What Are Floor Tile Strings?

Perimeter

• First and foremost, string lines can be used to define the perimeters of an installation in an open setting where you don’t have walls in place to determine where to stop the tile installation. While it is more common these days to use chalk lines, strings can still achieve the same objective. They are attached to stakes or nails driven into the perimeter of the installation after it is square to help guide the cuts along the outer edge.

Control Lines

• Two of the most important elements of any tile installation are the control lines that define the grid pattern for the floor. These two lines bisect the installation area and need to be square with each other so that the entire tile installation is square as it relates to these two control lines. String can be used to define the squareness of the installation, with the rest of the tiles further away from the lines using tile spacers to keep the joints straight.

Layout Grids

• Of equal importance to the initial control joints are the layout grids. These are subsequent lines that run the same direction as the first two control joints, but they are spaced out the distance of two or four rows of tile, depending on the comfort level of the installer. Tiles are then laid out between these string grids, with the other string grids helping keep the entire installation square and straight. Spacers are not needed with such installations.

Wall Settings

• String lines can also be used in wall settings to help with the grout joints so that spacers do not need to be used. This is an advanced installation method, and once the initial row along the bottom is level you can then insert a row of appropriately-sized string to define your horizontal grout joint on the next row, with the tile stacked on top of the string. The string continues down the row, then up on top of that row and so on and so forth until the installation reaches the top.