Posted: 10/3/2012 7:10:55 AM EDT
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Redoing my front entrance area.
I am trying to decide between the stack or brick pattern. I appreciate the help. 
this is the tile I'll be using...ceramic in a slate design. 
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Agreed. Otherwise go with the stack. Square tiles in a brick pattern just look weird. |
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I like that...how would you approach the front 4" lip? |
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I like that...how would you approach the front 4" lip? The vertical surface has to be a cut. The horizontal suface cut should be at the back near the door, not the front. |
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I like that...how would you approach the front 4" lip? Set the diagonal field within a narrow border of cut straight tiles. ETA: like this 
Cut down some full tiles to make 4" strips, set the border, then center the diagonal inside. You can overlap the lip of vertical tiles with factory edges of cut tiles, or you can embed a trim bead to make up the corner––like so: 
I'm assuming you're using a medium dry-set to do these. Don't use a pre-mixed thinset or organic mastic. Mix your mortar well and bed your tiles properly and the strength of the cut tiles should be a non-issue. I'd definitely use an epoxy grout outside. |
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Start at the front edge of the porch with a whole tile unless you like that design. Whole tiles are much stronger that the narrow pieces. A wet saw will cut the slate like butter. You can even get a Harbor Freight $50 saw to cut 12x12 slate easily. thats what I have...been using it for years but got it on sale for $45 
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Quoted:
Start at the front edge of the porch with a whole tile unless you like that design. Whole tiles are much stronger that the narrow pieces. A wet saw will cut the slate like butter. You can even get a Harbor Freight $50 saw to cut 12x12 slate easily. yea I'm affraid of that...with 12" tiles and starting with a whole, I get a small sliver at the back by the door. The 3" x 12" starters are bullnose... I'll make that decision later. Not going with diagonal...the brick is nice but used more on rectangular tile. |
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This is what I was told to do. 
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Mine, too. The stack pattern can look boring and the brick pattern can look busy. This is a good compromise between the two. |
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Yep, do the diagonal, you won't be sorry.
Doing grids or staggered bricks, leave it for the pro's. Any flaws in leveling or inconsistencies in the grout lines will stick out like a sore thumb. Or if anything on the stoop and the house isn't perfectly square, it'll look bad. Diagonal hides all of that. 
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Find the center of your entry way by measuring. Lay a single tile at your center mark, in the diagonal design - do not use any mortar/thinset, do this dry as it's your planning stage Lay additional tiles branching off your center tile, until you get close to each edge (when you run out of room for another full tile); you only need 4 branches, so don't go crazy filling it in completely Measure the left over space and cut your tile branches; as long as it's the same front-to-back, or side-to-side, it's even. For the 4" step, I would cut 4" corners off the tiles an create a \/\/\/\/\ pattern edit: remember to do the step first, as you will likely want the entry way tiles to lay on top of the step tiles. |
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I just noticed that the tiling on the ceiling in my bathroom is done like this. The other walls are all straight stacks. It's all coming out in the next year or two, but I do like this pattern and will be using it for the whole thing when the time comes. |