Installing floor tile...

[Mark42]

Just finished tiling the kitchen. Now I'm starting to tile the foyer. The issue I have is the sub floor in the kitchen is 1/4" higher than the subfloor in the foyer where they join. I have a clean edge on the kitchen tile, and want to butt the foyer tile (a different size and color) up to the kitchen tile with just a grout spacing.

How is the best way to make up the 1/4 difference in floor height? I am thinking of laying a 1/4" of thinset and spreading it to 0" thick over an 18 or 24" distance from the kitchen tile. Then after its set, go back and lay the tiles. I figure no one will notice a 1/4" slope over that distance.

Any better ideas?

The kitchen tile is 16x16, the foyer tile is 13x13.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Installing floor tile...

That is what I would do.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Installing floor tile...

If you don't want to raise the whole floor the 1/4", then what you have described is probalby about your best bet. However, you may want to work it out a little farther than that ... because where your "ramp" meets the floor will need extra mastic to keep the tile from cracking at the uneven floor ...

 

[bhammer]

Re: Installing floor tile...

You have the general idea if you are butting two tiles up with a grout line. But, the general rule of thumb is 1 tile per 1/16" or 4 tiles per 1/4" based on 12X12 tiles.

You say you are butting two different types of tiles witha grout line? IMHO only, I'd probably put some sort of spacer in between them to make a nice clean break from one color/type to another. Then, you could use that spacer to make the 1/4" cleanup.

I have used all kinds of stuff to make the transition.

Post us some pics...

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Just my double lincolns but it's gonna look goofy without a transition strip. I've seen that before and it looks strange to the eye. Even if the grout lines match up between fields, IMHO it's going to look strange and unprofessional. Lay a few courses loose on the floor for a few days and see if that's what you really want before you make anything permanent.

They sell prefinished transition strips that you can alter to easily make up the 1/4" difference...

 

[Coors]

Re: Installing floor tile...

1/4 in 4 feet will work-otherwise, you will think you have a handicap ramp.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Why not two layers of luann?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Installing floor tile...

An additional layer of hardy backer board would bring you to level.

 

[ob]

Re: Installing floor tile...

There are reducer strips that can be got through a flooring supply for this very purpose.Whether it is tile to tile or carpet to tile.The initial strip is made of aluminum that is secured to floor and contains a groove in which a flexible vinyl cap is tongued into once cut to length.I used them in my house for carpet to tile transition some 15 years ago and they have held up nicely and look finished as well.Any commercial flooring supply house carries them and some non-commercial.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Installing floor tile...

I really don't want to put a bump where the foyer joins the kitchen. The prefinished oak strips I used to join the kitchen tile to livingroom carpet. That works fine, and the carpet will eventually be replaced with hardwood. I just want a smooth flat surface from the front door into the kitchen.

I put a straight edge across the drop, and because the foyer was carpeted, I never noticed that the floor actually dipps near the kitchen. So I filled the area with thinset, used a screed to level it out, and the end result is the floor is level. Not sloped. We have had a few tiles set in place for a few days now, and we think the butt joint looks fine. Wife did pick tiles that work together colorwise.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty tired of house projects. I want to get back to the Bayliner hard top. Told my wife this is the last house project for the rest of the boating season.

Just to give you an idea, in the last two months I pulled up the tile floor in the down stair bath, installed new tile, new toilet, painted, new corian top with new faucet, new mirror, new towel racks, switch plates, and new recessed lighting in the ceiling. Then pulled up the sheet flooring in the back hall and kitchen, put in the big 16" tiles, and now pulled the carpet in the front foyer and doing more tile.

I need a rest!!!

I'll post some pics after I finish the foyer this weekend.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Installing floor tile...

We have had a few tiles set in place for a few days now, and we think the butt joint looks fine. Wife did pick tiles that work together colorwise

That's the great equalizer, having someone good at interior decorating with a flair for what works and what doesn't.

I re-read my original post and it comes off much harsher than intended. I only wanted to save you from a fate I've seen before where people I knew did a poor job of selection and installation. Tile is expensive and painful to change so it pays to really be sure it's what you want/like. Glad to hear it will work out for you!

 

[Booberdoo]

Re: Installing floor tile...

How is the lower floor situated with the rest of the house? If you used a light concrete to raise it your 1/4", will it then be higher than other adjoining rooms? If so, will it be an issue?

Personally, unless you haven't a level floor I would bond 1/4 ply down to give you your height as long as it doesn't interfere elsewhere. Light concrete can be tricky to get perfectly even if you don't have the experience.

I am a land developer / construction manager / general contractor. We design, build, own and manage elderly living developments. For our congregate care facilities we typicall build a wood framed, 3-story, 120ish unit building. These are phased in in wings. We had a framer who framed one wing 1/4 lower than the rest on one floor so rather than tear everything down we laid a second layer of ply to fix it. Unless you run a tape you would never know it. We do also uselight concrete throughout to keep everything level and give the flooring rigidity.

 

[Booberdoo]

Re: Installing floor tile...

I figure no one will notice a 1/4" slope over that distance.

You would be surprised, some may not notice but most will. Something to do with one's natural equilibrium.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Tonight I finished laying the last of the tile (except some pieces to finish the inside of the hall closet). Haven't grouted yet, but I put my head down on the kitchen floor and looking down the foyer hall, it looks flat. So I'm happy. Tomorrow evening the thinset should be set enough to walk on the floor. A little grout and I'm done.

Wife thinks the new tile in the kitchen is easier to clean than the old sheet vinyl. I like the looks.

Wonder if these new tile floors add much to the value of the house?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Here are some photos:

Kitchen floor:

Looking down back hallway from kitchen:

From family room looking through kitchen down back hallway. Thats a lot of tile. The hallway is 14" long and the kitchen is 23 feet long. I was glad the tiles stayed on course, nice straight grout lines.

Where kitchen floor meets front foyer tile with butt joint and also made up the 1/4" difference in sub floor height by filling the difference with thinset then screeding it down over 2 ft:

Front foyer:

 

[i386]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Looking good Mark. Is there anything left to redo in that house?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Installing floor tile...

Looking good Mark. Is there anything left to redo in that house?

My wife thinks so!