Scoring grout lines into large tile?

[lostinLA]

Hey all -

I had an idea, and was wondering if anyone's tried it before:

I'm working with 1/2"-thick, 24x24" rectified porcelain tiles, and want to get a more rectangular look - say, 6"x24" tiles. I had planned on cutting them all, but then I thought, why can't I just use my tile saw to score the lines into the tile, instead?

I've experimented a bit and can cut 1/4-3/8" grooves with no problem at all, and it seems like it will make install much easier, with fewer opportunities for lippage (I'm shooting for very thin grout lines).

Anyone tried this before? Any reason why it wouldn't work?

Thanks,
David

[Ken]

David

I dont like this idea, if you do not have a properly mixed thinset and 100% coverage on the subsrate to the tile, chances are under point loads this will cause the tiles to crack where you scored them.

[gueuzeman]

Me no like. Unless you are using spectra lock for grout, I would worry about grout popping out of the faux joints at some point.

I appericiate your wanting to save time and keep things flat, but if you as my customer made the suggestion, I would decline, unless the tile came from the manufacturer that way to be used in that manner. Call me chicken, but if you want me to cut them all and install them, sure!

My .02

gueuze

[kerdibird]

Haven't tried it, but I've laid tiles made like that fairly recently.
They looked like 1x3 mosaic but not staggared.
You could also run your snap cutter up or against the groove and get a reasonable break
They were european tiles; don't remember the make, but cool 70's colors.

[Foochacho]

Ive also used tiles made like that 1x3s probally the same stuff I see nothing wrong with it if its on a wall.

[chase2000gt]

I have done it. It worked well, and I would do it again. However, it was used as a deco in a shower, not for a floor.

[kerdibird]

I agree.
They were most definitely wall tile.

[gueuzeman]

Are you guys saying you have used them, or that you have MADE them? I remember AO used to make scored tile (sd-5?), white cley body wall tile- absorbant/ bond. This is porcelain, 6x24.

I'm just saying that if it was me and my customer, or my house, i'd saw them all the way thru.

gueuze

[ceramictec]

Gueze, your right.
AO made the SD-5 scored wall tile in a few types in the Mid 90's


David,
it would be best to cut the floor tile all the way through to get the look you are after.

[lostinLA]

Sorry - should have been more precise in my description --

I wouldn't try it on a floor, for the same reasons given by other posters. I'd be afraid of the score lines acting like, well, score lines -- and snapping under uneven pressure.

So this is definitely for walls only - seems like it'll make it a lot easier to keep things straight and level. Especially with my pretty new Imer Combi 250 doing the scoring

Thanks for your input, everybody!

David

[ceramictec]

are you able to adjust the depth on that Imer ?
I see your saw can do plunge cuts, but can you adjust the depth ?

most bridge saws you cant, just tilt the head for angles.
I think more are adding the plunge option to the new saws like QEP .