Whether you want to tile a floor or wall, consistent spacing is essential if you want a professional finish. They are an essential tool required for tiling and are available in sizes that range from as small as 1 mm to 5 mm and larger.
If you are new to tiling and about to take on a new project, the below information will help you choose a tile spacer size.
What Size Tile Spacers To Use?
The size of the tile spacer you decide to use is highly dependent upon your personal preference because some people may prefer a large gap between the tiles whereas others may prefer a smaller gap.
The benefit of using a larger tile spacer is that it makes the grout lines stand out, which can be a feature of the floor or wall design. Larger spacers can also make the tiles easier to repair if required too.
However, the larger gap between the tiles when using a larger tile spacer size may trap dirt more easily, which means you may want to invest in a quality grout cleaner to ensure that your wall or floor tiles don’t look dirty.
It’s worth noting that there are British Standards to consider when choosing between the different tile spacer sizes. In short, it’s recommended that wall tile spacers are 2 to 3 mm in size and floor tile spacers are 3 to 5 mm in size.
How Many Spacers Do I Need?
Tile spacers can be bought online or at any DIY shop and regardless of the size of tile spacer you choose, they are cheap to buy bulk. Rather than buying too little, it’s always better to overestimate because there is nothing worse than running low when you are in the middle of tiling.
In terms of how many spacers are required for tiling, you can simply take the number of tiles and multiply by four.
How To Use Tile Spacers
After you have applied adhesive and laid the tiles, you can proceed to use tile spacers. To use them, simply place the tile spacers at each corner of the tile and then push the tiles together for a consistent gap between them.
Below is an example of how to use tile spacers from a recent project where we were tiling a wet room.
When To Remove Tile Spacers
The length of time you should wait until you remove the tile spacers is highly dependent upon the type of adhesive used. For example, fast-setting adhesives may fully cure in 30 minutes, which means you should remove any tile spacers before 30 minutes. Most adhesive brands state on the instructions when is the correct time to remove any spacers.
Failing to remove the spacers in enough time could mean that they are impossible to take out. On the flip side, removing them too early may result in the tiles moving and ruining the overall appearance of the laid tiles.
To remove tile spacers with minimal effort, simply use a chisel or the end of a scraper. Once removed, you can even give them a quick wash and use them again for your next tiling project.
Conclusion
No professional tiling job can be complete without tile spacers and they are such a simple tool to use for professional results. Whether you choose small or large tile spacing, as long as they are used correctly between the tiles and removed before the adhesive sets, you will have no issues with using them. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
