Tile spacers.... worst invention ever.

30933 Views 27 Replies 14 Participants Last post by TileLady, Sep 9, 2009

GC-B

Discussion Starter · Sep 6, 2009

Good morning everyone... got up early this morning to clean-up the new marble tile counter-top I am currently installing in my kitchen. As I was cleaning the thin-set up I noticed that a few of my spacing's were a bit off. I used 3/16" spacers and I feel like spacers are the biggest rip off. I have done plenty of shower/tub walls, counter-tops & floors with ceramic, porcelain and marble tiles (all on my own properties thankfully) and those stupid little spacers suck! For whatever reason I used them again on one section of the counter-top and will not be using them on any other projects in the future. I installed the remainder of the counter-tops without them and my eyes do a MUCH better job. I'm guessing that since all tiles are not cut exactly the same and that some of these spacers also vary slightly in their creation your just asking for trouble when using them. Anyone ever tried using these stupid little things? If not, don't. Their a waste of money and time.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

Bud Cline

· #2 · Sep 6, 2009

I've been warning people about those things for years. They are a waste of time and money in most all cases. Don't throw them away, they are good for playing tiddly-winks.

The Coastal Craftsman

· #3 · Sep 6, 2009

I aint tried many types but i can tell you now that the rubber ones they sell in lowes are useless. I tried the tavy spacers and have a lot better luck with them. But still like you say not all tiles are the same so it dont matter how good your spacers are.

WarnerConstInc.

· #4 · Sep 6, 2009

Artist's don't paint by numbers.

Thats all I have to say about spacers.

angus242

· #5 · Sep 6, 2009

How do you tile a wall without spacers? :whistling

Reactions: 1

Bud Cline

· #6 · Sep 6, 2009

Walls are a different animal. And even then spacers aren't the total answer. One must pay attention.

Bud Cline

· #7 · Sep 6, 2009

Spacers for a floor tile installation are basically useless. You certainly don't need them there. For a countertop...same deal.

angus242

· #8 · Sep 6, 2009

I know, I just felt like stoking the flames a bit. :devil:

I use a grid for the floors. Can't get much straighter than that.

chris3267

· #9 · Sep 7, 2009

I've seen guys use them and not use them. I always use them. And I always keep the tiles settin with the marks on back going the same way. My floors always come out perfect.

freemason21

· #10 · Sep 7, 2009

i hate them, i always forget one or two and dont see it until im done grouting. pain the arse

Paulie

· #11 · Sep 7, 2009 (Edited)

chris3267 said:
. My floors always come out perfect.

Wow, what a statement. You mean I could go to any of your jobs and not find ANYTHING wrong?

Perfection huh? That's got to be cool.

I myself make mistakes every day and it sucks.

www.phbconstruction.com

freemason21

· #12 · Sep 7, 2009

paulie said:
Wow, what a statement. You mean I could go to any of your jobs and not find ANYTHING wrong?

Perfection huh? That's got to be cool.

I myself make mistakes every day and it sucks.

he must really know what he's doing :laughing:

lavrans

· #13 · Sep 7, 2009

spacers work fine- so long as you use them as a tool. Tools don't automatically make things perfect, they make them as they are set.

Spacers are necessary for walls, whether you buy them or make them. They can be useful for floors, too. But you can't expect to just jam & go- you still have to look at what you're doing. I use them on floors & counters to keep from moving adjacent tiles too much. I use a combination of x spacers and wedges- oh, and the occasional piece of tape.

Thinset being what it is, spacers are handy or necessary. If you go back to dry setting tile with a mallet, well, no spacers necessary. But a lot more skill is needed.

Reactions: 2

silvertree

· #14 · Sep 8, 2009

For walls I have cut 1" luan squares. East to remove and I use business cards pieces if I have to move things a little. Come out easy. Used the rubber ones a couple of times and thought they were useless.

PrecisionFloors

· #15 · Sep 8, 2009

Tavy spacers, wedges, horseshoe shims, tooth pics, grid line, laser lines. I use them all. Some at the same time. Sometimes none at all.

Point is, each job and situation calls for a different tool outta the old bag of experience. All due respect to Bud (who has probably forgotten more about tile setting than I know) spacers do have a place in the tool box imo.

To the OP...stop buying .79/ft Home Depot tile and your alignment problems will suddenly shrink in rapid form :whistling

IF I'm wrong, I apologize in advance, but...the nature of your post screams "House Flipper"...you gets what you pays for :thumbsup: Hell 3/16 spacing you don't need a spacer on a counter top. Any decent tile setter knows you check your gauging before you mix mud, or for that matter decide on spacing.

Reactions: 4

angus242

· #16 · Sep 8, 2009

PrecisionFloors said:
Tavy spacers, wedges, horseshoe shims, tooth pics, grid line, laser lines. I use them all. Some at the same time. Sometimes none at all.

Point is, each job and situation calls for a different tool outta the old bag of experience. All due respect to Bud (who has probably forgotten more about tile setting than I know) spacers do have a place in the tool box imo.

To the OP...stop buying .79/ft Home Depot tile and your alignment problems will suddenly shrink in rapid form :whistling

IF I'm wrong, I apologize in advance, but...the nature of your post screams "House Flipper"...you gets what you pays for :thumbsup: Hell 3/16 spacing you don't need a spacer on a counter top. Any decent tile setter knows you check your gauging before you mix mud, or for that matter decide on spacing.

Very well put!

Bud Cline

· #17 · Sep 8, 2009

Ya haddah mention ole Armand didinja?

PrecisionFloors

· #18 · Sep 8, 2009

Bud Cline said:
Ya haddah mention ole Armand didinja?

:whistling:laughing:

Yeah, I gotta question some of his hair brained idears, but those damned spacers are the cat's ass...as far as spacers go.

Bud Cline

· #19 · Sep 8, 2009

He's mighty proud of them spacers.:thumbsup: Those damned things are his main claim to fame.

One time I tried to get him to give me his stupid hat. I wanted to trade him one of my company logo'd caps for his dumb ass ivy leaguer and he wouldn't do it. Ole 007 himself!!!

angus242

· #20 · Sep 8, 2009

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