new kitchen floor.. Should I go with 18 or 224 in tiles?

[MichaelP]

We're redoing the kitchen soon and I'm still debating on floor tiles..

We'll be using travertine but I don't know if I should go with 18x18 or 24x24 tiles..

Never mind the hype about 12x24 nowadays, I'm afraid these will become "dated" soon enough...

txs forward

[Easton]

well depending on the size of the room, go with 24"

oh and may i suggest having them laid diagonally (it's more expensive but so worth it)

that's what we did when we had our house built in 2007

[LiveDose]

Totally agree, depends on the size of the kitchen and whether it is an open plan.

[pornguy]

if the room is not big then the 24s will make it look even smaller

[SGS]

If it's a proper sized kitchen go with 24 x 24

[MichaelP]

Txs

This is how the kitchen is right now... The new layout will be mostly the same but with new cabinets...

[Easton]

hmmm... in that case, i'd say 18x18 and forget my suggestion about diagonal

[Nikki_Licks]

Go with 24" and have them laid diagonally as mentioned above. It may cost a bit more, but it makes the room look bigger and you will like the finished product.
We have 24" tiles throughout our entire home with the exception of the bedrooms, which is carpet.

[MichaelP]

Of course the tiles will cover the kitchen (which you miss some part in the pic), the breakfast place, 2 corridors and the ground level half-bath...

[Ecksent]

We reno'd our whole main floor last year and were going to use the 24's but the pocket bathroom (1/2 bath) wouldn't really look right with them because of the size of it, so we went with the 18's.

[SGS]

We had 12 x 12 white marble put down throughout the whole ground floor of the main house here last summer and we already have plans to change it again later in the year when we go away for the half term holidays?

Think long and hard and take advice and do the job just once.

[NemesisEnforcer]

Originally Posted by MichaelP

We're redoing the kitchen soon and I'm still debating on floor tiles..

We'll be using travertine but I don't know if I should go with 18x18 or 24x24 tiles..

Never mind the hype about 12x24 nowadays, I'm afraid these will become "dated" soon enough...

txs forward

Go with the 24 x 24 travertine. Tell the installer that you would like no grout (used only for natural stone). In other words, put the tiles as close as possible together. You will end up with less grout and lines throughout the floor. A good installer will make it look symmetrical.

If money was no object, you would be doing granite slabs on the entire floor, thus, virtually no grout lines.

[CamTraffic]

18 x18 should do it
you dont want tiles too big

[VeriSexy]

Originally Posted by NemesisEnforcer

Go with the 24 x 24 travertine. Tell the installer that you would like no grout (used only for natural stone). In other words, put the tiles as close as possible together. You will end up with less grout and lines throughout the floor. A good installer will make it look symmetrical.

If money was no object, you would be doing granite slabs on the entire floor, thus, virtually no grout lines.

No grout lines? what happens when dust and other junk gets through the cracks?

Also when your floor/tile expands and contracts you'll eventually may get cracked tiles.

[beemk]

Originally Posted by NemesisEnforcer

Go with the 24 x 24 travertine. Tell the installer that you would like no grout (used only for natural stone). In other words, put the tiles as close as possible together. You will end up with less grout and lines throughout the floor. A good installer will make it look symmetrical.

If money was no object, you would be doing granite slabs on the entire floor, thus, virtually no grout lines.

you have to have grout lines or bacteria and other stuff gets in there. i agree though, the smaller the better, i usually do 1/16".

both 18" and 24" is extremely hard to lay for stone, if you dont get an expert that has years and years of experience with stone dont expect it to look half way decent or last longer than 3-5 years.

[gecko]

make sure you detra it first...

[JFK]

Originally Posted by CamTraffic

18 x18 should do it
you dont want tiles too big

yup, they tend to crack after a while

[Lace]

I'd say 18x18. With the size of that kitchen, I think these would fit just fine. I want to tile my kitchen as well, and get rid of the hardwood which I hate. Is there any warehouses or businesses you can go look at these, or grab a few to bring home and look it over before making a decision?

[Davy]

I would use the bigger ones.

[BV]

I wouldn't use travertine in the kitchen, looks great but has to be kept sealed and resealed over time, especially high traffic areas where the sealer will get worn off from walking on it. When this happens and you spill something there you will have a stain. Travertine is porous, looks great but not the best choice for a kitchen.

