Tile Guide

7 Key things to remember when installing

1. Communicate with your tiler
2. Double check cartons
3. Check pattern (take from 3 cartons)
4. Check during installation
5. Tile under fridges, dishwashers and pantry
6. Grouting improves the look
7. Ensure grout haze is cleaned off by your tiler immediately

For more information on choosing your tiler click here.

8 Key things to remember when buying

1. Have your measurements. Add percentage for cutting etc., plus keep a box of tiles for reference and spares
2. Consider different installation methods to create different design effects which can add value to a project, however diagonals involve more cuts/wastage
3. Remember prices are per metre/ purchasing is per carton
4. Make your selection early and check availability
5. Ask about PEI and MOHS re suitability of tiles for your project
6. Ask if any delivery costs (e.g. do you need to hand unload or have a difficult site)
7. Ask if sealing is required
8. Ask about guarantees

So you chosen your tiles and now you need a tiler, consider the following suggestions when making your choice.

Experience & Qualifications - Ask the tiler about his experience, qualifications and BSA number.

Obtain a Written Quotation - Knowing the cost involved up front takes out any future confusion and enables you to ascertain the amount you will be spending. It will also make it clear what things are included in the quotation along with laying the tiles such as sealants, edge strips etc. Make sure you understand the quotation and clarify any areas of ambiguity before you agree to proceed with the work.

Compare Quotations - It may help to get 2 or 3 quotations. This will give you a possible range of installation costs. Also it is important to remember that tiling is a long term investment and the lowest price may not give you the result you expect.

Ask for References - Most tilers are more than happy to let you contact 2 or 3 of their recent customers to verify the quality of their work and the attention to detail in their approach.

Lastly Ask Yourself These Questions

• Is the tiler easy to get a hold of?
• Was he punctual, did he arrived on time?
• Did he appear keen to do the work?
• Was the quotation reasonably priced and did it cover all the work to be done?
• Does the tiler return my calls in a reasonable time frame?
• Do I feel confident this person will complete my work professionally?

Ceramic tiles are essentially a practical, low maintenance flooring material. It is important to clean the tiles regularly so that dirt doesn't build up. Tiles are a great product, however they won’t stay clean by themselves.

Your number one enemy is DIRT. Always keep your tiles clean - trapped dirt can be very abrasive and this sand and gritty dirt is likely to damage any tiled surface.

Always use a mat or rug at the entrance to doorways.

In most instances, cleaning ceramic tiled floors is relatively easy. Cleaning should always begin with the gentlest means possible, which may be as simple as warm water. Regular maintenance should include sweeping, or preferably dry or damp mopping or vacuuming to reduce grit.

Tiles can usually be cleaned with a non-soap-based household floor cleaner, such as one of the domestic products intended for cleaning ceramic tile floors available on the market. Or something as simple as a little vinegar added to your water when cleaning.

Although heavily soiled areas may be difficult to clean completely. All cleaning and stain-removal products should always be tested on a small, inconspicuous area before using on the entire tiled surface.

Do not use Abrasive cleaners (including powdered cleansers and even "mildly" abrasive creams) and mechanical equipment can damage and wear away the protective surface, as well as the decorative design on tiles.

Arming yourself with all the information you need when you get to the tile store is the first place to start. You should have a clear idea of the area you wish to tile and the amount of foot traffic it will be exposed to. For help with working out what rating tile your project will need check our PEI rating guide.

Measure the floor and wall areas to be tiled. If the tiles are regular in size (150 x 150 mm or 200 x 200 mm) then you should add no more than 10 to 15% for cuts, breakages and spares. Some tiles will have to be cut and the off cuts may not be useful anywhere else, others may be damaged in transit or blemished. Always order an extra 10 - 15%, even if you don't use them, they often come in handy at a later date.

If you are taking your measurements from the builder’s plans make sure you have the most current version. Establish the tiling technique and pattern you are going to use, this can make a difference to the amount of tiles you need, always consider grout width and patterns when determining final measurements.

To make sure you calculate the correct amount of space to be tiled it can help to draw each separate area on a piece of paper. You will need the height and the width in millimeters which you then multiply to give you the square meterage. Then add the totals of each different area to establish the total square metres of tiles needed adding the extra 10 – 15%. Remember to take out the spaces for windows, but add in sills and tiled skirting’s.

