CTI Tile Layout & Design 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When laying out a large-format tile (LFT) floor, what is the maximum allowable lippage per ANSI A108.02 with a 1/16-inch grout joint?
- 1/32 inch
- 1/16 inch (Correct answer)
- 1/8 inch
- 3/16 inch
Correct answer: 1/16 inch
ANSI A108.02 allows a maximum of 1/16-inch lippage (1/32-inch for tiles with less than 1/16-inch joint) for large-format tiles in residential applications.
Question 2: A 'brick joint' or 'running bond' pattern offsets each row by what fraction of the tile length to minimize lippage on large-format tiles?
- 1/4 of tile length (Correct answer)
- 1/3 of tile length
- 1/2 of tile length
- 2/3 of tile length
Correct answer: 1/4 of tile length
A 33% (1/3) or less offset—ideally 1/4—is recommended for large-format tiles to reduce lippage caused by tile warpage.
Question 3: Which layout pattern creates the most visual complexity and requires the most precise cutting?
- Stacked (grid) pattern
- Running bond pattern
- Versailles (French) pattern (Correct answer)
- Straight-set square pattern
Correct answer: Versailles (French) pattern
A Versailles pattern uses multiple tile sizes in a repeating modular arrangement, requiring precise cuts and careful planning to maintain alignment.
Question 4: When transitioning between two different tile sizes in the same floor, the installer must ensure:
- Both tiles use the same grout color
- Grout joints between the two areas align or are deliberately offset by design (Correct answer)
- The larger tile is always closer to the entrance
- Expansion joints are placed only around the perimeter
Correct answer: Grout joints between the two areas align or are deliberately offset by design
At transitions between tile sizes, grout joints must either align or be intentionally misaligned by design to avoid a random, unplanned appearance.
Question 5: For a wall tile installation, layout is typically started:
- At the top of the wall and worked downward
- At the bottom corner and worked upward and outward
- From the center of the wall horizontally, one course above the floor (Correct answer)
- From the door frame outward
Correct answer: From the center of the wall horizontally, one course above the floor
Wall tile layout begins at a horizontal center line one full tile course above the floor to ensure balanced cuts at top and bottom.
Question 6: What does 'back buttering' contribute to layout accuracy in large-format tile installations?
- It reduces the need for leveling clips
- It ensures full mortar coverage and minimizes hollow spots under tiles (Correct answer)
- It increases lippage between tiles
- It replaces the need for a notched trowel
Correct answer: It ensures full mortar coverage and minimizes hollow spots under tiles
Back buttering adds mortar to the tile back to achieve the 95% minimum mortar coverage required for large-format tiles.
Question 7: In a pinwheel (hopscotch) tile pattern, a large square tile is surrounded by:
- Four rectangular tiles of the same width as the large tile's side
- Four small square tiles placed at the corners (Correct answer)
- Two large and two small tiles alternating
- Diagonal mosaic tiles
Correct answer: Four small square tiles placed at the corners
A pinwheel pattern pairs one large square tile with four small square tiles arranged at its corners in a rotating pinwheel motif.
CTI Tile Layout & Design 3
When laying out a large-format tile (LFT) floor, what is the maximum allowable lippage per ANSI A108.02 with a 1/16-inch grout joint?