Tiles

Tiles are popular alternatives to carpets, laminate and vinyl flooring in addition to wallpaper, paint and splashbacks. Indeed, tiles can be fitted to both the walls and floors throughout the home, although they are most commonly installed in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, hallways and conservatories. Comprising many different natural and synthetic materials, including granite, limestone, marble, slate, porcelain, ceramic, travertine and glass, tiles are generally considered to be clean and easy to maintain options that also look aesthetically pleasing. In fact, the visual appeal of tiles – especially those made from natural rock materials – is one of the primary reasons why people choose them over other substitute products.

Tiles are available in just about every size, shape, style and colour imaginable, although the appearance of natural materials such as granite, marble, limestone and slate are limited to a certain extent. In fact, these tiles are cut directly out of the naturally forming rocks, so colours, styles and patterns will be ultimately determined by the original material and the way in which the rock was cut. Although limestone, marble, granite and slate are undoubtedly beautiful when cut into tiles for use on walls and floors, a common misconception held by customers is that such tiles will feature a uniform pattern. Of course, patterns and colours occur naturally in rocks and do not conform to any particular symmetry, so a tile installation of this kind will not usually be able to achieve the same flow of design that, say, ceramic tiles might. Nevertheless, rock tiles do comprise a natural balance and beauty that cannot be matched by lesser materials.

Another mistake commonly made by those buying tiles for their home is that the wrong materials or types of tile are chosen for certain jobs. Bathrooms and wet rooms, for instance, require tiles that comprise low porosity materials. Indeed, there is obviously no sense in fitting a room that is regularly exposed to large amounts of moisture with tiles that absorb water, as this would have a damaging effect both on the tiles and the wall underneath. Furthermore, it is crucial that bathroom tiles are properly sealed because even relatively low porous materials such as marble (which is actually more porous than limestone or granite) will draw in moisture. Unfortunately, walls that are frequently exposed to moisture will invariably suffer rot, mildew and mould, which can be extremely damaging in terms of damage to the tiles and wall itself. Moreover, if mould spores are present in the steamy air of a bathroom or wet room there is a risk that humans will be exposed to them, which can pose serious health problems.

The right material of tile must also be chosen for bathroom and wet room floors, as these will very often become wet and slippery. Indeed, glossy or glazed floors tiles must be avoided for use on such floor surfaces, whilst it is also sensible to purchase tiles that offer some physical purchase or grip. Typically speaking, granite, slate and limestone floors are among the finest in this respect – in fact, these materials also feature low porosity so they are excellent at maintaining a dry and healthy subfloor too. Tiles made from ceramic, glass and porcelain can be used on bathroom floors, but it is essential that the tiles are inspected before purchase to ensure that they will not pose a slip hazard.

One of the main problems faced by customers who buy tiles for floors and walls is that they fail to appreciate how many different styles there are available. Mosaic patterns are among the most intricate and are typically used on bathroom walls, whilst some tiles are of an uneven size or shape. Likewise, many natural stone tiles will be purchased in a variety of sizes, so installing them can be quite tricky. Indeed, of all the problems that customers face when buying tiles for their home, fitting them has to be one of the most critical, which is why it is advisable to enlist the help of a professional tiler or tradesman.

However, many people will choose to get the job done themselves and it is fair to say that, whilst most tiling work is relatively straightforward, there are many instances in which things can and do go wrong. If a customer does choose to fit tiles themselves, it is first necessary to stress that tiles can be lost, scratched or broken before the job is complete, so never buy the exact quantity of tiles required – always add 10% to what is necessary. The next step in ensuring that a home tile installation goes to plan is to gather together all requisite items of equipment before embarking on the project. In this respect, a tape measure, pencil, spirit level, tile cutter, wet saw, tile drill, grouting tools, adhesive, suction cups and a mallet are all essential pieces of kit.

After all the necessary equipment has been compiled, it is crucial that the tiles are not secured into place without first conducting a dry run. A dry run simply refers to the process of arranging tiles into place along one row and one column along the outer edges of a floor. An equal margin must be left between the walls and the columns and rows, which must fit together to form a right angle. Then, a pencil outline can be drawn to mark the positions of all the tiles in the row and column, which can then be fixed permanently using adhesive. Although all the tiles can be laid out in a dry run, it is only necessary to outline the main area in which the tiles will be installed. For obvious reasons pertaining to gravity, undertaking a dry run on wall tile installations is not entirely feasible.

Finally, people who fit their own floor and wall tiles very often fail to perform one of the most basic and important steps: surface preparation. Indeed, in respect to floor tiles, the subfloor must be stripped down, made level and then thoroughly cleaned. Even minute particles of dust or dirt that are left behind on the subfloor can compromise the adhesive bond to the tiles. Furthermore, wall tiles, especially those in bathrooms and wet rooms, will often require the surface wall to be stripped, made even, cleaned and then lined with a PVC membrane and backing board, which helps to protect the wall from exposure to moisture. Tiles must also be effectively sealed.