To achieve your desired grout line, spacers are essential for keeping lines aligned and even. White Subway Tile Backsplash Don't: Assume You'll Just Fill with Grout Our kitchen is fairly big, so it didn't take long for the precision-cut fatigue to set in. We are often asked what is the standard for determining the size of a grout joint - can it be bigger or smaller - does it need to be a specific size, etc. I didn’t account for the fact that our subway tile already had built in spacers. © Copyright 2020 Daltile. There are hundreds of shades of white and grey to choose from—each one producing a different look. A sponge. Eventually, on edges that butted up to a cabinet or window where tiles needed to be cut to fit, we ended up leaving an uneven gutter and assumed it wasn't a big deal since we'd be filling the gaps with grout or caulk later. Grout lines can vary greatly, from jointless installations, showing no or virtually no grout, to about 1/4 inch. This meant that we ended up with pretty wide grout lines. Kristine Lofgren specializes in interior design, Web design, photography and gardening. It's a true black ceramic wall tile in a new, modern color. There are even grout stains so you can change the color if you change your mind. New and used items, cars, … A tile or stone backsplash may improve the appearance of the kitchen, but it also serves an important protective function. It looks great, but it does have a strong presence and will be the center of attention. A narrow grout spacing also can have more of a monochrome effect even with a grout that is somewhat darker than your tile. Rectified tiles with a square edge can have tight tile joints but if your tile has a cushion edge, you would most likely need a 3-5mm grout joint. If you have subway tile with a particular grout line, would appreciate if you could tell me the grout … Special types, such as slate or quarry tiles, often do not have edges uniform enough to look good with tight spacing. But the visual effect is more than just design. Should grout be darker than tile, lighter or match? Do you need to back butter subway tile? Glass With the Snowcap White 3 in. If smaller spacers like 1/8" are used, it will accentuate the size difference of handmade tile. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The darker the grey you select, the more contrast you will get and the more the subway grout line will become the attention grabber rather than the tile. Virtual reality, pictures of similar designs that show the whole room, visits to designs you are considering are all good ideas before you commit. The general rule is any wall tile with a 1 to 2 size can be styled as a subway tile: 2 x 4, 4 x 8, 6 x 12. The classic herringbone pattern just tilted 90 degrees. This thickness leaves room for the natural variation in size, and the perfectly imperfect edges of handmade tile. x 9 in. This rectangular tile is constructed from durable, frost-resistant glass material and is suitable for installation on walls and countertops. Softer whites let the tile be the star of the show and even provide subtle contrast that highlights the patterns and shapes of your tile. Of. She owns an interior design business in Salt Lake City. Yes. It can vary depending on visual preference and how much work you're willing to do to keep it clean. Because of this, minimizing the width of grout lines is advisable, keeping it down to around 1/16 inch. We bought a few individual 3" x 6" subway tiles & a 12" x 12" mosaic sheet of smaller 1.5" x 3" subway tiles (both were plain white ceramic finishes) & … Luckily subway tile is inexpensive so I made sample boards with full tiles but if your tile is more pricey, you could cut tiles in half and grout in between them so you don’t use as many (an inexpensive tile cutter like {this} works well for that). Contrast or blend? The Best Way to Remove a Countertop's Backsplash, Marble in the Shower Is Coming Loose From the Wall, Daltile: Tile and Stone Care and Maintenance, How to Install Slate Tile on the Walls for a Wood Stove, How to Make Mosaic Stepping Stones Made With Grout & Premade Stepping Stones, How to Repair and Grout Ceramic Shower Tile. Get a sense of what your design will feel like so you can have the impact you’re looking for. For instance, a monochromatic room can sometimes feel a little lost without something to ground it. The Tile Council of North America and accompanying tile organizations recommend an average grout joint width of 3/16 inch for every 1/16 inch variation in the size of the tiles. Minimum Grout lines The quick answer is nothing closer than 1/16. When it comes to kitchen DIY, tile is an easy option. I read that 1/8 inch is typical, but we want to Use a colored grout (light grey). Until the 1980s, there were only two choices when it came to grout: white or grey. You can also easily remove the tiles from the sheets and set the spacing to any size that you want using spacers. We knew we wanted white subway tile, but we weren't sure which size to go with. I normally don't put much thought to grout line - is 1/4 considered undesirable? What size grout joint for subway tile, used spacers. I've been told that when the grout is colored the lines look more substantial so I should use a small size. The width is almost entirely up to personal preference, but since grout is not as strong as the tile or stone it surrounds, it's generally advisable to keep it relatively narrow. x 9 in. Grout Lines for Floor Tiles As a general rule, floor tiles should have grout lines of 1/8 inch or larger, depending on the type and size of tile; most floor tiles are 8 inches by 8 inches, but larger versions are available. If you are going for high contrast or retro style, wider grout spacing gives you the opportunity to make a statement with your grout. The typical size for subway tile is 3″ x 6″, but with the vast selection of natural and man-made tiles, comes a huge variation in size availibility. Grout, including sealed grout, tends to wear more quickly than tile and become more porous and prone to staining. Our White Matte Ceramic Subway Wall Tiles are a timeless design that is a beautiful accent to any interior! I completely forgot about that and used 1/8″ spacers. 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