Diagonal Tile

[Russ_Boston]

Building in about 2 months.

Q: We are doing tile everywhere except bedrooms - should be lay out diagonal or straight? Why?

Q: Do you prefer the rounded drywall corners? Why?

Thanks,
Russ & Linda

[iandwk]

I know from laying tile that it's about as easy to do it one way as the other. I've heard of installers charging more for laying it diagonally, but there are about the same amount of cuts either way and the cuts are no more or less difficult either way. Other than that, it becomes a matter of personal preference.

Rounded sheetrock corners I would assume are useful in the sense that you aren't constantly chipping the mud from the sharp corners. I'm sure others know more about that, though.

[TednRobin]

Hey Russ, 1st congrats on your new home, how exciting. I think the diagonal tile looks much better. Adds pattern and texture to your rooms.(just my opinion) As for the rounded corners, I'll be anxious to see what people say. I've wondered about it as well. :wave:

[784caroline]

I vote for Diagonal tile...makes a room look a little larger and the perception as you enter the front door is Wow. This is especially true the larger the tile you are putting down. It is more expensive to lay tile on a diagonal for it requires more cuts and more pieces of tile.

With rounded drywall corners you are going to have a potential issue with how to break up a room while painting. For the experts among us this may not be an issue but for me it would be.Same for installing wall paper but not many people do this today! As far as look..im neutral on rounded corners.

[Russ_Boston]

Thought about the painting issue. Not sure I'd ever want an accent color.


I'm curious about the appearance vs. sharp.

[Kelsie52]

Hey Russ----

We went with the squared tile --only because it made my wife dizzy looking at the other ===it was also several thousand dollars more ..

The rounded courners just made everything look a little softer we had never seen it before so ?--:shrug:

[vj1213]

I like diagonal tiles and I did the rounded corners..I just think it gives a softer and more polished look. I won't be wallpapering and I never really gave much thought to painting (I'll leave that to the painters)

[cherylncliff]

Diagonal vs straight, rounded vs sharp - it really comes down to what is important to you and your own personal preference. We just made all those decisions in late July (our heads were SPINNING!) - while Kelsie went with rounded (corners) and straight (tile), we did just the opposite! I figure picking one over the other is probably a wash as far as cost goes - at any rate, this is (hopefully) the last house we will have :2excited:, so we picked what seemed to suit us best - and I am definitely all about color - and change is good is my mantra :clap2:

[chuckinca]

We went with rounded corners when we remodeled an old Victorian recently. People comment favorably on them and believe they are original construction from the early 1900's.


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[pooh]

Our house came with rounded corners and I really like them. The house had straight tile and it goes well, though if I had my druthers, I might have chosen diagonal.

When it was time for paint, I had a consultant help with colors. Have a lantana and in essence, it's a great big room with bedrooms off of that room. The large room has three shades of a color from a color strip. The recessed walls in the living room and dining room are the darkest shade of the three colors, the main room is the next lighter shade and the kitchen is the lightest. At the rounded corner where the colors meet, it's just about impossible to see the difference from color 2 and color 3. Of course if one paints totally different colors, then an inside corner would be point where colors change. Believe me, it works out.

Enjoy!

[Russ_Boston]

Thanks Pooh - I like the idea of using the color strip to get complimentary colors.

[Boomer]

We went with rounded corners when we remodeled an old Victorian recently. People comment favorably on them and believe they are original construction from the early 1900's.


.

Hi Chuck,

Please forgive this interruption, but I just cannot help myself. I love those old Victorian houses. I think they are sometimes called "Painted Ladies" and I must admit to being consumed with curiosity about what colors you used for the outside.

I know. I know. Here I go down Hijack Road again, but not really. It's just that I sometimes think of these threads as being a little like conversation. But if this were taking place in person, I would be quizzing you at great length about the plumbing fixtures and the staircase (might have two) and all manner of things Victorian, until you would likely flee the scene.

What a project that must have been. A Victorian sure would demand a lot of attention to detail. I bet it is beautiful.

But I will behave now and not ask a bunch of questions that have nothing to do with tile.

(I guess I had better talk about tile now.....hmmmm......well.....hmmmm......I like tile.)

Boomer

[Rag Bagger]

I don't think I would use rounded corners. It seems like it would limit decorating options because I wouldn't think you could change paint colors or wallpaper at a rounded corner. You may think you wouldn't want to do that now but that could change and you would be stuck.

