How to Square off a room for a tile floor layout. 📐 3-4-5 Triangle method

SUBSCRIBE Learn how tile the right way
When you install a ceramic , porcelain or marble tile on a floor, one of the first things that needs to be done is to determine how square a room is, which walls are parallel, which walls are square and which are out of square. The reason to do this is so you will get even and consistent cuts along a wall, and you don't end up with wedge type cuts that turn into slivers. From my experience, no room is ever built perfectly square, there is always at least one wall that is out of square and in older homes rooms are usually pretty far out of square. In this video I show how to "Square Off a Room" using a 3-4-5 right triangle method, which comes in handy when a laser square or some other modern aid is not available. Knowing how the walls are oriented to each other will help with a tile layout to prevent unexpected unsightly wedge cuts. One of the worst mistakes that can be made is to assume that a wall is square to another, start with a full cut and then to find that the wall is out of square and you start to get an increasing distance between the wall and the tile and end up with small wedge tile cuts to fill the gap. Squaring off a room is an essential part of the tile layout process.
All tile installed by Sal DiBlasi, Elite-tile Company, in the Boston North Shore area. This video contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you click on the product link.
#tile #transformthetrade #howtotile #installingtile #howtoinstalltile #Schlutersystems #TCNA
☕ Buy me a coffee ☕
www.buymeacoffee.com/saldibs2
🙂 This is my Amazon Store 🙂 www.amazon.com/shop/saldiblasi
💲1 PDF Floor installation guidelinessowl.co/s/wWd2d 💲1
Channel Store / @saldiblasi
👍 Patreon / saldiblasi 👍
KZbin Channel / saldibs
Facebook
/ 56681633342
Website
www.elitetileco.com/
Twitter
/ saldiblasi1
Instagram
/ saldiblasi1
National Tile Contractors Association
tile-assn.site-ym.com/
👇 Some of my favorite Tools 👇
Float amzn.to/2tdEpN2
Rubbing Stone amzn.to/2QrgRfh
Notched Trowel 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4-inch amzn.to/36bq5mQ
Notched Trowel 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2-Inch amzn.to/2Q5e90g
Notched Trowel 1/4 x 3/8 x 1/4-Inch amzn.to/39j1caB
Super Dust Collector - WaleTale amzn.to/2MDuVkK
Black Nitrile Gloves - 6 mil amzn.to/2SJQ6FZ
Margin Trowel amzn.to/352MYHx
Mortar Mixer amzn.to/2ZxYqtF
4in Sandpaper for Stone Polishing amzn.to/2ZB2skT
Polishing Rubber Backing Pad amzn.to/2srikdy
Montolit 63P3 24 Inch Tile Cutter amzn.to/2MDoFtl
DEWALT Wet Tile Saw amzn.to/2QqpO8O
Rubi Thinset mixer amzn.to/39VmNWV
Opt into NTCA’s VIP Text Messaging program for training opportunities.
Text “NTCA” to 31996 or Visit widget.smsinfo.io/v2/ae58812b...
For Industry Professionals only

[@genewickersham4593]

I'll try to keep my comment respectful. However, there seems to be a lot of wankers responding to this video who can't seem to appreciate the free, good advice that Sal has offered us. It's true that anyone in the construction trades should know the Pythagorean theorem. But not everyone who builds something is a trade or a mathematician. Everyone has to learn somehow.

[@SalDiBlasi]

There will always be trolls that know everything, or at least think they do. I have been often asked how to square off a room, so I made this video. Thanks for the your comment 👍

[@skimtb4887]

Great old school tip that stands the test of time. You can also double 6 8 10 or triple etc for large floors, decks, framing etc Your tile work is amazing and the videos are just as great!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@williamhavens471]

Thank you! Your video finally enabled me to get my head wrapped around HOW TO CHECK MY ROOM FOR SQUARE!!! Can't wait until tomorrow to do my layout. You sir, are the Man!

[@doreenmcmahon3582]

I've been trying to figure out how to do this for months! You're the first one to explain it in a way I understood! THANKS! The drawing helped!!!!!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad it helped!

