How To Lay Herringbone Tiles: Step-By-Step Guide

What Is A Herringbone Tile Pattern?

Herringbone tiles consist of rectangular tile pieces laid at 45-degree angles in the V-shaped patterns. Instead of the precise angles, herringbone tiles are offset and will slightly be mismatched, creating an arrow-like pattern.

The herringbone name is derived from the herring fish’s skeleton, where the bones have diagonal lines. The versatile pattern works well on decorative home features from bathroom floors, kitchen backsplashes, and shower walls in tiling.

What Are The Types Of Herringbone Patterns?

There are different herringbone patterns, which can be incorporated into different spaces. Whether installed in your living room or bathroom, it will create a stylistic moment that everyone can enjoy. The two types of herringbone patterns you will encounter include:

a). Single Tile Herringbone

This is a popular and traditional style, which uses one rectangular tile per diagonal creating a detailed effect that highlights the grout lines and pattern. It’s a subtle nod that adds personality without getting overwhelmed. Single-tile herringbone works better in small or large spaces.

b). Double Tile Herringbone

There is a bolder variation on its classic style where the double-tile herringbone style pairs the two rectangular tiles per diagonal. This will emphasise the arrow, giving it a more dramatic layout. Generally, herringbone adds a width that expands any room to create a historic yet spacious feel, even for the smallest spaces.

The double tile is ideal for the larger areas like the tile floors or the length of a shower wall as it will need more space for the pattern.

a). GrandOak Herringbone Collection

Balinese Oak

Black Opal

Gunsynd Oak

Mink Grey

Natural Oak

b). Regency Herringbone

Blackbutt 120mm

Spotted Gum 120mm

How To Lay Herringbone Tiles

Before mixing the adhesive, check if you have all the necessary equipment. This is fundamental with any installation, making the process less stressful and smoother. Luckily, you will need most of the same supplies and tools for tiling herringbone just like other patterns, and some include:

Tape measure- To measure out and mark tile cuts

Manual Tile Cutter- To cut tiles to fit around the edges

Set Square

Bucket

Adhesive- To fix the tiles to the surface

Sponge to clean off excess grout, residue and for cleaning as you go

Notched Trowel- For smooth yet even tile adhesive coverage

Grout- To fill in joints

Tile Trim (if required)- To finish around the raw tile edges

Grout Float- To apply your grout smoothly

Silicone Sealant (if required)- To seal and finish well between the adjoining surfaces

Caulking Gun (for sealant)

1. Find the Centre Point

The first step is finding the wall’s centre point. Next, measure the wall’s length and mark the halfway point. Repeat this step to get the width. The spot where the strings will intersect is the centre point.

2. Find the Starting Point

To make it easy to lay a herringbone pattern, lay your herringbone tiles on the ground before gluing them to the wall. Lay one piece of heavy-duty cardboard on your bench-top and use your spirit level to mark your halfway point from the wall to your cardboard.

3. Lay the Tiles

Laying your tiles will help show you where you should make your cuts, giving you a sense of the whole pattern. If you are laying a wall tile, tape the tiles up. To create the herringbone pattern, start at the center point and divide it half vertically, where you mark the line using your pencil.

Put the rectangular tile at a 45-degree angle so that its corners touch the line. Next, place another rectangular tile at a 45-degree angle to make a V. There should be a small triangular space between your tiles.

Continue to arrange the pattern vertically and stagger each rectangular tile to create the mismatched arrows. Once the pattern is complete, mark the border tiles to cut.

4. Cut the Marked Tiles

Use a tile cutter to line your tile up in the centre of the cutter rails, and pull down your lever to hold it in place. Next, slide your lever along the tile’s length to guide the blade wheel and slice the tile.

5. Apply a Tile Adhesive with a Trowel

Consider a slow-drying adhesive pattern like a thinest mortar to allow you to have more time to lay and adjust the pattern.

6. Set the Tiles

Lay the herringbone pattern like before but with cut tile. The leftover triangular pieces fit into empty spaces along the edges. The best thing about installing herringbone tile is that all triangular and rectangular pieces can be mixed and matched.

7. Position Tile Spacers Between the Tiles

This is a small important step that ensures no room for grout between the tiles and the spaces between the even tiles. Uneven grout lines are noticeable and hard to fix once the adhesive sets.

8. Remove the Tile Spacers and Grout When the Adhesive Sets

The type of grout you will need depends on the type of tile. Use your grout float to evenly spread the grout, ensuring you fill the gaps. Sponge off any excess once the grout dries up and gently clean your tile with water and soap.

Useful Tips Of How To Lay Herringbone Tile

Are you about to dive into the herringbone tile installation? Below are some extra tips to keep in mind:

a). Use a Reliable Saw or Cutter to Get Proper Cuts

Using proper tools such as tile saws and manual cutters with rotating squares will ensure you get perfectly straight cuts. With the amount of time you will put into your project, you should guarantee that everything will be flawless. Ensuring you have a proper cutter or saw for the tile job to assess the difference.

b). Create a Template

Herringbone tile installation will often mean making many cuts, and creating a template will help knock out any room mistakes. Having a general template will help you in placing patterns in other homes.

c). Prepare

Figuring out how to lay the herringbone tile is about finding the centre point. This produces a streamlined and symmetrical pattern that popularises the herringbone, and it becomes easy once you identify the centre point of a room.

Once you have mastered the centre it will make the rest of your job easy. This practice enhances your overall look and finish.

d). Use Spacers to Increase your Uniformity

The flexibility that the spacers offer will add depth to your project where you can opt for a thin grout line. Instead, choose a thicker grout that will add more drama.

e). Mark the Tiles

It would be ideal if you had a stack of tiles, and you will need to start the process, but have you marked the ones that need cutting. Marking the tile will allow you to make fewer mistakes, and it helps you know what scrap pieces.

f). Use Tape when Tiling on a Wall

When you start tiling, the tiles on the wall may start to slip making you panic, and you might be unsure of exactly what to do. Taping the tiles in the proper place will offer extra security you will need until they are all set. The small details set you apart while keeping your clients happy.