6 Most Common Mistakes When Buying Tiles

The choice of tiles is a serious process, because the final result in many ways depends on it. Keep in mind that tiles aren’t meant just for decoration of the space, they also must coincide with the operational characteristics of the room. In this article, we will cover the most common mistakes that can be made when choosing tiles.

1. BUYING CERAMIC TILES FOR FLOOR COVERING

When choosing tiles, first you need to understand where you are going to lay it: on the floors or walls. Depending on this, you need to make a choice between porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles. Please note that porcelain stoneware can be laid on the floor and on the walls, while the more fragile ceramic tiles are recommended to be laid only on the walls.

2. NOT CONSIDERING THE OPERATIONAL FEATURES OF THE ROOM

Which tiles to choose for the bathroom? Which tiles will work for your porch?

What kind of tiles to buy for a restaurant kitchen? Depending on the type of room, you need to choose tiles with certain characteristics. We cannot stress enough how important it is to take into account tiles technical characteristics. This guarantees the strength, durability and safety of the operation.

The main parameters you should pay attention to are anti-skid rating, resistance to deep abrasion and temperature extremes, and resistance to chemicals. The showroom manager can give you more information on that matter.

So make sure to check whether the tiles you have chosen are suitable for finishing a particular room before purchasing.

3. NOT CONSIDERING THE ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TILES

We are often asked the question “Why is the size different from the stated one? I ordered a 60×60 tile, opened the box, and it is 59.6×59.6”. Many people don’t know that tiles have a nominal and an actual size. The nominal size is the one that the tile is indicated by (for example, 60×60 cm).

That is what you will see on the packaging as an item name. But the actual size (caliber) is an accurate measurement of what you get (for example, 596×596 mm) and it is indicated on boxes and in the general catalogs of tile manufacturing companies. Please note that it is the actual size that must be considered when calculating tile to grout joints ratio.

4.SELECTING AN UNSUITABLE FINISH TYPE

Can glossy Lux tiles be used in the bathroom? Is porcelain stoneware with grip finish suitable for a kitchen backsplash? There are many types of finishes: matt, honed, lux, honed satin, grip, structured, polished. The right choice will not just provide the beautiful result, but will ensure the required level of safety in the room.

Choose a suitable finish according to the operating conditions. For example, entrances and floors in showers and bathrooms are high-risk areas. Therefore, when choosing tiles for such rooms, give preference to non-slip surfaces (pay attention to the anti-skid rating).

But when it comes to a kitchen backsplash, choose any finish but a structured one or a grip, since it will be much more difficult to clean dirt from a porous surface.

5. PURCHASING MATERIALS IN SHORT SUPPLY AND FROM DIFFERENT BATCHES

During the production process, the tiles acquire an individual actual size and shade. Therefore, at the end of the technological cycle, porcelain stoneware is sorted by tone and caliber.

When you buy tiles, make sure that they all have the same tone and caliber. The tone of tiles from different batches may slightly alter, which may lead to non-aesthetically pleasing results after laying. In addition, many troubles can occur during construction work: tiles can peel off, fall and break. Therefore, always purchase an extra pack to avoid problems with finding the missing material from the same batch and in the same tone. You will find this information on the packaging and shipping documents.

6. BUYING WITHOUT A PROJECT DESIGN

Remember, if you want the renovation to meet your expectations, you must clearly understand from the very beginning what kind of interior you’re striving for. Check out websites for design ideas, go through magazines, or go ahead and visit specialized showrooms to understand how the chosen tiles will look in real setting when combined with other interior items.

ITALON monobrand showrooms are the best and the most convenient outlets where you can go to get inspiration and buy tiles.These are unique retail spaces designed in accordance with the ITALON EXPERIENCE concept, where ready-made interior solutions will help you get the feel of each collection. Here you can see porcelain stoneware live and choose tiles to create a stylish interior. Professional salon managers are there to help you.

Read more about ITALON mono brand showrooms in the article “What is ITALON EXPERIENCE?“