The basics. Tiles.

This is the first in our new series, titled ‘The basics’. Giving you a quick top line summary of the key things you’ll need to consider when selecting your hard materials, fixtures and finishes.

As a material that is used in every home, chances are, whether you’re renovating or building, you’ll need to make a tile selection. The first thing you’ll notice is that there are generally three types of tiles - natural, porcelain and ceramic.

A natural stone tile is the most challenging and typically a pricier option. This is due to the porous nature of the material which means that a sealant must be applied before they are installed, and usually reapplied every year. Sealing stone will ensure the tiles continue looking beautiful, avoid damage such as staining, and allow easier maintenance and cleaning.

The key difference between porcelain and ceramic is that porcelain is harder and more durable. Porcelain tiles are perfect for flooring. I would generally never specify ceramic tiles for the floor – they are more prone to cracking (even simply dropping a hairdryer can do it), so it’s not a great long-term option.

For walls, all three materials are suitable. Most popular feature tiles such as a subway or kit-kat (finger) tile are ceramic. There are also many mosaics available which are sheeted, either ceramic or natural stone. There are a few limitations with ceramic tiles in terms of edging which a good tile shop will be able to help you navigate.

Next, let’s consider the finish of the tile. There are 4 basic types – gloss, semi-gloss, satin or matte. For a wall application, these options are purely aesthetic and really depend on the final look you’re trying to achieve. Matte can be a little more difficult to maintain but in my opinion nothing to get hung up about.

For flooring, we take direction from the Australian standard which recommends a P2-P3 slip rating for indoor and P4-P5 for outdoor. The higher the slip rating, the more suitable it is for wet areas meaning it’s not as slippery and a safer option for your home. Higher rating tiles will generally have a surface texture which means better friction and less chance of slipping.

Our final consideration (at least for now) is the size of the tile. You can get almost anything these days. A standard tile size is generally between 200mm and 600mm. Anything smaller is usually sheeted, but if not, as they take longer to lay they will cost you more. Many of my clients are also opting for larger tiles (upto 1200mm) to cut down on grout lines. But, you do need to be mindful that a larger tile will come with larger laying costs as a tiler may require specialist tools, and likely more than one person to handle the material.

Don’t forget to consider floor wastes. There are Australian standards to be met here too. With smaller tiles it will be easier for the tiler to achieve the minimum fall. A linear grate is likely the only option for the larger tile sizes.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this first in our ‘The basics’ series. Send me a message if you have any questions. Or, if you require help with your project, please reach out - our hard finishes specification service can guide you through this selection process.

Image @pinterest. All credit to rightful owner.