Ceramic tiles remain a popular wall covering for both bathrooms and kitchens as they are easy to clean and available in a wide range of decorative designs. A huge variety of tiles are available, varying in size, colour/pattern and quality. Remember that there is a slight difference in colour between tiles and it is always a good idea to buy boxes of tiles with the same batch number. Before you start tiling, open up all the boxes and mix up the tiles, this will disguise any small difference in colour that may exist.
Ceramic tiles are usually square or rectangular in shape - although there are exceptions - and available in sizes ranging from 100mm x 100mm (4in x 4in) to 330mm x 445mm (13in x 17 ½ in). As well as choosing the colour and pattern of the tile you want, it is also important to choose a tile size that will best fit the wall space. Planning the correct tile size for the space you want to cover will save cutting time and material wastage.
To calculate the number of tiles you will need you have to calculate the surface area of the wall or walls that you are tiling.
Tiles from other countries are usually thicker and tougher than ceramic tiles originating from this country. It is advisable to test each different type of tile to see whether you can cut and shape them before you buy in large quantities.
These tiles are designed for things like towel rails, soap dishes and toilet-roll holders. Insert tiles are generally heavier than ordinary tiles but are still fixed to the wall using standard tile adhesive. If planning to include an insert tile or tiles in your design, remember to check that there is an insert tile of the same colour/style to the standard wall tiles you are using.
Border tiles and ceramic trim can be used as a decorative finish along an edge of a tiled wall. They are often used as a trim on half-tiled walls to give the top edge an attractive finish. The border tiles can be matching or contrasting in colour and design. Border and trim tiles are manufactured to the same width as the wall tiles, so that the vertical joints between the border tiles will align with the vertical joints between the wall tiles.
Other materials can be used as trim with ceramic tiles. These can be metal, plastic or even wood.