What Should Be The Seam Of Floor Tiles: Features, Tips

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• What are crosses and why are they needed?
• Basic requirements for tile joints
• Choosing the right seam size
• Features of crosses
• How many crosses are needed
• Conclusion

As everyone who has already encountered tile laying is known, it is impossible without the use of crosses or floor leveling systems. In this case, we mean additional devices that help create the seam of the floor tiles.

What are crosses and why are they needed?

For the most part, of course, tiled crosses are used, since this is a more economical way, especially for self-styling, and not professional.

The crosses themselves are small plastic devices that help to carry out such a creative process with high quality - laying tiles.

Yes, this process is really creative, because it involves the transformation of a gray concrete floor (not necessarily concrete, it can be wooden or already covered with tiles, see a separate article on how to lay tiles on tiles) into a work of art. And the created seam of the floor tiles helps to make the surface really shiny (and it's not about its shine, but about its beauty). It is thanks to them that the colors of the tiles shine successfully, complementing the surrounding atmosphere.

Basic requirements for tile joints

The question of which seam between the tiles to be done will help to understand, first of all, its purpose. And it should be noted that the seams themselves perform a number of functions, respectively, certain requirements are put forward to them. Among these:

1. First of all, all seams must be the same. In addition, completely coincide, do not gather at intersections (the junction of four tiles when laid in a standard way in a joint).
2. In addition, they must all be parallel, regardless of the installation method.
3. And the selection of the seam size becomes a very important factor, since the appearance of the finished surface depends on it.

These are the minimum rules that must be followed in order not to ultimately be disappointed in the poor quality of the coating. It is to help in this seemingly difficult task that crosses are needed.

Thanks to their use, it will turn out to make the seams perfect. Using them correctly, you will get evenly laid tiles, and in addition, the same size seams, parallel to each other (which is actually the main requirement).

Choosing the right seam size

In most cases, the answer to the question of what kind of seam between the tiles is needed is - the thinner the better. This is quite often the case, as the thin seams add elegance and beauty to the coating. But do not forget that you must also focus on the size of the tile itself.

Depending on where the tiles are laid, a different size is used, respectively, different dimensions of the joints are allowed. Thus, when it comes to what kind of seam for the tile on the wall, there may be the following options:

1. For small tiles, 1mm seams are suitable.
2. For medium-sized material, you can take crosses 1.5 mm
3. At the same time, for larger elements, a thickness of 2 mm is chosen.

It is highly not recommended to make a seam between tiles on the wall more than 2 mm. Even with a tile size of 60 centimeters, it will not look, and will simply ruin the appearance of the room.

But in the case of flooring, here you can already look at the larger size. In this case, the following dimensions apply:

1. For tiles with dimensions up to 15 centimeters, the seam is 2 mm.
2. For elements from 15 to 25 cm, a size of 2.5 mm becomes optimal.
3. At the same time, for material over 25 cm in size, 3mm would be a good choice.

Also, in some cases, crosses up to 5 millimeters in size are used. But this is recommended only when working with porcelain stoneware or other large tiles in public buildings.

But we note that even in this case, when it comes to laying tiles even with dimensions of 60 * 40 centimeters, experts do not expand the seams to such an extent. Thus, for floor tiles, the maximum joint size is 3 mm.

If the “specialist” whom you have hired to lay the tiles claims that a seam of more than 3 millimeters is better, we advise you to find another, since only amateurs who are unable to lay the tiles evenly around the entire perimeter with a normal seam resort to such a solution.

This is due to the fact that a wider seam gives less irregularities in the laying, while with a small one they immediately catch the eye.

You can apply this method of hiding defects only on your own, in the absence of experience with tiles. Thus, by expanding the distance between the material itself, you will successfully mask the discrepancy.

Features of crosses

Let's move a little away from the question of which seams between the tiles are better, and return to our crosses. If you accidentally have a couple lying around in your house, pick one up and examine it carefully.

You may not see much at first glance. But look again, well, let's not wait long and reveal the secret. Taking a good look, you can see that the cross itself, or rather its sides in thickness, are made in the form of a trapezoid. Those. we can see that the top plane is slightly narrower than the bottom.

This is done to make them easier to use. In addition, you can notice the bevel on the side faces, which makes it easier to immerse the cross between the tiles.

In addition, such bevels suggest a difference in tile size, i.e. the tile itself has different sizes in the back and front. More concretely, it can be noted that the front part is narrower by a fraction of a millimeter than the back, for which such bevels in the crosses are provided.

That is why, when working with such devices, pay attention to which side you insert them. In particular, in order to obtain a uniform coating, it is necessary to equip the narrower side inward. Otherwise, if you neglect this, then the coverage will be far from ideal.

How many crosses are needed

Asking the question what should be the seams between the tiles, it is important to immediately calculate the number of consumables for creating the seams themselves. And it's pretty easy to calculate.

Depending on how you will insert crosses and their number will depend. Thus, equipping them at intersections, in the same plane with the tile itself, you will need about the same number as the tile itself (it is advisable to take a few dozen in stock).

But in the event that it is planned to equip them perpendicular to the seam, then the number will increase fourfold, i.e. for each tile you will need 4 crosses (it is better to take four, since this leaves a small margin).

And note that although for the first case, the crosses themselves need a little less, but it will be much more difficult to remove them. Thus, in order to prepare the tiles for grouting, you will need a special tool.

This is called a hook. It is specially designed for working with tiles and removing crosses after laying. Thus, after their removal, grouting will be carried out.

Conclusion

On this, the question of what should be the seams between the tiles can be considered closed. Along with this, since there is interest in the distance between the tiles themselves, it is planned to install it, therefore we recommend that you familiarize yourself with our other articles, in particular, on the technology of laying tiles on the wall and on the floor, as well as the choice of grout and its implementation. Also on the site you will find a lot of interesting and useful material.

PS As always, a few videos about tile seams to finish. We hope the information turned out to be as useful as possible for you. If you have any questions, we are waiting for them in the comments.

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