Herringbone Tile Is EASY, With This Method | DIY Hot Glue Method

In this video, I go over a quick how to of the herringbone tile setup. This type of tile setup looks difficult and is if you dont know how to start it off right. I discovered this "Hot Glue Method" after doing my upstairs bathroom and struggling the whole time. I found that if you use hot glue to easily and precisely set the first row of the herringbone, then the rest (using thinset) is EASY! If you found this useful at all, please consider subscribing and liking the video! Thank you!
Check out my other videos on remodeling a 100+ Yr old house!
John 16:33

[@Jacob-Shields]

Hot Glue is NOT permanent, it is only temporary to set the pattern up. After you use thinset for the remainder of the wall, you come back and remove the glued tiles and use thinset to bond them permanently. The whole point of the hot glue is to get the pattern spot on from the beginning without worrying about thinset at that moment. Thanks for watching and supporting!!

[@anitagoodsleep5330]

Good idea

[@masonwoods6485]

Could you not just put thinset and a little bit of hot glue at the same time or would that make the tile too heavy for the hot glue to stay set ?

[@Jacob-Shields]

Good question! I think the hot glue might be strong enough to do that but the reason for not using thinset on the first glued row, is that it allows you to take them off easily to readjust if something doesn’t go right, even days later. It lets you lay out the pattern for a good foundation without the permanency of thinset. Thank you for watching!

[@Lilliputian63]

This is very cleverly done. Why not reapply the Redguard if the glue rips off some of it? Use a small painters brush to apply. I'm curious to see how the hot glue idea works with GoBoard, which is what I'll be using for my next project. It would probably rip apart Kerdi board, which is so much easier to work with than Durock.

[@Jacob-Shields]

Thank you! Yes I can confirm it does damage the Kerdi board a bit but I’m not convinced it will ruin the waterproofing ability of it. I think it should work great on hardiboard!

[@mrgil1247]

Thank you, Jacob! I'm remodeling bathrooms for 15 years and now I learn your method! Thumbs up!

[@BriteLake]

Eight years ago I removed my fiberglass bathtub and replaced it with a porcelain bathtub. I had decided the surround walls would be in a herringbone design. Then I became intimidated and froze dead in my tracks. Now, eight years later that bathtub still cannot be used cause the herringbone project was never started. I thought the only way to finish the project was to forego the herringbone design and replace it with the boring horizontal rows of subway tiles because hiring a professional tiler to tile the herringbone pattern would be cost-prohibited. I now have my mojo back after watching your video. I recently saw another YT guy whose tutorial was helpful. He started the first row, vertically at the center point on the back wall and then worked upwards, not horizontally across the back wall the way you're doing your project. Yours makes a lot of sense. It appears once that bottom row going across the three walls is set the next rows should be easier and faster. Much like prepping walls before painting. Prepping anything is always time-consuming while the actual project is a lot quicker. Thank you for your idea. I will be looking through your other videos for great ideas. God bless you for sharing your ideas.

[@tomz7714]

I laughed when I saw the headline, but this is actually a really, really good idea. Smart. Thanks for sharing !

[@dilianiliev1250]

I’m Sure you did a much better job than most professional tilers!

[@carlostortolero6334]

All I can say is… thank you so much, very helpful video!

[@AnubisHalo]

This is kind of genius. I'm 100% going to do this along with a template for my cuts.

[@stewartmason1624]

Great instructional video Jacob. Thanks, it was easy to understand.

[@joeyannarilli7950]

I like your set up prep. If you use silicone behind the tile with the hot glue, you can leave the first row of tile in.

[@jimdension8074]

Your concept with the glue gun is excellent - and I am a Professional - starter courses are always the first critical step - I have a large fireplace wall starting next Monday - got a fire place insert, and two return walls - using Schulter Quadx for my corners - got lots of outside and inside corners - I will followup on how the hot glue system works

[@Jacob-Shields]

Very much appreciated! After I used the hot glue method to start one bathroom and it went surprisingly well, I felt like I had to share it because I've never seen anyone do that before. Let me know how it goes!

[@vortexknight69]

I just set a laser centre line and then drew a 45 degree grid on the wall . Only my first time but absolutely, once you have the pattern started its much easier ☺️

[@t-rexmamareviews1932]

I can't wait to tackle my kitchen backsplash this week! Thanks Jacob!

[@rasberryfields2132]

I have been trying to do a Herringbone backsplash forever! This was SO helpful! Thank you!

[@martinallen8814]

Thank you for this, very helpful and lots of interesting and useful tips. Much appreciated.

[@nickfraser3175]

Really wish I'd watched this before wrestling with gravity for 2 days on my clients bathroom 😂 lovely little tip 👍🏻

[@andrewmlyles]

Just a heads up you can buy the drywall cardboard ships or anything you can think that you can use as a sub straight to glue together. Your basically going to lay your tile on the ground or a sub straight that would be your wall and go back to your shower wall or floor and glue up a stencil and transfer that to your tile with a sharply. You’ll cut everything and be done. This is the quickest method.