[@CsokisMorisz]

The Pythagorean triple is one of our best friends! Simple, but maybe the most important "tool" what we needed.

[@irinadimitrova9956]

Thank you! God bless you for your kindness and generosity! I have to do my kitchen floor alone in a small village in Bulgaria. I was panicked at the beginning. But now, your videos help me a lot. Fortunately I have a leveling system after saw one of your videos and other useful stuff. You are a great teacher.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks, glad it helped

[@ozzyarmendariz2204]

I know I'm to late but, why everybody talking shit to the master, this guys its 1 of the most badass tile setters, (3,4,5), (6,8,10), (12,16,20).

[@SalDiBlasi]

😊👍

[@johnforrestboone1]

I love how you wired the floor - Concentrated wiring where they will be standing most. You are a craftsman. Well done.

[@SalDiBlasi]

👍😊

[@kelleybruce44]

We love ditra heat

[@juancho210210]

Easy lmao done it before

[@roberthelmick9574]

Taught this to a new helper today. It's amazing how something so simple can amaze people. Lol

[@FireSneaks83]

Appreciate your video’s Sal. I felt like this video is helpful for small tile installation, less than say an 8x8. I recently did 3 bathrooms in my home with 60x10 plank tile. Some of where I started depended on where doorways were and where I anticipated having to rip boards and slide under door frames/jams with a 1/3 staggering layout. All the while, overcoming walls that aren’t straight…Nothing 1/2 inch quarter round couldn’t hide without too much waste.

[@Samlol23_drrich]

Pdf is excellent. Thanks for putting it together. Worth way more than its cost.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad you like it!

[@cookinwithchris86]

Love your videos Mr Diblasi...your a tile guru...tile shaman...tile monster

[@Pfizzledizzl]

Thank You for drawing it on paper with explanation! Very helpful! Have a great day!

[@SuperSooseYo]

thank you , very informative .. You're a good teacher

[@lindatrust7953]

Thank you, very straightforward and easy to understand.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chris112080]

Thank you for uploading this. It helped me shut someone up at work.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad I could help

[@bayareatrucking]

Great video. Thank you sir. God bless.

[@paulsocki]

Such a big help. Thanks again Sal!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Happy to help!

[@50thstateofmind37]

Thanks for the advice on tiling a ceiling. Everything work out great and I also posted a short video of it.Mahalo(thank you) sal.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Great, glad it went smoothly.

[@IsaacGomez-ls3ex]

Thanks for the info God bless

[@sonofthunder.]

Great job sal

[@proteus1]

You the man. Do you have a video expanding on wall tile calculation?

[@tinastrobel7535]

Excellent instruction. Bravo!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thank you!

[@Michael-zo2gz]

Good work💯

[@jimilormand9242]

Sal,,the 'Columbo of Tile',,,, if I could I would,,if I can I will,,, inspiration begins the will

[@cjkcommercialflooring5674]

This is good in big floors In small froos it might not necessary.but is ok for beginners can know how we apply the square

[@erikarreola5001]

Thank you sir. I am doing my first tile job tomorrow and will be using this method. Hopefully my room is square.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@AndyKingCo]

Another gem

[@giuseppemare]

It's nice to have a review of the 3,4,5 triangle. Thanks Sal.

[@pickelrick6377]

Great informative video.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andresgaliel5724]

Great video 📸

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad you liked it

[@danielkarlovski3159]

Hey sal, great video. How would you set up the laser to see if it’s square? Thanks .

[@Migkiller1971]

I wish I was High On Potenuse

[@olivierschoendorf3297]

Super boulot

[@SalDiBlasi]

👍

[@Opreza12]

Thank you sal

[@SalDiBlasi]

You bet

[@rmtile7126]

Great video sal! When you get a chance could you make a video about mastic when and when not to use and your thoughts about mastic compared to thinset? Also I see you use thinset on all your backsplashes, wouldn’t mastic be ok for that application!?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Mastic can only be used in dry areas and for smaller tiles, Better still just avoid it altogether.

