So I have the substrate ready, the room is a L shape 253 x 148. Where do I start the tile, I am assuming the center of each on a chalk line. Is this correct?Bond
You've gotten some good suggestions. I'll just add that I find the MOST important issue is to get ONE good straight, parallel line down the center of the longest run you can. Sometimes it behooves you to have the cenerline of the room run down the centerline of the center row of tile. For this, just measure over 1/2 a course and strike a line for your first edge. No matter what else you do, that ONE line should be your master and considered inviolate. Don't strike a line for each course. Just measure your gap with a spacer of some sort (you don't need to leave them in, just use a couple as a gauge). You're better off if you can do long rows at a time instead of aligning to another line set at 90 deg from the first; otherwise any deviation from a right angle will cause you grief. I find the tiles can be corrected as you go. Just start with that ONE line and build from there. Naturally the wider your grout line, the easier it is to lay out. I've put around 500 sqft of marble tile in my house with a 1/16 gap. That was considerably more tricky than using 1/4 gaps. Good luck!
As others have said, start in the center and make your cuts all on the edges, but be careful you don't end up with a sliver of tile. Measure and pencil in the center of each leg of the L, so your chalk lines make an X at the center of the corner where the two parts meet. Then measure away from that line to see how each tile will get cut at the walls. If there is a pattern with strong lines on it, you have to be careful to lay out the cuts so that if there is any taper, due to the floor being not perfectly square...that you don't have cuts going across the lines and accentuating the error. So think ahead! If you can't help but have a funny edge, see if you can put it on a side that is covered with furniture, or isn't that visible in normal use. Do the same with the tile in the other rooms...do some measuring, and see what layout gives you the best size tiles. You don't want to have small tiles at the transitions from one room to another. Adjust your X starting point so your cut tiles are not too small. You should lay it out so you can use the biggest tiles you can (in other words, don't cut little strips to fill in a gap...shift the whole centerline over to make those slivers at least a 1/3 tile. Once you have your X starting point, put down 4 tiles around that X, and work out from the center, but don't run all the tile down the lines, then do another row, etc.. out in an expanding pattern. If you do a long run all at once, and are just off by a tiny bit at the start...the error with keep growing. Work out from your starting point, filling in all the floor as you go, leaving the edges to trim last. I strongly recommend the Time-Life books on this.
Kosh has a very good point that I was going to bring up that no one else has. When dry laying tile out going off a center line and you end up w/ less than 1/2 a tile at your longest site line then shift over a 1/2 tile and remark your lines. Dont just go off your longest site line and lay whole tile. Yes a few more cuts and a bit more time but it s your own job and you want it to look the best.. As far as a grout joint you didn t say what you are laying ..Soft bodied tile w/ lugs are butted together( leave just a hairline space to make adjustments for sizing . ( unsanded grout only) With hard bodied tile stay in the 1/4 inch 3/16 range any larger and it looks gaudy I think. Any smaller and it s harder unless you have a good tile and or experience working w/ tile.. GL
Start your whole tile by the wall where the tiles will show when you enter the bathroom. Why make cut all around the room? Its takes longer and you will see more tile cuts. You want to cut tiles where the vanity, toilet, closet will be so they don't show as much. Dry lay some tiles against the wall that will show after everything is installed and make a chalk line against that wall. Spread your thinset mortar evenly and install three floor tiles at a time. Before you continue, install three more in row 2 to make sure the tiles look go to the fit. Then continue the first row. See link below for further details.
the most important thing is to have the lines parallel to the walls and to make sure that you do not have any small pieces of tile near any walls or cabinets. If you don't like math you should lay the tiles out on the floor and see how the lay-out works. Every minute that you spend on a good layout will pay off in the end and make finishing easier.
