Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Create a Cement Tile Floor Plan with Double Borders

Recently, I showed how to Create a Cement Tile Floor Plan with Large Patterns & No Border. Today's variation on that theme will show how to create a tile floor plan or layout for common (four-tile patterns) that use a border or double border. This can be more difficult. You want to make sure the field (patterned) tiles have symmetry within the border, the 'rug' or field and border tiles are centered in the room, and you need to avoid cuts to border to maintain the design.

Cement Tile Flooring with Pattern, Border, and Edge Tile

Cement Tile Floor Showing Field, Border & Solid Color Edge Tiles

No matter how simple the project may seem, I recommended that you (or your designer) show the tile pattern layout for a room. You'll then know how many tiles to order and it's the best way to show the installer exactly how you want the floor to look. To create a tile floor plan you should follow these steps to achieve the best results. Make sure to use a scaled drawing and include an allowance for the grout joints (usually 1/16").

In this example, we chose the Cuban Heritage Design CH220-3B. We want to create a traditional rug pattern in the center of the room with the border forming the outer edges. This tile comes in an 8"x8" format and will use the distinctive double border. A double border is simply a border that requires two rows of patterned tiles instead of one. To avoid cuts to the pattern, the edges outside the border are filled with a solid color tile, Heritage Turquoise, that will be used around the room's edge.

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile - Design CH330-3B

Cuban Heritage Design 220-3B with Borders, Corners & Field Tile Shown

Heritage Turquoise Cement Tile

Heritage Turquoise

Here's the steps to create a flooring plan that includes a double border and is based on using a pattern that requires four (4) tiles to make the design (CH220-3B).

  1. Find the center of the room. Do this either with a chalk line for smaller rooms or more precisely by measuring each side of a rectangular room. When finding the center or a room, ignore closets, niches or alcoves connected to the main part of the room.
    Cement Tile Layout - Step 1

  2. Place the center of the pattern in the center of the room. Notice the cement tile pattern we're using only requires four (4) tiles to complete the pattern; so, four (4) tiles are placed in the room's center.
    Cement Tile Layout - Step 2

  3. Continue the pattern in all directions until their isn't enough room to complete the pattern and border without cutting a tile. Remember, the outer 2 rows of tiles will form the double border.
    Cement Tile Layout - Step 3

  4. Fill the remaining, irregular space around the edge of the patterned field tile with a complimentary solid color cement tile or stone. Connecting closets or small rooms should use the same flooring material as the edges.
    Cement Tile Layout - Step 4

  5. Voilà! The cement tile layout or plan is complete.
    Cement Tile Layout - Step 5

Creating symmetry with the pattern inside the borders isn't always as easy as it looks, especially with rectangular rooms. Have patience as you may need a few iterations to get it just right. You'll be glad you discovered any problems on paper rather than during installation.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I like it!! Very good explained! Thanks!

Fun and Fit: Kymberly and Alexandra said...

Wow, that Cuban Heritage is absolutely gorgeous. I want to tear up all my ugly oak floors now and install that. More accurately, I want someone else to install it.

CB Whittemore said...

This is gorgeous! I love seeing the full effect and then the how-to images.

Best,
CB

Bill Buyok said...

Alexandra and Christine - We have a concensus, you both used the same adjective to describe this floor: gorgeous!

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for your feedback and comments.

Unknown said...

Tiles have lots of creative designs, and it's really cool if we install it on our floor. Some of us, in order to maintain the beauty of tiles, place carpets on it. Usually, we use vacuum cleaners and other carpet cleaning materials for our carpets. As a matter of fact, it's hard to perfectly clean our carpet, especially for bug problems. That's why some of us hire the services of carpet cleaners. In Virginia beach (VA), carpet cleaners are very easy to find, and give great deals. I'm confident to say that carpet cleaning in Virginia beach are truly exceptional.

Anonymous said...

These Floor tiles design ideas for bathrooms are beautiful and sophisticated. Some of the designs above have touches of Oriental and European styles, which are usually used in five star hotels. The Japanese style is one of my favorites because it employs beautiful lanterns.