Replacing floor tiles? Stop using those plastic spacers that come in the bag.

I redid my kitchen floor in ABQ last month and the grout lines came out all wonky because those cheap spacers flex under the weight of the tile. Has anyone else switched to the spin levelers or the little rubber crosses?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_amy19d ago

Honestly those cheap spacers are exactly why I had to pull up half my bathroom floor last year. I switched to the spin levelers from Home Depot and it made a huge difference - they actually hold the tile flat while the thinset cures instead of bending under the weight like the plastic ones do. The little rubber crosses are okay for small tiles but if you're doing anything 12x24 or bigger, the spin system is way more reliable. Took me an extra 15 minutes per row but saved me from having to regrout everything three months later when tiles started rocking.

logan_young2919d ago

So you're telling me my crooked floor is because of those flimsy plastic things and not my complete lack of skill? Good to know the spacers are the real villain here. I'll grab some spin levelers before my bathroom tiles look like a funhouse mirror.

taylor.sean19d ago

@logan_young29 It's funny how tile work teaches you that every little thing matters way more than you'd expect. Kind of like how in cooking, using the wrong size pan can mess up a whole meal even if you follow the recipe perfect. Never would have guessed plastic spacers could be the difference between a flat floor and a funhouse mirror.