GB2426027A

GB2426027A - Longitudinal Tile Spacer

Info

Publication number: GB2426027A
Application number: GB0508960A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Trott; M Trott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-30
Filing date: 2005-04-30
Publication date: 2006-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-30
Also published as: GB2426027B; GB0428503D0; GB0508960D0

Abstract

A method of aligning tiles includes spacing a second row from a first row by temporarily inserting a longitudinal spacer at least 600mm long and repeating as required. When placed at a row end the spacer may act as a reference for tiles on a contiguous wall. Shorter removable spacers may be placed in vertical gaps. The tile spacer preferably comprises a strip 600mm - 2500mm long, 15 - 40mm deep and as wide as is desired for spaced tiles. The strip is preferably between 100 - 1500mm long, 20-25mm deep and can be provided in widths of 2mm, 3mm or 5mm. The strip is preferably scored at intervals to allow it to be broken into shorter spacers. It ma be made of clear semi-rigid plastics material.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FLOOR AND WALL TILING

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to floor and wall tiling using ceramic and other forms of tiles which require a regular spacing.

In particular the invention relates to an improved method for achieving regular spacing between the tiles, and to a device for putting this into effect.

Ceramic and similar tiles are traditionally applied to a surface which has been coated with a suitable adhesive. In order to achieve a regular effect the tiles are spaced apart equally and aligned using spacers. Although originally matches or pieces of cardboard were used, more recently the tiles have been provided with small projections on each of their edges to achieve the spacing, or cross-like spacers are placed at the corners of the tiles. The cross-like spacers are difficult to extract and are often left in place, which can create unevenness in the grout which is applied subsequently to provide the finished surface. In addition, Although the cross-like spacers are popular with the DIY market, over a large surface it is difficult to maintain an even and regular effect.

In accordance with the invention, tiles are applied to a surface by offering up a first row of tiles to a surface which has been pre-coated with a suitable adhesive, locating them against a reference line or guide and spacing them apart to provide a regular gap between the tiles in the row to allow for the subsequent application a grout, and is characterised in that a second and subsequent rows of tiles are spaced apart from the first row of tiles by temporarily inserting a removable longitudinal spacer or spacers between the rows, and repeating the process until the surface is tiled as required.

The use of a longitudinal spacer between the rows results in a much more even and professional effect, particularly over a large surface.

In addition the spacer may advantageously be placed at the end of a row of tiles to act as a reference spacer for the tiles on a contiguous wall so that the tiles, and specifically the lines of grout on the contiguous wall are correctly aligned with those on the first said wall.

Shorter removable spacers, conveniently broken from the longitudinal strip, are placed between the tiles in a row perpendicular to the longitudinal spacer(s) to provide the correct spacing in a perpendicular direction.

The invention extends to a device for putting the invention into effect. It may comprise a strip between 600nmi and 2.5m long, whose width represents the desired spacing between the tiles and whose depth is between 15 and 40mm. However, ideally, the strip is between im and 1.5m long, between 20 and 25mm deep to allow it to project far enough from the surface of the tiles to be gripped firmly to enable its removal. By supplying the strip in widths of 2mm, 3mm or 5mm it can be made up into almost any spacing by using a combination of widths if the desired width of the spacer, eg. 4mm, is not available as a standard width.

The strip may be scored at regular intervals of, say 50mm, to allow it to be broken into the shorter spacers for the perpendicular spacers and is made of clear semi-rigid plastic.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of a spacer in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan of the spacer, and Figure 3 is an isometric view of the spacer in use.

Figure 3 shows how tiles 10 are applied by offering up a first row 12 of tiles to a surface 14 which has been pre-coated with a suitable adhesive 16. The tiles 10 are located against a reference line or guide 18 which is placed horizontally so that it can be removed when the adhesive has set sufficiently to hold the tiles in place (so that they do not slide down on top of each other. The tiles 10 are spaced apart to provide regular gaps 20 both horizontally and vertically between the tiles in the row to allow for the subsequent application a grout which not only seals the tiles against the ingress of water, but also improves the aesthetic effect of the surface.

A second row 22 of tiles is spaced apart from the first row 12 of tiles by temporarily inserting a removable longitudinal spacer 24 or spacers between the rows. The spacer 24 is left in place until the adhesive has set sufficiently to hold the tiles in place, and is then removed for reuse, after cleaning if necessary. The process repeated as required until the surface is tiled.

The use of the longitudinal spacer between the rows results in a much more even and professional effect, particularly over a large surface.

In addition the spacer 24 may advantageously be positioned at the end of a row of tiles to act as a reference spacer for the tiles on a contiguous wall at right angles to the first wall so that the tiles, and specifically the lines of grout on the contiguous wall are correctly aligned with those on the first said wall.

Shorter removable spacers (not shown in place)to act as vertical spacers in a row of tiles are conveniently broken from the longitudinal strip which has score lines 30 (Figs 1 & 2) at suitable intervals, in this case 50mm. The edges 32 are chamfered.

Figures 2 and 3 show the spacer 24 which comprises a strip which may be anywhere between 600mm and 2.5m long, though ideally, the strip is between im and 1.5m long; In practice a length of 1.2m has been found to be optimum. The width 26 of the strip represents the desired spacing between the tiles for later application of the grout. By supplying the strip in widths of 2mm, 3mm or 5mm it can be made up into almost any desired spacing of the tiles by using a combination of widths. For example, if the desired width of the spacer, say 4mm, is not available as a standard width it can be made up by placing two spacers each 2mm wide together.

The depth 28 of the strip is between 15 and 40mm. However, 20 mm deep has been found to be an optimum for most applications to allow it to project far enough from the surface of the tiles to be gripped firmly and to enable its subsequent removal.

The strip is scored at regular intervals of, say 50mm, to allow it to be broken into the shorter spacers to be used as the perpendicular spacers. It is and is made of clear semi-rigid plastic such as acrylic plastic or crystal polystyrene.

Claims

1. A method of applying ceramic tiles to a surface comprising offering up a row of tiles to a surface which has been pre-coated with a suitable adhesive, locating them against a reference line and spacing them apart to provide a regular gap between the tiles in the row to allow for the subsequent application a grout, characterised in that a second and subsequent rows of tiles are spaced apart from the first row of tiles by temporarily inserting a removable longitudinal spacer at least 600mm long, and repeating the process until the surface is tiled as required.

2. A method of applying ceramic tiles as claimed in claim 1 comprising placing the spacer at the end of a row of tiles so that it acts as a reference spacer for the tiles on a contiguous wall so that the tiles on the contiguous wall are correctly aligned with those on the first said wall.

3. A method of applying ceramic tiles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising placing shorter removable spacers between the tiles in a row perpendicular to the longitudinal spacer(s).

4. A device for use in the method as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the spacer comprises a strip between 600mm and 2. Sm long, whose width represents the desired spacing between the tiles and whose depth is between 15 and 40mm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the strip is between im and 1. 5m long.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the strip is between 20 and 25mm deep.

7. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 in which width of the strip is 2mm, 3mm or 5mm.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 in which the strip is scored at regular intervals to allow it to be broken into the shorter spacers.

9. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 in which the spacer is made of clear semi-rigid plastic.

10. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.