Ceramic tiles are one of the most practical building materials ever made. They have proven their durability and flexibility over thousands of years.
Floors tiled in ancient Rome are still in use today. The Romans were prolific users of ceramics to tile walls, floors and to create magnificent decorative effects in their palaces and public areas.
However, today there are so many tiles for so many purposes that it is important that you choose the right ones for your project.
We can use tiles today in every area of our homes. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundries are no longer the sole area of attention. Bedrooms, patios, balconies, swimming pools, garages, and passage ways all benefit from being tiled rather than using alternative coverings.
Investment
Beware
Always make sure that the tiles you have selected are suitable for the area.
Guarantee
Consider the value of a guaranteed quality product.
Tilers Tilers should know their trade and nearly all of them do. They may not, however, be up with the latest technical developments so if what your tiler tells you contradicts what a tile merchant tells you, don't automatically believe one or the other - please seek a third opinion.
Skid Resistance Almost any flooring can become slippery when wet, and ceramic tiles are no exception. Surface dust can also contribute to this. Floor mats help in both circumstances.
Tiles with a skid resistant surface on a floor can reduce this tendency, but the advantages are offset by a rough surface being more difficult to clean.
How Much Should I Pay For My Tiles?
Sure there are bargains, and we would encourage you to consider them, but if there is only a relatively small difference in the final cost, it is worth paying that little bit more to get what you want.
Working out quantities Wall Tiles Draw out each wall on a piece of paper, not necessarily to scale, and take each square section as a separate area. Take the width measurement in millimetres and divide it by the width of the tile. If the room is 1950mm wide and the chosen tile is 152x152 then 1950 divided by 152 = 12.82 tiles.
The wall is 13 tiles wide.
Now decide how high you would like to tile. Best results always come from tiling floor to ceiling. For this exercise the basic tiling will be 1520mm high. The wall is 10 tiles high.
In a shower area we would need to tile higher. This goes up an extra 2 rows, to at least 1800mm. Th width is 900mm, so 900 divided by 152 = 5.92. This area is 6 tiles wide and 2 tiles high.
Summarising. The first part of the wall is 13 tiles wide by 10 tiles high = 130 tiles. The second part of the wall is 6 tiles wide by 2 tiles high = 12 tiles. Total for the wall is 142 tiles.
Repeat this exercise for each of the walls to be tiled in the room. Then add the totals to establish the total number of tiles needed.
To allow for a window, simply take out the number of tiles required to cover the window area. Don't forget to allow extra tiles for any window sills, the return side of any windows and of course, extras for breakages and spares.
Floor tile quantities
For floor tiles the process is the same. Assume we are tiling a passage way with 250mm x 250mm tiles. If the length of the passage is 6000mm which works out to 24 tiles and the width is 900mm which is 4 tiles (actually 3.6 but 4 tiles across will be needed). The total number of tiles needed will be 24x4 tiles = 96 tiles. If we worked out a square area of 6.0 x .9 = 5.4sqm this would be 86 tiles. That would be quite wrong! (There are 16 250x250 tiles in a square metre).
We are only too pleased to work out the quantities for you. Just draw the measurements on some paper for us.
Extras Don't forget that you may also need a brass angle strip to put along the edge of any finished tiling where it butts up against another type of flooring.
On steps you may need an edging of step treads.
We always allow an extra 10% for cuts, breakages and spares.
It pays to keep spares.
Always make sure that the tiles selected are suitable for the area to be tiled. Expansion
Joints Floors and walls of all buildings are subject to some movement. Always contact your local Beaumont Tiles store for advice on expansion joints, their positioning and placement.
Tiles are surprisingly easy to lay in standard applications. For difficult jobs you will need a professional Always use quality adhesives and beware of low priced offers from unknown suppliers. Remember to always use primer over any surface when instructed on the package directions.
Ceramic tiles can be laid over virtually any level, firm, rigid surface. Even surfaces like metal, old tiles and timber can be tiled over using the correct adhesive. If you are not sure, ask a consultant. We do not recommend tiling over fibreglass resin.
Pre-painted surfaces can be tiled. Remove any loose or flaking paint. Do not use paint stripper as the residue may act as a releasing agent.
Oil based paint must be sound. Roughen the surface and allow to dry after cleaning.
When laying a mortar bed over suspended floors it is a good idea to incorporate an expanded galvanised mesh (chicken wire) in the mortar. This helps to prevent cracking appearing in this base.
In the "wet" areas it is necessary to grade the floor to the waste outlets. The simplest method is to lay a mortar bed and build your gradient or fall into this topping. When this has cured, apply your waterproofing membrane, then tile over the membrane. For this waterproofing, we always recommend using Beaumont's Barrierflex. By using a mortar bed, there is plenty of time to screed off a smooth, even fall to these waste outlets.Never tile over a wallpapered wall.
