Choosing which tiles to buy can land you with a serious case of choice fatigue. The possibilities are endless, not only in colour and pattern but also size and shape. If you struggle to visualise what the end product will look like than it quickly becomes overwhelming. And no amount of scrolling through Pinterest will allow you to see how your space will turn out.
Ultimately, though, the choice is up to you. Tiles are a long term investment, they will outlast your car and be as solid as they day they were installed when the kids leave home. No pressure. Just make sure you’ll be happy with them.
So what are my options?
From mosaics right through to gigantic tiles 1200mm long, there is a tile to suit everyone. What is most important to consider is where you want them and what you want out of them. To establish this, you should ask yourself some key questions.
How big is my space?
When designing a room we like to give the illusion of extra space. On a small floor having large tiles will make it look bigger, yeah? Not necessarily. But teeny tiny mosaics will probably make it look even smaller. This article by Houzz gives some great tips on tiling in small spaces
Large tiles in a large open plan floor does look amazing and gives a feeling of grandeur. 600×600 tiles are popular in these kinds of settings, and with a gloss finish can make a big room seem enormous.
Am I tiling walls or floors?
The case for a small tile is more often for walls as a design feature. Plain tiles can be used in specialised patterns (think herringbone and subway) or sheets of smaller tiles like mosaics can have different textures and colours. Most often this is a case of less is more, but some people like to make a big splash and do entire bathrooms in these kinds of tiles.
Where am I tiling?
This becomes particularly important if you are choosing tiles for indoor vs outdoor applications. The biggest factor at play is slip resistance and safety. While you may find high gloss tiles in a pool, at its edges you will find tiles or pavers with rougher surfaces to keep you from falling. Some people may still choose indoor tiles outside, however this should be carefully considered and used in covered areas.
How much am I willing to spend?
The quality of the tile itself plays a big part in the end product. This is not something that is usually given a lot of thought, but can be devastating after carefully planning your dream renovation. When we look at quality, factors such as size variation, batch discrepancy and problems in the manufacturing process can be major issues.
Size variation
Having tiles that are millimeters smaller or larger than others doesn’t sound like a big deal. But when you join all these tiles together it will have a knock on effect. Grout gaps open up or almost butt up against one another, and if the variation is the overall shape things can get worse. A stack of tiles on a wall which begin to slant as they climb the upward. One tile sticks out further than the others. It will become a tiling job that stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Batch discrepancy
Tiles are produced in batches with a mixture of materials that should yield the same results. In general though, there is more variation between batches with cheaper tiles. When you purchase your tiles they should come from the same batch, however the retailer may have a mix of two or more in their warehouse. And the problems start when your white tiles become greyish all the sudden when you are halfway through the job.
Problems in the manufacturing process
This means when there is a structural fault in the tiles which makes them harder to cut. When a tile is cut, it is scored in a line and snapped, and when the structure of the tile is flawed they may break during this process. You could end up with more wastage than you anticipated and need to buy more tiles to get the job finished.
How much maintenence will they need?
Tiles don’t need a lot of maintenence, but I’m sure you have seen grout that has aged over time and become infuriatingly blackened. And if you look at tiles that were installed twenty years ago, you will notice that grout gaps were wider. These days people tend to choose a larger tile on the floor to minimise grout gaps and have narrower spaces in between. For a rectified tile (one with squared edges) it is common to see group gaps as small as 1.5mm.
Working with natural stone can also result in extra maintenance over time. They may require a sealant to be applied to keep then from getting stained or in the case of slate enhance colour and shine. But most ‘stone’ tiles on the market these days are actually composites (made from ground up stone) which are thankfully maintenance free.
What kind of sheen?
Tiles on both walls and floors can come in the highest of glosses or can be matte and even textured. Some are a mixture of both, believe it or not. Again, this is a matter of personal preference. Something to keep in mind is that tiles that are high gloss reflect light which will show up more dirt. A tile with a matte finish and earthy tones will look cleaner for longer.
Now that you have taken the time to think about which tiles to buy…
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