Tile Edging

One of my pet peeves is a poorly installed tile edging or jolly trim (commonly referred to Schluter strip which is a specific brand.) Whether it is raw edges or miss alignment, it sticks out and highlights poor craftsmanship. While it can be an attractive and inexpensive solution to ending tile the best way is proper alignment of materials or the use of bullnose or cap tile.

Many tiles and marbles have bullnose tiles which can be ordered to provide a finished edge or for use as a wall base at the floor. Some tile especially subway and quarry tile even have inside and outside corners think nyc subway columns or a commercial kitchen floors. You can also take your tile to a countertop company and have them cut into trim pieces with polished bullnose or chamfered edges. I have used this solution for several different recessed shower cubbies/shelves.

If you have to use a metallic or 'plastic' jolly strip make sure it will have proper end points. It should end into a wall, door/window frame, ceiling, floor, or saddle. If it cannot be ended into something or is part of an outside corner, make sure the trim you choose has a corner infill accessory.

My favorite use for a flat jolly is just as a straight edge line to meet a plaster wall that has been set to align with the tile surface. This alignment can be made in two ways, using furring strips or my preferred way is double layer the gypsum for added sound privacy. The gypsum receives a tear away edge strip parallel to the tile edge. You can do this with a small small gap to provide a wonderful straight caulk joint. With a large gap you can create a reveal and the sense of a floating tile panel.