Window reveal question

[Pscylo]

I'm just finishing off tiling my kitchen splashback, so far so good. There's a couple of tiles I need to replace (put them on wriong way up), but otherwise I think it's at least as good as the "professional" tilers that did my floor and bathroom did. I'm sure I'll get it a lot better next time anyway.

I digress though - I'm now onto the last stretch of wall behind the sink. There is a window here too as you might expect. The window reveal is about 18" deep and is angled (probably 105-110 degrees) - it's an old stone walled cottage. I'm not too sure that's of any relevance but the info is here for completeness.

I've tiled the window sill (maybe I should have done that last - don't know), and in setting out it made sense to tile a complete tile either side of the centre line rather than centreing a tile on the centre line as it left me with sensible cuts at the angled vertical/horizontal join.

The problem that this gives me is that if I follow the grout line from the sill to the vertical wall below the sill directly behind the sink and use this to line a tile edge off, at the corner of the window reveal on the vertical plane where the tile should sort of follow around the corner I end up with a really daft cut. I sort of end up with an L shaped tile(which is to be expected), but the vertical upright on the tile is only 15mm or so thick. I can cut it like that, but it will look daft I think and continuing upwards along the edge of the reveal will require lots of 15mm tiles strips.

So, I have a couple of options as I see it.

1) FIt a short tile at either corner so that I can continue with a full tile outwards and upwards from there. It will look a little odd I think but won't be a jaw dropper as such as there will be quite a lot of kitchen detritus in front of it. I can get a good edge on a cut tile so don't really have a problem with getting a good finish on the cut tile, but I reckon it could look pants.

2) Break the bond from sill to vertical plane in the same manner as brick bond, which gives me a far more sensible wrap at the reveal corner. I think this is my favoured option, but just wiondered what opinions you had on how this will look visually? These are 100x100 tiles so not really "brickish" in any way. I've had a look at what the "professionals" did in the bathroom as this was tiled brick bond and they look OK, but not sure whether a square one would look acceptable. The tile on the vertical plane though will be only about 50x100 since the window sill is very close to the worktop.

Don't want to tile it if it's obviously going to look wrong. Are there any obvious solutions I've missed?

[royaloakcarpentry]

As I am lost lol...................................................................

You need to tile it the best way that fits to what has been done. Don't change to broken bond.

You also need to tile it so that you have the best finish to eye. So basically whichever way is going to give the best result when you look at it.

If tiling the ''cill'' as you have done is not giving the desired look to your wall, then take these off and set out again. You need to follow the grout line from the ''cill'' down the wall also, as this will look pants otherwise.

Don't forget if you placed centre of tile in centre of ''cill'' and this gives 15mm rip to corner of reveal, then by having the grout line centre of ''cill'' this will give you 65mm rips. 65mm will be a lot better to look at than 15mm.

Might be best to post some pics up for us, if this info hasn't helped too much.

Told you I was lost.................you set out grout line to centre. Change centre of tile to centre and this will give 65mm rips.

[Colour Republic]

what are the dimensions of the tile?

[royaloakcarpentry]

I wasn't that lost................100X100 lol

[Colour Republic]

I wasn't that lost................100X100 lol

whoops, what I had in mind wont work then

This demonstrates the importance of setting out before you start tiling. My preference would be to still follow the grout line

[Pscylo]

Told you I was lost.................you set out grout line to centre. Change centre of tile to centre and this will give 65mm rips.

Nope, think you understood it perfectly, not lost at all. Bit of pain to start again, and it causes problems in the angled reveal (hence reason for choosing the current layout).

Wasn't suggesting changing to broken bond, just suggesting that breaking the bond to this single row of tiles beneath the window sill might be a solution. There is onjly one row and they will only be 50x100 as there isn't much wall there at all. So do you think even with this single row only being broken it would still look pants?

[royaloakcarpentry]

You have to keep the bond to how the rest of the kitchen is, otherwise it will look pants. Same as when people put full tiles the front corners of reveals on both sides and put a cut in the middle of the wall......pants.

You need to set out the window reveal so that you use full tiles all the way along your wall under the window apart from the rips at either end of the wall. Grout lines need to line up on cill and down wall.

Honestly, if you whack a row of cut down tiles in the wall, it will look diabolical. Diabolical being 3 times as bad as pants.

[Pscylo]

Think you misunderstood my last point. The reason the tiles are cut is that the distance from worktop to sill is about 50mm. The cut is just there because there isn't room for a full tile. Whether I line the grout lines up or break the bond, there will be a cut tile under there; no other way of doing it.

No matter though;I'm going to rip them off tomorrow. Hopefully I can salvage most of the tiles, but I'm pretty certain I've got enough anyway. Not looking forward to making some of the angled cuts though, some are pretty darn skinny.

[royaloakcarpentry]

aahhhh now I am with you. Yes 50mm cuts under the window are fine. No other option.