New Post has been published on Decor Tiles Blog
New Post has been published on http://blog.decortiles.co.uk/size-grout-lines/
What size should grout lines be?
One topic that often causes some confusion for the home DIY’er is just how big the grout line should be between tiles. This is a question you will have to face in the very earliest days of a project, at the point when you are making decisions about the finish and calculating how many tiles you will need to complete the project. Here are some top tips for figuring out how big is big enough.
Mind the gap
Keep in mind that grout lines are just a gap between the tiles. They absorb any irregularities in the edge finishing of tiles.
They allow for expansion and contraction of tiles avoiding stress cracks.
They absorb some of the impact pressure the edges of tiles are exposed to, avoiding chipping
They give a cohesive look to the finished project.
No wrong answer
The thing that may surprise here is that there really is no definitive answer. The size of the grout line may change depending on the material you are working with, the type of space you are working on, and this finished look you are hoping to achieve.
Common practice
Leave a 2-3mm gap between wall tiles
Leave a 3-5mm gap between floor tiles.
Keep the space
Anything with a uniform width can be used for this job. Matchsticks, nails, and loose change have all been used with some degree of success but by far the easiest solution is to use ready-made tile spacers. These are plastic cross-shaped inserts and are designed to be grouted in around tiles. They can be found in a wide range of widths and are perfect for most jobs.