Odd Bullnose Tile

mdshunk

As an observer of interesting things, I have seen a tile that was mostly used on very old (50's, 60's) tile installations, mostly in bathrooms. Where a row of horizontal bullnosed wall tiles meets a row of vertical bullnosed tiles, the tile in the corner sometimes had a little tiny bullnose on the intersecting corner. I know that this tile was factory made and not filed off in the field, because the little bullnose "notch" is glazed. Question is... what is this particular tile with the little bullnose on one corner called? I drew a quick pic for clarity.

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Tom R

Yah, - - factory-made, - - I think it's just called an 'inside corner bull-nose', - - I don't think they even make 'em anymore.

mdshunk

That would be a shame, because it does make for a really neat job.

Tom R

Yeah, - - that was back when quality preceded quantity . . .

mdshunk

I guess. How many newer tiled public restrooms have you been in that have had tile base. They hardly ever use the double bullnosed corner tile base piece anymore. They mostly just butt up two base tiles and call it good. Perhaps they don't make that base tile corner piece anymore either.

Tom R

That I don't know, - - I don't do commercial work at all, - - but I do know (for residential) it's tough, if not impossible to even find an 'available' base tile anymore, - - let alone bull-nose corners 'n all that.

I did tile my upstairs bathroom with those 'inside' corner tiles (on the border tiles) though, - - that was about (14??) years ago, - - have never been able to find anymore since then. Maybe it's an 'area' thing??

Usually, on the older houses around here (like mine), - - you would use 4 X 4 field tiles, - - with 2 X 6 border tiles, - - and when you make that 'vertical-to-horizontal' turn you speak of, - - you'd use a matching 2 X 2 'inside-corner-tile' to make the turn. Gives a real nice detail.

MattCoops

They still make quarter bullnose and inside/outside corner bullnose.
Marazzi and Laufen makes them still on select brands.

For instance, Laufen has a tile called "Carrara" that is in a floor and wall series.
They make a 3" x 3" outcorner trim, SN4339

Your wet saw can be set on a 45 degree angle for a reason. For inside outside corners

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

MattCoops

I've even seen quarry tile manufactured with bullnoses you're talking about.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Tom R

The tile md is talking about in his original post is not something that can be made by 'setting your saw' . . .

Cutting a 45* on outside corners can be done (although I avoid it), - - but in no way gives the professional look of a 'glazed' corner.

Cutting a 45* on an inside corner?? That would be rare. Why?? The face of the tile meets either way.

Tom R

That's interesting to note, - - and great information, - - but the trouble is . . .

You want to pick the accessories to go with your choice of tile.

Not your tile to go with your choice of accessories.

MattCoops

If the tile isn't manufactured that way, that's what you resort to.
How else do you do your corners? caulk them? yuck! Only in a bathroom do I caulk corners.
Or worse, leave an edge showing on corner

I've cut 45s on corners a few times and customer liked detail

If it has to be perfect corner. Sell a Laufen tile. I know for a fact they have outside/inside corner pieces.

If you want to get fancy, Check out Schluter "Rondec" for outside corners and "Dilex" for inside corners and movement/control joints

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Tom R

With bullnoses, - - a 45* outside corner, - - no matter how perfectly cut, - - leaves a highly undesireable 'sharp' corner.

MattCoops

you'll find that cutting tile at 45s on inside corners the tile butts up nicely. Just cut real slow to prevent chipping

outside corners and wall to floor line use Schluter piece

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Tom R

But(t),

Tiles are not supposed to 'butt up', - - even nicely.

Future expansion will cause cracking.

Inside corners 'require' a gap, - - filled with caulking.

Brushslingers

They do still sell inside 1/4 bullnose, just nowadays you have to go to a tile store to get them... HD and etc don't carry em. IF you find a decent dude at HD, they will order you some though. I have had to 45 a few in my time but its sorta like crown, you are taking off from the back and the face won't have that sharp edge, unless you are trying to run it though too fast.

Anyhow, they do still make em, just takes some digging, the new thing is no bullnose except on showers.

Oh ya, the peice is called a cove outcorner or cove incorner, bullnose isn't baseboard, cove is.

EDIT : Here's an example, lots of manu's still make em. http://www.virginiatile.com/com_ProdTerra.php

__________________
Benn

Tom R

I am referring to my local tile store.

Yes, - - I'm sure there are manufacturers who still make them, - - but there are also plenty who don't.

When my customers pick out the tile they like, - - it's by look, not by manufacturer.

Mike Finley

Md do the pieces look like any of these?

http://www.floridatile.com/Available%20Trim.pdf

Tom R

Mike, - - I don't see it there among their choices, - - although 'Florida-Tile' is the brand name of the tile that I did my bathroom in, - - and they had it (at least at the time).

If I get the time, - - I'll post a pic later.

Double-A

MD, is this what you're talking about? I have these in my bathroom, circa 1966 home. I don't have a camera right now or I'd take a picture of it.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

mdshunk

Indeed, that's exactly the piece I was referring to. the one at the intersectin with the little tiny inside bullnose on the corner of the one tile. That tile didn't appear in Mike's link.