What Size Grout Line For 12x24 Tile

Installing 12×24 tile can be a piffling catchy compared to smaller tiles, only with a little planning, and a few tricks up your sleeve, this can exist a dandy DIY project even if you lot don't have a ton of tiling experience.

12 x 24 tile is everywhere lately. When we installed information technology in our bathroom a few years ago, it seemed like kind of a fun, more modern selection, merely now information technology seems to accept pretty much go the standard for new tile floors everywhere. I've seen it used a lot in commercial applications every bit well every bit in a lot of homes and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon. I really beloved the expect and durability of 12×24 tile floor so I definitely think information technology's a great selection. It is, however, a little trickier to install than the more traditional 12×12 tiles.

Since nosotros just finished installing 12×24 tile in our mudroom, I thought now would be a great fourth dimension to go over some tips that nosotros've learned. Hopefully nosotros can make your tiling experience a footling easier and a little more successful!

Installing 12×24 Tile: Focus on Keeping Things Level

When you're working with giant tiles similar these, getting (and keeping) everything level is pretty much the biggest claiming. You lot need to make each individual tile level, only you also desire to make sure that all of the tiles are sitting evenly and at the same height as one another on meridian of the mortar.

Before you get started, make sure y'all accept a small 24 inch-ish level so that you tin check how each private tile is sitting. A larger four-5 foot level is also super helpful for checking how level your floor overall is, and when comparing the tiles to each other. Accept a rubber mallet handy to tap tiles for slight adjustments.

These tile lash systems are also super helpful because they automatically line the tiles up to each other as you go and make sure your floor is perfectly polish. We didn't stop upwards use the lash system this time, just we used it concluding time we installed this type of tile and it really helped keep u.s. in line.

Nosotros've too noticed that if you mix your mortar to exist a trivial bit on the thicker side, it's much easier to attain and maintain levelness. If y'all're getting a chip frustrated with how difficult it is to brand things level, endeavor making your adjacent batch of mortar a footling thicker.

Apply The Right Mortar for 12×24 Tile

Yous oftentimes hear most using "thin set" to install tile, but in the case of installing 12×24 tile equally flooring, you'll desire to utilize something called "medium bed" mortar. The medium bed holds its consistency better than the sparse fix, which will sag a scrap in the center of the tile. If you use the thin set, your tile will end up beingness unsupported and unattached in some areas as everything dries and sets up and this could lead to loose tiles.

Tools and Tips for The Bodily Mortar Awarding Process for 12×24 Tile

As I mentioned before, mix your mortar to be a fiddling bit on the thick side, and employ a 1/two inch notched trowel to use it to the subfloor where y'all want your tile. You'll also want to have another smaller, un-notched trowel (chosen a flat margin trowel) on hand for a few other purposes.

Firstly, you'll employ the apartment margin trowel to scoop your mortar our of your bucket and place it in a pile on your subfloor earlier y'all notch it with the i/2 inch notched trowel. You'll also desire to use this trowel to "dorsum butter" your tile earlier you lay it down. You lot may be used to either back buttering or laying downward a bed of mortar, only in this case, it's all-time to do both. Applying the mortar in both places will allow the tile to be suctioned on to the subfloor and will create an incredibly stiff bond.

Go along Your Work Make clean

Although it seems like installing large tiles similar these volition exist a super quick process, yous actually do spend quite a flake of time making sure you set the tiles downwardly just right and ensuring levelness. By the time y'all work your way across your unabridged room and come up back to where you start your rows, any excess mortar that was hanging outside of the area where you put down your tile will probably take started to dry. This is true even when y'all're working in a small room similar our mudroom hither, and then it'south a skilful idea to have your flat margin trowel (utilise number three!) and remove any excess mortar effectually your tiles before moving on to the next 1. Use a rubber margin grout float if you're installing over a heated flooring organisation to prevent damage to the wire. (See all the tools listed at the end of this postal service for a clear view of the differences between the two.)

You'll as well thank yourself afterwards if you lot keep a grout sponge and a bucket of water handy to wipe downward the tops of each tile after y'all lay it down to pick up whatsoever excess mortar that may have institute its mode up in that location.

Cleaning as you become ways you're non pressured to try to go the task done rapidly (so you tin can catch that pile of mortar before it dries or clean up any mistakes you made when y'all're washed) and allows you lot to take the fourth dimension you need to ready each tile perfectly.

Installing 12×24 Tile: Grouting

We used one/iv inch spacers to achieve the perfect grout lines that yous run across hither and I would definitely recommend using them, even if you call back you're pretty comfortable with tiling. They only price a few dollars for a few hundred of them and they make such a difference. Nosotros used a sanded grout for this projection, which is nigh always recommended for floor and for larger grout lines because it tends to be a bit stronger than un-sanded grout. Some people mutter that they find that sanded grout can sometimes attract dirt more than easily than un-sanded so it's of import to remember to seal your grout subsequently it has fully dried. I also recommend using a darker grout color in loftier traffic areas like this mudroom. Information technology will really make a big different every bit to how your tile floor looks after a few years!

Have you installed your ain 12×24 tile in your dwelling? Exercise you have whatsoever helpful tips that you would add for anyone looking to install their own tile?

Encounter beneath for a detailed list of all the supplies that come in handy on a tiling job like this!

What You'll Need

Get-go with a proper base of operations:

1. Medium-Bed – for big format tile (LFT) 2.Mixing Wand 3. Garden Trowel – for scooping dry out fabric 4.five-Gal. Bucket

Get the job done right using proper mitt tools:

1. 1/2 10 1/ii Notched Trowel 2. Margin Trowel 4. Margin Bladder 5. Grout Float

Keep everything direct and level:

1. Safety Mallet 2. Big and Small Levels 3. Lash Leveling Organisation iv. 1/4″ Tile Spacers

Continue your workspace clean:

ane. Pail – for clean water 2. Sponge – for backlog grout and mortar cleanup iii. Eastward-cloth – for grout haze 4. Scrub brush – to clean all your tools

Moisture tile saw:

For jobs with many or circuitous cuts – Moisture tile saw

Nosotros likewise installed a really great heated flooring system under this tile (dissimilar from the last heated flooring system nosotros did) and I'll exist sharing all the details about that next week, then go along an eye out for that post coming soon! *Update* Yous can find that postright here!

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