What spacing does the manufacturer recommend?

some subway tiles are self spacing. I don't think this shape tile is. If they tiles have rectified edges, you can do small grout lines. If they are more of a handmade type of tile, you will need to go bigger to account for minor variations.

There should be a recommended grout specification from the manufacturer on this tile. Call the company and ask if you can't find it on line. It's looks like 1/8" in the picture.

please have your tile guy use the spacers if these tiles are not self spacing!

(also, um, this is not subway tile!!)

You need a new tile guy. Seriously.

Post a photo of the actual tile edge for a accurate response. Odds are your contractor is correct.

In that subway tiles “usually” don’t use spacers?? I think not.

There are two different possibilities for no spacers.

One, the tiles could have lugs on the sides acting as spacers, or two, the subway tile is completely flat and rectified for minimal groutlines.

But the tile in the picture is not subway tile.

Exactlly. The contractor is not very knowledgeable about tile, for sure.

Creative Tile Eastern CT, I'm impressed that you don't use spacers. We just completed my backsplash with glass subway-style tiles (and I appreciate the term as it provides a pretty clear picture as to the style) and I wanted a precise clean 1/8" grout line. We'd never have managed that without spacers to keep the tiles from sliding together. And after doing it, I would honestly question the tile guy that told me he wasn't planning on using them. You must be pretty darn good.

Spacers are a irrelevant factor as to the experience of a tile setter. Some use them some don't. As I stated above wedges/shims as needed. Proper selection of setting material and the correct consistency is key to avoiding sag. https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0LEVwsXrCta52cAeQ5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMXBobHNmBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUkwMkM0XzEEc2VjA3Nj?p=ardex+non+sag+mortar&fr=yfp-t-s#action=view&id=1&vid=78d4211514f410beaec2e3de4e6aac6b

Contacting the glass tile manufacturer is #1 to the proper setting material. Most require glass tile mortar while others require mastic. Use the wrong one and this could happen.

@Chess. Would you care to question me further or have I addressed your concerns?

My neighbor hired a tile guy that didn't use spacers. I thought "Either this guy is nuts or the best tile guy I've ever seen." He was the best.

Joseph Corlett, LLC, I can understand being able to do that on a floor. Even though I am not that skilled, I can appreciate that others are. But on a backsplash or vertical surface with large tiles? Would not have been possible on mine.

Do not go closer than the manufacturer's recommendation. Part of the reason is that this is a ceramic tile and has variations in size. Going to 1/16" for a ceramic tile especially with a contrasting grout will highlight even the slightest variation in spacing. It will look bad.

And your installer sounds like a confident dummy, so good luck.

Or better yet. Hire A competent PRO and stay out of the way theyll know exactly how far and tight tey can push it. You dont gather info on the misinformed hooz and then second guess your SMART hiring decision and dictate things said from randon whackos on the web. And VERY rarely would i take a snippet advice from A point of sale tile salesman or woman RARE. Most of whom never set a tile in their days. Its an internet/sales thing see thru it

Agreed @Thatsmuchbetter. Hiring a competent pro and listening to them is the best thing anyone can do!

@chess "But on a backsplash or vertical surface with large tiles? Would not have been possible on mine." I took the time to find and post 2 video links explaining how it is done! Did you take the time to watch them? Perhaps your vertical surface is special:) To top it off you are advising the OP on the contractors knowledge! Which has not been established in this thread. I contribute time here to help the OP and not criticize. ctychick must weed through all the baseless statements about spacers being required and her contractor's lack of knowledge (although he may be correct)

CTYCHICK it would be best for you IMO to have the tile setter show you the options he feels are attainable. Decide from there and forget you ever saw this thread:)

Best of luck with your project.

I know enough GCs and builders to stand by my statements. But agreed OP should discuss with the tilesetter not rely on a GC.

Thats just it, your debating A Bonified pro with dozens of years hands on the tools. With your second hand I heard it from so and so. Its great you contribute here. Fall in line when you have some facts to share..

Truth be told, I'm uncertain. I just want to say that I LOVE the tile you picked!

Fall in line? LOL. I'm not debating a thing. Obviously there are many here that know far more than I do, and are far more experienced in all sorts of things. But if the OP were to read through any tile forums, or watch any number of videos, it's pretty easy to see that using spacers on a backsplash, where you want a 1/8"grout line, is pretty standard practice. If you want minimal grout, then certainly no spacers are needed. But that is not what I thought the OP (unless I misinterpreted) was looking for. And if I did not make that clear, I should have.

I did not see any videos that CTECT said he posted, but here is one that is impressive. ( I watched this one, and probably 20 others, before we did my tile work.) This guy is putting in glass tile, a bit smaller than mine are, and uses no spacers here (well technically he does have a couple in there) and doesn't need them since there's no grout line. Completely different than what I was referring to and a totally different look than I was after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzTRovyaPk

"but here is one that is impressive." Thanks for shining a light on the problem with youtube instructions. After 47 seconds into your impressive video link there are already 5 basic things done wrong. Anyone can post a video. No knowledge required and others believe it. Always follow TCNA guidelines or manufacturers instructions which supersede TCNA as they carry the warranty. ctychick I hope your project turned out well.

LOL. There are problems with most instructional videos. For the purposes that I was using it for however, it was very useful. My project turned out better than I ever dared hoped for, thanks!