There are countless types of tile on the market and choosing a style, material and colour can be totally overwhelming when you first set out. Fortunately there is a simple checklist you can apply to narrow down your choices and make sure you’re looking at the right options.
Location
First and foremost, where are you planning to install your tiles? It makes a big difference as to whether they are to be purposed for outside vs indoors, which room they are for and whether they’re intended for walls, splashbacks, countertops or floors. These factors contribute to what kind of tile is suitable – will it be exposed to the elements? Will it experience heavy traffic? Will it need to be non-slip? Make sure to ask these questions. For example, choosing a wall tile for the floor will result in a slippery surface with insufficient strength to withstand regular walking traffic or your family or pets dropping things on it.
Stone, porcelain and ceramic tiles are most commonly used for floors, while glass is reserved for splashbacks and occasionally walls.
Durability
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are given a durability rating on the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI)’s scoring system. Grade 1 has the lowest durability whereas Grade 5 tiles are used in commercial areas of extremely heavy traffic (a level not usually required for a home tile.) Generally speaking, 1 is fine for walls, 2 for bathrooms and other low traffic areas, 3 for most home applications, and 4 and 5 are extremely durable for flooring in high traffic areas such as the entrance and hallway. Porcelain is the more durable of the two options and suitable for flooring indoors and outdoors, while ceramic is great for indoors to add design flair. Natural stone is durable but depending on the type it can be porous and could need regular sealing to protect it. Decide where you are planning to use the tiles, what sort of stress they will be under and then do your homework! Speak to your LookLocalWA Perth tiling specialist to get the benefit of their experience.
Size, shape and style
Large tiles can make rooms seem more spacious by minimising the pattern of grout. Unfortunately in small bathrooms it is not a good idea to purchase large tiles because the obstacles of the shower, bath and sink can require too many custom cuts and make it look messy. An option is to purchase medium sized tiles and place them in a diagonal pattern to trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger – this is a trick you can use anywhere in and around the home. Making the grout a similar colour to the tile also helps to create that spacious effect. Speak to your local tiling specialist about grout and patterning options that will help to open up your room.
Note: make sure all the tiles you have purchased are the same size before laying.
Textured and raised floor tiles are excellent for areas where you need more grip, such as the bathroom. Mozaic tiles are also more non-slip and are great for showers.
When it comes to colour, think about the whole room. If you like to switch around your furniture and accessories, choose a neutral tile. Lighter colours can make an area more spacious, but dark tiles can add elegance and coloured ones a bit of excitement with vibrant splashes. Tiles with natural shading or patterning help to hide discolouration and stains.
When shopping for tiles take along paint chips that match your room to narrow down options early on. Avoid ‘fashions’ because these will quickly become dated and age the room and retiling will be a frustrating exercise! You don’t want a guest to think ‘Wow this is so 2015s’ when they come around years from now!
Cost
And of course cost is a factor, particularly when deciding on materials. Before you go shopping make sure to measure the space to be tiled (don’t guesstimate). This will allow you to do calculations in your head and weed out options that are too expensive for your budget right away. Your LookLocalWA Perth tiling specialist will be able to provide you with a quote on costs for special custom tiles or patterns.
Hot tip: Always remember to purchase extra tiles. There are likely to be chipped and cracked tiles during installation so it is important to have spares on hand.
-Em from the LookLocalWA team
