Replies

1. 
   clayb | Jul 14, 1999 04:40am | #2

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   Not to contradict Mr. Cadioli, but I use them all the time. Wedges for verticle and cross-lookin' things for horizontal. I do admire a man that can eyeball it and come out right, I sure can't. Taunton has a big tile book out and the master tile man/ author sez you should take them out to prevent "ghosting" in the grout, but then on one page there's a picture of him leaving them in, hmm. Anyway,
   i what I do
   is get a second bag of spacers and put them in standing up, with just one leg seperating the tiles, and one for each corner of each tile. Doesn't take that much longer and instead of having to dig them out, you just "pluck em."

2. 
   clayb | Jul 14, 1999 04:44am | #3

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   i Although....
   for a counter top, you may want to bag the spacers to insure you get the reveal you like at each terminating point. If you're worth your salt with a mortar trowel, you should get a good standing edge and not have to bang at all. Work fast and don't use the acryllic additive and you should be able to get them all down with time to wiggle them to your satisfaction.
   Good luck, Clay

3. 
   Guest_ | Jul 14, 1999 05:31am | #4

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   Pull them out before grouting. As mentioned, they will "ghost" through the finished grout. Maybe not right away, but soon. Unless you are using a thicker than usual tile, the spacer will take up too much room in the grout joint. Therefore, the grout will be thin and weak above the spacer.

   The only time I'd consider leaving spacers in would be on a quarry tile installation. Also known as packing house tile, the quarry tiles are 1/2" thick, so there is plenty thickness for the grout above the spacer. I use a rack for setting quarry tile, so the problem is moot for me.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 14, 1999 08:10am | #5

   *When in doubt, leave it out!My wife, Victoria and I used an inexpensive dentil pick we got at a flea market tool stand to remove them when the little buggers are lying flat.Dentil tools also make good grout cleaners, and the tools don't have to be professional grade. The cheap imported ones will work.I threw the plastic spacers in a plastic bucket with some vinegar to help neutralize and dissolve the fresh grout on them. Almost as good as new.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 14, 1999 08:20am | #6

   *If it's your first time tiling, I'd recommend leaving them in until the thinset has cured. Prior to grouting, remove the spacers with an awl, pic, what have you. Then clean out the gaps and grout.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 15, 1999 12:15pm | #8

   *Jay, you should DEFINITELY remove the spacers!, they Will ghost through or the grout will break out over them in time.I use the "cross" style and stand them up (four at each corner) and then just pluck them out the next day,should be a piece of cake for you since the counter is probably standard depth (so you don't have to reach across a large section of floor to set or to retrieve them). The spacers are cheap enough that you can afford to buy the few extra bags needed to use this method. Hope this helps ya, Good Luck!, Geoff

4. 
   Guest_ | Jul 15, 1999 12:15pm | #7

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   We're about to tile a kitchen counter-top. Could we (should we) leave the little plastic cross tile spacers in place so nothing shifts while we're working further down the line or when we are beating the tiles to get them all lying flat? The spacers are thin enough and the tiles are thick enough that they won't show through the grout.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 14, 1999 03:08am | #1

   *Hello Jay,The spacers are really for wall tiling. Horizontal surfaces are just eyeballed,however there's nothing to prevent you using them for that.Personally I don't use them at all. I find them too constrictive as far as adjustment goes.Mark