Entryway Floor Tile Installation
Updated: Jun. 30, 2017Slide tile under trim for the best appearance
Slide tile under door casings
When installing floor tile in a finished room, it’s better to slide the tile under door casings rather than fit it around them. You’ll end up with a better-looking floor. If you butt the tiles against the casings (Photo 1), you’ll usually end up with uneven gaps that you have to fill with grout. The gaps won’t look good, and chances are the grout will crack from the vibration caused by the closing door.
Cutting the casings is fairly easy and only takes a few minutes if you have a sharp handsaw or special “jamb” saw. Simply place a tile next to each casing, add 1/8 in. for the adhesive thickness (use 1/8-in.-thick cardboard as a guide), mark the casings and saw at the mark. Sliding the tiles under the casings eliminates the need for grout and hides the cut edges (Photo 2).
Tile Fitting Options
Tile that fits under the casing (Photo 2) usually looks better than tile cut around the casing edges (Photo 1).
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- Handsaw
