Creative floor tiling

It's a bit of a story to this tile project as this section of the floor has been concrete for a few years. I've been a builder and blogger for some time now and we have a home on Cupid's Cay, Eleuthera, Bahamas that we work on every year. There are many more posts to read all dealing with your home on my blog, The Building Blox. Now you know the story about builders finishing their own homes right?

Well this year we decided we would tackle this floor when we returned but there were complications that worked out for the best. We went to the tile store that we had purchased from here in Eleuthera and they no longer carried the same tiles that we had used so it was decision time. We looked through the offerings and due to the increased cost we settled on a beige color tile and got 6 boxes, which worked out to 48 tiles that were each 18" x 18". Now how to make 48 tiles cover the area that we had? I thought about it for a day or so and did an experiment to see if it was going to work. It looked great!

Now once the decision was made I had to start the layout and plan on the concrete floor for how the tiles were to be spaced so that they looked like the design that I had made.

Once that was determined it was time spread out the thin set and lay the tile with the appropriate row spacing.  Now the reason that I did the large tile rows first was so that I would have the level in between to gauge the height of the pieces that I would be adding after.  This way I could determine if they were above or below the tile height and adjust them according.  Some of the thinner pieces needed a bit more thin set to bring them up to the tile height and some pieces had to be shaved on the tile saw because they were too thick.

The outer edge band is made by breaking up tile that we had. The tile store also gave us a box that had been broken to use, which was really nice of them.

As I started down the rows it was very much like making a puzzle.  Over the years we have collected pieces of glass, broken plates, bottle bottoms and a slew of random things on our beach walks and now was the time to use them.  We used everything we had but had run out so we had to make a trip to the north where we knew a beach that would have a new supply and Success! 

The stick you see in the above photo was used to make sure that the pieces were at the right height between the two tiles.

I also added in some blue that I cut out of bottles that I had been saving. The blue around the floor really catches your eye. Any guesses on what bottle they come from?

Luckily for me, throughout the project I had professional supervision. Here she's checking to make sure the thinset is the right consistency!

Broken tile, plates, found tile pieces, bottle bottoms and more all became part of the floor.

The finished floor.

So with a bit of creative thinking a floor that stands out from the rest and also uses a great many recycled pieces was made. The other thing that I didn't mention was that other than my labor this floor cost $200.00 to do. I can honestly say it was a great project and fun to do.

As to the degree of difficulty and if you should attempt something like this? I believe that a person with good DIY skills and/or someone that has done previous tile work could undertake a project like this. The key is of course having the knowledge of how to do it and just as importantly taking the time to plan it out and the patience to make the puzzle work.

Let me know what you think. Like it or not so much? Would you consider undertaking a project like this?

If you hadn't already guessed, the blue bottle pieces are from Bombay Blue Sapphire Gin that I cut with the tile saw.

A short post script.

When I first thought about doing this a good friend, Paul Anater, said it was very similar to what is done in Spain called Trencadis.

Trencadís (Catalan pronunciation: [tɾəŋkəˈðis]) is a type of mosaic used in Catalan modernism, created from broken tile shards. The technique is also called pique assiette. This mosaic is done using broken pieces of ceramic, like tiles and dinnerware

Although its a similar style, I adapted it to the materials I could find here on the island or more accurately, could find on our beach walks. Duel purpose walks- treasures and exercise!

Tile Talk Newsletter - July 2012

Project Pick: Cement Tile Pattern Makes an Elegant Floor

The pattern of a cement tile floor adds unmatched beauty and elegance to a room, just like it did over a century ago. Using a cool blue color palette and five colors, this historical pattern creates a sophisticated look that isn't fussy. Keeping with tradition, the patterned field tiles are framed with a border to create a "tile rug" design. The choice of cool colors paired with a bright red accent in the pattern make the formal design very comfortable but still easy to relax in.