[@ToneL0k]

You are the tile god 🙌🏻

[@brandoncuts82]

U know what your saying but I don't get it still lol 😆 I appreciate it though buddy after I just bought a 3point Bosche laser square lol. I still need to learn though.

[@MikeygoneGoBo]

So do you measure 6 inches off the wall for your cut and make your lines off that?

[@danthecarpenterman9463]

For bigger areas use multiples of 2 for example 6,8,10

[@mikehernandez9140]

How do you find the reference point? That’s the only part that I do not understand. For example, if I am doing tile in a living room, how do I determine which wall I am using to measure from and set my first line of the triangle? What if my longest wall of the house is out of square? Also, is there any way to avoid putting slivers of tile along the final wall of the lay out if the walls are really out of square? I’ve seen it done and it sticks out from the baseboard and it looks terrible.

[@krazytrinisteve]

Thank you obi wan tile nobi

[@SalDiBlasi]

😄

[@jeffsingleton88]

krazytrinisteve more like Yoda. Haha. Sal you rock

[@zuhawk15]

Sal DiBlasi Hello Sal I need a contractor to remodel my bathrooms can you recommend anyone I live in Burlington

[@SalDiBlasi]

Burlington MA?

[@zuhawk15]

Sal DiBlasi yes

[@PackedandReadyFranco]

Sal what’s the best laser square floors I’m looking at the Bosch three line it does square and it added a 45 line big sale at Lowe’s

[@SalDiBlasi]

This is what I use amzn.to/2WtpuHu video this morning where I show how I do a layout with it.

[@samerlam9551]

They are rubbish go with a dewalt green laser

[@frankdeckard5395]

Hi! I understand 3 4 5 and the parallel walls were equidistant, but how did you know the one wall was off and the other was not, as opposed to that wall being right and the vanity wall being off? Sorry if that doesn’t make sense. What is confusing me is measuring A to B…I don’t know if A is off or B is off.

[@gavin_hill]

as long as wall is straight then the "square" is your choice for a reference. You could make a square at an angle to the wall but that would look weird. So you have to think how it will all look. So wall 1 may be your focap point. It may not be square with wall 2 or 3 but you may choose to use it as that might produce best result, etc. Have to think how it will all look, eg is their wood floor that needs to be square to the tile? Is there a doorway that will make your tile layout look crooked, etc.

[@mikel1902]

What if your curbed wall and opposite wall were not parallel to each other?

[@njdevfan20]

I remember this from geometry class.

[@gurshaanbasra3639]

But how do you know if the lines u drew with the chalk line are straight?

[@jimmysotack2523]

He probably went off his shower curb which he made straight when he made the shower floor

[@TSLAtrading]

3,4,5 работает давно, мы часто используем этот метод, когда нет оборудования под рукой. Угол 90 градусов всегда. Смысл везде одинаковый. 10см пример. Сторона 30см, 40см, а между ними по краям (диагональ) всегда будет 50см, т.е. подтверждение прямого угла. Думал у Вас там давно уже забыли и не пользуются этим методом, респект.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Well I did not forget, I just have tools that do it quicker and easier.

[@miketalley505]

So you line the edge of the tile on the line? Your line is 6 “ of the wall, what do you use to cover the exposed under floor??

[@eladionajera5410]

The theorem of isoceles which is side square x side square is equal to square root of hypotenuse

[@eladionajera5410]

You can go bigger for big rooms . You just have to double that numbers like 3,4,5 it will be 6,8,10 or 12,16,20 just to make it easier and more accurate

[@2552Zeus]

It’s called Pythagorean theorem

[@bayareatrucking]

Sorry, I only speak English. Could you translate? 😂😂😂

[@salgadofamily8510]

How you get the first line straight if the walls aren’t straight or square

[@SalDiBlasi]

Use a straight edge or snap a line and stay on it.

[@salgadofamily8510]

Ok thanks

[@paolodibello5991]

How is this done with a laser square?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Just measure off the square and figure it out the same way.

