Ceramic Subway Tile: 3 Pro Installation Secrets
I have 3 tips to share for ceramic subway tile. The first is a lesser known layout technique for subway tiles. The second is an installation detail and the third is a cutting method done tutorial style. Let’s get right into it. Also, don’t forget to check out my previous post:
Subway Tile Installation: Three Basic Tips
Quartering your subway tile layout
The normal way of installing ceramic subway tile is to start in the middle or end of a wall and each row is staggered, or offset, from the other. You start with a whole tile then a half tile and go back to a whole tile, etc. The problem with this is when you don’t like how your rows end. Maybe they don’t wrap the corner the way that you like or maybe it leaves a tiny cut in the corner. That’s where this quartering technique comes in.
Quartering your subway tile gives you another layout option. Basically it works like this: Instead of whole/half tile rows you would install 1/4-3/4 rows. Say you’re installing normal 3×6 white glossy subway tile. Your first cut would be 1.5 inches (1/4 of a 3×6 ceramic subway tile). Then the next row would start with a 4.5 inch cut. This gives you a 1/4-3/4 offset all the way up.
Sometimes this layout is just what you need to make your corners wrap properly or to keep you out of a little tiny sliver in your installation.
Bonus: This quartering layout technique also works when installing square tile on point (diagonally).
Hide the cut edge
With typical white ceramic subway tile you’ll have to have cuts on the ends of your rows. There’s no way around it. If you are starting a row with a whole tile/half tile then the half tile is a cut tile. Most ceramic and porcelain tile have a slightly rounded edge on them. In the photo above you can see that the half tile loses the rounded “shoulder” that the full tile has. This can cause that cut edge to be proud, or stick out a bit, from the other tiles. This edge can then show up in certain lighting or just when you simply run your hand across the tile.
To get around this I will usually apply a bit more adhesive to the full tile next to it so that it “rounds” into the cut edge. The photo below shows half of the tile back buttered to keep the edge from sticking out past. It’s a pretty simple trick that helps with the details.
ceramic subway tile cutting tip
One thing that can be annoying when cutting ceramic subway tile is always having to set the guide in two different positions depending on which row your are working on. Here’s a way of cutting both rows of subway tile and keeping the guide in one position.
First of all this works for modular subway tile. Modular means that two tiles with a grout joint are the same as a lengthwise tile. You can make it work for non-modular tile but you’ll have to make your own spacer.
Here’s how to do it photo tutorial style:
A word of caution: This will only work if you are meticulous about starting on your plumb layout lines. Also it won’t work if your walls aren’t plumb. You may be able to use this for 2-4 rows at a time but don’t cut all your cuts before you start if you don’t have plumb walls. It’s probably not a good idea to make all the cuts before you start if you haven’t done a lot of tiling anyways.
Those are 3 secrets that many pros don’t even know in regards to ceramic subway tile. Do you have any subway tile secrets that you want to share? Let’s hear them in the comments below.
And don’t forget to read: Subway Tile Installation: Three Basic Tips
and
Tired of Bullnose Tile Trim? Here’s 5 Tile Edge Trim Alternatives
Marilyn says
Where r u and will u install my tumbled marble subway tile in my kitchen???
diy tile guy says
I’m on the west coast
Lisa McDuffie says
Hi – thanks for the blog! How do you recommend finding someone who really knows what they are doing? I am buying good tiles from subwaytiles.com (3/8″ thick, rectified edges) and floor mosaic tiles from the same company. The store doesn’t give installer recommendations. The TCNA certified installers I can find don’t come to my area – which is only 5 minutes outside of the city of Chicago. Any advice on finding something knowledgeable? Thanks!
diy tile guy says
You can search for an NTCA contractor member here and CTEF certified installers here. If you really are from Chicago and this isn’t a spam comment then you should have no trouble finding a qualified contractor. Try Surfaces 15.
