Allow time to choose. You don’t want to be forced into making a hasty decision. You will live with your choice of tiles for years, as they’re a long-term investment so take time to get it right.
Create a mood board. This does not have to be anything fancy, just a few pictures torn out of magazines or an online board like Pinterest.
Allow space in your budget to purchase samples. When choosing tiles for your home, source many samples. Samples of floor tiles should be laid down and wall tiles positioned vertically. Walk around them in all lights: daylight, artificial light, sunlight, and on a dull day. As you revisit the samples you can remove the ones that don’t work in your space. Keep removing them until you are left with your final selection. I promise you, it’s worth the effort.
Build a relationship with your designer. Talk to them so they understand the look you’re after. Take magazine cuttings with you or show them photos on your phone of the look you like. If you aren’t sure discuss it with them. A good designer will know their tiles and will know what’s available out in the marketplace. They can source samples that are not regular stock items to help you find the right tile.
If you’re dealing with large quantities discounts may be negotiated, if there are multiple room, multiple projects, The Galleria of Tile is happy to work with you on pricing.
If you have in floor heat, then tile is a great choice as they are a fabulous conductor of heat.
Tiles should meet recognized ISO standards to ensure they have the correct qualities for their use, this includes testing for thermal shock. Important when choosing a tile to be used externally, we can advise you of this during your showroom visit.
Consider what the body of the tile is made of. I’ve used porcelain, as it is a high-fired ceramic that makes for a tough tile to withstand changes of temperature and hard wear.
Slip resistance – if you are using tiles in bathrooms, wet rooms or externally around a pool area, then you must get to know ‘R’ ratings. Suitable tiles will be given an ‘R’ rating ranging from R9 to R13.
Some tile materials may require specialist sealing or cleaning products. It will depend on the body type of your tile and its intended use.
Match your grout carefully as there is now a wide color selection available. It can ruin the entire look if you don’t. For example, when choosing a wood effect tile we prefer to match the grout so it blends as one making the tiles look longer and more like a plank of wood. If you wanted the ‘on trend’ industrial look on walls you would probably choose a brick-sized tile and pick out the grout in a darker color.
Consider using profiles vs bullnose for a more modern, clean look.
Think about this size of your tiles as a larger tile used in a small room makes it look bigger. Fewer grout lines gives a more streamlined look.
We hope you have found this advice helpful, to see more of our work on our Gallery page, Facebook and on Instagram.