But Diagonal tile is, to me, very attractive. In addition the tile should be as large as you can talk the builder into. Paradise flooring has a drawing that they show their potential customers showing that larger tiles make areas look larger. Even small areas like a bath.

[tile guy]

Hey Chuck
I may be able to give you some advise here. First I have over looked most of posts so if I repeat them my apologies.
Chuck it is NOT as easy to do a diagonal install compared a basic pattern, that advise should not be accounted for. I do this for a living and have done it for a very long time and there is no way it can be done with the same efforts.
The diagonal layout is a better looking job by far if done right. The rounded corners should be no problems with a qualified installer.
I hope you are not hiring a all in one handy dandy dude to lay most of your house, I have seen some good ones and I have seen more bad than good by far. Also the quality of your job depends on the quality of your materials used.
I could talk for hours with you and still not cover everything you need to be careful of. My best advise is hire someone with references.
I don't feel it proper to introduce myself to your job because I am here only check in on occasion and possibly help the village folks with a project here and there. I have done many years of work in the Villages and love this group.
If I can help with advice I'll try and check back in later tomorrow after my diagonal lanai install in the 100 degree heat "oh boy".
Welcome Chuck and good luck.

[jojo]

Love our diagonal tile - in all areas but the bedrooms.

[SALYBOW]

We went with the non diagonal tiles since we were sticking to a budget. It is apparently much more expensive because he was glad when I said to lay them straight. We have the rounded corners and we love them. They soften to look of the home. Painting is not a problem they sell a gizmo online that blends both colors at the match. Haven't tried it yet but intend to. After we get all these other expenses out of the way. We feel like we are bleeding money lately. $400 plus per car for first time registration, 50 per car for plates. 50 dollars for a drivers license, etc., :rant-rave: etc., etc.

[Russ_Boston]

I hear you Sally - I'll have to save up some coin:)

[Ohiogirl]

I vote for Diagonal tile...makes a room look a little larger and the perception as you enter the front door is Wow. This is especially true the larger the tile you are putting down. It is more expensive to lay tile on a diagonal for it requires more cuts and more pieces of tile.

With rounded drywall corners you are going to have a potential issue with how to break up a room while painting. For the experts among us this may not be an issue but for me it would be.Same for installing wall paper but not many people do this today! As far as look..im neutral on rounded corners.

I agree totally. Remodeled our Ohio house 4 years ago, went from straight tile to diagonal in the kitchen and it really DOES make especially a small room look larger.

I personally love all the different and sometimes vibrant wall colors I see down here. I stayed pretty neutral in our living room/kitchen/dining area but still didn't paint all the wall, just some, ending in the corners or on a straight side. Plan to get a little more daring in the bedrooms/baths/laundry, just trying to decide what colors. I vote for the straight walls, not rounded.

[Pturner]

Hey Russ, when it's all done, I'd love to sneak a peEk.

[Ooper]

I like the look sof bullnose corners (rounded) but it does limit you to pretty much having the same color paint for areas connected by them. As for the floor tiles... why not mix them up a bit. You can put square or diagonal tiles for the majority of the floor and then put in a tile frame and reverse the pattern in places like under a dining room table or the center of your living room. Putting saddles or seperators in doorway or passage ways also break up the monotony of keeping the same pattern throughout.

[Army Guy]

Russ, you know we were were you are last year this time. We went with diagonal, because it looks so much better. We think it makes the flow from room to room look better. Now it costs more, 10% more on material and I forgot the additional install cost. But we feel it is so worth it.
On the corners, we went straight, cause it use it gives just a "cleaner" look. And even though we kept same color throughout the villa, it does allow easy break for each room.
If you want to see pix of our floors, just let me know and I will email them to you.

Army Guy

[Dan =^..^=]

We originally went with diagonal tile and then decided that the cost difference could be better used on other things so we changed to the regular straight pattern. I am very happy with the way it turned out and feel like I have now justified buying a stainless steel french door refrigerator with the cost savings. :thumbup:

[Jhooman]

We will begin building next year in Buttonwood. We looked at several models and decided on diagonal. Our agent stated the cost would be more because they use additonal tiles for diagonal, but it looks gorgeous.

We did not choose rounded corners, we may put in crown moulding and this would be an issue.

See yea next year.

We are so excited about coming to TV full time.

[pooh]

We will begin building next year in Buttonwood. We looked at several models and decided on diagonal. Our agent stated the cost would be more because they use additonal tiles for diagonal, but it looks gorgeous.

