Dealing with Odd angles in countertop tiling?
Question:I am ready to tile a kitchen island, it has the rough shape of "HOME PLATE", though not pointy. What is the best way to cover those odds angles effectively? Should I butt two edge tiles together? Also, I am not fond of the 16th inch spacing in tiles, I prefer 1/4 in gaps...any issues for the top of counter. The sides will be 1/8th gap.
Adam
Deridder,La
Answers:
I'm not certain of the shape you mean ... although it sounds like a five sided island.
I wouldn't do it.
It isn't just the corners that you have to consider. How will you tile the centre of a 5 sided island so it blends all sides? I don;t think it will look right unless at least two edges are parallel. I'd suggest doing a accurate drawing of the top of the island and mock up different patterns to see what looks best.
However, if you go ahead the obvious way is to break the job down into separate triangles, with the angle at each of the corners of the island being half of the angle between the two sides, then tile parrallel to the front of each of the five sides, with edge tiles for the outmost edge, and continuing the angle at the corner back to a point where two (or more depending on shape) of the corner angles meet. Each corner would therefore be two edge tiles at the outer edge cut to the right angle and butted along the cut edges, and normal tiles cut on the same angle for the inner rows.
No problem with 1/4" gaps, but for 2" or 3" tile that may look pretty wide. Other than needing sufficient width for grout to grab, it's a matter of proportion.
My hubby tried to tile ours...BIG mistake!! LOL Go to Home Depot and get help. LOL
Thousands of sq. ft. of tile.
Certainly an Angle grinder with a diamond wheel can give you the cuts and angels that might work in as close as the rest of the perimeter tiles. A decent grit grind wheel can be used "carefully" to round off. In some measure your success will depend on the type of tile. Ceramic is as stable as Porcelain, but the glaze is millimeters thick only.
I haven't spaced at 1/16th ever. It isn't enough space for grout to ahdhere well enough. 1/8th or 1/4 is standard, and sanded grout, polymer based.
Steven Wolf
How About.... you use the big tiles all in the middle and make a pretty mosaic from pieces (or those tiny tiles that match the other tile) all around the edges or where ever it is difficult to cover. OR.just be creative and mosaic the whole thing!! Not an expert just obsessed with DIY and HGTV etc.
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