Bridging Old Tile with New Tile-Problem!

16 years ago

I have a 1910 house that I am remodeling. The first floor bathroom has a wall (the window wall) where all the tile is missing. The window wall is between the tub and the door to the bathroom. My contractor pointed out to me that the existing tile in the bathroom is uneven. So, if you face the window, the tile and black & white trim on the (left) tub side of the bathroom is a lower height than on the (right) door side of the bathroom.

I asked the contractor to line up the new tile with the old tile on the door side. I figured that the tub side would be enclosed in a shower curtain and the tub would not be normally used. See link to photo.

However, I would prefer that the tile being misaligned on the tub side be less noticeable. I don't know if anything can be done to line up the new tile with the old tile which is 60+ years old. The contractor has glued the pieces to the wall. The new tile is straight and lines up with the old tile on the right side of the bathroom. The tile has not been grouted yet. Can anything be done?

Here is a link that might be useful:

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Comments (7)

johnfrwhipple
16 years ago
Not much you can do now. If you are willing to redo it all you can keep your boarder detail level all around and add you sliver at the bottom.

Sometimes level does not work in a mock up and you need to set this course a little off level. Not much but sometimes this look is preferred to that of a missaligned tile laye out.

If the tiles where "Glued" on then they should come down with ease.

A simpilar option might be to add in a corner shampoo niche and break up the sight lines. This would be a easy fix and one that will not cost you a fortune to do.

Layout is key people. We layout all this detail before we even start the plumbing and electrical. Planning, options, forethought all take time and cost money. An older home can hide some of these "Character Marks" and it is up to your trades to help you find a happy medium between what you can afford and expect and what is realistic in any given renovation.

Slow and steady wins the race. Don't dive into these installs but map them out first. If it works on paper it most likely will work in the field.

My thoughts.

Good luck. Love the window by the way...
lynnie338
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Johnfrwhipple. I plan to use a corner niche.
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suero
16 years ago
If you look closely, you'll see that the tile adjacent to the tub is less than full height.
bill_vincent
16 years ago
This, to me, is a no brainer. That should be taken out and redone. It'd be less noticeable if the two sides are slightly different heights, than to set the tile and listello off from the adjacent wall like that. If one of my guys did that, and then had the gaul to tell me that was the best way to do it, they'd be gone before the thinset dried.
lynnie338
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks suero. It is less than full height, which is probably what caused the unevenness with the opposite wall.
lynnie338
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Bill. Any deviation from the horizontal would have been noticeable since grout lines are very visible. Is it more important to line up the listello than to line up the 3x6 tiles? Please note that the existing tiles, on the opposite walls, are very old and I want them to stay in place.
bill_vincent
16 years ago
The listello will stand out more. It's all about what will catch one's eye, and that's it. If it's either/or, I'd opt for the listello.