Sandie says
I had beveled subway tile put in and the greet lines are not smooth they look like rows of bubbles is this right
diy tile guy says
If the grout itself has bubbles in it then it was probably mixed too wet and will need to be redone.
MD says
Excellent tips sir, appreciate you taking the time to walk us through the process. One question, using the 1/4-3/4 rows approach, do you recommend starting at the end of the wall, opposed to starting in the center? I would imagine the start or end of the wall is the only way to ensure this works out.
Thank you!
diy tile guy says
I always start on the middle and make two marks- one at 1/4 off center and one at 3/4.
I’m not saying that it’s wrong to start at one end. It could just be that I’m trained to start on the middle. If you do start at one end you’ll want to make sure the corner is plumb.
ivwshane says
Great article!
I’m hoping you will see this and be able to help me out because I’m racking my brain trying to get this layout right.
Here’s what I’m working with:
3×6 subway tiles by daltile
I’ll be using the built in nubs for a 1/16″ grout line
Three sided tub surround
Back wall is 59.25″ wide
I’m trying to not end up with little slivers of tile. If I use the quartering technique I somehow still end up with 1/2″ at the end of the run. So I was thinking about moving the tile over 1/4″ (split the difference) and that gets rid of the sliver of tile (there is an equal amount of space at both ends that will be covered by the tile on the other walls). However, both sides aren’t mirrored. That is one side has a 1.75″ and a 4.75″ cuts, while the other side has only 1/2″ cuts.
I’m a doing something wrong? In your opinion, if I were to leave it like the above, does being asymmetrical look bad? I guess my question boils down to: is it more aesthetically pleasing to have slivers rather than a symmetrical layout?
Thanks!
diy tile guy says
If you divide the back wall in half to find the center point then the two halves would be about 29 5/8 inch each.
If you start with full tile on the center line you’ll have four full tiles and one near-full tile that you cut 3/8 inch off of. So your rows would alternate as near full-near half into the corner.
I don’t see the need to do a quarters layout with a 60 inch back wall.
ivwshane says
So you wouldn’t try to wrap the 5/8″ piece? Or would you?
diy tile guy says
I would not take the tiny sliver cut-off and wrap it around onto the other wall. I’m not sure if that’s what you are asking, or not. I would try to make the side wall start with 1/2-full’s or near-1/2 and near full tiles. Hopefully it will look like the pattern carries through onto the side wall.
Frank says
With subway tile I always want a perfect mirror image right left up and down when it comes to cuts. Lay it out on flat surface take measurements twice or five times. The wall will tell you what works for your project . Don’t be in a hurry when laying out any tile insulation. Cool website you have
diy tile guy says
Thanks! I call that “mirroring” and it’s another way to do it. Good suggestion.
Olivia says
Hi diy tile guy!
Thanks for such a detailed post with so much information! I’m wondering if you can point me in the direction of another post (or if you haven’t already covered it, maybe give me some advice here) regarding the cutting of molding pieces. My partner and I are tiling a new bathroom in our home and we’ve reached the top of the wall tiles, meaning it’s now time to install our molding tiles. Installation along the wall is going fine, but we’d like to cut the tiles that will touch the room’s corners at an angle and aren’t quite sure how to do this. We’re using a snap cutter (I realize that cutting these pieces at an angle might be asking too much of this tool) and are working with molding tiles similar to the ones pictured in your “subway tile bullnose” photo in the previous post about subway tile installation.
Any tips or advice would be helpful!
Thanks!
diy tile guy says
You won’t be able to cut those with a snap cutter. The best way is probably to rent a tile saw. If you can get one where the blade will make bevel cuts that would be the best and easiest.
Otherwise you can rig up some sort of angle or wedge type of contraption that will do the same thing.
Sean says
Nice tips. What color grout from your experience would go better with white beveled gloss subway tile: bright white or snow white?
diy tile guy says
I would think bright white. The best thing is to get the tile and a grout chart and look at it in the lighting of the room. Don’t pick the color with the tile store lighting.
