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Ceramic Wall Tiles
The range of wall tiles available nowadays can be quite staggering, not just in colour variations and patterns, but in shapes and sizes. However, current trends often dictate the availability and the cost of tiles, with the most popular tiles generally being the most available and also the better value for money. And there are some very nice tiles available at some very reasonable prices if you shop around.
Ceramic wall tiles will typically be available from around £9.99 per square metre for the smaller format, predominantly white tiles, up to and above £60 per square metre for large format, intricately patterned or coloured tiles. However, in most cases I usually find that I can source suitable and indeed preferable tiles up to and within the £25 per square metre mark.
Though I do have clients that insist on having border tiles incorporated into their tiled wall, some modern wall tiles do not particularly lend themselves to a border and can actually look better without any border. If you are on a tight budget, then a thing to bear in mind is that often border tiles can cost more per pack than the wall tiles themselves; not only this, but they will add to the labour cost due to increasing the complexity of the tiling.
Borders should be employed with care. Border tiles tend to look better and indeed be far more effective with small format, predominantly white tiles, as they break up an otherwise plain background. That said, the wrong borders in very small bathrooms and small shower rooms can look forced and make the walls look too 'busy', and this is compounded if you have large format decorative wall tiles. Fashion often dictates tastes, but having two different coloured tiles high and low on the walls with border tiles included where they meet can often look far too 'fussy', again, especially in a small bathroom, and more subtle colours tend not to go out of fashion as quickly as bold coloured tiles with fancy borders. Anyone remember coloured bath suites that were all the rage in the 1970s... ? Nowadays I take an awful lot of avocado, olive, pink and peach bathroom suites out, to be replaced with plain, clean, nice bright white suites!
Tile size is also an important factor. Large format tiles can look extremely odd in a small bathroom. This is because so many tiles have to be cut that there may not be many full, uncut tiles actually visible. Wastage due to tile off-cuts is often high with large format tiles in a small bathroom, and again it can all look unnaturally contrived or even forced. Large format tiles are often porcelain, and so also much harder to cut, drill and work with, so expect labour costs to be relatively higher.
There is however one extremely important fact that has to be considered with wall tiles; something that more often than not never even comes into the reckoning by the tile purchaser, the budding DIYer, or even the salesperson at the tile warehouse. That is the weight limit of the walls.
In the old days when wall tiles were generally no larger than 150mm x 150mm (6" x 6") and only around 4mm thick, and a 200mm x 250mm (8" x 10") tile was considered to be a large format tile, weight was never really an issue, and so something that never needed any consideration. But the sizes of tiles aimed at the domestic market have more recently soared into silliness, and this is now an area where large format tiles can be of some concern and indeed extremely problematic.
A plastered wall has an upper weight limit of 20kg per square metre, while a bare (adequately secured) plasterboard wall has a greater upper weight limit of 32kg per square metre.
In most cases the tiling will be taking place on plastered walls or plasterboard walls that have been themselves skimmed with plaster, so having the upper weight limit of 20kg per square metre. And bear in mind that this weight limit is assuming that the plaster is well adhered and in good condition in the first place - in reality the weight limit may be far less than this in old houses with original plastered walls, even if the plaster still appears to be well-bonded.
A square metre of ceramic wall tiles of the size 250mm x 330mm (10" x 13") and 7mm thick will typically weigh around the 13-14kg per square metre mark and ideally be the largest format tiles that you want your plastered wall supporting, because, bear in mind that the weight of the tile adhesive and grout also needs to be factored in.
Large format tiles are not only wider and higher, but inevitably thicker than smaller format tiles, which is what can really up the weight. To provide them with the extra strength they require to support themselves when handling, large format tiles can be 10-12mm in thickness and often have heavy cementitious and resin additives to further add strength... or are, like floor tiles, made of dense porcelain. Any large format tile (typically 350mm x 450mm and larger), along with the adhesive and the grout, will invariably exceed the weight limit of a plastered wall, so if you plan to have any tile larger than 250mm x 330mm laid on your plastered walls you will be taking a risk unless the existing plaster is completely removed and the wall is dry lined with either plasterboard, plywood (WBP) or cement backerboard.
Another thing about large format tiles is that the walls need to be extremely flat. This is because, unlike smaller format tiles that can follow undulations in the wall, large format tiles cannot. Large format tiles are not only far more costly to purchase, but they are far harder to work with, requiring far more wall preparation, and so consequently command much greater labour costs. All things that need to be taken into consideration.
Ceramic wall tiles will typically be available from around £9.99 per square metre for the smaller format, predominantly white tiles, up to and above £60 per square metre for large format, intricately patterned or coloured tiles. However, in most cases I usually find that I can source suitable and indeed preferable tiles up to and within the £25 per square metre mark.
Though I do have clients that insist on having border tiles incorporated into their tiled wall, some modern wall tiles do not particularly lend themselves to a border and can actually look better without any border. If you are on a tight budget, then a thing to bear in mind is that often border tiles can cost more per pack than the wall tiles themselves; not only this, but they will add to the labour cost due to increasing the complexity of the tiling.
