Table of Contents
For flawless tiling: The essential role of spacers
Whether you're a seasoned professional or a passionate DIY enthusiast, laying tiles is a crucial step in beautifying a space. And to ensure a result that's not only aesthetically pleasing, but also durable and consistent, a small accessory plays a vital role: tile spacers.
Often underestimated, or even forgotten by beginners, the tile spacer is nevertheless the essential tool for ensuring uniform spacing between tiles. This small plastic object, available in various sizes (from 1 mm to several millimeters), allows you to create regular joints and hold the tiles in place while the adhesive sets.
2 mm self-leveling tile spacers
2mm Self-Leveling Tile Spacers | 400 Clips + 200 Reusable Dials | 3-22mm
Why are braces so important?
- Joint Regularity: This is the primary and most visible function. Joints of consistent width give your tiled surface a professional and neat appearance. Without tile spacers , it is almost impossible to achieve perfect regularity, which can significantly affect the final aesthetic.
- Tile stability: While the adhesive is drying, tiles tend to move slightly, especially large formats. Tile spacers act as wedges, preventing any slippage and ensuring that each tile remains perfectly aligned.
- Compensating for defects: Even the highest-quality tiles can have slight dimensional variations. Spacers help absorb these micro-defects by distributing the gap evenly, thus avoiding joints that are too thin or too wide in certain areas.
- Ease of installation: By pre-defining the spacing, the spacers greatly simplify the tiler's work. There is no longer any need to constantly measure or adjust each tile individually.
The different types of crosspieces
There are several types of tile spacers , each adapted to specific needs:
- T or Y crosspieces: Ideal for classic installations, they allow you to create cross or line joints.
- Self-leveling spacers (or leveling systems): These innovative systems, consisting of spacers and wedges, are particularly recommended for large formats and rectified tiles. They guarantee perfect flatness by eliminating level differences between tiles.
- Baseboard spacers: More specific, they facilitate the installation of baseboards by ensuring a regular gap with the floor.
3mm tile leveling system
【Tile Leveling System Kit】Package including 400 pieces tile level spacers and 100 pieces reusable wedges, great tools for floor/wall adjustment.
The different sizes of cross braces and their uses
Tile spacers are not all the same size, and choosing the right size is crucial to the final result of your installation. Typically expressed in millimeters (mm), the most common sizes range from 1 mm to 10 mm, or even more for specific projects . Each dimension corresponds to a different joint width, which should be chosen based on several factors:
- Tile type : Rectified tiles (with very straight edges) allow for thinner joints (1 mm to 2 mm), providing a more contemporary and uniform appearance. For non-rectified tiles or tiles with chamfered edges, wider joints (2 mm to 5 mm) are preferable to hide slight irregularities.
- Room use : In wet rooms such as bathrooms or outdoors, wider joints (3 mm to 5 mm and more) are often recommended for better water drainage and greater resistance to thermal and mechanical stress. They also allow for greater flexibility of the coating.
- Desired aesthetic : A thin joint provides a sense of continuity and elegance, while a wider joint can emphasize the tile format and give a more traditional or rustic look.
- Current standards : In certain cases, specific standards may impose a minimum joint width, particularly for safety reasons or material expansion.
By choosing the right size of tile spacers , you not only ensure a regular and aesthetic installation, but also better durability of your tiles, by allowing the tiles to "work" (expand or contract) without cracking.
Estimate of the number of self-leveling spacers per m² according to the size of the tiles
The number of self-leveling tile spacers required per m² depends mainly on the size of your tiles . The larger the tiles, the fewer spacers you will need per m², but they will often be positioned on each side of the tile rather than just at the corners.
Here is a general estimate to help you calculate your needs:
Tiles from 20x20 cm to 30x30 cm: Allow approximately 30 to 40 spacers per m² . For these smaller sizes, classic cross spacers are often used at the corners, but self-leveling spacers can also improve flatness.
45×45 cm tiles: Allow between 18 and 24 spacers per m² .
60x60 cm or 30x60 cm tiles: You will need approximately 10 to 16 spacers per m² . For these sizes, it is generally recommended to place a self-leveling spacer on each side of the tile, in addition to the corners, to ensure optimal leveling.
Tiles from 80×80 cm to 120×60 cm or larger: The number of spacers decreases further, to between 5 and 9 spacers per m² . For very large formats, it is crucial to use enough spacers, especially along the edges, to avoid any misalignment.
Important points to consider:
- Installation Type: These estimates are generally for a straight installation. For a staggered (cross-jointed or "staggered") installation, it may be necessary to add 10-15% more spacers, as each tile will require spacers on all edges.
- Safety margins: It is always advisable to allow for a safety margin of approximately 10 to 15% additional cross braces. This compensates for any broken cross braces or unforeseen events during installation.
- Manufacturer's Recommendations: Self-leveling brace manufacturers often provide guideline charts or online calculators. This is the most reliable source for accurate data.
- Tile Thickness: Make sure the spacers you choose are suitable for the thickness of your tiles (they are generally compatible with thicknesses from 3 mm to 16 mm, or even 22 mm).