Bill says
Hi, great work. Have you any experience with the beveled 3×6 subway tile, I’m a avid DIY guy myself and as I’m researching the tile and how it will finish off, I’m having the same thoughts you address here in your tips regarding the finished edge and how it meets up to a factory edge and if there are comparable trim pieces to finish the layout in a nice fluid installation. i can’t find any accent tile or specialty tile that goes with the beveled subway 3×6 from daltile. Any suggestions would be appreciated, I’m ready to scrap the idea.
diy tile guy says
With beveled subway tile you are going to have the thick 1/2 tile on the end along with the skinny end of the full tile. These would be in alternating rows. I think your best bet would be to cut the skinny part of the full tiles off so that all rows will end in the thickest part of the tile. Hopefully that makes sense.
Then you need to find something that will trim the thick part of the edge. This can be maybe a natural stone tile, a metal profile- like the ones from Schluter, or maybe Daltile has something that would work in the same line.
Patrick says
I am using the 3×6 ceramic beveled subway tile from dalitile. I’m doing the backsplash in our kitchen so each run is about 7′ long and two ends will be exposed. This is my first time doing tile and just wondering what the best look is for finishing those exposed ends and What is the best type of cutter to use on this type of tile? Is there any particular type of thin set adhesive that you would recommend for this? Thank you
diy tile guy says
With normal subway tile you would usually alternate full/half tiles on the end of the rows. With beveled tile that creates a problem because they will also alternate as thin/thick.
I think the best way is to cut the bevel off of the full tiles so that both rows are the same thickness on the ends.
As far as trim I don’t know if Daltile makes anything for the beveled subway tile. You may have to use a metal profile for the trim on the edges.
A snap cutter probably won’t work well for that tile. I would either purchase or rent a tile saw to make the cuts. The saw will work better for the outlet cuts also.
Most any thinset will work for that tile. You could even use a mastic for that particular application as long as the tiles aren’t dished in on the backs.
Branden says
Can you do your own beveling on the short cut tile with an angle grinder or something? Also, how do you have beveled tile meet up on an inside corner? Do you run one side of the tile all the way to the wall and then have the other side butt up against the tile or do you leave a little space on both sides and then fill in with your grout? Thanks.
Branden says
Are you saying with the 1/4 and 3/4 cuts that this will get rid of all bevels on the ends so that all the tiles meet up with a straight non beveled line?
diy tile guy says
That would work also.
diy tile guy says
Unless it’s marble or something like that you won’t be able to. If out had a glaze on the front you’d take the glaze right off.
For the inside corner you have to bevel the tiles on both walls do they meet up together.
Andrew says
We are planning to do an elongated subway tile with a bevel (maybe 4×12 or 4×10). Sales reps at the tile store are all saying that beveled subway tile should really be done with white grout, but we are hoping to get a darker color (probably taupe) so that we do not have to worry about yellowing.
Are we totally crazy for considering a taupe grout with the beveled subway? Let me know what you think!
Thanks
diy tile guy says
White blends better with white tile and will cover up more imperfections. But I don’t see a reason to not go with beige.
Using a better quality grout will reduce/ eliminate yellowing and fading issues.
Ray says
Hello, I’m glad I found this page because I’m planning on tiling a “stoop” at our front door with pebble tiles. It’s a 4’x8′ concrete pad.
On other sites I’ve read about first cleaning ithe concrete thoroughly using a TSP solution. In addition, some sites recommend applying a liquid water barrier to the concrete first. My question is: Would you recommend the water barrier? Also what type of thinset do you recommend?
Ray
diy tile guy says
It depends on how exposed to the elements the tile will be. If it’s exposed to the elements and freezing temps you’re going to want a heavy duty thinset mortar. ANSI 118.15. Something like Custom’s Megaflex or Laticrete’s 254.