We did not choose rounded corners, we may put in crown moulding and this would be an issue.

See yea next year.

We are so excited about coming to TV full time.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/psylviaod/moulding.jpg
Crown moulding is not an issue with rounded corners. I have both and it looks great. There is an additional piece put where the two straight pieces come to the rounded corner.

[Jhooman]

Thank you for the photo, I was told it could be an issue. Now I know it was a fib. That looks fabulous.

Your the best!

We will be building the Iris.

Jeanette

[Pats2010]

Thanks Pooh for the picture. I was wondering what they did for the crown molding on a radius corner.

[pooh]

Thank you for the photo, I was told it could be an issue. Now I know it was a fib. That looks fabulous.

Your the best!

We will be building the Iris.

Jeanette

Glad it helped you.

Congratulations on your new home...and are you going to have fun decorating it! Enjoy! Looking forward to having you here.

Pat

[pooh]

Thanks Pooh for the picture. I was wondering what they did for the crown molding on a radius corner.

I wondered how it was done, too.... ;)
Mike and I really love it.

Pat

[In awe of TV]

Russ - Tile layed on the diagonal and rounded corners are always "features" when describing a home. I believe they add to the beauty and if you are building according to your specs, then why not splurge, this is your forever home! Just do it because you may regret it later if you don't.

Pooh - your walls and crown moulding are simply magnificent!

Russ - Do you want "magnificent" or just "typical"?

JMHO

[Army Guy]

In Awe, We can not agree with you more. That is why we bought for location and model/style of Villa, then ripped out the whole interior, even though it was brand new, and redid it all to make a Premier Villa. All our lives we said our next house, well this is our final house so it is what WE wanted.

Army Guy

[aljetmet]

[:QUOTE=Rag ******;284701]I don't think I would use rounded corners. It seems like it would limit decorating options because I wouldn't think you could change paint colors or wallpaper at a rounded corner. You may think you wouldn't want to do that now but that could change and you would be stuck.

But Diagonal tile is, to me, very attractive. In addition the tile should be as large as you can talk the builder into. Paradise flooring has a drawing that they show their potential customers showing that larger tiles make areas look larger. Even small areas like a bath.[/QUOTE]

BigApplause:

[sista]

Where is your house being built?

[Kelsie52]

[:QUOTE=Rag ******;284701]I don't think I would use rounded corners. It seems like it would limit decorating options because I wouldn't think you could change paint colors or wallpaper at a rounded corner. You may think you wouldn't want to do that now but that could change and you would be stuck.

But Diagonal tile is, to me, very attractive. In addition the tile should be as large as you can talk the builder into. Paradise flooring has a drawing that they show their potential customers showing that larger tiles make areas look larger. Even small areas like a bath.

BigApplause:[/QUOTE]

Aljetmet ...
I agree with the size of the tile--as I stated before --tile on the Diagonal is very nice looking --but it actually made my wife Dizzy --seems strange --but true ----Tile size being installed for us is 19" --looked great in a model we saw ---:a040:

[iandwk]

Chuck it is NOT as easy to do a diagonal install compared a basic pattern, that advise should not be accounted for. I do this for a living and have done it for a very long time and there is no way it can be done with the same efforts.

I have not done it for a living, but I have laid tile for myself a few times. I did the diagonal in a large room and found it to be as easy as straight. I did not have to buy extra tile nor did I have to make more cuts than with straight. I will admit I don't have that much experience. The only way I can figure that the above quote is correct is that I must have had a perfect room for laying diagonal tile.

I think from this you can see that there are varying opinions. Everyone can't be correct about everything. Decide for yourself what you want and find a good installer who won't charge a lot extra for diagonal if that's the way you decide to go. Diagonal does look more striking, especially with the right pattern and color of tile.

If the person who wrote the above quote wants to disagree with me again, that's ok. My wife does that a lot and I am used to it.

[l2ridehd]

Go with the tile on the 45 and rounded corners. Have homes with each and the look is better with both. Diagnol tile should be just a bit more but not much as at the wall, every other tile requires a 45 degree cut. So a little more waste and a few more cuts maybe. Rounded corners avoid chipping and nicks on the corners. If building new, I would select both.

[BogeyBoy]

We've had tile on a diagonal and rounded corners. I vote yes for both.

Painters we used did a great job on the rounded corner switching from one color to another.

