Well, hello there little kitty cat! Have you come for my tile tutorial?
Have a seat and let’s get started then!
I’m currently tiling an entryway. I’ll be doing a before and after when the floor is complete so I actually have something interesting to show you. However, I thought perhaps I could share this little rookie tip with you I created.
(all real tile installers, please leave the building NOW. Or, keep the laughter down to a dull roar as my hearing protection is now off. Thank-you.)
So here we have this fancy dancy tile twisted diagonally, or, on the bias.
It’s a great method to use when your walls aren’t square. However, that wasn’t my true intent this go around in this room. It’s part of the design. If you look back at the cat picture, you can see there’s a pattern smack dab in the middle of the floor. And now what I’m doing is wrapping the bias tile around the pattern.
(yes I’m out of my mind crazy for doing this, but I was bored out of my tree with just doing it normally and needed some massive adventure here! So I got fancy)
I had been using a ruler and tediously measured and measured and measured until there were no numbers left on the ruler. (true story, they rubbed off and I had to find another) And then I figured out an easier way.
Place a piece of paper in position, taking note to avoid the grout spacing. (1/4″ in this case). Bend the paper where it hits the wall, again, taking in account that you want abit of a gap against the wall.
(tiles don’t move, however walls expand and contract and you don’t want to have your tile snap on you, hence the gap against the wall)
For crazy corners in tight spaces, I use post it notes instead! Stick them down in your space while slightly overlapping them so they stay intact to create your pattern.
Place the paper (or stuck together post it notes) on the tile against the outer edges and draw your angled line as per the fold in the paper. (no measuring, see?!? How exciting!)
Cut your line.
I’ve been using a heavy duty wet saw, however you can rent smaller variations or even buy manual cutters too. (the type where you drag, cut and snap) But if you have the opportunity to tile with one of these… ohhhh yeahhhh. GOOD hearing protection and safety glasses are a must. Yes I look like an alien when I work but it’s what all the pros are doing these days.
Place your tile into position. I do dry runs first, doing a lot of cuts, then mortaring later just to keep things moving a little quicker.
Isn’t that perfect fit just the cat’s meow?!?
Come back! It was just a joke!
Update: See the finished room HERE!
See my bathroom tile with a pattern insert HERE
What a fantastic idea! I would never have thought of that but will now keep it in mind for the future. Love your front entry btw….
keep up the good work! I would never do it myself..i dont have the patience!
Love that someone else thinks outside the box. I taught my hubs this little trick (he tiled and did hardwood floors for about 3 years) when we were re-decorating his mothers bathroom and he couldn’t figure out how the best way to cut around her slightly rounded tub! I still giggle that it seemed so simple to me, to make a template out of a piece of paper. Good work and keep on keepin on!
This looks great! I love that you’re making up your own rules/techniques as you go. Wow, and I feel accomplished for painting my own house… (the OuTSiDe even)! I think the neighbors must think I’m nuts, but Mr Warren doesn’t like to paint. I quite agree when he says, I’m a roofer, not a painter.
Here’s to all us women creating and sprucing with the big boys!
That is genius, even if the kitty wasn’t excited!
That is great advice!! If I’m ever crazy enough to try and lay tile, I’ll use this method!
Wow! You’re my idol. The big saw and everything. Great job and great tip! I can’t wait to see it all finished!
Isn’t that just like a cat? lol
I can so relate to your remodeling since we are doing it again ourselves for the third time. Never again. If I ever get this house finished I’m done. From here on in I just want to decorate.