Trowel size and grout width for 18″ Tile
littlehenry
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I will be laying some 18″x18″x1/4″ ceramic tile. What is the recomended trowel notch size and grout spacing for tile of this size? It will be going over a 3/4″ wood subfloor with 1/2″ hardie backer attached.
Thanks
Replies
per Michael Byrne in Setting Tile, pg 141:" ... deep U-notched trowels are used for large tiles (12 in, and up)..."
just before that he says "Genrerally speaking, 1/8-in. to 3/16-in, V-notched trowels are used for thin tiles (glazed wall tiles for example), 1/4in. square-notched trowels are used for larger tiles (6-in. to 8-in. floor tiles, for example) and..."
The package would have recommended sizes too.
Usually 1/4 x 1/4 for tile that size.
Use a trowel that size, set one tile, then pull it up again. This will tell you if you have too much/too little thinset. The thinset mix will have to be not too runny or too dry.
Mix your thinset the same from batch to batch.
Grout joints can be whatever you like, the current trend is to small grout joints - I would use 1/4" or smaller myself.
Use modified thinsets and grouts.
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