[@OlRubberNuts]

Problem solving at its finest good work

[@kylefoster4974]

It worked! pretty well. it was still a pain! and this my first harringbone job on walls so I'm not exactly sure what to compare it to. But it did work! It would also be helpful if you did a follow-up video showing how you build down from your starter row. I ended up using masking tape to hold up my pieces as I worked my way down and that was the best way I found to do that. Huge thanks for making this video!👊

[@Jacob-Shields]

That's awesome to hear! Thank you for the feedback! I ended up pre cutting the pieces below my starter and put them in with spacers and the compression held them up. I did have to use making tape for behind the toilet where I had to build down several layers. Worked great though!

[@razorbak6783]

I like the hot glue trick....never heard of it and I've done custom tile for over 30 years.

[@kylefoster4974]

I'm gonna try it! Let's see how this goes😁👍

[@urieltrejo286]

Thanks for the video bro helps a lot👍👍👍

[@antiskeletor]

Thanks Jacob

[@bjvincisplace1869]

DUDE YOU SAVED MY ASS!!! TY BEEN A CONTRACTOR FOR 30YEARS...DID HERRING BONE 1X!!!! IM ON A JOB TO WHERE THE CUSTOMER PICKED HERRINGBONE AFTER WE CONTRACTED THE DEAL(one of those customers how I bill after the job,dude has no budget,great customer.but was not expecting herringbone) ANYWAY IVE BEEN STRESSING AND WATCHING OTHER VIDS AND STILL STRESSING...THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN COMPREHEND!!!! TY TY TY TY

[@Jacob-Shields]

I hope your job goes well! After I setup the pattern perfectly with hot glue, the rest was so easy, maybe easier than a brick pattern even! Just spend the time on the first layer, and you'll be golden!

[@3dd13eddie]

I think this is a top tip, thanks

[@theo9976]

You sir, are a genius. One suggestion, use museum putty adhesive instead of hot glue. Easier to pull off without fear of ripping the membrane.

[@Jacob-Shields]

That is a fantastic idea!

[@graceineverything9064]

Thanks Jacob. This has been helpful. I will try this. I really want to do this pattern but I’m so daunted! I’ve literally spent all weekend looking, measuring, checking and checking again. The tub is not level; I have a laser level but I’m worried it’s not level either! I’ve getting nowhere!!! I’m scared about wrapping the corner but seen a video by Sal DiBlasi which has really helped. I’m gonna say a prayer and just get on with it! Thanks!

[@Jacob-Shields]

I feel you, that's where I was before I started. It will boost your confidence a lot of you precut a lot and mock up the wall on the floor in the next room, even the crooked bottom joint by the tub. If your tub is way out, you could do a strip of regular horizontal tiles to cut and take up the slack, then you have a level line to start the herringbone. from.

[@user-et3yk9ep9x]

Good technique

[@Marwil23]

just draw your frist run on the wall and go off of that use the bottom to level out, if the bottom is level most tile are not all the same size so even if you have a few tile run off up to half an inch the line nobodies going to see that with all the grout line going everywhere.

[@benjaminbrown1179]

Tiles are running on a 45° angle. The speed square you are using has a 90° angle, or a right angle. Other than that little bit of picking... this is a good idea for starting the pattern.

[@melternes3678]

That’s awesome

[@yurijanssen2148]

Thats a smart idea! i am already almost done with my diagonal (all facing one direction) backsplash (quite a big area in my kitchen) and i can vouch for the laser level. Also really helped to draw a ton of level reference lines for the corners of the tile to go up to. as well as some 45 degree lines crossing everything to have a visual point of reference every once in a while. Starting the pattern with thinset was a little intimidating, even tho i already tiled my whole floor and the bathroom but nothing at an angle. It's SO easy to go off somewhere which is hard to correct. I made a very small amount of thinset in a very small bucket to get the first few tiles stuck to the wall so it wasn't stressfull if it would have wasted. Don't go out and make a whole bucket racing against the clock haha. Good video man!

[@Jacob-Shields]

Thank you for the encouragement! I knew I wasn't the only one stressing over starting a diagonal pattern haha

[@solomonmatsilele2424]

Thanks Jacobs this has been helpful 👌

[@amoeba2091]

Hot glue is a life saver. I often use hot glue to set up my Schluter trim pieces. Only problem I see here is, upon removal of the glued tiles the glue tends to want to rip the membrane off with it. Make sure to keep some extra water proofing membrane around incase patches are necessary.

[@ashizor]

Any video around the floor tiles?

[@Jacob-Shields]

Yes! DIY Bathroom Tile Planning, Layout & Cutting | Step by Step How To kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZicmJWmasujjbM

[@dianamennens898]

Great advice. What type laser level you suggest?

[@Jacob-Shields]

I use the Milwaukee laser level because it is bright at far distances and in sunlight, but any of them should work that have a “float” or self level option.

