Top Tips

Glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are made in a similar way. Clay, sand and other ingredients are mixed together, pressed into tile shapes and fired in a kiln at very high temperatures to produce a base tile or ‘biscuit’. A layer of glaze is then applied to the surface to give the tile its colour or pattern. The main difference between glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles is the ingredients which make up the tile. The ingredients of porcelain tiles make them more dense and less porous than ceramic tiles, and they are therefore more hard wearing and suitable for both floors and walls. Due to their low water absorption, some porcelain tiles are also suitable for outdoor use, whereas ceramic tiles are suitable for indoors only. Through bodied porcelain tiles are made using a similar method but instead of having a glaze applied to the surface of the tile, the colour or pattern forms part of the body of the tile due to the mixture of ingredients. This makes them even more hard wearing than glazed tiles as there is no glaze to wear away, and in the unlikely event that a tile does become chipped, the visible tile underneath will be the same colour as the surface so it won’t be as noticeable. Through bodied porcelain tiles can be left matte or polished to give a very shiny surface.

Nothing can beat the beauty of natural stone. Formed over thousands, or even millions, of years underground, each piece is completely unique with its own individual shading and patterns. With a little care taken during installation and maintenance, natural stone is incredibly hard wearing and will retain its beauty for many years. It is a real investment in your home. Porcelain and ceramic stone effect tiles are widely available and with advances in inkjet printing technology they are now more realistic than ever before. They are also generally cheaper than natural stone tiles and are easy to install and maintain as they are thinner and don’t require sealing. However they can never truly replicate the individual shading, pattern and texture variations of natural stone, so the decision really depends on whether you prefer the natural, unique look and longevity of the real thing or the more uniform look and convenience of the reproductions.

No, this depends on personal preference. Traditionally people tended to use smaller format tiles on kitchen walls than they would in bathrooms, but nowadays the use of small format ceramic tiles to give a vintage look on bathroom walls is incredibly popular. Larger tiles can actually make a small room appear bigger by reducing the number of grout lines. If you’re tiling an awkward space with lots of cuts, you may find smaller tiles easier to work with, or better still mosaics are ideal for awkward spaces as the mesh backing is easy to cut with a knife or scissors.

Some ceramic tiles are only suitable for use on walls as they are not strong enough to withstand floor use. Tiles that are suitable for use on the floor can also be used on walls to give a fully co-ordinated look. Some ranges feature a ceramic wall tile with co-ordinating porcelain floor tile. Aesthetically, the decision on whether to use the same tiles all over depends on your personal taste. Using matching tiles throughout a room can make the space appear bigger, especially if you use gloss tiles which will bounce light around the room. Matching wall and floor tiles also help to give a tranquil, spa-like feel. Using different tiles throughout the room can look more contemporary and add interest. For example you could combine concrete effect, wood effect and ceramic tiles to give an on-trend industrial look. Using different shades of the same tile is a subtle way to add contrast, and you may choose to use different tiles to zone specific areas of a room – for example using mosaics inside a shower cubicle or to create a feature wall behind a bath. Why not browse our Get The Look roomsets for ideas.

No, almost any tile can be used in any room. Although the design of a tile might be more suited to a particular room, there’s no reason why you can’t use it wherever you like. There are some limitations on using certain tiles in very wet areas – look for the symbols in our product specifications for full details. Tiles aren’t just limited to kitchens and bathrooms either; why not create a tiled feature wall in your living room or make your hallway or conservatory floor hard wearing and easy to keep clean.

Mosaics are the perfect way to dress up any room without breaking the bank. Just a few sheets can transform a room as they’re simple to cut into strips to create borders or feature panels. Using structured tiles alongside smooth is also a good way of adding design interest, as is using more than one colour or shade of the same tile. Have a look through our Get The Look roomsets for inspiration.

Simply measure the height and width of each area you wish to tile and multiply them together (e.g. height 1.2m x width 2.5m = 3m2), then make a note of them. If your wall or floor is an awkward shape, split it into two or more rectangles and measure each section separately before adding them together. Once you have your measurements, use our handy Tile Calculator to work out how many tiles you need, or divide the total area you wish to tile by the number of tiles per metre of your chosen style, which you will find on our product pages. Your local stockist will also be able to help you work out how many tiles to order. We recommend you add an extra 10% to your order to allow for any cuts or wastage. As shades may vary slightly between batches, it’s important to order all the tiles you need at the same time so it’s better to order slightly too many than not enough.

This depends on the type of tile – have a look at the product specification on our product pages for details of each tile. Glazed porcelain or ceramic tiles don’t require sealing as the glaze acts as a barrier. Natural stone tiles or through-bodied porcelain tiles may be porous so sealing is recommended before and after fixing to prevent staining during the installation process and from general day to day usage. Mosaics containing natural stone pieces should also be sealed for protection. We recommend resealing tiles at least every 12 months to retain the protection. Always use a sealer that is suitable for the tile material – your local stockist will be able to guide you or contact us for more information.

This depends on the size of the room and the type of tile you are using. For instance, basic ceramic tiles are quicker to install than natural stone tiles as they don’t need sealing and are thinner and easier to cut. You should always allow at least 48 hours for any tiling project and generally more, as the adhesive needs to be fully dry before you can begin grouting otherwise the finish and quality will be compromised.

We recommend that you mix tiles from different boxes as you’re tiling and ensure you’re happy with the blend of different patterns and shades BEFORE you fix the tiles to the wall or floor.

It is a good idea to purchase all your tiles in one go from the same batch as slight variations in size and shading may occur between different batches of tiles. If you need to order more the retailer might not be able to guarantee to have the same batch available. Always retain some of the original packaging so you can check the batch numbers.

Glazed porcelain, ceramic or glass tiles and mosaics can be cleaned using mild household cleaners, taking care not to scratch the surface. Do not use harsh chemicals, such as those designed to remove limescale, or abrasive cleaners which may damage the surface of the tile. Natural stone or porcelain tiles should be cleaned using a sealer which is suitable for the material to avoid damaging the surface or removing the protective coating of the sealer. Your local stockist will be able to advise you regarding the best products to use.

We recommend resealing natural stone or through bodied porcelain tiles at least every 12 months to retain the protection, though this is a straightforward process that shouldn’t take too much time. Always use a sealer that is suitable for the tile material – your local stockist will be able to guide you or contact us for more information.

We do not recommend the use of steam cleaners on any type of tiles but especially not natural stone or porcelain tiles which have been sealed.