CTI Tile Layout & Design 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When designing a diagonal (45°) tile layout in a rectangular room, where should the layout lines be established?
- From the center of the room, projected at 45° to the walls (Correct answer)
- From a corner, running parallel to one wall
- From the doorway threshold outward
- From the longest wall inward
Correct answer: From the center of the room, projected at 45° to the walls
Diagonal layouts are centered in the room so cut tiles at all four walls are balanced and symmetrical.
Question 2: A 'dry layout' is performed before setting tile primarily to:
- Test the adhesive bond strength
- Verify grout joint spacing and identify cut tile placement (Correct answer)
- Determine substrate moisture content
- Check floor flatness tolerances
Correct answer: Verify grout joint spacing and identify cut tile placement
A dry layout lets the installer preview grout joint alignment and the size of cut tiles before any adhesive is applied.
Question 3: When a room is out of square, the BEST approach to maintain a visually balanced tile layout is to:
- Set tiles parallel to the longest wall only
- Find the visual center and adjust layout lines to minimize uneven cuts (Correct answer)
- Start from the most out-of-square corner and work outward
- Use larger grout joints on one side to compensate
Correct answer: Find the visual center and adjust layout lines to minimize uneven cuts
Centering the layout on the most visible focal point minimizes the appearance of out-of-square conditions.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a 'story pole' in tile installation?
- To measure substrate flatness
- To transfer consistent tile and grout joint spacing to walls or floors (Correct answer)
- To determine the correct trowel notch size
- To mark waterproofing membrane height
Correct answer: To transfer consistent tile and grout joint spacing to walls or floors
A story pole is a layout tool marked with tile and joint increments to transfer consistent spacing across a surface.
Question 5: In a herringbone pattern, tiles are typically set at what angle to each other?
- 45°
- 30°
- 90° (Correct answer)
- 60°
Correct answer: 90°
In a herringbone pattern, rectangular tiles are placed at 90° to each other in an alternating V-shaped arrangement.
Question 6: When planning tile layout for a bathroom floor with a floor drain, the installer should:
- Center the layout on the drain and slope tiles away from it
- Ignore the drain and center on the room
- Place the drain at a grout joint intersection (Correct answer)
- Offset the drain to one quadrant of the room
Correct answer: Place the drain at a grout joint intersection
Locating the drain at a grout joint intersection allows a symmetrical tile layout and cleaner cuts around the drain.
Question 7: The ANSI A108.02 standard minimum grout joint width for floor tile is typically:
- 1/16 inch (Correct answer)
- 1/8 inch
- 3/16 inch
- 1/4 inch
Correct answer: 1/16 inch
ANSI A108.02 specifies a minimum grout joint width of 1/16 inch to allow for tile size variation and movement.
CTI Tile Layout & Design 2
When designing a diagonal (45°) tile layout in a rectangular room, where should the layout lines be established?