Kitchen Floor Tile Straight Lay

This basic design gives a clean look and may work well to tone down heavily patterned tiles or compliment high shine ultra modern tiles that call for a sleek display.

Kitchen floor tile straight lay.

The ledger shown here is a length of steel angle held in place by wood blocks screwed to the wall. So in a kitchen that is 10 x 20 for example i would lay the longer side across the 10 length. If not the tile will simply amplify the imperfections. In this case i would prefer the tiles not look so long instead appearing in more of a brick style just like when you look at a brick wall the long sides of the brick are running horizontally across the wall.

To lay out tiles in a straight pattern you set your tiles in such a way that the corners of each tile are lined up with one another giving you a grid like look at the end. Put the first test tile onto the thin set bed. Square or rectangular tiles are set horizontally square to the wall in parallel rows. For best results lightly press and twist the tiles to get full contact between the mortar and the tile.

Pull the line very taut and the hold the line down on the mark with one hand. Straight lay pattern this is the most commonly used tile pattern of all and the easiest to do. This is the simplest way to install tile and is great for diyers. Lay the first tile square at the crossing of the reference lines.

This also helps to set the tile in the mortar. Reach out with your other hand and lift up the chalk line about 10 to 12 inches from the floor pulling straight up then release the line so it snaps down onto the floor creating a crisp straight line. Straight set tile or straight lay refers not to a specific type of tile but rather to a process of tile installation. Straight lay with a straight lay pattern tile is laid one after another in a straight grid pattern with corners matching up and grout applied in intersecting lines.

To get a straight level start position a ledger on the wall leaving a gap below about 1 2 in. It s a good choice of pattern for rooms where you don t want the tiles to distract from other design features. The tiles are simply laid side by side in a straight line to give an overall even grid pattern. Lay the tile flat and then with mild pressure slide the tile 1 4 inch back against the thin set ridges then slide it back into place.

You ll end up with misaligned tiles and grout lines that vary in width. With a straight tile layout the cuts are almost always perpendicular to the tile edges. This pattern offers a clean linear look that gorgeously showcase the beauty of your tiles.