Tiles

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are common wall tiles; however, they differ significantly in terms of their water absorption rate. The water absorption rate of ceramic tiles can vary between 0.5% and 6%, while porcelain tiles are less than 0.5%. As such, porcelain wall tiles are much better suited for wet areas such as bathrooms and particularly the shower than ceramic tiles.

If water absorption isn’t an issue and you’re looking for a tile to decorate your wall or splashback, consider a feature tile or mosaic over a standard wall tile. Both come in an assortment of shapes, styles, and designs to complement all design styles and colour palettes.

Ross’s Discount Home Centre has a wide range of wall tiles, ceramic, porcelain, feature and mosaic, to meet all your requirements. You may view our wide range here.

The hardest tile flooring is porcelain, making them a flexible, all-round tile – suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Porcelain tiles are made from white clay, sand and feldspar, and are much harder than ceramic tiles, which are made from coarse red, brown or white clay.

If you compare them by hardness ratings, porcelain tiles have a MOHS hardness rating between 7 and 9 and a PEI rating between 3 and 5. On the other hand, ceramic tiles have a MOHS hardness rating of 6 or 6 and a PEI rating between 3 and 4.

Ross’s Discount Home Centre has a wide range of porcelain tiles to meet all your requirements. You may view our range here.

You may use ceramic tiles outdoors, but they are not the best option. They are best suited for indoor use, which is where they are typically used. This is because they can have a high water absorption rate and are classed only as providing “good” water resistance. They are also relatively soft compared to porcelain and will likely chip and crack with outdoor use. They have a MOHS hardness rating of 6 or 6 and a PEI rating between 3 and 4.

Porcelain tiles are the preferred option for use outdoors. Unlike ceramic tiles, they have a very low water absorption rating of 0.5% and are classed as providing “excellent” water resistance. They are also much harder than ceramic tiles. They have a MOHS hardness rating between 7 and 9 and a PEI rating between 3 and 5.

Ross’s Discount Home Centre has a wide range of porcelain floor tiles to meet all your requirements. You may view our range here.

Porcelain tiles are best used as an indoor floor tile, although they can be used for other applications. They are commonly used as flooring in high-traffic floor areas such as kitchen floors and hallways, and due to their water-resistant properties, they are also great in bathrooms; on both walls and floors.

When used in outdoor applications, thicker, 18mm+ porcelain tiles are recommended. Such tiles better withstand heavy furniture and harsh weather conditions. Unglazed porcelain tiles will need to be sealed if used outdoors.

Read our guide to choosing Porcelain Tiles for further information regarding Porcelain Tiles.

Ross’s Discount Home Centre has a wide range of porcelain tiles to meet all your requirements. You may view our range here.

Ceramic tiles are a great all-round tile. They have a hard protective layer, which makes them water-resistant and resistant to most stains.

They can be used both indoors and outdoors, as a floor tile or wall tile. They can also be used in wet areas such as bathrooms and showers.

Porcelain tiles may chip, but not as easily as ceramic tiles. They are baked at a much greater temperature than ceramic tiles, which makes them exceptionally durable and resistant to chipping and scratching.

Porcelain tiles won’t naturally chip unless they are subject to a force, such as something heavy being dropped onto them.

Porcelain tiles are the best flooring tile.

They are heavier and less porous than ceramic tiles and are, therefore, more durable. Their high density makes them more water-resistant, scratch-resistant and chip-resistant than ceramic tiles. As such, they offer better longevity. Because of these properties, they are the recommended choice for high-traffic areas such as kitchen floors and hallways.

Mosaic tiles are very small tiles, typically less than 100mm square and are most commonly known as splashback tiles due to their popularity as a finish for kitchen and bathroom splashbacks. They are available in many different materials including porcelain, ceramic, glass, natural stone and others. They also come in various finishes.

Commonly sold pre-mounted on mesh or paper sheets around 300x300mm in size, these sheets can be cut down to generate a pattern when mixed with other tiles. For example a 300x300mm sheet of 50x50mm mosaics could but cut down into narrower strips and joined together end to end to create a feature in a shower wall.

Key benefits of mosaic tiles include:

• Mosaics are used generally as feature tiles to enhance a room.
• They can be used as splashback tiles in kitchens and bathrooms.
• They are bright and can add character without being over-powering.
• They can be a bold and dynamic statement reflecting the home owner’s personality.

It’s advisable to add 10% to the total number of tiles when planning for straight tiling. For diamond pattern, 600mm x 600mm or larger tiles, it’s recommended to add 15%. We also recommend purchasing an extra box or two before the project starts. It can be difficult to match the same tile or batch if you’re going to request it years after the job is complete. This will make the process of replacing tiles a lot easier in the future.

For a basic square or rectangular room, you need to measure the length and the width in metres. Then, get the total square meters by multiplying the length by the width. To subtract areas that you don`t want to tile, use the same method to calculate the area and then subtract it from the total area.