Concealing bathroom tile edges - is there a secret?

Question

What is the best way to lay tile so that you minimise the number of unsightly "edge-on" tiles overall?

To elaborate:

I have some 40cm, fairly thickish ceramic tile. Brown marble-effect surface, white "side profile" (i.e. looking at the tile edge-on).

To me, it seems inevitable that some of it (around the angles of the bathroom, etc), is going to show "edge on", thus exposing the white side profile of the tile.

But.

I have seen tiling jobs (e.g. in hotel bathrooms, etc.) where this appears to have been concealed somehow - the join at the angles is "seamless", and the tile edge cannot be seen (and only the faintest, thinnest line of grout can be seen.)

How do I achieve something like that?

Did they bevel or angle the join, or was it just black magic, lol?

Answer 1

buy "bullnose" pieces for outside edges, and put the tile on the wall that is perpendicular to the sight lines in the room first , and then the side walls. this will hide your inside corners also cutting the tile with a tile saw instead of the score and crack method will leave a nicer seam. otherwise pay some one to do it that's one of the benefits of having experience. No ones first job looks as good as thier 50th.

Answer 2

Often times they are using porceline tiles which have the color on the top of the tile permeated through all of the way to the bottom of the tile. This gives the appearance when layed that the edge is exactly the same color as the top and the grout line is non-existant at the edges. Since you are using ceramic tiles where the sides and back are not color permeated, you have to use a trim piece to hide the edge.

Answer 3

You can use tile edging to cover up the edges. Each tile usually has a white side on one edge and the other side is the colour of the tiles.
Tiles if cut correctly fit exactly to each other, hence no edge showing and no tile trim.

Answer 4

hello bowzer there is a tiling trim that you can get and sometimes you may be able to get different colours. it is a plastic strip that lays under the tile then the tile on top and leaves a rounded smooth edge to your tile which does not show the tile and is left tidy and smooth at the edge.

Answer 5

its what is known as a tile edge trim....get them in a wide variety of materials / colours / textures/and shapes...chrome looks nice....fits under the tile and around the side ..gives a seemless proffesional finish.... easy to do ,,,hope this is usefull..

Answer 6

you answered your own question ..but the word you want is mitred ..but this is a job for the professional ...go to your local tile shop and get some matching tile trim