CHECKLIST FOR YOUR TILE SELECTION
Constructing a house can be exciting initially, but most of the times it may end up getting confusing and exhausting. Even simple tasks may seem herculean in the absence of a planned approach towards house construction. Surprisingly, it can be easily avoided and in fact, be converted into a pleasurable experience if one plans well in advance. And when it comes to tiling, you can put your worries to rest- this blog is a basic checklist for the times when you go tile shopping.
Tiles have been a popular and a go-to material of choice when it comes to finishing of walls and floors. When you
enter a tile showroom, you may get overwhelmed with the huge variety of tiles on display. One tile grabs your
attention, another pulls your heart and a third one calls you! To add to it, you hear technical terms- ceramic,
vitrified, full body fired, porcelain, terracotta, skirting and so on. So, what do you need to know and note while
selecting tiles for your space?
1. KNOW THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILES
Tiles can be of many types based on their make and raw material, such as ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, porcelain tiles, and cement tiles and so on. Before you visit any showroom, do your homework. Have a clear idea about these products and whether they suit the space for which you intend to buy.
2. ASK- AND ASK FOR OPTIONS AND SUBSTITUTES
There is no hard-and- fast rule when it comes to applying tiles to any surface. Before you go purchasing tiles, consult someone who is familiar with the material. Ask them about their experiences when they went searching for their tiles and do listen to their experiences to utilize the same when needed. And when you select a tile, enquire about
its material, available size, thickness, durability and quality. If it does not suit your budget, enquire whether a
suitable substitute is available.
3. STEER CLEAR OF THE SPACER DILEMMA
Quite often, people finalize a tile simply by looking at a single piece/ slab of it. What they should be doing is,
visualizing their space adorning these tiles in some type of pattern. And while visualizing, they should also foresee spacers and fillers in between the tiles. Some tiles need to be fixed with spacer gaps, while some others can be fixed otherwise. Do check for grouting options as well.
4. BE PRECISE WITH YOUR DESCRIPTION
Tiles suitable for walls may chip when applied on floor. And certain floor tiles, being thicker, may not be ideal for
walls. Your bathroom walls need easy- maintenance and hygiene- friendly tiles, while your car porch may need some heavy-duty exterior pavement tiles. Exchange these with each other and you have a perfect recipe for disaster! Thus, be clear with your briefing to your salesperson so that you get the correct tile.
5. SHORTAGE-WASTAGE EQUILIBRIUM
Tiles are priced and packed in various units such as per piece or per square foot, for example. Suppose you need
twenty square feet of tiles and each tile is four square feet. Now, the manufacturer provides the said tile in per box
unit, as six tiles per box. Here, you will have to purchase twenty four square feet of tiles even if you need only
twenty, because of the commercial unit- per box. Also, various tile laying patterns have varying wastage
percentages, so total quantity may vary a bit depending on laying pattern.
With these pointers in mind, go ahead and have a great time shopping for tile