Tile advice

Everything you need to know about tiles

Common Tile Terms

Faces

The face of the tile is colour and pattern on one tile in the batch.Knowing the faces is important if you are looking at a tile that mimics a natural surface such as marble, as multiple faces will make it look more natural.

Nominal Size

Tiles are very slightly different sizes (mm difference) depending on their batch, the nominal size refers to the approximate size that the tile is, it will actually be 1-2 mm smaller or larger than the nominal size.

Shade Variation

Shade varitation is how varied the colour and patterns between faces of a tile are. It ranges from V1, little variation between pieces to V4 which is substantial variation between colour & pattern.

Grade

The grade of the tile refers to it’s hardness and therefore suitability for different surfaces. grade 1 is wall only and grade 2 through 5 are suitable for light residential foot traffic through to heavy commercial foot traffic.

Useful Articles

Some of our most commonly read articles with useful tile information

  • Tile 101

    All the basics that you need to know about tiles in one helpful document

  • Why Choose Italian?

    What's the difference between Chinese & Italian tiles and what are you getting when you pay more for a tile?

  • How to Clean Tiles

    How do you keep your tiles and grout looking as fantastic as the day they were installed? Read on for all the answers

  • What Makes a Great Grout?

    We have listed the three main choices you have when choosing a grout colour to make sure you add a long-life cycle and low maintenance requirement for your next tiling project.

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