The water barrier I think is a good idea but, again, it depends on how much weather it will see and how much ground water there is underneath. I prefer a sheet membrane for waterproofing. Nobleseal TS is probably what I would use but would use EXT if I wanted the maximum protection.
You’ll want to perform a water drop test. Sprinkle some water on the slab in different spots. If more than a minute goes by and it’s still in drop form and hasn’t absorbed then your thinset won’t absorb either. You’ll need to either grind the surface of use something like Mapei’s Ecoprimgrip over it.
Ray says
Thank you for the reply. Living in Louisiana there is rarely freezing weather , but I have some Red Gaurd left over from a prior shower tile job, what about that? Also I planned on doing some grinding to remove old concrete left from removing the previous covering and then washing it with a muriatic acid solution to give it some roughness.
Ray
diy tile guy says
Sounds like that will work out ok.
Ray says
Thank you for your help!
Keith says
Hey thanks for your time. I am stumped. I am laying backsplash on a desk area in the kitchen, but it is connected to another height countertop (same wall just two different height counters) do you recomend using full tile on the higher countertop and working down where i will have a half tile at the base of lower desk area or start at lower desk area with full tile and work up creating about a half inch tile at base of higher countertop. Sorry so confusing i think picture would help but unable to post one. Thanks again
diy tile guy says
I would say that you want a full tile off of the bottom of the “main” counter top. Usually this is the higher counter.
Joel says
Diytileguy, im on the west coast too.
Just had to rip out a bad tile job and going to do it myself. The guy didn’t plan the layout and just went with whatever. Disappointed and huge lesson learned but happy im going to do it myself.
While laying out my 2×8 9mm thick ceramic I noticed the harringbone accent over the range wasn’t quite centered. (Edges of accent weren’t the same length)
What I figured out was that if I offset my center, half the tile height I would end up with slightly off-center but symmetrical to both edges which I feel draws more attention than the center of the accent.
Im currently drawing up a full size template to post to the wall before laying any tile. Also to make sure it looks great before committing.
I can post pictures once the template is posted.
diy tile guy says
I think I understand what you are saying. With a herringbone pattern- an individual tile has a top point and then another to the right of it. This would be on the two inch side of your tile. I usually take the halfway point between those two tile corners and call that center. This will give you even cuts on each side of the pattern.
If you center the top point then the sides won’t match each other. Hopefully what I’ve said makes sense. It’s hard to describe in text.
Mel says
diytileguy-
Lots of good tips for us diy folks. Thanks. But I do have a couple of questions for you. Your tip for blending the cut tile with a full tile when doing a staggered-brick pattern works great for that joint but in doing that, doesn’t the full tile that you backbuttered now stand proud of the row above and below? Also, the 4×16 American Olean tiles I bought from Lowe’s says you should have a max overlap of 33%. Makes no sense because if you overlap one tile by 33% then the next tile is overlapped by 66%. No getting around it. Is there a problem with doing a 50% overlap?
diy tile guy says
If you like the 50% offset then that’s the way that you should do it. But read my post on wood plank tiles to understand why they recommend 33%. The 1/3rd offset looks like a stairstep pattern- each row is 1/3rd so your joints line up every 3 rows.
As far as the backbutter technique the purpose of it is simply to ease the transition from the 1/2 bullnose tile to the one next to it. Yes, it will have affect the neighboring rows but you have the rounded shoulders on those rows. The rounded shoulders are your friends. Bottom line is that if you find that it’s not working then don’t do it.
Good questions.
Amy says
Hi! I am in the middle of tiling a kitchen backsplash and am using 3×6 inch beveled subway tile. I have been using a wet tile saw. It works great until I need a U shaped cut for an electrical outlet. How do I make the “bottom” cut for the U? I was tryimg to use a compound tile nipper but the tiles are breaking. Do I need a scoring tile saw? Or is there a hand scorer I can use? Thank you for your help!