I'd go with a (through body) porcelain tile myself. That's a full porcelain tile (not just a coated porcelain ceramic tile) through body porcelain is a very very strong tile.

As far as size, i'd go with the largest possible, even if it's a small kitchen, will make it look larger as well as have less grout lines. and as long as it's laid correctly on a flat service you will never break it.

PS: unfortunately i have been laying tile as well as natural stone since i was about 12 because that's what my dad for a living :-(

I just finished laying about 4000 sq' in my Florida home. (on diagonal) it's really not any harder to do it that way, in fact it can be a little bit more forgiving as far as keeping your grout lines perfectly straight.

One of the most important parts is to make sure the grout is installed correctly and a good quality grout used, as well as grout sealer. The secret to a good grout line that never loosens or cracks is to not get real sloppy with your thin set and clean it out from the joints before you grout.

Anyways good luck, IMO there is nothing better than tile in the house and I'm sure you will love it no matter what kind you get.

[MetaMan]

prob the frenchman special whatever is the cheapest and ugliest.

[tranza]

Biggest ones, sounds nice.

[MichaelP]

Originally Posted by BV

I wouldn't use travertine in the kitchen, looks great but has to be kept sealed and resealed over time, especially high traffic areas where the sealer will get worn off from walking on it. When this happens and you spill something there you will have a stain. Travertine is porous, looks great but not the best choice for a kitchen.

I'd go with a (through body) porcelain tile myself. That's a full porcelain tile (not just a coated porcelain ceramic tile) through body porcelain is a very very strong tile.

As far as size, i'd go with the largest possible, even if it's a small kitchen, will make it look larger as well as have less grout lines. and as long as it's laid correctly on a flat service you will never break it.

PS: unfortunately i have been laying tile as well as natural stone since i was about 12 because that's what my dad for a living :-(

I just finished laying about 4000 sq' in my Florida home. (on diagonal) it's really not any harder to do it that way, in fact it can be a little bit more forgiving as far as keeping your grout lines perfectly straight.

One of the most important parts is to make sure the grout is installed correctly and a good quality grout used, as well as grout sealer. The secret to a good grout line that never loosens or cracks is to not get real sloppy with your thin set and clean it out from the joints before you grout.

Anyways good luck, IMO there is nothing better than tile in the house and I'm sure you will love it no matter what kind you get.

Txs for nice advices, But they told me that you need to reseal them maybe after 3-4 years... and since we don,t have kids, there no such "high" traffic

Actually porcelain tiles are in my serious considerations as well though

[Deesnuts]

18

[Max - RiotDesign]

If you have enough space to run 5 24x24 tiles side by side it should look fine, also lighter colors and less busy textures help a lot to make the space look bigger.

[MichaelP]

Originally Posted by Max - RiotDesign

If you have enough space to run 5 24x24 tiles side by side it should look fine, also lighter colors and less busy textures help a lot to make the space look bigger.

(5 X 24") which is about 10 ft... Good rule of thumb.. Txs

[JimmiDean]

Originally Posted by MichaelP

We're redoing the kitchen soon and I'm still debating on floor tiles..

We'll be using travertine but I don't know if I should go with 18x18 or 24x24 tiles..

Never mind the hype about 12x24 nowadays, I'm afraid these will become "dated" soon enough...

txs forward

If your floor is not screwed down like hell and has any movement 24x24 will crack my friend.

[MichaelP]

Originally Posted by JimmiDean

If your floor is not screwed down like hell and has any movement 24x24 will crack my friend.

Yeah I know that, When I did it originally, it was with 16x16" tiles and I doubled it already, but thanks for the advice

[beemk]

Originally Posted by MichaelP

Yeah I know that, When I did it originally, it was with 16x16" tiles and I doubled it already, but thanks for the advice

theres a lot more to finding out of a floor is stong enough for stone besides how good its "screwed down". whenever i get stuff done i have it glued and screwed. that doesnt mean anything though if you dont measure the deflection. you can calculate it here:

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/deflecto.pl

ask your tile installer about it though, if he doesnt know what you're talking about when you mention deflection then you should find another tile guy.