- Joint Width: Self-leveling spacers also determine the width of your joints (e.g., 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, etc.). Choose the joint size that best suits the desired aesthetic and technical standards for your tile.
Can we leave the spacers in the tiles?
As a general rule, no, it is not recommended to leave the spacers in the tile . Most spacers are designed to be removed once the adhesive is sufficiently dry, but before it completely hardens. Leaving them in place can cause several problems: they could prevent the joints from being properly filled with the grout, creating voids that weaken the whole; they also risk becoming visible through the grout if it is light-colored or if the spacer is not perfectly pressed in, spoiling the aesthetics. In addition, conventional plastic spacers can degrade over time or due to temperature variations, which could potentially compromise the integrity of the joint. Only specific leveling systems designed to remain in the mortar (with only the upper part broken or unscrewed) are made to be left in place.
When to remove self-leveling spacers?
Removing self-leveling tile spacers is a crucial step in ensuring the success of your tile installation. It is imperative to remove them once the tile adhesive has set, but before it is completely dry and hard . Typically, this is between 12 and 24 hours after installation , depending on the type of adhesive used, ambient humidity, and room temperature. Waiting too long will make removal difficult, risking damage to the tiles or leaving plastic residue. However, removing them too soon could compromise the tiles' stability and the evenness of the joints. Most self-leveling systems are designed so that the top of the spacer snaps off with a kick or a rubber mallet, leaving the base embedded under the tile without interfering with the creation of the joints.
Is it possible to tile without spacers?
Although it is technically possible to tile without tile spacers , it is generally not recommended , especially for beginners or for large areas. Spacers (whether classic or self-leveling) play a crucial role in ensuring perfectly regular joints and precise alignment of tiles , thus avoiding unsightly shifts and flatness problems. Without them, you risk ending up with uneven joints, unaligned tiles or differences in level, which will compromise the aesthetics and durability of your tiling. For a professional and flawless result, the use of spacers is almost essential.
Expert Opinion: The Essential Role of Self-Leveling Spacers in Tiling
The choice of tile spacers , especially those with a straight (not cross) shank of 1.7 mm , is particularly judicious. This type of spacer offers positioning flexibility , especially for large formats or slightly curved tiles. It allows precise adjustment of spacing and effective compensation for slight variations in calibration. Unlike cross systems, it preserves optimal visibility of tile alignment, a major asset for visual quality control.
The tightening process is also a key element. Once the tiles are positioned, the base of the spacer is slid under the tile. A threaded wedge is then inserted, which is tightened using a wheel or a specific tool. This tightening allows the lowest tile to be raised to align perfectly with the one next to it, thus ensuring impeccable flatness and level joints. The robustness of these systems is also a strong point: even in the event of excessive tightening, it is the spacer that gives way before the tile, which eliminates fears of breaking the covering. In addition, the base of the spacer, which remains under the tile after the wedge is removed, does not affect adhesion in any way, thanks to the sufficient thickness of the crushed adhesive.
The expert emphasizes one fundamental point: quality takes precedence over speed . For large-format tiles, wood or parquet imitations, and for renovations, self-leveling spacers are almost indispensable. They allow you to correct warping and ensure perfect flatness. Even on a liquid screed, the double gluing combined with these spacers guarantees installation without a tiling effect.
In short, this expertise validates an installation method that, while potentially more time-consuming in certain stages, ensures an end result of unparalleled quality and cleanliness. It's an approach that any professional or detail-oriented amateur should favor for tiling projects where excellence is essential.
Tips for a successful installation
To get the most out of tile spacers, here are some tips:
- Choose the right size: The joint width will depend on the type of tile, the room's use, and your aesthetic preferences. Refer to the tile manufacturer's recommendations.
- Place them correctly: Insert the spacers at each tile intersection and along the edges if necessary.
- Remove them at the right time: Once the glue is sufficiently dry (but before it is completely hardened), remove the spacers. For self-leveling spacers, break off the heads according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Clean thoroughly: Make sure there is no glue residue left before making the joints.
In conclusion, while laying tiles can seem daunting, using spacers is a simple and effective way to ensure professional-quality work. It's the minimal investment that makes all the difference for a perfect, long-lasting result.
SIDAMO self-leveling spacers with wedges and clamps: for perfect tiling!
For perfectly level tiles and flawlessly regular joints, choose self-leveling tile spacers with wedges and clamps from Sidamo . 100% made in France, these quality products incorporate a unique patented clamp , designed and assembled directly in Sidamo's workshops. Thanks to this innovative system, installation becomes faster, more precise, and without plastic residue in the joints once the project is finished. Different thicknesses of spacers are available, identifiable by a clever color code , to adapt to all your installation needs. Choosing Sidamo means guaranteeing a professional result for every tiling project.
Our other tutorials
Polished concrete
Transform your wall with polished concrete: A step-by-step guide Want to add a modern, industrial and
Create Your Concrete Slab for Spa
Table of Contents Complete Guide to Creating Your Concrete Slab for Spa: Essential Pouring and Preparation You dream of a
A tree house our tutorial
Build Your Own Treehouse: The Ultimate Guide! You're back home, and this