DIYTileGuy says
You want to make a bunch of cuts in the middle of the U so it looks kind of like a comb. Then you’ll be able to break out the teeth of the comb with your nippers.
Jack Mallek says
Is the 100% silicone caulk you mention the same as the tile caulk in colors that is put out by Maipei, TEC, and Laticrete, or are there two different products? The tile caulk has a someone grainy texture that mimics that of grout, and am thinking of using that for the movement joint between the floor tiles and the cove molding. However for the change of plane joints in the shower, I would want to use the colored silicone caulk such as at the corners and between the walls and the shower pan/tray. I think Laticrete makes both products, but does TEC or Maipei as well?
diy tile guy says
All of the companies that you’ve mentioned make colored caulk in both silicone and acrylic. If it’s grainy in texture it’s the acrylic version.
I recommend silicone for everything and not just the wet areas. You’ll likely be repairing everything that’s done in acrylic whereas the silicone lasts longer.
I do have a video on my site that shows a simple way to caulk with silicone.
John says
Hi,
Fast question about your quartering technique. If you start in the middle of your wall with a whole tile and then proceed with whole tiles until you reach the end of your walls, how do you ensure that the end spaces will be alternating 4.5 and 1.5 inches in length? Wouldn’t the length of the wall space factor into what size the end pieces will be?
Should you always start at the end of the wall, with alternating 4.5 and 1.5 inch tile pieces?
Thanks for the great advice, instruction. and help…
diy tile guy says
If you’re tiling the back wall of a shower then typically you would center the wall and then the tile on each end would be symmetrical- the cuts on the left would be the same as the cuts on the right.
With a subway style pattern, you would center the tiles as whole/half tiles on the center line. But another option would be to quarter on the center line.
The only reason to quarter is because you want another different size cuts on the ends than what you would get by centering with whole/halves.
Now you can choose to not center the tile and start at one end or another. If you choose this route, then you would start at one end with whole/halves or 1/4-3/4.
But if you do this the other end won’t be the same and it won’t be centered.
Oftentimes, on a shower, I prefer to start with whole/halves on the end walls and then let the cut in the corner determine which centering technique to use on the back wall.
Good question.
John says
Thanks, so in a nut shell, if I used the quartering technique I would line up the quarter part of the tile with the center line of the wall (line through the middle) and place my first tile on that spot.
Thanks again!
diy tile guy says
Yes. You could also draw two additional lines: one 1.5 inches from center and the other 4.5 inches from center and set to those.
Just another way to get there.
Lucy says
Hi – great blog and information. I am about to start a project and want to purchase the tile cutter for my subway tile. I will be buying a manual one. What do you recommend? I cannot tell from the pic’s what brand you used in the demonstration for cutting the tile. Thanks so much!
diy tile guy says
With tile cutters, the bad news is that you get what you pay for. The good news is that subway tile is fairly easy to cut so it doesn’t require a top-of-the-line cutter.
So I won’t be able to give a recommendation on a cutter because I don’t have a lot of experience with the lower prices cutters. But I would say to check the reviews and do your research.
You might also look into a small under $100 electric tile saw. This will allow you to make smaller sliver cuts and notch cuts that you can’t make with a manual tile cutter.
Bob says
Thanks for all the great info! I’m tiling above a fiberglass shower stall three sides, the height does not allow for a full row of tiles at the top. Would it be better to have the partial (3/4 tall) row at the top or bottom? I’m leaning toward the bottom because it is a little harder to see 6+ foot height & the eye is drawn up to where the walls meet the ceiling more.
diy tile guy says
Cut at the bottom for the reason that you’ve stated. I usually figure it so that I’ll have to cut 1/4 inch, or so, off the top row. This allows for the ceiling being out-of-level or minor miscalculations and will still look like a full tile at the top. There’s nothing worse than being 1/2 inch short from the ceiling.
