Whether you're renovating a bathroom or fitting a new kitchen, tiles are a must-have. They breathe life into your room, transform it and set the pace for a refreshing interior the envy of all your friends. The humble tile does a lot for us and, fortunately, we are spoiled for choice. That’s why it's all the more important to do the prep work.

Below we’ll go through just what separates the Porcelain from the Marble, the Herringbone’s from the staggered squares and help you find the very best tile for your next project.

Once you’ve decided to take on a new project, big or small, it’s understandable that you’d want to get started quickly. But, especially when it comes to its kitchens and bathrooms, it’s best to take a take breath first and plan. Here are just some of the things you should consider before you start to shop.

Check Your Surface is Suitable for Tiling 

Whilst there are numerous adhesives for dozens of different materials there are still some surfaces that you just can’t tile. These included plywood, flexible surfaces and painted walls. You should make sure that the wall you want to tile up is suitable and that it can bear the added weight before you do anything else. 

Measure up Your Project

It is always easier to know what to buy when you know how much to buy. Having the length and width measurements of your surface to keep in the back of your mind when browsing will help you budget and, by extension, narrow down your search drastically.

Are you Tiling Corners?

To tile a corner, you are going to need a tile trim. As with the above, it is always best to keep a note of how many trims you are going to need so you can make sure to stay well within your budget.

Underfloor Heating

Are you tiling your floors? If so, regardless of whether it's a new build or renovation, you may want to consider introducing some underfloor heating. Not only can this save up space otherwise taken by a radiator, but it also distributes heat far more evenly and, often, far more efficiently as well.

Protect Yourself

Tiling may not seem like the most dangerous job around but make no mistake, some tiles can be as sharp as glass. If you don’t have some already, you’ll want to buy a nice pair of thick work gloves, eye protection and perhaps even some knee pads if the job is a big one.

Top Tip: When tiling bathrooms, always make sure to waterproof the area with suitable underlay boards or membranes.

Porcelain

Hardwearing and more heavy-duty than other types of tiles, porcelain naturally lends itself to kitchens and other busy rooms of your home – some can even be used outside. Of course, this increased durability comes hand in hand with an increased weight so you should prepare to handle excess loads when going down this route.

Ceramic

Likely the first port of call for any tiler ceramics are unquestionable the most popular choice around. This is for good reason: They’re cost-effective, easy to maintain, and don’t require any sealing but most of all they are available in enough styles, colours and sizes to suit virtually any project. However, ceramic can also be brittle so DIYers should take note to handle these stylish options with care.

Glass

Glass tiles offer something a bit different. Ideal for those looking to create designs that stand out amongst a crowd. Like ceramics, they are available in several different styles and shapes but come with the added benefit of reflecting light for an additional sense of depth.

The caveat, however, is that they are difficult to cut, often requiring a specialist. Although, you can quite easily get around this by opting for mosaic glass to accent other materials.

Marble

Another natural option like travertine, marble offers a great sense of luxury with a strong polished finish and stunning shine. It is material with a lot of history and makes for a great conversation starter in any room.

Just like travertine, however, all marble tiles are a little bit different and so are not recommended for those looking to take a more minimalist approach to interior design.

Travertine

These tiles make a style of out being asymmetrical. Like snowflakes, no two travertine tiles are the same making them perfect for those looking to achieve a more natural aesthetic.

They often come in one of two finishes: Tumbled, to double down on their rough style or polished to offer a slightly more contemporary look and feel. The one thing to remember with travertine, however, is that they are made from a natural stone and thus will need to be sealed before and after grouting.

It’s not just the material that you need to consider when you are looking to buy tiles. Often, the pattern you want to lay them in has just as much, if not more, of an impact on your decision. These patterns are just some of the most popular, with each requiring a different size and/or shape.

What Size Wall & Floor Tiles do I Need?

When it comes to the aesthetic of your bathroom or kitchen, the size of your wall tile or floor tiles can make quite a big difference. Not only in limiting your choice of patterns but also affecting how tall and wide your room feels. Ultimately, the decision is a personal one, with no set rules to say you have to do one thing or another. Though, a common consensus is that the size of your tiles should be in line with the size of your room. 

What Colour of Tile Should I Pick?

There is no shortage of styles to choose from when looking to tile your walls and floors. The trick is picking one that compliments the rest of your interior. When it comes to choosing a bathroom tile the best advice we can offer on this account, is to choose light colours. Beyond being virtually timeless in their popularity, whites and off-whites tend to make small rooms feel more spacious. 

For kitchen tiles on the other hand typically offer you a bit more room to play with. The larger the kitchen, the more this is true but be careful not to go too wild with it. Stick to mid-tones that match with the rest of your home. These also come with the added benefit of helping to obscure dirt and grime. 

