[tile again, sorry] Are subway tiles self-butting?

[Black]

Turns out the contractor was overly optimistic about his people's availability and the bathroom work has been pushed back a week (*whew*).

Am not finding much about this on the web... the guy who did my own bathroom 6 years ago spaced the subway tiles about 3/8" of an inch, and my old landlord who is a rehabber of the "artiste" bent and the kind of guy who knows something about everything by virtue of spending lots of unstructured time shooting the breeze (read- avoided 9-5 employment for most of his life) mentioned that they should have been self-butted when he saw it.

The subway tiles I bought (FYI this hasn't always been the case but Menard's and Home Depot are selling the exact same ones now) do not have little nubs as I've seen on some tiles before, but they are very slightly wider at the base, meaning when you but them together there's a thin joint between the glazed faces. Is the intent for the 'classic' look that spacers not be used?

[Jack D.]

My tiles had the little nubbies but the grout line was still pretty thin. I did not use spacers.

[NewtonMP2100]

....what someone does in the privacy of his/her own bedroom is his/her own business....but in general BUTTING with someone else is probably more fun than doing it yourself [Not That There Is Anything Wrong With That]......so, if you can, I would find someone out there that can lend a hand.......trust me.....you will thank me later.......

[space-time]

what's wrong with Newt, took her 3 hours to post about "self-butting".

[Carm]

If there is no spacing between them when you dry fit (butt them), you will need to get spacers.

[Mr Downtown]

Get thee up to Designer Stone Outlet on California at Diversey and talk with Alan. Call first to see when he'll be in. The morning guy is an engaging salesman, but Alan was an installer for years. He'll offer you all sorts of practical free advice, not to mention great prices on closeout stuff.

[Black]

Mr Downtown wrote:
Get thee up to Designer Stone Outlet on California at Diversey and talk with Alan. Call first to see when he'll be in. The morning guy is an engaging salesman, but Alan was an installer for years. He'll offer you all sorts of practical free advice, not to mention great prices on closeout stuff.

Thanks. I just don't have the flexibility in my schedule for that sort of trip. I'm still exhausted from trying to get the tile together this past week.

[NewtonMP2100]

....hate to be a BUTTinski.......

[OWC Jamie]

If they are tapered and edge polished this allows grout slightly below the edge surface
if there are no nubs you need spacers
1/16, 1/8 are most common

3/8 of grout must look <>
was 3/8 of grout done for "looks" or were the tiles that badly dimensionally dis-similar ?


minimum grout needed is usually calculated by measuring a bunch of tiles for dimensional variance or dry fitting 9x9