Choosing Tiles
-
Can I use the same tiles indoors and outdoors?
Simply put, yes, however there are some things to consider as you make your decision. Tiles being used outdoors must be very durable so as withstand external conditions, so you’ll need to check that is has a high rating for hardness and regarding porosity, it needs to have a low absorbency date. Terracotta, slate, porcelain and some natural stone tiles are good examples. Generally glossy tiles aren’t used outdoors as they will be very slippery when wet. Some tiles may require sealing in order to use outdoors. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact Page
-
What type of tile can I use in a wet area?
You can use most tiles in a wet area (bathroom, kitchen, laundry), and we suggest that you check the slip resistance rating, as it is very important to select a tile with a rating that is suitable for the space in which the tiles are being installed. Also keep in mind that most tiles may need to be sealed in a wet area. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
Can I use the same tiles on floors and walls?
A little bit like a paint that you would use to paint a house exterior (one which needs to be durable enough to withstand external conditions), tiles to be used on a floor need to be very durable, particularly in heavy traffic areas of your home. Often these are a thicker tile. A wall tile, in contrast, can be less durable so any tile may be used.
- How do I choose the right tile for me?
- Why should I choose tiles?
-
Can your tiles be used to mosaic?
They certainly can! We recommend our Spectrum range for your mosaic projects. The Spectrum range combines a wide range of colours with a flexibility of styles to allow for vibrant contrast and elegant highlighting.
-
What are the different styles and looks of tile available?
Lots of different factors will affect the “look” of your tiles. Here are some resources to get a better idea of how your tile will look.
-
How long will tiles last?
As long as you don’t chip at the tile with any heavy or sharp objects and with the proper care and maintenance, tile should last for the life of the home. Johnson Tiles products also come with a 10-year product guarantee giving you peace of mind when choosing Johnson Tiles Products.
-
Are tiles suitable for my fireplace?
Tiles are heat-resistant and can be used as fireplace surrounds, please refer to the product’s technical specifications before applying the tiles in a heated area. When using tiles in a high-temperature environment, ensure that your adhesive and binding materials are also heat resistant.
-
Will tile fade if exposed to direct sunlight?
While porcelain tiles have generally good resistance to sunlight, long-lasting exposure to UV light may cause fading after some time.
-
Can you use tiles outside?
Yes, tiles for outdoor areas have been specifically designed for that purpose. Their design features cover issues such as slip resistance, water absorption and changes in temperature. External tiles typically come in a rock, grit, matte, and even structured surface.
You can filter in our online store using an Outdoor filter.
Installing Tiles
-
When determining the number of tiles for a project, are any extra needed?
We do recommend that an amount of extra tiles are ordered in order to provide for wastage; this wastage may occur if the project requires many tiles to be cut, or could result from tiles being damaged in the laying process. Also, it’s worth having extra some tiles on hand should you need to replace at a later stage. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
What surfaces can be tiled over?
Most residential wall and floor surfaces can have tiles laid on them, even old tiled surfaces themselves (which is good way to make a decorative change in a renovation). Different surfaces may require different preparation and the use of a different adhesive. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
What adhesives are used in tiling projects?
The type of adhesive required for a tiling project depends on the surface that is being tiled, the chose tile type ie what they are made of, the size of the tiles and the area that is being tiled. Wet areas and outdoor areas will require purpose-fit adhesives. Similarly, grout choice is affected by these factors. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
What is “dry laying” and how does it help?
Tiles can be “dry laid” ie laid without any adhesive being used, so that you can see the layout visually and have the opportunity to change the layout before they are permanently adhered to the surface. It also allows any problems to be picked up and addressed before the final laying. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
How do I select which grout is right for me?
Darker Grouts are preferred for floor tiles in a high traffic area, as they will hide stains from accidents such as grease splatters. Lighter grout is generally preferred for wall areas, especially ones that are frequently cleaned and where lighter tiles are used. Consider the colour scheme of both the tile and the area in general. It is also important to take note of what edge your tile has. Pressed edge tiles will show more grout, which can be used as a design feature with contrasting colours. Rectified edge tiles will show less grout and have a more seamless look
-
What is the best pattern to lay my tiles in?
Tiles can be laid in many ways, the most common are stack bond or brick bond while the more intricate designs such as herringbone and point wheel can make your tiles a feature of the room, below are a few of the designs you can use.
- Basket weave: This pattern uses two rectangular tiles laid next to each other forming a square, the next pair or tiles are laid at a 90-degree angle to the first, this pattern continues to make a basket weave pattern.
- Brick bond: brick bond uses a square or rectangular tiles that are laid like bricks in a wall.
- Checkerboard: Tiles laid in a stack bond pattern with alternating black and white tiles.
- Cobblestone: This pattern uses rectangular tiles laid in a herringbone pattern using smaller tiles around the edges to make a more complex pattern overall.
- Herringbone: This pattern is made by laying rectangular tiles in a zig-zag pattern.
- Diamond: Diamond is similar to a stack bond pattern however the tiles are laid at a 45-degree angle to create diamonds instead of squares.
- Pinwheel: To create the effect of a pinwheel, this design uses 4 large tiles surrounding a smaller tile.
- Stack bond: The most common and simplest tiling pattern. The tiles are laid in straight lines, so the grout lines end up like a grid.
- English bond: English bond uses alternating rows or small rectangles and then large rectangles.
- Windmill: Windmill is laid very similarly to the pinwheel, however instead of 4 square tiles surrounding a small square tile we use four rectangle tiles surrounding a smaller tile.
-
How do I drill a hole through ceramic tile?
