METHOD OF SETTING TILES

Abstract

A method is disclosed for setting tiles on a substrate to which adhesive material has been applied. The method includes disposing a plurality of tiles on the substrate in a pattern comprising a plurality of substantially parallel rows of tiles, where each of the rows comprises a plurality of tiles in a side-by-side relationship. The method further comprises the step of inserting horizontal alignment strips of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the rows of tiles in the pattern to define spaces between the tiles in adjacent rows. The method further comprises the step of installing vertical alignment tabs of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the tiles in each row to define spaces between the tiles in each row. The disclosed method substantially increases the speed at which tile setting may be accomplished.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of setting tiles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Tiles are commonly utilized in the construction of items in the home such as floors, kitchen countertops and splash boards, bar tops and bathroom facilities. The tiles used in such applications are usually square in shape, and a plurality of such tiles are laid in a pattern to form the item under construction. Such a pattern comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of tiles, where said rows and columns are usually in an orthogonal relationship to one another.

The setting of tiles in the aforesaid pattern has traditionally included the step of establishing a baseline for the pattern. One example of a baseline is commonly referred to as a ledger, while other examples of a baseline include a countertop or floor. An adhesive substance is then applied to the substrate, and tiles comprising the first row are positioned in spaced relationship to one another and to the ledger. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, adjacent tiles 11 and 12 are separated from one another by inserting cross-shaped tile spacers 10 (only one of which is shown) between the tiles. Additional cross-shaped tile spacers 10 are utilized to space the tiles in the first row from the baseline, to space tiles in the other rows from one anther and to space tiles in each row from one another. By using the plurality of cross-shaped tile spacers 10, the goal is to have the tiles in the pattern evenly spaced from one another, so that when the adhesive material on the substrate has dried and the cross-shaped spacers are removed, the grout which is inserted in the spaces between tiles has a uniform and even appearance.

In a typical tile setting procedure, a substantial number of the cross-shaped tile spacers 10 are utilized, with at least two cross-shaped tile spacers 10 being inserted between each adjacent pair of tiles in each row and in each column. This procedure is very tedious and time consuming. Additionally, once the adhesive material on the substrate has dried, each of the cross-shaped tile spacers 10 has to be removed before grout may be inserted in the spaces between the tiles in the pattern. This is also a time-consuming and tedious procedure which often involves the use of tools such as needle nose pliers to effect the removal of the cross-shaped tile spacers 10 from the pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for setting tiles on a substrate to which an adhesive material has been applied. A method according to the present invention comprises the step of disposing a plurality of tiles on the substrate in a pattern comprising a plurality of substantially parallel rows of tiles. Each of the rows of tiles comprises a plurality of tiles in side-by-side relationship. A method according to the present invention further comprises the step of inserting horizontal alignment strips of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the rows of tiles in the pattern to define spaces between the tiles in adjacent rows. Lastly, a method according to the present invention comprises the step of inserting vertical alignment tabs of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the tiles in each row to define spaces between the tiles in each row.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive material which is applied to the substrate may be a latex-based, heavy body mastic, while in another embodiment the adhesive material which is supplied to the substrate may be an epoxy-based heavy body mastic. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive material that is applied to the substrate comprises a thin-set cementitious mortar.

In one embodiment, the compressible, semi-rigid material of which the horizontal alignment strips and the vertical alignment tabs are composed comprises a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chlorides, polybutylenes, polyethylenes, urethanes, and silicones, while in another embodiment, the compressible, semi-rigid material comprises composite cellulose.

A method in accordance with the present invention further comprises the steps of allowing the adhesive material that is applied to the substrate to dry, removing the horizontal alignment strips and the vertical alignment tabs from the pattern of tiles after the adhesive has dried, and filling the spaces between the tiles in the pattern with grout.

A method of setting tiles in accordance with the present invention substantially increases the speed at which a pattern of tiles may be set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tile spacer according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tile spacer of FIG. 1 being utilized to space tiles from one another in accordance with prior art procedures.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pattern of titles which illustrates aspects of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a pattern of tiles which also illustrates aspects of the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. In the following description, some embodiments of the invention are described and numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the present invention may be practiced without those details and that numerous variations and modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. The following description is thus intended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a method according to the present invention is provided for setting tiles on a substrate 30. A baseline 34 is established on the substrate 30, and that baseline 34 may be a countertop, floor or a ledger. Once the baseline 34 is established, an adhesive material is applied to the substrate 34. The adhesive material may be a latex-based, heavy body mastic or an epoxy-based, heavy body mastic. Alternatively, the adhesive material which is applied to substrate 30 may be a thin-set cementitious mortar.

In accordance with the present invention, a first row of tiles, which is designated ROW 1, is disposed proximate the baseline 34. This first row of tiles comprises a plurality of tiles 31 which are disposed on the substrate 30 in a side-by-side relationship. A horizontal alignment strip 32 is disposed between baseline 34 and the first row of tiles 31 (ROW 1). Vertical alignment tabs 33 are then disposed between a the adjacent tiles 31 in ROW 1. Thereafter, the tiles 31 in comprising ROW 2 are disposed on the substrate 30 and a horizontal alignment strip 32 is disposed between the tiles comprising ROW 1 and ROW 2. Vertical alignment tabs 33 are then disposed between the adjacent tiles 31 and ROW 2. This process is repeated until a desired number of rows of tiles 31 has been set on the substrate 30.

A process of setting tiles in accordance with the present invention thus results in a pattern of tiles 31 comprising a plurality of substantially parallel rows of tiles. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of rows in a particular pattern will be determined by the area of the substrate 30 to be covered by the tiles and the size of tiles 31 which are utilized.

The horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 are composed of a compressible, semi-rigid material, and the heights of the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 are selected such that they extend above the pattern of tiles set on the substrate, which makes for easy removal of the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 from between the tiles 31 once the adhesive material on the substrate 30 has dried.

In one embodiment, the compressible, semi-rigid material used for the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 may be a plastic material. Suitable plastic materials include polyvinyl chlorides, polybutylenes, polyethylenes, urethanes, silicones and styrenes. In yet another embodiment, the compressible, semi-rigid material used for the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 may be a composite cellulose material. It is also advantageous that the compressible, semi-rigid material used for the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 33 the waterproof.

Once the adhesive material which is applied to the substrate 30 has dried, the horizontal alignment strips 32 and the vertical alignment tabs 31 are easily removed from the spaces between the tiles in the pattern of tiles so that the spaces between the tiles in the pattern may then be filled with grout.

Claims

1. A method of laying tiles on a substrate to which an adhesive material has been applied, comprising the steps of:

disposing a plurality of tiles on the substrate in a pattern comprising a plurality of substantially parallel rows of tiles, where each said row comprises a plurality of tiles in a side-by-side relationship;

inserting horizontal alignment strips of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the rows of tiles in the pattern to define spaces between the tiles in adjacent rows; and

installing vertical alignment tabs of a compressible, semi-rigid material between the tiles in each row to define spaces between the tiles in each row.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is a latex-based, heavy body mastic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is an epoxy-based, heavy body mastic.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is a thin-set cementitious mortar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressible, semi-rigid material comprises a plastic material.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chlorides, polybutylenes, polyethylenes, urethanes, silicones and styrenes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressible, semi-rigid material comprises a composite cellulose material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressible, semi-rigid material used for the horizontal alignment strips and the vertical alignment tabs is waterproof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of allowing the adhesive material to dry, removing the horizontal alignment strips and the vertical alignment tabs from the pattern of tiles, and filling the spaces between the tiles in the pattern with grout.