Tile laying accessory

Abstract

A tile laying accessory includes a flange having opposed ends and opposed sides, a web that extends from the flange, intermediate the opposed sides, and at least one spacing formation arranged on at least one of the flange and the web. The flange and the web are configured so that edge portions of two adjacent tiles are positioned on the flange on respective sides of the web, with the web extending between the adjacent tiles. The web is configured to engage a levelling member having a bearing surface. The levelling member and the web provide relative displacement of the levelling member and the web, which results in the bearing surface of the levelling member bearing against the edge portions of adjacent tiles. The spacing formation is configured so that the adjacent tile edge portions bear against the spacing formation with the web being spaced from the adjacent tile edge portions.

1 . A tile laying accessory comprising:
 a flange having opposed ends and opposed sides; and   a web that extends from the flange, intermediate the opposed sides, the flange and the web being configured so that edge portions of two adjacent tiles can be positioned on the flange on respective sides of the web, with the web extending between the adjacent tiles, the web includes two spaced stems extending from the flange, in which each of the stems includes a zone of weakness to permit at least a portion of the accessory to be separated from a remaining portion, the zone of weakness being positioned at a junction of each stem and the flange, the web being configured to engage a levelling member having a bearing surface, the levelling member and the web being configured so that relative displacement of the levelling member and the web results in the bearing surface of the levelling member bearing against the edge portions of the adjacent tiles;   a spacing formation extending from the flange, the spacing formation being disposed between and unattached to the two spaced stems of the web, the spacing formation being configured so that the adjacent tile edge portions can bear against the spacing formation with the web being spaced from the adjacent tile edge portions; and   a breakable tab connecting the spacing formation to the flange.   
     
     
         2 . The tile laying accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the spacing formation and the web are in alignment with each other along a line that is substantially parallel to adjacent tile edges, in use, and the spacing formation has a dimension, generally orthogonal to the line, that is greater than a corresponding dimension of the web, such that, when adjacent tiles are laid, the edge portions can bear against the spacing formation, setting up a clearance between the edge portions and the web. 
     
     
         3 . The tile laying accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tab is configured to break at a junction between the flange and the tab. 
     
     
         4 . A method of laying tiles, the method including the steps of:
 positioning edge portions of adjacent tiles on a tile laying accessory according to  claim 1  such that the edge portions are positioned on respective sides of the web, with the web extending between the adjacent edge portions, and the edge portions bear against the spacing formation, which is configured so that the web is spaced from the adjacent tile portions; and   engaging a levelling member with the web, the web being configured so that relative displacement of the levelling member and the web results in the bearing surface of the levelling member bearing against the edge portions.   
     
     
         5 . The method of laying tiles as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising breaking the tab and removing the spacing formation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of laying tiles as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the tab is configured to break at a junction between the flange and the tab.