box rule. Around here there are no returns of 'special order' items._______________________________________________________________

          Self-trust is the first secret of success. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

          1. User avater
            Dinosaur | Jan 31, 2007 03:01am | #15

            As far as I can figure it, the only way tile size would make a difference would be if the edge tiles wound up being cut larger than half. If the layout gave you edge tiles smaller than half a tile, you get to use both halves (minus whatever scrap). If they're larger than a half-tile, you need a full tile for each and have to throw away the cut-offs.

            You have the same problem whether you're setting them straight or at 45º. Only the shape of the tiles in the border rows changes; not the square-inch coverage.Dinosaur

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

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