Use a carbon tipped masonry bit or diamond drill bit. Regular twist drill bits cannot cut through the fire hardened glaze.
-
What is the best way to cut a tile?
There are four effortless ways to cut ceramic or porcelain tiles
- Manual tile cutter: Best suited for making straight cuts in ceramic or porcelain tiles: not suited for diagonal cuts, very tiny cuts round cuts or larger formatted tiles as they will not fit inside the cutter.
- Tile nippers: Best suited for making unusual or rounded cuts in tiles. Not suited for a larger number of tiles.
- Diamond hole saw: Best suited for making round holes in tiles. It has no other use.
- Wet Saw: Best suited for large tile jobs where you need to make many cuts in tiles and diverse types of cuts in tiles. Not suited for making curved or rounded cuts.
-
What grout spacing do I need between tiles?
The recommended spacing for grout is a minimum of 1.5mm for rectified tiles and 3mm for pressed tiles.
You would not want to go wider than 5mm for your grout lines.
-
How long do I wait to install tile on a new concrete slab?
New concrete reaches full strength after 21 days, but it is recommended to wait the full curing period of 28 days before installing the tile.
-
Can I install tiles over existing ceramic tile?
As long as the existing tile is cleaned thoroughly, sound and the right adhesive is used this should be fine.
-
How much will it cost to lay my tiles?
Cost can vary between tilers. Different styles of laying will affect the cost; laying in a herringbone or French pattern will cost more than the standard Stack bond and Brick bond. The size and type of the tile will also affect the cost as well as the total area being tiled.
Johnson Tiles Help
-
What other types of tiles do you have?
We have a variety of different shape, patterned and structured tiles great for décor. As well as many glass and mosaic style tiles that make great features within your space. You can filter tiles by size and style when exploring our shop to find the right tile for your situation.
-
Are your tiles environmentally friendly?
You can find out more about our sustainability practices on the dedicated Sustainability section of our website.
-
Can you deliver to my project site?
Yes, we can organize delivery directly to your project site; order processing, order picking, delivery location and stock availability will be a factor in delivery times.
- Where can I find a Johnson Tiles Showroom?
Tile Basics
-
Do tiles need to be sealed?
Some types of tiles, such as natural stone or some porcelain varieties, may need sealing. Usually a glazed tile will not need sealing as the glaze itself will act as a seal. Johnson Tiles can happily assist you on your tiling journey. Please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
-
How do ceramic and porcelain tiles differ from one another?
Porcelain is crafted from the same material as ceramic, but porcelain is slightly more refined and fired at a much higher temperature, therefore making it harder, more durable, and less porous. Because of this, Porcelain tiles often suit better for floor tiles and work very well in commercial environments. Due to the higher density of the tile Porcelain tiles also have a much higher water resistance, making it more suitable for areas such as kitchen, bathroom, laundry etc.
-
Is there a difference between wall and floor tiles?
Yes, wall tiles are fired at a lower temperature and have higher water absorption properties on the tile body. Most wall tiles are lighter and have pressed edges. Wall tiles also often come in more gloss or satin finishes, to make them easier to clean. Floor tiles are denser, heavier to hold and have a stronger surface that can handle heavier traffic. Floor tiles more often come in Matte, Grit, Rock or Structured finishes, to make them more slip-resistant.
If you’re not sure what direction to go a good rule of thumb is “if its good for the floor, its good for the wall. But never use Wall tiles for floors”.
-
How do I work out how many tiles I need for my project?
Measure the length and width of the room or area to be tiled. Multiply the length and width measurements, which will give you the total square meterage of the walls and or floor areas. Remember to allow an extra 10% for cuts and wastage.
You can also use our Calculator to help you get the right amount of tiles.
-
Do you have slip resistant tiles?
Yes, slip resistance is a particularly important performance characteristic as it determines how safe it is to walk across a tiled area without slipping. Slip resistance is a particularly important consideration for areas susceptible to liquids such as water and oil, e.g. Bathroom, kitchen, swimming pool and industrial floors.
You can also filter our online store by certain slip ratings.
-
Does gloss level affect slip-resistance?
High-gloss products will be more slippery than low gloss products, if you are looking for a non-slip product our matte, grit, rock, and structured surfaces are recommended.
Tile Finishes
-
What is the difference between glazed and unglazed tiles?
Glazed tiles are tiles that have been fired with a protective layer of glass. They typically aren’t as thick and in turn less dense.
An unglazed tile is a tile without the protective layer of glass on top of it. This is usually done for surfaces that are required to be more slip-resistant, like floor tiles.
- What are the different tile finishes available?
Tile Types
-
What is a ceramic tile?
Ceramic Tiles are flat slabs made from a mixture of clay, sand and other natural substances that are processed and moulded into shape through high-pressure extrusion or pressing, and then fired at extremely high temperatures on a kiln. Ceramic tiles are much more affordable, easier to cut and generally suit wall applications really well.
-
What is a pressed edge tile?
A pressed edge is sometimes referred to as a cushion edge, this describes the tile where the surface edge still has the curved edge caused by the factory’s press during manufacturing. Pressed edge tiles have wider grout joins and rounder corners ideal for a feature. An example of a pressed edge would be our Spectrum range.
-
What is a rectified tile?
A tile that has had the factory press curved edge trimmed off to leave a square, clean edge. Rectified edge gives nice and clean edges for a closer and seamless look. An example of a rectified tile would be our Volcano range.
-
Why are porcelain tiles more expensive?
Porcelain Tiles are a more premium product than ceramic. This is due to the tile being heated at a higher temperature and resulting in a much denser than a Ceramic tile. This means Porcelain tiles are generally stronger, and with better water resistance.
