You can buy tiles near you from most DIY stores, such as Wickes and B&Q. Tiles can also be bought from kitchen and bathroom part suppliers, as well as specialist tile stores. Use Yell.com to search for tile suppliers near you to find the most suitable tile supplier for your requirements.
It is recommended you buy extra tiles to allow for breakages and any errors. Once you have calculated how many tiles you need – in square inches, multiply the length of the tile by the width to work out the area one tile will cover. When you have calculated the number of tiles you will need, it is advisable to round up to the next whole number and add at least 10% of extra tiles. If the area is particularly large, add 20% of extra tiles.
The cost to tile a floor depends upon a number of factors including the area to be tiled, the type, shape, quality and size of tile being used, the pattern on the tile, if any, and the experience of the tile fitter. For a room that is approximately 8 square metres, it should take a day to lay floor tiles and you should expect to pay from £450 to £750. Larger rooms or halls with a much bigger floor area will take longer and cost more. The average cost to tile a floor in London is more expensive from £600 to £900.
The best brand for tiles depends on a number of factors, such as whether the tiles are to be used on walls or floors, the room in which the tiles are to be used, and your budget. For floor tiles that are going to be in an area where there is going to be a lot of footfall, vitrified tiles are highly durable. For wall tiles, porcelain or ceramic tiles are popular as they do not absorb stains and are non-porous. Some of the best tile brands include Tileflair, Mosaicvillage, Marabese Ceramics and CTD Tiles.
After tiling a shower, you must wait at least 24 hours before you can use the shower. The reason is the tile adhesive and grout needs to thoroughly dry and form a proper seal. Some grouts require a longer period of time to dry, such as 3 days, whilst others dry in a much shorter time period, such as epoxy-based grouts.
Tile installation cost per square foot varies according to the tile fitter’s experience and the size of the area that is being tiled. Tile fitters cost jobs per square metre rather than square foot, and starts from around £25 per square metre, but this may be higher in areas such as London. Other factors that will impact the cost are uneven floors and walls, awkward spaces and challenging tile patterns. For some jobs, tile fitters may charge per day rather than per square metre. There are other materials to consider when calculating the cost which include removing old tiles, unless they have already been removed, preparing the surface to be tiled, tile spacers, tile adhesive and tile grout.
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