What is tile setting out and why does it matter?
+
Setting out is deciding where the first tile goes so the layout looks balanced, with no thin cut tiles at visible edges. Poor setting out leaves narrow slivers at walls and corners, which look untidy and are hard to cut and fix.
What is the smallest cut tile I should allow?
+
As a rule of thumb, avoid cuts smaller than half a tile, and avoid anything under about 50mm entirely. Moving the starting point of the layout usually fixes this.
Should I start tiling from the centre or the edge?
+
Centring the layout gives equal cuts at both edges, which usually suits feature walls and floors. Starting from an edge works when that edge is hidden, or when a full tile at a prominent edge matters most. The brickdims tile tool tests nine starting positions and finds the one that keeps cuts largest.
How many tiles do I need?
+
Divide the area by the area of one tile including its joint, then add around 10% for cuts and breakages, or more for diagonal layouts and small, awkward rooms.
How do you set out a herringbone tile pattern?
+
Herringbone uses rectangular tiles laid in a zigzag, either at 45° to the walls or square to them at 90°. Set out from the centreline of the zigzag, usually on the main axis of the room, and move it until the angled cuts at each wall are a reasonable size. Nearly every edge tile in a herringbone is cut, so expect more cutting and allow more waste than for a grid, often 15% or more. Square tiles do not make a herringbone, they give a stepped grid.
How wide should tile joints be?
+
Wall tile joints are typically 2 to 3mm and floor tile joints 3 to 5mm. Rectified tiles can take narrower joints than tiles with natural edges. Check the tile and adhesive manufacturer's recommendations.