[@Elsbacher26]

Do you have any experience with double herringbone? I’m guessing the same concept applies? Thanks so much for a great video!

[@ZEROBOUNDARI3S]

Thanks for the tips. Btw, what size tile did you use?

[@Jacob-Shields]

I believe this was 4x12!

[@johnhill3920]

Can you get different size speed square

[@benjaminvlietstra5525]

I think I may try this method! My pan isn’t level at all. Using a laser level, are you suggesting I cut the first run as needed to make sure I hit my 45s and laser level?

[@Jacob-Shields]

Yes, it’s critical to have your first layer perfectly level or you’ll be “fudging” it the whole way up to get to level. Leveling with this pattern is more difficult than the standard brick pattern and therefore much harder to start. I have seen it done where the first layer is a regular horizontal layer to establish a level line to start the herringbone from. Picture framing the herringbone essentially. If you start like I did, elevated above the tub to your first full herringbone layer, then you don’t have to worry about how un level your tub or shower is because you will fill in that gap later once the wall is done and all level. The special layer that meets the tub or shower floor will take a lot of extra time but that’s how you merge an un level starting point with the level pattern you just laid. I hope that makes sense! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelhartman851]

I believe the issue you're going to encounter will be tiles breaking loose over time, yeah the hot glue holds them for the moment but it isn't a structural bond and if the wall has any movement it will break the bond with the glue and become an issue, for a backslash above a counter this method would probably be ok but I don't think it would be a good idea for a shower.

[@Jacob-Shields]

Hey Michael, Thanks for the comment. Sorry it doesnt look like you watched the video all the way through, I did not use hot glue as a permanent bond but only temporary for the first layer of tile. Then I would use modified thinset to lay the rest and come back, remove the temporary starter layer and use thinset for it. I would definitely never use hot glue as a permanent bond. Please see the 9:00 mark.

[@johnbell1246]

🤦‍♂️

[@niamhgallagher2395]

Hi what size are these tiles they're a nice size, they're not 30×7.5cm are they??

[@Jacob-Shields]

They are 3inX9in.

[@olms82]

Did you find any issues with the glue pulling off the redguard afterwards?? I like using hydroban xp, havent tried this method, maybe its worth a shot.

[@Jacob-Shields]

Yes, I did have that issue. I used industrial strength hot glue though, cheap craft glue would be more than enough. I just pull one or two little pieces of red guard off with the glue but a little silicone and more red guard solves that. Definitely something to be careful about.

[@xcentriclithium5467]

Laser, for those who don't know how to use a level and ledger board.

[@pulper11]

Curious where you’d place the ledger board when doing a herring bone tile display like this. Certainly can’t place it where the laser line is. That won’t work. So where????????

[@paulomontero12]

Is this really worth all the headaches?

[@Jacob-Shields]

For me it was well worth the headache because it was much much less of a headache than doing it the traditional way. Unless you're talking about herringbone itself, to which I say, yes! Looks fantastic when done.

[@_.Dave._]

Unfortunately, you're tub or entire room is completely unlevel. Its high on the left as seen from the bottom corners get cut off more and more as it wraps the tub. I would have matched the tub. The bottoms not matching is a dead giveaway.

[@Jacob-Shields]

You are correct, the floor is not perfectly level, it is a 115yr old house. I chose to level the tile and not go off the tub because now all the tile work is perfect and the only “make up” joint is by the tub. Going off the tub or floor would have caused the whole wall of tile to veer off to one side which would not look appealing. I could have also leveled the floor but there were complications there in the basement. Had to make the best visual choice.

[@_.Dave._]

@@Jacob-Shields its always tricky with an old house. Sometimes its better to do things out of level in order for everything to "look right" together. Its definitely a balancing act. Either way, well done.

[@jdebell7068]

Bad idea

[@reloadrefine]

😂🤡

[@johne8907]

Lmao glue gun to lay tile what in the hellllll is this!!!!!! i feel sorry for who ever buys this house the only thing holding that tile is the grout lmao For anyone trying to do harringbone do not listen to this dude your just gonna cost your self headaches And yes pros do watch youtube videos because youll never know what you can learn from shoe makers lol

[@Jacob-Shields]

Hello John, thanks for watching but unfortunately it doesnt look like you watch the entire video. I did NOT use hot glue as a permanent bond for the tile, just to temporarily hold the first starter layer to secure the pattern. I would then use modified thinset for the rest of the wall and come back and remove the starter layer and use thinset to secure. I appreciate your comment, although uninformed. Please see 9:00 mark.

[@MrSplintex]

lol you didnt watch the video brodda

[@micahned]

Found the guy who didn't watch the video... what a clown

[@bryanbenson6551]

Dude...actually watch the video this time🤣🤦

[@vrepair3070]

Well ,I see you get your news from Tabloids!🐒

[@davegilbert1866]

Parkea,when on 45