[@florentinogarcia4298]

Perdona mi ignorancia soy nuevo en esto mi pregunta es para qué son los cables qué van en el pisó gracias

[@roxymorales2592]

Disculpa la metichez brother! Las lineas irregulares en el piso son el calentøn del piso, lo que llaman radiant heater for the floor..Saludos!!

[@hllywd964]

Sal, in this example where would you start tiling, off of what wall?

[@timmian85]

Obviously the longest wall......

[@PackedandReadyFranco]

Hey u must eat at Benny and bruces place Paradiso my family sells them all there Italian cheese and other things great place

[@kathryngroch6594]

Thank you, Sal. I'm doing my own small bathroom - only about 4 feet by 8 feet.. The room is not square. I'm going to try your triangle method to see if I can find a good starting point. The tricky part is that I'm using 12x24" tile. Any suggestions that apply to my size of tile?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Go with the layout that works the best, other than that you would have to rectify the walls.

[@timmian85]

This method is not wrong, but i disagree with it all the same. You square the room with the longest wall, and thats it. But thats only it if its an empty room, if its not you should know what goes where on the floor so you can put the big pieces where they need to go and disregard where they're not shown. Shower's are a different story, of course, but as a general rule i say just go with the longest wall.

[@jimilormand9242]

you take the longest wall that will be seen the most,,,and start from that wall,,

[@timchapman5553]

You can use 1.414 as well

[@andraskurucz2129]

I like your videos just you should learn to use the camera. Like when you draw you should put the camera exactly above the paper to se it clearly. 👍

[@clwl10202012]

I just watched this again...@ approx 3 minute mahk.....you pointed in front of you and said you initially measured 3' across....then a few seconds later, you said you measured 4' across...which was it?

[@SalDiBlasi]

I measured both, watch again.

[@clwl10202012]

@@SalDiBlasi I saw, thank you What do you do if 3,4,5 is out of square?

[@SalDiBlasi]

3,4,5 willalays be square, that is how you can get perpendicular lines, if your room is out of square , then you need to find the best compromise for your tile layout.

[@ikust007]

Sal DiBlasi dear Sir, do you apply the same process for tiling the walls over a bath (on the 3 walls)? I will to to find your videos about that subject. But if you have 2 minutes ... cheers Sir. You are truly a Craftsman.

[@deangilbourne1258]

What if it’s not parrell ?

[@shauncarney1607]

What do you do if it not square for the 345?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Make adjust ments to your layout of the tile to accommodate for the best look.

[@shauncarney1607]

@@SalDiBlasi thanks.

[@newtonslogic]

If you're using the shower curb as the reference...how do you know the shower curb is square?

[@SalDiBlasi]

That is what I am checking, to see what is square with what.

[@anoopdayma7200]

Sir 42 56 inch 70 inch

[@chipburns4123]

3,4,5 is too small in a lot of cases. I like to use 6,8,10. Its more accurate!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Use the multiple that works for your area, 6,8,10 not possible on this floor.

[@ilirjandalipi7807]

you could use also 6-8-10 method ...pitagora theorem

[@jimilormand9242]

yes, Sal covered that,,,just knowing how makes it easy to do,,,

[@fredericklegrande4564]

No Lakers here❤️❤️❤️☕️

[@PharoesBinder]

Now how will that help if a wall isnt square?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Because you will know it is not square.

[@PharoesBinder]

@@SalDiBlasi I know but let's see one of the walls grows by 3 inches to the end. Is there anyway to stop the tile from growing 3 inches? I usually measure both parallel walls and get the half way point and start from the center of the room.

[@120201atta]

First thing you said Iis that you made a line from one end to the other parallel to the wall so you know it's straight. But both wall and line could be slanted exactly the same and it would still look parallel yet it wouldn't mean the wall is straight. Can anyone point me out to a better, detailed, illustrated demonstration please? Thanks!

[@120201atta]

And what do you mean by cub? Is that slang?

[@renenava5213]

Now this days with the 3 line laser’s piece a cake so

[@olivierschoendorf3297]

Vous êtes d ou

[@SalDiBlasi]

Boston area

[@lvvry1855]

I still don't understand how you start. Everyone says find the centre point of the room, but what if the opposite walls are not parallel, and maybe one of them an inch or two longer? This ONLY FINDS the centre POINT of a room. You still need to figure out how SQUARE the room is. NOBODY shows how to decide how the square the room in the sense of where should the first straight line be FROM WHICH you square the area.