Whatever colour scheme you decide, it is always best to remember the rule of three. That’s three colours of the same palette which complement each other so as not to detract from any other decorative elements. Contrasting your walls and floors using these palettes is always a great place to start if you are unsure, with dozens of colour palette generators available online to help you find inspiration.

How Many Tiles do I Need?

Remember when we said you’ll need to keep your measurements in the back of your mind. This is why. The only way to determine how many bathroom or kitchen tiles you’ll need is by taking the square footage of your walls (length x width) and dividing that by the square footage of a single one of your chosen tiles. Now, doing the maths yourself is one way to go about this but an even easier method is simply using a tile calculator online.

Do My Tiles Need to Be Sealed?

Alongside typical tile grout and adhesive, certain types of tiles will need to be sealed to prevent their surface from getting stained or damaged. This is especially important in and around wet areas like your kitchen and bathroom. It is natural stone products that typically require this treatment (such as travertine) as well as any other materials that have a porous surface. This means that most ceramics are safe to go without.

You can determine if your tiles need to be sealed easily enough from the specific tiles' brochures, though it can also be tested out with a dry wipe whiteboard pen. If a stain is left behind from a small marking with one of these then all the tiles will need to be sealed and then released every six months thereafter.

If Yes, Which Tile Sealer Should I Use?

There is no ‘one solution fits all’ sealer. However, there are more than enough options out there for you to pick from. When it comes to finding the best one for your tiles just remember to keep the material in mind and choose one that suits that material.

Tile trims are designed to help you achieve the perfect finish around corners, preventing any exposed sharp tile edges. These are virtually essential for big renovations, and a key element in ensuring a professional-looking finish. Just like tiles, trims are available in differing materials and depths but are much easier to pick out once you’ve got your mind set on your tiles. Simply match the material and colour to suit your intended design. 

The same is true for the depth of your trim, it just needs to match the thickness of your tiles. Remember, however, to take into account not just the thickness of the tile but also the thickness of the adhesive. A safe bet would be to add roughly 2.5mm. So, for a 10mm thick tile you should aim for a trim with a depth of around 12.5mm.

Best is really a subjective term here, though most quality products will be marked in accordance with European Standards 12004, with differences between normal and improved adhesive indicated by a 1 or 2, respectively. These codes also include letters to determine their mixture e.g. C for cement based as well as for different features such as a fast-setting adhesive (F) or adhesive with reduced slip (T). 

Grout is classified in a similar fashion, with codes such as CG1 and CG2 an indicator for normal and improved performance. You may also note that some are specifically designed to be more water resistant than others (important when tiling a bathroom) or even more flexible (a key feature you’ll want if you’re planning to use underfloor heating). Aside from this, you’ll want to make sure that the colour either matches your tiles or contrasts with them in a design you’ve planned out beforehand.

Pick the Right Kit

Just like you should get all your safety gear before you start your project proper, it is best to make sure you have all the tools and equipment you’ll need ready to go. This will include trowels, spacers, smoothers, sponges, spreaders, scribes and finishers. Not to mention the most important bit of kit of all – tile cutters. You’ll need to be sure you get the right kind of cutter for your tiles, whether that be nippers for more precise work on ceramics or a full electric cutter for thicker tiles.

The 10% Rule

A simple tip, but one integral to a successful tiling project, the 10% rule advises you to buy 10% more tiles than you actually need. This will account for any breakages, either during transport or cutting. Depending on the complexity of your pattern, you may even want to increase this to 15% or even 20%.

Dry Lay Your Tiles

Another classic bit of advice, you should never count your tiles before they hatch. By which we mean you should always make sure that your design and pattern are feasible and that all your tiles have been cut to the correct shape and size before beginning. This can be done with a simple dry lay to make sure everything fits and looks just the way you want it.

Using Grout

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when using grout, the first of which is to always wear latex gloves. You’ll want to wait around 24 hours for your adhesive to dry before you apply your grout and then clean it off quickly when you’re done to avoid it staining the tiles. Finally, be sure to clean out whatever container held your grout outside with a hose rather than in the sink less you risk staining it also.

Silicone Corner Joints

You may find that in certain situations an added layer of silicone around your corner joints or where your tiles meet skirting is ideal. It will allow for movement, contraction and expansion caused by changing temperatures and reduce the risk of damage to your tiles.

Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our wide range of product and project guides - covering an array of subjects from garden renovations to painting and decorating, installing stunning lighting set-ups to building out a kitchen or bathroom from scratch and much, much more. Take the leap today and start your DIY journey right here. For direct help and advice, you can also contact our award-winning customer service team.