Tiling Tips for your Home Renovation in Sydney

23 Mar

When you’re putting your mood board together at the start of your home renovation one of the major design decisions that you need to get your head around is what tiles you will choose…

Tile choices contribute greatly to the overall feel and style of your home, and we want you to be completely confident in your choices for years to come! So, we sat down with experienced tiler, Paul Ofria from local family business, ABC Rosebery Tiles.

ABC Rosebery Tiles, 431 Gardeners Road, Rosebery NSW 2018

Trying to work how many tiles you need to order?

Firstly, it’s important to note that each batch of tile is different, so you want to avoid making the mistake of under-ordering and needing to go back to grab more boxes of the same tile, because these may not be exactly the same colour as the first batch you already have.

To calculate your floor area; measure length x width.

To calculate your wall area; start by adding all of the lengths of the walls together and then times this number by the height of the room.

If you have chosen a larger tile, then you do not need to deduct for windows or doors in the room. However, if you have chosen a smaller sized wall tile then you should deduct the door in the room to avoid over-ordering.

Rule of thumb is that you should always add extra to your order. When working out how much extra to order, consider:

The size of the particular tile you have chosen,
Wastage, which is the part of the tile that is cut to fit the wall and is then not usable. For example, you will still need to order three full tiles, but when your tiler lays them, he may need to cut part of the third tile to get it to fit on the wall - the part that is cut is the “wastage”. When you are placing your order, you therefore will need to calculate how many “full” tiles you will need to go up the height of the wall.

Steps involved in getting your bathroom ready for your tiler:

The space should be stripped of the original tiles, cleaned well and waterproofed. Then your floor is ready for your tiler to screed, which is when the tiler puts the sand and cement bed with falls to the floor waste. Correcting the level of the floor is essential so that the water goes to the floor waste, instead of the lowest point in the room, which could be towards your doorway (yikes!). The floor is then waterproofed again, and your gorgeous tiles are laid.

Pros and Cons between Porcelain vs. Ceramic tiles?

Porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature, so they are more durable than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are a lot stronger and less likely to chip or break if you drop something on them, so it really is not worth putting anything else on the floor. These days ceramic tiles are mostly used for walls.

What direction to lay my Subway Tile?

There are a variety of ways to lay subway tiles, here is a guide to some directions to consider for your space:

Image: Different tile directions to consider

Handmade subways tiles are trending. Also, Kit Kat mosaic tiles are a popular choice, being used to brighten up a room as a feature on the wall and a great choice for curved walls.

Timber- look Porcelain Tiles vs. Timber Floorboards?

Timber- look porcelain tiles are a lot stronger and durable compared to timber floorboards. Timber is more likely to get scratched (are you are high heel lover?) and need to be maintained/ polished over time from wear. Consider what is most practical for your home and the style you are after.

Which colour to choose?
Colour trends come and go, and tile choices are really up to each individual’s personal taste and style. It is best to ask yourself, “Will I like this particular tile for years to come?”

A grey colour palette is still the most popular choice, especially in the 600 x 600mm large tile size. Neutral tones and colours are less polarising, if you plan to sell your property in the future.

What to consider when choosing exterior tile for backyard renovation?

Consider colour and texture when deciding on your exterior tile. The tile you use in the exterior needs to have a rougher surface than a tile you would use inside. A R11 (slip rating) textured tile is popular at the moment.