Floor tiles: Use square-notched or U-notched trowels for all sizes. The ¼" is suitable for 4" and 6" floor tiles. For floor tiles ranging in size between 8" and 12", you may want to use a ¼" x ⅜," and for floor tiles 12" wide and larger, go with a ½."
The manufacture specifies 3/16 of an inch for grout spacing.
It is strongly advised to back-butter tiles, especially large-format tiles and porcelain tiles. Back-buttering consists in applying a thin layer on the tile backing using the flat side of the trowel.
The most common tile mortar is thin-set; however, while installing porcelain tiles 12x24, we recommend that you use medium-size or mastic mortar because it has higher holding power than thin-set.
Floor tiles: Use square-notched or U-notched trowels for all sizes. The ¼" is suitable for 4" and 6" floor tiles. For floor tiles ranging in size between 8" and 12", you may want to use a ¼" x ⅜," and for floor tiles 12" wide and larger, go with a ½."
Although not necessary for tile coverage, back buttering can be effective by increasing the bond of the mortar to the back of the tile which is an excellent benefit.
To back butter means spreading the bond coat to the back side of the ceramic, glass, stone or specialty tile prior to placing it into the substrate. Flat backed troweling and notched back troweling are both terms used in lieu of back buttering to further define the process.
A large tile, such as 12x24”, usually requires a 3/16” grout line, so it's best to check the manufacturer's recommendations to see how small you can go. Pressed tiles with a 1/16" grout line.
A tile spacer is the only way to get a truly professional finish on your project. Without tile spacers, your project will look amateurish, with uneven gaps and crooked tiles.
You want it close to being flush with the tile edges; otherwise, you'll be able to both see and feel the corners of your tile when you walk over it. A higher-level of grout is also much easier to keep clean than grout lines that fall halfway down the tile.
A 1/4-inch by 3/8-inch square notch trowel will provide the right depth of mortar bed to beat a standard-size 12-inch porcelain tile into. A 1/4-inch by 1/2-inch U-notched trowel will also provide a thick, even bed.
Tile-setters traditionally use a 3/8-inch trowel to comb this kind of tile onto the substrate in an even manner to avoid over-application of thinset. The application of excess thinset with Spanish pavers will lead to staining and uneven surfaces.
Since the tiles available today are made with a low porosity level, there is no dipping requirement. Also, especially for wall tiles, many masons have started using adhesives for installation and not cement and mortar, the challenging task of wetting the tiles in water is no longer needed.
If you want your tile design to look flawless for years to come, then it's essential to protect the edges of your tile! Here are the most common areas where trims are used for tile edge protection: Surrounding a backsplash installation where you see unfinished tile edges. Edges around shower niche or recess areas.
The backs of the dry tiles should be buttered with the adhesive to coat the surface and to fill flush any back profile or key to form a contact layer before placing the tile on the ribbed adhesive bed.
Speaking of trowels, the proper notch size matters. Choosing too small of a notch size for larger tile will result in less than 80% mortar coverage on your tile. For instance, a 1/4” x 3/8” trowel would suit an 18” x 18” tile rather than 1/4” x 1/4” trowel.
So a 1/2” x 1/2” trowel will leave a 1/4” high bed of thinset beneath the tile. A 3/8” x 3/8”' trowel will leave a 3/16” bed of thinset beneath the tile. Using a U-notched trowel and embedding the tile into the thinset leaves you with a bed of thinset beneath the tile a little over 1/3 the size of the trowel teeth.
Straight Horizontal Layout
But with a rectangular 12x24 tile like Graphite Focus Porcelain, you still have to decide which direction you want to take. Laying this mid-tone gray tile flooring in a horizontal straight pattern gives the illusion that your space is wider than it really is.
12 x 24 Rectangular Tile Layout
Because I like for wood floorboards to appear long, and I want them to run the length of the room or in a house (front to back so that it draws you through the house), I like to lay these rectangular tiles in the opposite direction, perpendicular to the length of the room.
Generally, it is recommended to choose tiles that are 4" or smaller for small bathrooms because it's easier to contour around fixtures and appears visually proportioned in a smaller space. Another great option is to go for a more modern design, such as using large format tiles (12"x24").