You’ve chosen the perfect tiles for your new dream bathroom and can’t wait to see the result. Have you considered all the factors involved when it comes to your tiles? According to the experts at Queens Tiles Unlimited, bathroom remodels are one of the most popular home improvement projects, and as we head into renovation season, it’s time to make sure you don’t fall into these common bathroom-remodeling traps.
Cost of Tiles
When budgeting for tiles, keep in mind that your floor area is normally smaller than your wall area. For this reason, if you are working on a tight budget, consider spending a bit more on the floors and choosing a more cost-effective tile for the walls, such as subway tiles.
Subway tiles are a classic tile that can look fabulous in both modern and traditional bathrooms and all without the expensive price tag. With more than ½ million square feet of tile in stock and tile starting as low as 97¢ per square foot, you’re sure to find the perfect tile for your project at Tiles Unlimited.
Plan and Style
When choosing tiles for your bathroom, ensure that all other elements of the bathroom, such as fixtures and fittings, work well together. Take into consideration colors of painted surfaces, cabinets and countertops. Choose one standout feature in your bathroom design. This could be a tiled feature wall, an interesting floor tile or even a standout vanity unit. Just be sure not to have too many elements competing for the spotlight.
Small Bathroom = Small Tiles
No, larger tiles tend to make a smaller room appear bigger! This simple truth can help anyone with a room that feels or looks too small to make it instantly look much larger than it really is. This is such a popular trick because not only does it work really well but also requires no extra effort, just larger tiles. This concept is effective, because as our eyes see large tiles, our brain automatically associates them with a large space, in effect tricking it into thinking it is looking at a greater area than it really is. Large format tiles also need less grout, less time to install and require less maintenance.
Lighting
Be aware that tile colors will look very different in a brightly lit showroom compared to your bathroom, which may have a mixture of artificial and natural light. Different types of lighting will affect the color of tiles. It’s always a good idea to bring tile samples home and check to see how they will look in your space. The result may end up looking lighter or darker than expected, but this may be a simple case of adding or moving light fixtures/pendants. If unsure, get some advice from the expert Tiles Unlimited designers.
Choosing a Tile Contractor
Poorly installed tiles can make even the most expensive tiles look plain and uninteresting. Like in all trade professions, you will encounter different levels of workmanship and professionalism among different tile installers. Best practices say to not only get three quotes from prospective tiler installers, but to also see examples of their past work. A good tile installer will plan and prepare the project before beginning, ensuring tiles are cut to perfection and grout joints are consistent and neat. Tiles Unlimited, through its Contractor Spotlight program, can offer recommendations for licensed and insured contractors. Learn more about hiring a contractor here.
Ordering Tiles
Once you have decided on your perfect selection, ask your Tile Consultant to estimate the quantities needed for each different tile. They will generally add a 10 percent waste factor to the amount to allow for cuts and breakages. Once your quantities have been established, order your tiles right away. The stock levels of tiles change regularly and there is no guarantee that your quantities will be available when tiles are needed. If not available immediately, there may be a lead time involved. Order earlier rather than later to avoid disappointment, as many tiles come from Europe on a slow boat. It’s always better to have your tile waiting for you rather than you waiting for them.
Grout
Make no mistake; choosing a grout color is a very important decision and can make or break your design. Decide whether you want to make the grout color a feature of the design, be neutral or blend with your tile. Depending on what you choose can greatly alter the result. If you’re using glass tile for example, make sure you’re using a grout designed for glass tile.
We can’t stress enough that your tile job is only going to be as good as the materials used for the installation. Tiles Unlimited recommends Mapei Flexcolor grout due to its many superior qualities, such as coming premixed, requiring no sealing, superior color consistency and the fact that it won’t crack. Once you have decided, be sure to give your tile installer clear instructions, especially if there are different grout colors for different tiles in the bathroom.
Sealing
Tiles that normally need to be sealed are natural stone and unglazed tiles. Sealing tiles will help with the cleaning process, enabling a film to be absorbed by the tile and protecting its surface from staining especially in wet areas. You will need to re-seal tiles after a while depending on where tiles are installed, the amount of traffic and “wear and tear” in the area, the type of sealer used and how it was applied. It’s important to speak to our staff or your tile contractor if unsure.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Before using any cleaning products on your new tiles be sure to be informed as to what is suitable. For example, cleaning products that contain any type of acid cannot be used on concrete tiles. Bleach or harsh chemicals cannot be used on natural stone. Using an unsuitable cleaning product can permanently damage your tiles, so be sure to check with the Tiles Unlimited team if you have any doubts. For a primer on the proper cleaning of tiles, read Queens Tiles Unlimited knows the secret to clean tiles after installation.
We’re Here to Help
Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or any other room in your home, the expert Tiles Consultants at Tiles Unlimited can help transform your dream project into reality. Check out this checklist of things to do before you visit us and then head over here to get some design inspiration. If you’re looking for great tile deals, join our BARGAINS text list and get notified of killer deals before they are announced to the general public. Simply text the word “bargains” to 31996 to join.
