Buying Ceramic Tiles

Choosing and Buying Your Tiles:

Tiles walls and floors are available in a large range of colours, sizes and designs. Tiles are produced in ceramic, porcelain, marble, terracotta, vinyl, glass and slate. In Europe tiles are commonly manufactured in the following sizes;100x100, 150x150, 20x150, 200x200, 250x200,300x200, 316x316, 330x250,330x330, 400x250, 400x300, 450x316, 450x450 mm.

Tiles are generally sold by the square metre, unless you are purchasing feature tiles, tread or border tiles

The number of tiles you require will depend on the size of the area being tiled, with 10% extra allowed for breakages. Don’t forget to buy extra tiles if you are using a complex pattern, and also as spares for future repairs/replacements.

Feature Tiles:

· You can use border tiles or dado tiles for a more attractive finish to a plain tiled wall.

· Add interest by introducing features (patterned) tiles between plain tiles.

· Tread tiles are used for added grip on stairs and steps.

· Bull-nosed tiles are used on tops of walls or around bathtubs, window seals, and the edges of counter tops.

Special Tiles

· When floor tiling a ‘wet area’, always use slip–resistant tiles.

· If you are laying floor tiles in high traffic areas, buy tiles that have an abrasion index figure of at least PEI3, preferably PEI4 or 5

· If you are using tiles for outdoors, ensure that tiles are frost resistant.

· Never use wall tiles for flooring, though some floor tiles are suitable for walls, check with your supplier.

How to calculate the area being tiled?

Multiply the width of the area to be tiled by the height for walls, or by the length for floors. Deduct the area of all fixtures (fixed cupboards, units, shower bases, windows etc) from your total area to ascertain the number of square metres required.

How many tiles are needed?

Use the table below to calculate the number of tiles you will need depending on the size of the tile you chose and the size of the area you are tiling. Add an extra 10% to your total to cover breakages, cut tiles and any under calculation. Extra tiles will be required if your tiling area includes a large number of cuts to tile around doorways or fixtures etc and if you have chosen a complex layout pattern.

Area to be tile Tile size being used

100x100 150x150 200x150 200x200 250x200 330x250 330x330 400x300 450x450 1sqm 100 44 33 25 20 12 9 8 5 2sqm 200 88 66 50 40 24 18 16 10 3sqm 300 132 99 75 60 36 27 24 15 4sqm 400 176 132 100 80 48 36 32 20 5sqm 500 220 165 125 100 60 45 40 25 6sqm 600 264 198 150 120 72 54 48 30 7sqm 700 308 231 175 140 84 63 56 35 8sqm 800 352 264 200 160 96 72 64 40 9sqm 900 396 297 225 180 108 81 72 45 10sqm 1000 440 330 250 200 120 90 80 50

When choosing your tiles it is a good idea to visit one of the larger tiles retailers who operate showrooms with room settings and large tiled boards, as a single tile can look very different when it is laid and grouted properly. Tiles UK Ltd an independent retailer has large showrooms in Manchester, Leeds, Warrington and Birmingham. Addresses and opening times can be found on their website at: www.tilesuk.com .

When you have decided on the colour and style/type of tile you need, it is time to shop around for the best price. If you prefer to let your mouse do the walking an excellent place to start on the internet is: www.tileandtoolstore.com here you will find just a limited choice of tiles, but all are exceptional quality and value. One thing to watch out for is the requirement to buy full pallets, which could be as much as 70 cubic yards. Sounds a lot but as the tiles are usually less than half the price, available elsewhere and delivery is free a bit of enterprise may be needed on your part or a really big bathroom.