Installing Antique Tile 101
How to Install Antique Tile to Achieve the Historical Look: What to Know About Cutting and Grout
Let’s be real: if you’ve never worked with antique tile before, it can feel a little daunting. In a world where it’s easy to access sometimes infinite inventory, there can be a perceived risk in working with such a finite product. But the truth is that is doesn’t have to feel risky once you know the basics about install and what to expect. After countless hours sourcing, cleaning, and working with this tile, we know just how well-made they really are. After all, there’s a reason they’ve lasted over 100 years!
Here are our insights and product recommendations so you can feel like a pro. For simplicity’s sake we’ve linked out to specific products from Lowe’s, which is our preferred home improvement store. But - you can find these products at most major retailers. Check out our list below and start thinking about how you can add the exceptional beauty of antique tile to your design.
Cutting Info and Tools
Unsurprisingly given their heft, antique tiles cut exceptionally well – better than most modern tiles, dare we say. Use a diamond-blade saw when cutting antique tile. Here are the tools we recommend:
Recommended Blade
Kobalt 7-in Wet Continuous Rim Diamond Saw Blade
Recommended Wet Saw
SKIL 4.2 -Amp 7-Inches -Blade Wet Tabletop Tile Saw
Grout Spacing
One of the biggest mistakes people make when installing antique tile is using wider modern grout widths. To achieve a historically accurate look, here are the widths we recommend:
Victorian, Edwardian, Craftsman, Art Nouveau, and similar: 1/32” or 1/16”
Arts & Crafts, California, and similar: 1/4"
1/32” Spacers
BARWALT 1/32-in Plastic 2-sided Tile Spacer (100-Pack)
1/16” Spacers
BARWALT 1/16-in Plastic T-shaped Tile Spacer (100-Pack)
1/4” Spacers
BARWALT 1/4-in Plastic X-shaped Tile Spacer and Leveling System (500-Pack)
Grout Products and Colors
As a general rule, colored grout didn't exist when these tiles were originally installed. For designers and homeowners looking to achieve that “always been here” look, we recommend a classic cement-colored grout. That said, feel free to change it up! Many beautiful grout colors exist these days, so take advantage of them if the project calls for some pizzazz. Check out the color chart from Mapei:
Small projects
For smaller projects, we have used and loved Mapei's premixed sanded grout, which comes in varied colors. Some of the grey options we like are Pewter, Armor, Iron, and Warm Gray.
Pewter
MAPEI Flexcolor CQ Pewter #5002 Sanded Acrylic Premix Grout (1-Gallon)
Armor
MAPEI Flexcolor CQ Armor #5002 Sanded Acrylic Premix Grout (1-Gallon)
Iron
MAPEI Flexcolor CQ Iron #5002 Sanded Acrylic Premix Grout (1-Gallon)
Warm Gray
MAPEI Flexcolor CQ Warm Gray #5002 Sanded Acrylic Premix Grout (1-Gallon)
Large projects
For larger projects, we recommend Mapei's unmixed Ultracolor Plus FA line, which also comes in many colors. We’re linking to the Warm Gray color but choose the grey that is right for your tile color and tone.
Warm Gray or other similar tone
MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA Warm Gray #5093 All-in-one Grout (10-lb)
Mortar
If we need a mortar/thinset to accommodate for the thickness of your tile, here’s our recommendation:
MAPEI Floor Tile Gray Thinset Tile Mortar (50 Pound(s))