The Roseton pattern, from our Mission Cement Tile line, comes in two standard colorways: Roseton A and Roseton B. The Roseton B in an 8"x8" format is used in this month's project pick.

Roseton Pattern in Two Standard Colorways

Roseton B Pattern

Roseton A Pattern

Colors for the Roseton B Cement Tile

Azul Rey

D'Hanis Red

White

Green

Gold

When using an existing cement tile colorway, fill the area outside of the rug with solid colors used in the pattern. Make sure to use only colors from our Mission Solid Color Cement Tiles. You can also change the colors used on this pattern using any of the sixty colors found in the Mission color palette.

>> See all the Mission Cement Tile Patterns

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Tile Tip: Customize the colors on any cement tile pattern. Follow these steps:

1. Decide on one or two patterns you like.
2. Order color chips (cement tile swatches) from the same line as the pattern tiles.
3. Decide on a color palette using two or three colors. Add one neutral color for backgrounds and a contrasting color for accents.
4. Create different virtual designs using your palette. Decide which one you like best.
5. Order strike-off samples. These samples allow you to confirm the design before purchasing an entire order.

>> Browse our entire cement tile collection

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Floor tile installation problems and solutions

As in most things, knowledge is key and laying floor tile is no exception. Today we'll look at some potential problems that can occur from incorrect floor tile installations and what you can do to avoid them.

Concrete slabs

Many tile installations are laid directly onto concrete slabs by adding a layer of thinset and applying the tile directly. However the potential problem here lies in the two items, the concrete slab and the tile. Concrete, like everything, expands and contracts and it does so at a different rate than the tile that is adhered to it. Naturally when two attached items move at different rates, something has to give and in this case it's usually the tile. Wooden sub floors will also move at different rates. The resulting movement to the tile is called "tenting" and much as the name implies the tile looks like a little tent when forced together.

Tenting

"Tenting in a tile floor"

The solution is to add a layer between the subfloor and the tile that uncouples the floor whether that floor is concrete or wood. Using a cement board from various manufacturers or a product from Schluter called "Ditra."

Cement backer board

Illustration of Ditra installation

Both products will effectively keep the subfloor and tile moving around at their own rates, leaving all parties content and in place.

Below is a great video showing the installation of floor tile and Ditra done properly. This is for a wood substrate but Ditra is also a great product to use on concrete slabs too.

Tenting can also happen because the tile was grouted right to the baseboard versus leaving that last wall to joint empty (no grout there) and applying the baseboard above the tile. This leaves a place for expansion. Another area of potential concern are kitchen and bath cabinets so make sure that you allow for expansion areas along those edges too.

Plants

Oddly you may not even consider this one but plants that are large and in heavy pots can cause tenting. Due to the large size of the plant, pot and soil and if they are occupying a few tiles on the floor, those tiles are not being allowed to move at the same rate as their neighboring tiles and the result may be a large cracking noise some evening as the tile moves or rather the other tiles move.

Expansion joints in large areas

You may also want to consider or confer with your installer about installing an expansion joint and again this one is made by Schluter. Generally a distance of 25'-30' is the most that an area should be tiled without adding an expansion joint such as shown below.

Expansion joint

Another area that re-modelers often face is when two different substrates are to receive a new tile floor. For example part of the area to be tiled is concrete and part is wood. Here we have two different movements to contend with as they both contract and expand at totally different rates. Adding a layer of cement board or Ditra will uncouple the two from the tile and allow them to move at their own rates without effecting the tile above.

Thinset and grout

This one is easy. Just remember that all thinset and grout are made with Portland cement and are dry bagged products. If you are doing the installation yourself and see a premixed thinset or grout on your store shelf and think you'll be saving time and effort, you probably won't be. The product you are viewing is not what you generally will be needing. My advice if you are trying to do a tile installation for the first time, make sure you read and learn all that you can to avoid problems down the road. If you are not 100% sure? My advice would be to hire a professional installer as it will be money well spent over the lifetime of your tiled floor and avoidance of future problems.