b'CASE STUDY SalDiBlasi,owner,Elite TileCo.,Medford,Mass., believes the diffi culty inherent with pattern tile jobs depends onthetypeandsizeofthe tile,andthepatternbeing installed. If it is a larger tile with a complicated repeating pattern involving several sizes of tile, just keeping the pattern correctcanbeachallenge, DiBlasi said. Like Brookes, he believes lay-out is another headache. You need to be sure to get decent size cuts, he explained. This canbetimeconsumingand has to be correct, since once you start installing tile, it can-notbechanged.Ivefound that using the smallest tile as a unit to fi gure out the layout willgenerallymakeiteasier. Thelayoutbecomesmuch harder when you must consid-er kitchen cabinets, an island, and if the fl branches outoor into other areas.Anotherchallenge,said DiBlasi,issize,whichappar-entlyreallydoesmatter.For smaller,ormosaictiles,he noted, you want to avoid hav-ingtinycutsatthresholdsat the tub or where theyll be vis-ible. If you cant avoid them, lay out the fl oor so all the badSal DiBlasi offers this advice when installing pat-cuts will be in inconspicuousterned tile, Stick to the plan, stay straight and areas or where theyll be cov- square and check your work as you go to be sure ered, DiBlasi said.you havent made a mistake. Use a laser square to help with layout and dry-lay some tile to be Iftheareaissymmetrical,sure youre taking correct measurements.94 TileLetter | January 2020'