Kitchen Tile Layout Question

[brians]

I've got a layout question for you guys.

This is my first tile job and you guys have been a huge help!

I have laid some tiles out on my kitchen floor and as luck has it it appears that I will basically have full tiles against all walls. As close to full as you can get. This is the first break I have caught.

My question is, if I know that I will have full tiles against all walls because I am lucky, is it okay to start against one wall and work my way across the room to the next wall? As opposed to beginning in the middle like I have always read.

Would this cause some problem I am not seeing?

I know I want full tiles at my hardwood transition to the living room so that is the wall I would start against.

Please advise and once again thanks for all of your help.

[Madison Mike]

Brian - I almost never start in the middle of a room. After having chalked lines and/or dry layed tiles, I'll start at one end and work my way to another. The key is to know for sure where you're going to end up with your tile: Make sure when you dry lay tiles that you have the same consistent grout line that you'll use when setting tile. If you grid out the floor and stick to your lines, you should have no problem. In a situation like yours, I'll often start where the full tiles are critical, like at the tile/wood transition, and work my way from there.


Mike
Madison, WI

[Davestone]

Brian, unfortunately your room is probably not square..you should make a huge + in the middle of the room and double check before you start setting and get in a bind...but if it works out,be sure to make a chalk line to go off of, and go ahead.Man you guys type fast.

[brians]

DaveStone,

How do I find the exact center of the room?

I have read many things on this but it seems to me that if the walls are out of square then when you try to mark the center it still really won't be the center. I probably just don't understand how to properly do it.

Please explain.

Thanks

[John Bridge]

It comes down to the "grid system." You don't have to know the center of a room. Most rooms don't have one. You do need to know where every cut is going to fall and how it's going to look. There are three books out there that go into depth on this type of layout. Two are written by me and one by Michael Byrne. I don't need the sale, but you need a book. By Setting Tile by M.B.

[brians]

How would you start tiling this kitchen?

It is mine and this is my first tiling job.

I also posted a thread yesterday about this but today I included a picture to allow you to actually see the layout of the kitchen.

As I mentioned before, I will have full tiles (by luck) almost all the way around the walls.

I know that I want full tiles for sure at the hardwood transition to my living room and they must line up just right to my hardwood. That is why I wanted to start against that wall.

Would you recommend against this?

Please see attached picture.

Please let me know how you would lay it out.

[brians]

Anybody?

[mosquito]

If that is what has to line up, then that's where you start. Figure out where a grout line is going to fall and strike a right angle line at that point. Go to the other end of the room and measure and make sure you are going to be able to live with where the tiles will fall. Then lay out your grid and stick to it.