Advice needed on Spacing with Tuscan Leveling System

[JohnWild]

Can anyone offer some professional advice to clear up a conflict on tile spacing? My plan was to use the 1/32 spacing that is a part of the Tuscan Leveling System but I'm worried because the tile store where I made the purchase said I needed to do 1/8th spacing minimum on tile.

Details of project are below:

* Rectified 20X20 Eleganza porcelain tile
* 416 sq ft of contiguous flooring - T shaped area into kitchen, dinette, foyer
* 1st floor concrete slab, above grade, 11 year old house, no water vapor
* Prior to tile job, flooring had thin vinyl on it - level throughout
* 2-3 minor 1/32 cracks in concrete after vinyl was pulled, filled in with patch
* Moldguard #2 Polymer Modified/Fortified Porcelain thin-set (white)
* 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 SQ Trowel
* Tuscan Leveling System
* I haven't chosen grout yet but was thinking about Prism

Also - any comments about the benefits of doing smaller/larger spacing as it relates to floor maintenance? I'd like smallest grout line possible partially because it looks good and partially because I think it will be easier to keep clean.

Thanks!

John Wildharber

[gueuzeman]

Well, I'd go with a 1/16 joint, have used my TLS a few times and not quite ready to go to 1/32, almost too small to get grout in, or wide enough to clean thinset out of.

As to 1/8 recommended by tile store, either they have no clue about the TLS, or they are trying to improve your odds of satisfactory insallation.

The issue with tight rectified joints is that the tolerances are so small that everything is magnified, and 1/32 of lippage starts to feel like a mountain.

This way leads to madness.......


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[gwataloo]

What Gueuze said

[JohnWild]

Gueuzeman -

When you used 1/16th spacing, do you have a preferred brand/make of spacers?

[Rd Tile]

http://www.tavytools.com/spacer.html

[gueuzeman]

Tavy's are great for TLS installs on floors, on walls I use Horseshoe spacers.

For 'normal" (non- TLS) installs, Raimondi spacers are the best. I have many different kinds for different things......







.

[MICK1]

I'm doing the new Trend USA showroom in Miami, and we are using 24x24 TREND Q with a 1/32 space between tiles wich after considering the tiles beveled edge we will have a almost 1/16 grout joint, I will post pictures soon.

Thanks guys for answering the post,

Mick

[JohnWild]

Thanks all for the replies!

I found Tavy spacers at Lowes and they seem to have them decently priced.

I'll be going with 1/16th. I was debating cutting the difference and going with 3/32 but 1/16th won. I hope I don't regret that decision.

Gueuezman - you seem to be a fan of Laticrete Permacolor. Unless someone can offer a reason not to do this, I plan to use Laticrete Permacolor grout with the Laticrete Grout Enhancer for mixing it.