Some people prefer to work out the number of tiles needed rather than the number of square meters. To do this you divide the spaces in millimetres by the number of tiles. For example let’s take an area 2400mm x 1800mm to be tiled in a tile which is 450mm x 450mm. Doing your calculations you would need 6 tiles across or actually 5.3 tiles (tiles aren’t sold in pieces) and 4 tiles high or 24 Tiles in total. Doing this for each area to be tiled will give you the total number of tiles required. You can then find out how many of the tiles you have chosen are in each carton and work out the number of cartons you will need. Remember tiles are sold in whole cartons only.

If you are using a floor or wall border, measure the linear distance to be tiled and divide it by the length of each border to arrive at the net number of tiles required. Again add a few extra pieces for cuts and spares. If you are tiling the bathroom walls, why not tile to the ceiling or even the whole room. There's only one thing more tiresome than painting a 900mm strip of wall between tiles and ceiling, and that is having to repaint it every few years.

Think about any accessories like soap dishes, step edges or brass strips to finish off your tiling and give you a professional looking project.

Choosing the right tile is important. How your tiles look from a design perspective along with the wearability are vital components to consider when making your tile choices.

The PEI rating system for ceramic tiles in place today is an extremely reliable gauge for consumers to use in determining wear expectations for a particular tile choice. The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating scale that can effectively guide consumers through the sometimes arduous process of choosing the right tile.

PEI Ratings and suggestions for usage:

PEI Rating 1 - Suitable for floors that are walked on with soft footwear or bare feet. Only in areas that are not subject to scratching dirt and do not have direct access from outside. (e.g. domestic en-suite bathrooms)

PEI Rating 2 - Suitable for areas that are walked on with soft soled or normal footwear. On residential floors in living areas not subject to harsh shoes or heavy traffic. Access must be after foot traffic has passed over a carpet or rug. Not for kitchen floors or entrance ways.

PEI Rating 3 - Suitable for light residential floor areas. Including kitchens, corridors, halls. Where normal footwear is used without direct external access. Entry areas should be protected by mats to restrict abrasive soils and dirt from being trodden onto surface.

PEI Rating 4 - Suitable for heavy residential or light commercial floor areas. Areas that are subject to considerable traffic. This would include entrances, workrooms, restaurants, sales rooms and any area in a domestic home. Where normal footwear is used.

PEI Rating 5 - This is the maximum resistance against footwear traffic available. Will be suitable for all heavy duty floor areas. Any domestic use or commercial application. Shopping centre, airport terminals or any other high traffic harsh environment.

Always remember though, a floor tile can be used on a wall, but never use a wall tile on a floor.

1. Bicottura

Is an Italian word meaning "double fired", a similar procedure that breaks the firing process in two phases. The clay body is baked in the first step, and the glaze is applied in the second.  In reality, Bicottura tiles may go through the kiln as many as four times.  The Bicottura method is considered the best method when decorative wall tiles with multiple colours are required.  Bicottura tiles are used mostly for indoor locations, as wall tiles and backsplashes because of their softer body.

2. Monocottura

Is an Italian word meaning "single-fired".  It is the newest method used to produce ceramic tiles.  In this process, individual tiles are shaped, glazed and fired in one step, at the same time.  The development of this technology has revolutionized the tile industry, improving the quality of the finished product.

3. Full Bodied Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are a tile's that are generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face.  Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles.

4. Glazed Porcelain

Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic.

5. Natural Stone e.g. Marble & Granite

There are a number of different natural stone tiles available including marble, granite, travertine and limestone.  They have different levels of porosity and hardness.  As this is a natural occurring product made by the earth, no two tiles will look exactly the same.  All of these products must be sealed.

6. Rectified

These are machine cut tiles where the top and the edge of the tile form a 90 degree angle, giving a cleaner finish and less variation between individual tiles.

7. External

There are specific guidelines as to the use of tiles in outdoor areas.  Pool tiles and external tiles are required to have a slip resistance surface to comply with Australian Standards.  We recommend that you refer to the Australian Standards Guide to slip resistance before choosing your external tiles.

8. Decorators

These tiles are high quality decorative products to compliment the broad range of ceramic tiles already available.  This includes things like glass mosaics, listellos, natural stone borders, fascia tiles, fozzettos and insertos.