Staggered Floor Tiles Vs. Straight Setting: Which One Is Better?
A couple of summers ago, my husband and I completely remodeled our kitchen. It was quite a project, and we learned a lot. One thing we spent a lot of time talking about was tile.
Choosing the proper tile is an essential part of the design process. Not only do you want it to tie the room together, but it has to function well in the space. On top of that, you have to decide whether you want to stagger the floor tiles or lay them straight. Your choice makes a difference in the installation and overall look of the room.
In a staggered floor design, the interrupted lines of grout make an interesting pattern for the eye. However, the tile shape and the size of the room must be considered for this layout. Straight setting tile is the easiest method and offers little waste. Square or rectangle tiles work in this design.
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Choosing the Right Tile
Before we talk about which way to lay the tile, let’s discuss the types of tile available and how to choose the right tile for the right room. Every tile offers something different. So, it’s important that you know how they’ll function in each room.
The following should be considered when choosing the proper tile.
Durability
Is it going in a high-traffic area like an entryway or a hallway? You don’t want to be replacing the floor often because you chose a fragile tile.
Slip Resistance
Are you tiling in a room with water like a bathroom or kitchen? You’ll want to choose a tile that absorbs the water so you don’t have a slipping hazard. Tile can be naturally slip-resistant or special coatings can be applied to achieve this.
Size and Thickness
The size of the tile plays a role in how the room looks. Large tiles make a small room feel bigger. Small tiles make the room feel cozy. Some tiles are thicker than others, so you’ll want to pay attention, especially for floors. If the tile is too thin, it might crack and break more easily.
Color
Certain colors and patterns hide wear and tear well. Choosing tile with darker tones can bring warmth to a room, whereas whites and other lighter colors brighten up a space. Patterned tiles can add character to the room.
Rating and Grading
All tile is rated using the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating. The PEI rating is based on the hardness of a tile’s glaze. Tile with a wear and breaking rating of 4 is suitable for all residential areas. You’ll want to choose tile with a rating of 4 or higher.
The grading of a tile determines its quality. Grade 1 has no imperfections or defects. Grade 2 has some imperfections and defects. Grade 3 tile is much thinner and should only be used for walls.
Types of Tile
Tile is made from a variety of elements. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each type will help you choose the right one for your project.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tiles are ideal for high-traffic areas. They are durable and water-resistant. Affordable and low maintenance, porcelain is easier to cut than other tile types. However, they are also heavier and not recommended for second or third-floor projects.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed. If glazed, they have a liquid glass coating that protects them from stains, scratches, and fire. If unglazed, they’ll need to be treated in order to be stain-resistant. Like porcelain, ceramic does well in high-traffic areas because of its durability.
Mosaic Tile
These are most commonly found on bathroom walls and kitchen backsplashes, but they can also be used on floors. As well as being easy to clean, they are durable, easily resisting moisture, chips, and stains. They also have more grout lines which texture the surface and make it more slip-resistant.
Cement Tile
These eco-friendly tiles are also slip-resistant. They tend to cost more than other tiles, and because they’re thicker, they aren’t as versatile.
Metal Tile
While they can be used for floors, they hold in the cold which is not always comfortable. They also scratch and dent easily.
Natural Stone Tile
A few varieties, such as granite or slate, are good for high-traffic areas. Most, however, should be used in moderate to low-traffic spaces. Travertine and marble are popular bathroom floor choices.
Tile Layout Tips That You Need To Know
Staggered Floor Tiles
A staggered floor layout is also known as an offset pattern. It’s not a difficult pattern to achieve. You simply line up the edge of the tile to the center of the tile below it. You can also offset each one by one-third of the tile to give a more interesting option. That method is often called “third-stagger.”
It’s best to use a rectangular tile for this method because the shape shows the offset more prominently.
Pros
- This pattern adds style and creativity to your space.
- The method can be used on walls as wells as floors.
- The pattern is great for hiding imperfections like crooked walls or uneven surfaces.
- It’s the better option if choosing tiles of unequal size.
Cons
- You’re limited in the shape and size you can choose. It doesn’t work as well with large tiles.
- You have to be exact in how you lay it. If it’s not perfectly in line, you won’t know until a large section is done.
- It’s best when using the same tile throughout, so you most likely can’t mix and match.
- There’s a tendency for wasted tile because of the cutting necessary to keep the pattern going.
Straight Floor Tiles
A straight tile pattern, also called a stacked pattern, is the easiest and most common layout. It’s especially great for DIYers who aren’t as experienced with tile-laying. All you have to do is match the corners of each tile and line them up next to each other to achieve a grid pattern.
You can use either rectangular or square tiles for a straight layout. Rectangular tiles can be laid vertically or horizontally.
Pros
- It’s the easiest installation method.
- It’s versatile. This pattern works with large or small tiles as well as rectangular or square.
- It’s easier to plan how many tiles you’ll need, making it more cost-effective.
- There isn’t as much cutting in this method which also cuts down on the waste.
- It’s great for patterned tiles to give your floor some pizzazz.
- It can be used on walls or floors.
- The finished product offers a clean, linear look.
Cons
- In order to get a perfectly straight layout, you must use tiles of equal size and shape.
- It’s not suitable for narrow rooms because it makes the space feel smaller.
- It’s possible to choose a tile that’s too Because the pattern is so simple, a tile without some variation might look boring.
Related Questions
Should you stagger larger format tile?
Large-format tiles are anything larger than 12×12. Tile planks that look like wood are a popular design choice. Those are usually 6×24 or 6×36. Larger tiles can be slightly domed with the high point being the center of the tile. When staggering, the lowest point of the tile (the edge) is next to the highest point of the tile (the middle). This can create a tripping hazard or end up looking like a basket weave.The closer together the tiles are the more noticeable the lippage will be. You can manage this by changing the size of your grout joint. In some cases, it might be best to use a professional when staggering a larger format tile.
Where do you start laying floor tiles?
You want to start directly in the center of the room. To find this point, locate the midpoint on each wall. Then, snap a chalk line on the floor. Where the two lines cross is the middle of the room and where you should start laying the tile.
What is a good thickness for floor tile?
Floor tile should be on the thicker side to promote durability. Usually, floor tile will be ½-inch to ¾-inch thick. Make sure the tile you choose is not just for walls as that will be too thin.
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Summing It Up
When choosing between staggering floor tile or straight setting it, the decision comes down to the size and shape of the tile as well as the layout of your room. Straight setting has more pros, but there’s something to be said for the interesting design that a staggering layout will produce.
Staggering floor tile hides imperfections in the space and offers a unique design from the interrupted grout lines. However, you’re limited to using a rectangular tile. This method takes concentration during install and has more waste from cutting.
Straight setting is the easiest installation method. You can use virtually any size and shape tile and waste is minimal. However, the narrowness of the space and equality of tile shape should be considered.
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Brigid Levi is a wife, mother, and freelance writer who enjoys a good DIY project and creating beautiful spaces within her home. From cleaning and organization hacks to home decor ideas, she loves helping people in their quest to turn a house into a home. Her hobbies include pretending to be Joanna Gaines while updating her home with her husband and performing in local theater productions.
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