Cee says
Hello DIY TILE GUY
I need your advice. Looking to install subway tile (like everyone else it seems like) in a 36×36, 3 wall standup shower. I got a great deal on 4×10 white tile. I’m wondering if this size tile would work in this size shower. Is it too big? Will there be too many cuts? I would like a off set brick pattern. I know to start in the center (18”) and work from there. Thank you for any advice.
diy tile guy says
“Too big” is a matter of opinion but tile is getting bigger and bigger so 4×10’s and larger are quite common nowadays. The bigger size is sort of a contemporary subway tile look. If you want to keep it traditional then 3×6’s would be a better choice.
But centering the back wall is a good starting point (or using the quartering technique described in this post). However, for the two side walls you may consider:
-Centering
-starting at the outside edge
-Centering on the shower fixtures
-“wrapping” the corners and letting the outside edges be what they are.
There’s no “always right” way of doing it. The decision can be different for every shower.
Pam says
Hello! I will be doing subway tile on a backsplash. Since this won’t be a wet location, I plan to tile directly to the drywall. It will be new drywall (the previous got torn up in the removal of the previous tile), so do I need to tape the joints and apply drywall joint compound? Or can I just leave the joints “open” since they won’t be visible?
If I do have to tape and mud the seams, would it be ok to apply mesh tape like Fibatape, then apply thinset to the joints immediately before I apply the thinset for the tile installation? I figure it would be convenient to only mix up the thinset once, also convenient to use the same products I’m using already rather than buying drywall tape and mud just for this little area. Thank you for your help!! (sorry if this posts twice, my pc was acting funny)
diy tile guy says
If the tile will cover the seams then you can tape the joints with mesh tape and just go over them with thinset. That’s a better way of doing it than with drywall compound.
You can do them as you go, if you like, but I like to have the tape installed and the thinset dry. That way the tape doesn’t move around and come undone as you go. Also, if you have to pull a tile off the wall during the setting process it won’t take the tape with it.
Richard says
Great tips! I’m laying out a 3×12 subway tile for a shower. If I stagger each row 50% , would I likely have lipping issues? If so, is it better to stagger a tile of this size by 1/3?
diy tile guy says
This is impossible to give an accurate response over the internet. The only way to know would be to measure the actual curvature and lippage of the tile. But if you like a 50% offset and have laid it out with the tile that will be used then I don’t see any reason not to do it that way.
Michelle says
What size spacer do you recommend for white 3×6 tile with dark gray grout for a kitchen backsplash?
diy tile guy says
This is a personal preference and it depends on how big of grout joints that you want and how simple of an installation that you are looking for.
Many subway tiles, the Daltile ones at Home Depot for instance, can be stacked on top of each other. This gives you a narrow grout joint and I would advise unsanded grout.
If you want thicker, then 1/8 inch might be the way to go. In this case you could use a sanded grout or you would have many other options also.
There’s not a right answer on this. It’s about what’s right for you.
Joan says
Thanks for your posts on subway tile. I am using the AO Starting Line subway series from Lowe’s. The mudcap does not make a complete 90 degree turn. What is it’s purpose, please? I have a 4 inch interior wall that I need to wrap and I would love your recommendation on making those outside corners look finished.
Appreciate your guidance!
DIYTileGuy says
You don’t need the mud cap unless you have mud walls that stick out past the sheetrock.
So I’m not sure what you’re wanting to do. A mitre cut will turn a corner but I don’t know if that’s what you want?
James says
Hello
I am installing 3×6 travertine beveled subway tile in my shower remodel This will be my first time installing beveled tile, and your post was very helpful. My question is that at one point, the tile will be on an outside corner, and I am not sure how to deal with that. I would like it to look like it wraps around like it will on the inside corners, but not sure how to get that effect. Do I need to put a 45 degree miter or is there another method?
DIYTileGuy says
An outside miter would be the best way to get there. You could also just use a metal trim and wrap the pattern around.