Tiling an outside corner without a bullnose can be difficult.
At first, it may seem like there is no way to tile an outside corner without using bullnose tiles, but that’s not the case. There are a few ways to do it, and we’re going to show you how.
Tiling an outside corner without bullnose is easy with a little bit of know-how. You’ll save time and money by doing it yourself, and the results will be just as beautiful as if you used bullnose tiles.
Follow our simple guide on how to tile an outside corner without bullnose and see for yourself!
Why is an Outer Corner Tiled?
To tile an outer corner, it needs to have a wall. If you’re tiling the outer corner, your tiles will butt against the wall on both ends. This is important because it makes cleaning and grouting much easier.
If you’re wondering why an outside corner would be even necessary, think about what would happen if one wasn’t there.
There will be an open area next to the opposite wall in a floor that leads up to a wall on one side. The area would look unfinished if there was no decor or tiling.
The easiest thing to do is tile right up until the tiles meet the wall on at least one side.
Also, you can tile so that the corner is complete and you have a straight line of tiles from the corner to the wall. This will make it seem like there are no corners in your room at all!
How to Tile an Outside Corner without Bullnose : The Method
Tile the main floor area. Make sure you have at least one corner tiled before moving on to this step so that you know what your tiles should look like when they’re finished.
There are a few ways to tile an outside corner without using bullnose.
Sometimes you can get away with simply cutting the bottom off of new tiles, so they fit over the existing ones, but there are also other tricks to try. Here is how to tile an outside corner without bullnose:
You will need:
- Measuring Tape
- Saw or Chisel
- Level
- Chopping Tool (like a tile saw, grinder, or hammer and chisel)
Step 1: measure the space you need to fill in your corner to know what size to cut your tiles before gluing them in. If you’re tiling an outside corner with a tile that’s not beveled, measure half of the length of your tiles and mark it on the wall where you need to cut them. Then, use your saw or chisel to cut along your line.
Step 2: If you’re tiling an outside corner with beveled tiles (like the ones in this project), start by putting them on your floor where they should go. Measure half of the length of your tiles and mark it on the wall where you need to cut them. Then, use your chopping tool to score along all the lines you need to follow.
Step 3: It’s time to decide what type of tiles you want to use for this outside corner. If the tiles are going to be covered by another material like carpet or laminate flooring, then it’s fine if they’re not cut perfectly. However, if the cuts will be visible, then it’s best to try one of these other methods.
Step 4: You can also cut beveled tiles by scoring and chiseling the corner off just like you would for straight cuts and then snapping them. This is a lot less time-consuming than cutting them with tools, but the downside is that the cuts won’t be as clean.
Step 5: If you’re trying to fill in a space next to kitchen cabinets and your tiles are too long, you can cut them at an angle, so they fit better. Start by measuring the distance from the bottom of the cabinet to where you need to place your new tile. Then, measure how far down on the wall this distance is.
For example, if your bottom cabinet line measures 30″ from the floor and you need to place a tile 19″ down on the wall, cut your tiles at an angle so that they fit perfectly against the corner of the cabinet.
Step 6: Once you have all of your tiles cut, start putting them in place and gluing them down. If you’re tiling an outside corner with beveled tiles, make sure to cut the first one for this step, so it fits better and looks nicer.
Step 7: When you’re finished tiling, let the dry adhesive overnight before walking on your tiles.
The Benefits of Tiling an Outside Corner without Bullnose
The following are the primary benefits to tiling outside corners without using bullnose tiles:
- Makes Cleaning and Grouting Easier
- More Efficient Use of Tiles
- Better Finished Appearance
- Tile can be Easily Replaced If It’s Damaged
- Limit the Amount of Glue Used for a Cleaner, Less Sticky Look
- Tiles Will Look Even When they’re Not Evenly Distributed or Leveled
- Gives the Appearance of a Flawless Installation
- No Bullnose Necessary!
Plus, you can use special outside corner pieces that look like bullnose but don’t require any extra cutting or leveling. This makes it so that your tiles and adhesive can be dry and ready to install in as little as an hour.
Tiling an Outside Corner without Bullnose Tiles: Avoiding the Common Mistake
Following some basic rules is essential if you’re tiling your first outside corner. If you don’t, all sorts of problems can arise. In this section, we’ll look at the most common ones and how to avoid them.
Problem 1: Tiles overhanging the corner by a few millimeters
This is one of the most common problems when tiling an outside corner without a bullnose. In this case, the tiles are not cut at all!
You have to be very careful to tile the wall before cutting the tiles fully.
Problem 2: Water is trapped between two joined tiles
This is often not immediately apparent and can cause nasty mold problems down the line. The tiles were not pushed down firmly enough when applying the adhesive, and there was a tiny gap between them.
If water gets in, it has no place to go and can cause serious problems.
You have to push the tiles firmly into the adhesive before cutting or laying them. If you need to combine two pieces, put them together and then push them firmly into the adhesive.
Problem 3: Grout lines that are too wide
Too much grout was used, causing the lines to spread. This is a common mistake. The line should be as thin as possible but no more delicate than 1/16″ (2 mm).
In this case, use less grout for a thinner line.
Conclusion
We’ve covered a few ways to tile an outside corner without bullnose tiles in this article.
Whether you’re just starting your first installation or have been doing it for years, the tips and tricks here will help you avoid common mistakes that can lead to sloppier-looking corners. We hope you found the information presented here helpful and wish you the best of luck with your installation!
