4 Things To Check With Your Tiler Before Tile Shopping

When it comes to picking out the right tiles for your bathroom, kitchen or other space, it really pays to do your due diligence beforehand if you want to ensure the tiling journey goes as smoothly as possible. To get yourself organised and avoid preventable pitfalls during the renovating or new build process, there are four essential things to double-check with your tiler before finalising your tile shopping.

1. Quantity of tiles required

This one may seem obvious, but having a clear picture on how many tiles you need for your space and your design vision is essential. It’s always best to have your tiler measure the space and advise on the quantity of tiles required for your project before tile shopping. This way, you’re able to get a rough idea on cost and stock availability while you’re shopping. Don’t forget to factor in all areas when calculating this. Confirm all quantities for areas like floors, walls, feature walls, shower niches or shelves as well as splashbacks.

Also important to consider is whether you will be tiling to the ceiling, half height or just incorporating a skirting tile outside wet areas like your shower, which will require tiling to at least 1.8m high – these considerations will determine your final measurements. Another factor that can be sometimes overlooked when figuring out quantity is tile wastage. We suggest adding 15% wastage to the measurements to accommodate things like breakages and cuts and to ensure you aren’t caught out.

2. Size and finish of tiles that are suitable for your project

Not all tiles are created equal – or are suitable for the job you have in mind. Your project may have specific requirements for tile size, so that’s important to double-check with your tiler. Things like the fall/slope of your shower or room may impact the size of the tile that is best for your project and limit the ability to use others.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the finish of your floor is determined by the space you are tiling. For example, if you are working on a bathroom, you will need a matte finish tile whereas if you are tiling a front porch or outdoor areas you will instead need an external floor tile with a slip-resistant finish. It’s important to choose the correct type of tile from the beginning if you want ideal results at the end.

 

3. Lay pattern & the finish of edges

As well as the actual material, size and finish of the tiles for your project, another consideration is the design you are hoping for. Think about what pattern your tiles will be laid in and consider any foreseeable issues that could throw a spanner in the works. Are there any size restraints for the tile when it comes to your desired pattern? If so, make sure your tile selection is able to achieve the planned look and confirm costs before you shell out to buy them.

If you are tiling edges of a shower niche/shelf or a window sill, think about whether they will be mitred or whether you’re planning on using a tile trim for the space. These choices will all impact your tile shopping as you will need to ensure the tiles you are purchasing can be mitred if this is in the plans.

4. Grout and silicone

The choice of grout and silicone can have a huge effect on what your end-result tiles look like. So, the grout and silicone selection and who is supplying these is definitely something to look into with your tiler before the project gets underway. Ultimately you need to know if your tiler be supplying the grout and silicone and can you specify your own colours. Many trades have their preferences of products to work with so it is best to check this prior to shopping and purchasing.