I think the tile on a diagonal looks better. We have it throughout our house in Virginia Trace and in the main living area of the place in Hemingway. Actually the house in Hemingway has a tile that looks like weathered/distressed wood. Each tile is about 5.5 x 17.5 inches, so there was more labor involved to install. We also used it in other areas, but not on a diagonal.

Another rounded corner issue that is not an issue - baseboards. They were installed in the same fashion as the crown molding, and look equally as nice.

[Mikitv]

This is house number six that we've built and first time with diagonal tile and love the look. We also went with the rounded corners and love it too. I guess it is just personal preference.

[chuckinca]

I have not done it for a living, but I have laid tile for myself a few times. I did the diagonal in a large room and found it to be as easy as straight. I did not have to buy extra tile nor did I have to make more cuts than with straight. I will admit I don't have that much experience. The


I believe that there has to be additional cuts at the walls. Tile installed square butts up to the wall its full length; tile on a 45 requires cut and install 2 ea pie shaped pieces at every tile at the walls.

We had tile installed in an entry way a few years back and decided to have it installed on an diagonal after we negotiated the price - the installer wanted 10% more bucks due to the change (we were furnishing the material).

It sort of makes me dizzy too. There is an indoor mall near here that has carpet like that that I stay away from.

.

[tile guy]

iandwk
Please understand my intention of correcting your comment was only to inform our feller that he if he did try and do it himself he would be in for a very big surprise.
Some situations as you stated are not that difficult but from what he has described he needs a pro and only a pro. I continue to see owners wanting to save a buck and have the neighborhood pitch in, and it looks just like that.
Many are so bad they will never be able to sell if they tried.
I always say if it looks like you did it yourself you shouldn't have.
I know this post may come on to generate some attack and I hope thats not the case, my only intention is to keep Russ on the right track.
And I also agree with round corners which will not be round at the base but not at all difficult to do and diagonal if the price difference is worthy.

[Russ_Boston]

Thanks tile guy.
I appreciate your expert opinion.

[iandwk]

iandwk
Please understand my intention of correcting your comment was only to inform our feller that he if he did try and do it himself he would be in for a very big surprise.


I agree with the diy comment. I have seen some jobs that are laughable at best. One should take some lessons to learn to properly lay tile. It's very difficult to get the corners to match up without one of them being higher or lower. I learned from a pro by helping him out before trying it on my own.

[laurie91423]

We will begin building next year in Buttonwood. We looked at several models and decided on diagonal. Our agent stated the cost would be more because they use additonal tiles for diagonal, but it looks gorgeous.

We did not choose rounded corners, we may put in crown moulding and this would be an issue.

See yea next year.

We are so excited about coming to TV full time.

:welcome: from another Californian. We just moved into Pennecamp 3 weeks ago...

We went for the diagonal tiles, spaghetti carpet (can't see cat barf), and the rounded corners. There is already a fancy 3" moulding at the bottom of the walls, so I don't think there should be any problem with adding crown moulding to the tops of the walls. Just in case anyway is worried about that issue.

However, there is nasty white caulking just about everywhere here and I'm livid. I want to get my place custom painted, but I don't want the paint to get on the caulk that is stuck to all my beautiful dark maple cabinets. They even got in on the grout between the tiles. The builder did a very sloppy job. There's even white caulk around my buff sinks. It looks awful. What can I do about this?

[jmitchell]

:welcome: from another Californian. We just moved into Pennecamp 3 weeks ago...

We went for the diagonal tiles, spaghetti carpet (can't see cat barf), and the rounded corners. There is already a fancy 3" moulding at the bottom of the walls, so I don't think there should be any problem with adding crown moulding to the tops of the walls. Just in case anyway is worried about that issue.

However, there is nasty white caulking just about everywhere here and I'm livid. I want to get my place custom painted, but I don't want the paint to get on the caulk that is stuck to all my beautiful dark maple cabinets. They even got in on the grout between the tiles. The builder did a very sloppy job. There's even white caulk around my buff sinks. It looks awful. What can I do about this?

Laurie,

YIKES -- white caulking... I have read on this site that all you have to do is call and someone will be over and fix it immediately -- assuming the caulking will come off easily without damaging anything. Did you close by mail? We close in Pennecamp on Oct 12 and will be there. I will be looking for white caulking!!! Good luck and we hope to meet you soon. Are you listed on the Pennecamp.org website?