[@zokxso1627]

haha i have the same sigma kneepads

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

But does A squared plus B squared equal C squared? Just kidding he

[@DoWorkTrucker]

Matt C close...C = the square root of A square + B square

[@jacobtaylor4258]

pythagoras theorem.

[@alejandrodavidson8975]

A radio is the correct way to localize a intersection in MATH.... 3-4-5. 6-8-10. 9-12-15. Solo chuntaros no entenderán.

[@yassinemrabet901]

Pythagorean theorem ...

[@swanseajacks68]

H

[@dmitrikguajardo6006]

a better method is 9 12 15

[@SalDiBlasi]

Which is a multiple of 3 4 5 like I said.

[@crispychicken2743]

The hard way

[@Erniesworld]

Doesn’t make sense your all over the place talking not great instructions

[@mrvarus8957]

What could be explained in 2 minutes ,somehow took nearly 14 minutes.

[@SalDiBlasi]

So do the 2 minute video. share the link here so we can see it.

[@rudycastro9814]

I fell asleep watching thanks.

[@walterhill3757]

I have been setting tile for 37 yrs. I can't believe your making a video on how to square a floor. if someone is in the tile trade and don't know the procedure, well they need to find another craft.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Like I said in the video, I have been asked many times to do this, so here it is. This is more for the DIY crowd, that follow me. Besides, there are so many hacks out there, they probably don't know what a square or a level is .😋

[@richardvoyageur]

I can't believe you haven't mastered the your/you're in all of those years! Not everyone is in the tile business, some of us DIY crowd find many valuable nuggets from Sal's videos.

[@NMranchhand]

I’m retired from another profession and for some reason just always wanted to know how to tile like a real pro. Now, I’m trying to do an entire new (Old) home I bought with Sal’s great instruction.

[@95thousandroses]

too bad youtube doesn't show downvotes.

[@justflicking5964]

Hi Sal, looking at some of the replies I often wonder about the whole DIY side of things, in that, how much information is to much information? Where do we professional tilers draw the line and say that you actually need to be licensed to carry out this trade and if a DIY person was to say waterproof there bathroom cos they seen it done on youtube only to make a mistake and there money is down the drain, and again at least here anyway 🇦🇺 you need to be a licensed contractor. I guess Sal i'm just mentioning this as the other day I had a customer tell me that a plumber told them ( why don't you waterproof the bathroom yourselves? ) .....hmmmm I like your videos Sal, as a tiler myself I am always looking for new ideas like the way you do your niches, I just finished one with a marble shelf and looks awesome.

[@sMusic-ef6sj]

This guy is so slow a sloth moves faster

[@colinnicols5387]

Not nice

[@Amicheliche33]

You lost me in the first 30seconds. Why is this video longer than 2 minutes? Just get to the point

[@foliage31]

What a show, too long getting to the point, 3,4,5. you have a triangle , do the same at the other of the longest line and you have a rectangle and you are now ready to get all the other measurements in place.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Point me to your video o I can see how to do it.

[@Nunya-gk9fr]

I still don’t understand what if that first wall your measuring 6” off of is not straight to begin with. What is none of the walls are square, working with house built in 1880’s here

[@SalDiBlasi]

You check to find out what you have then adjust as needed. You can't decide where to start until you know what is square and what isn't.

[@Nunya-gk9fr]

@@SalDiBlasi nothing is square lol & this little bump out wall next to the stove that’s out of square 3/4 is throwing me off now. Had to set a laser level as a control line measure off of that to set my first row & still having issues

[@jimmysotack2523]

Think of it as making a room inside of a room…you want to make your room square and then see where the original room isn’t square and make sure your awkward cuts will be ok there

[@ben_m033]

This is brilliant, thanks so much for this. For those who are working in metric or smaller rooms this is using Pythagoras' theorem en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem