Herringbone tile pattern has been a difficult task for many tilers to achieve. Some people find it so difficult to install a herringbone pattern on walls and floors effectively. Although this unique pattern requires a lot of concentration and a high level of seriousness, some people are still facing difficulties in laying it successfully. You can see more beautiful and attractive Herringbone tile patterns visiting https://tileandbathco.com.au/collections/herringbone-tiles
However, having noticed that, we are here to list out some common mistakes that persist in the tiling industry. Not only that, we are here to provide tips on how to avoid those errors. Based on research, tilers are unable to install herringbone tile patterns effectively because of these common errors. Also, it is expedient for you to know that laying herringbone tile in the wrong way will harm the look of your project.
Therefore, we will advise you to follow us closely to take you through some common errors among the so-called professional tilers in Australia.
- Wrong trowel size: The size of your trowel must tally with the size of the tile. Don’t forget that when installing a herringbone tile pattern, the thin-set must be put into consideration. Also, you need to know that the larger the tile you are using, the deeper the thin-set must be. Then, for you to create the deeper thin-set, you will need a trowel with deep notches. The deeper notches will give room for adjustment during herringbone tile pattern installation.
- Furthermore, ensure that the thin-set you’ll be using has phrasing like a large format or large tile on it. If you see a thin-set with that phrase on it, the thin-set will be thick, and it will have the ability to hold larger tiles. Generally, a half-inch trowel works for tiles that are up to sixteen inches. Therefore, if a tile is more significant than this, it will need a ¾ inch notch. However, don’t forget that you must go through your thin-set quickly because you are using it more. If you are using a ½ notch, a 50-pound bag should cover a forty to fifty-foot square. Assuming you are using ¾ inch trowel, that same 50-pound bag should cover thirty to forty square feet.
- Cracking the tile: In laying herringbone tile pattern, one must be very careful. Herringbone tile pattern requires a lot of cutting of tiles into rectangular pieces. Therefore, when cutting tiles, one must take precautions to ensure that those tiles are not broken. If tiles are broken, one may not achieve a well-fitted herringbone tile. Too many broken tiles will lead to wastage. We all know that tiles are expensive; therefore, one must stay focused and concentrate when cutting tiles. We will recommend a diamond wet saw as the best method for cutting tile. A diamond saw blade is scratchy and not toothed. The way to avoid errors in the cutting of tile for herringbone tile pattern is to mark the tile with a pencil before cutting. The marking will help you to know the exact place to do the cutting. Of course, one can use a regular lead or grease pencil to mark the tile. Also, make sure you use slow even pressure while making your cut. When you get to the end of your dent, then push the two halves together.
- Wrong underlayment: The surface where the tile is installed in the herringbone tile pattern is underlayment. It is expedient for you to know that you need a flat, even, and firm surface to lay herringbone tile pattern. If your character is not even and healthy, there’s a tendency that your tile will sag and crack. Also, if your underlayment is not suitable, put down 1/4 to 1/2 inch cement board first. Then you can lay your tile on top of the board.
However, if you have old vinyl flooring that is appropriate, you can place your tile over it. In such a case, one is showing that the floor is thick enough to support the tile.
Hence, we will also advise you to look at the subfloor and determine how far apart the floor framing is. If the structure is 16 inches apart, you should at least add 1-1/8 cement board. At times, the floor framing might be 24 inches apart, so the added cement board should be at least 1-1/2 thick. Click here to read about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Installing Herringbone Tiles In Homes.
Finally, on this point, please keep in mind that you are raising the loftiness of the floor when adding a cement board.
- Laying the tile wrongly: To start laying the herringbone tile pattern, one must start the installation process from the center point. For instance, if one cannot locate the center point of a room before beginning the installation process, one will lay those tiles wrongly. Then the pattern will not be achieved at the end of the day.
- Inadequate preparation: This error is the father of all mistakes when laying a well-fitted herringbone tile pattern. There’s a saying that “he who fails to plan is planning to fail.” This statement applies to tilers that want to install herringbone tile but lacks preparation. You might be wondering about those things one needs to plan for. If you’re going to install herringbone tile successfully, you need to start your preparations by cleaning and preparing the surface before placing tiles on it. You must remove any dirt, grease, or fingerprints. Failure to do proper cleaning will give you an issue if you want to install a herringbone tile pattern on bathroom or kitchen walls. You can use water and mild soap mixture to clean up the walls if you notice some stains. However, if you see any stain on the walls, we advise you to use a paint DE glosser or abrasive pad. Therefore, preparation goes a long way in installing a well-arranged herringbone tile pattern.
Finally, if a tiler can carefully observe the above-listed errors, this will help him overcome all challenges that are likely to come his way when installing herringbone tile. However, we do not only list those errors. We also explain how one can overcome those mistakes.
