Bathroom101: Tile Layouts

Bathroom remodeling project? Then you're probably going to invest in some tile. If you're up to the adventure of installing your own tile, then the most difficult part of the project you face is the layout. Without a proper tile layout pattern, your tile is going to look amateurish and unprofessional. Learn the secrets of tile layout with this excerpt from Construct101.

Finding your Center

Any tile layout should begin with finding the center of the room. This can easily be accomplished by using a measuring tape. Stretch the tape from on side to the other and divide that measurement in half. Now turn the tape perpendicular and measure the room, dividing the measurement in half. Where these two measurements intersect is the center of the room. This technique can be applied to floors and walls to find the center of any tile project.

Chalking Lines

Now that the center of your tile layout has been found, you can begin snapping a few chalk lines as a reference point for setting tile. Transfer the measurements both horizontally and vertically to the top, bottoms and sides of your tile layout. Simply snap a line from wall to wall or ceiling to floor on these marks for a basic cross section that you can base your tile from.

Large Rooms

Large rooms may or may not have a good center reference from one wall to the next. To get a perfectly square tile layout without using the walls, a 3-4-5 measurement is required. After you have snapped two lines that run perpendicular to each other as described above, you will have divided the tile layout into four quarter sections.

Starting from the center of one of the quarters, measure the vertical line and make a mark at three feet. Now measure and mark the vertical chalk line at four feet. Now measure between the two marks diagonally. If your measurement equals five feet, then you have a square set of lines, if not, you will need to adjust one of the lines as needed until all measurements are the same.

Diagonal Tile Layout

Once you have a basic four quarter layout established, installing tiles diagonally is easy. Measure the tile and find its center. Transfer this measurement to one of the vertical or horizontal lines already established. Now snap a line that runs parallel to this line. Each corner of the tile will fall on the newly snapped line.

Odd Shaped Tile Layouts

Not all rooms or walls are perfectly square or rectangular. To account for these odd dimensions, simply eliminate them. Pull the horizontal and vertical measurements from the longest parts of the walls, floors or ceilings. Now pull measurements from these lines to the odd shaped areas of your tile layout.