Borders should be employed with care. Border tiles tend to look better and indeed be far more effective with small format, predominantly white tiles, as they break up an otherwise plain background. That said, the wrong borders in very small bathrooms and small shower rooms can look forced and make the walls look too 'busy', and this is compounded if you have large format decorative wall tiles. Fashion often dictates tastes, but having two different coloured tiles high and low on the walls with border tiles included where they meet can often look far too 'fussy', again, especially in a small bathroom, and more subtle colours tend not to go out of fashion as quickly as bold coloured tiles with fancy borders. Anyone remember coloured bath suites that were all the rage in the 1970s... ? Nowadays I take an awful lot of avocado, olive, pink and peach bathroom suites out, to be replaced with plain, clean, nice bright white suites!
Tile size is also an important factor. Large format tiles can look extremely odd in a small bathroom. This is because so many tiles have to be cut that there may not be many full, uncut tiles actually visible. Wastage due to tile off-cuts is often high with large format tiles in a small bathroom, and again it can all look unnaturally contrived or even forced. Large format tiles are often porcelain, and so also much harder to cut, drill and work with, so expect labour costs to be relatively higher.
There is however one extremely important fact that has to be considered with wall tiles; something that more often than not never even comes into the reckoning by the tile purchaser, the budding DIYer, or even the salesperson at the tile warehouse. That is the weight limit of the walls.
In the old days when wall tiles were generally no larger than 150mm x 150mm (6" x 6") and only around 4mm thick, and a 200mm x 250mm (8" x 10") tile was considered to be a large format tile, weight was never really an issue, and so something that never needed any consideration. But the sizes of tiles aimed at the domestic market have more recently soared into silliness, and this is now an area where large format tiles can be of some concern and indeed extremely problematic.
A plastered wall has an upper weight limit of 20kg per square metre, while a bare (adequately secured) plasterboard wall has a greater upper weight limit of 32kg per square metre.
In most cases the tiling will be taking place on plastered walls or plasterboard walls that have been themselves skimmed with plaster, so having the upper weight limit of 20kg per square metre. And bear in mind that this weight limit is assuming that the plaster is well adhered and in good condition in the first place - in reality the weight limit may be far less than this in old houses with original plastered walls, even if the plaster still appears to be well-bonded.
A square metre of ceramic wall tiles of the size 250mm x 330mm (10" x 13") and 7mm thick will typically weigh around the 13-14kg per square metre mark and ideally be the largest format tiles that you want your plastered wall supporting, because, bear in mind that the weight of the tile adhesive and grout also needs to be factored in.
Large format tiles are not only wider and higher, but inevitably thicker than smaller format tiles, which is what can really up the weight. To provide them with the extra strength they require to support themselves when handling, large format tiles can be 10-12mm in thickness and often have heavy cementitious and resin additives to further add strength... or are, like floor tiles, made of dense porcelain. Any large format tile (typically 350mm x 450mm and larger), along with the adhesive and the grout, will invariably exceed the weight limit of a plastered wall, so if you plan to have any tile larger than 250mm x 330mm laid on your plastered walls you will be taking a risk unless the existing plaster is completely removed and the wall is dry lined with either plasterboard, plywood (WBP) or cement backerboard.
Another thing about large format tiles is that the walls need to be extremely flat. This is because, unlike smaller format tiles that can follow undulations in the wall, large format tiles cannot. Large format tiles are not only far more costly to purchase, but they are far harder to work with, requiring far more wall preparation, and so consequently command much greater labour costs. All things that need to be taken into consideration.
Point of Note:
Be aware, many DIY outlets and tile warehouses are currently going through a phase of advertising some tiles as dual purpose wall and floor tiles. Yes, these tiles are actually being promoted as suitable in homes for both wall and floors. However, this is not entirely accurate and merely the latest selling gimmick. And don't take the salespersons word for it after he or she simply quotes what is written on the box.
The reality of it is this: if they are suitable for walking on, then they are a heavy floor tile and you really, really, don't want them on old plaster walls! These heavy tiles are of much denser porcelain which makes them much stronger than standard clay ceramic wall tiles, however it also makes them more difficult to work with on walls as not only are they denser and heavier, but they are harder to cut and shape, and extremely tough to even drill through. These tiles generally also require cement-based adhesives rather than pre-mixed tub adhesives in order to cure effectively and provide a strong bond. If you do purchase such tiles and take the risk of having them on your walls, then expect tiling labour costs to be accordingly higher.
Potentially worse still is when tiles classed as 'wall and floor' tiles are simply large format low density ceramic tiles, and as such are completely unsuitable as floor tiles. Unlike porcelain, stone or resin based tiles, low density ceramic tiles (your typical wall tiles) are much softer usually with a very porous biscuit reverse side, whereas true floor tiles are very dense and have a much less porous reverse side, but the main telling point is the weight. Lay ceramic tiles that are designed for walls on the floor at your peril. If they don't quickly crack, at best they will soon become chipped and unsightly. But don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews for so-called 'wall and floor tiles' on some of the larger DIY outlet websites.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
The reality of it is this: if they are suitable for walking on, then they are a heavy floor tile and you really, really, don't want them on old plaster walls! These heavy tiles are of much denser porcelain which makes them much stronger than standard clay ceramic wall tiles, however it also makes them more difficult to work with on walls as not only are they denser and heavier, but they are harder to cut and shape, and extremely tough to even drill through. These tiles generally also require cement-based adhesives rather than pre-mixed tub adhesives in order to cure effectively and provide a strong bond. If you do purchase such tiles and take the risk of having them on your walls, then expect tiling labour costs to be accordingly higher.
Potentially worse still is when tiles classed as 'wall and floor' tiles are simply large format low density ceramic tiles, and as such are completely unsuitable as floor tiles. Unlike porcelain, stone or resin based tiles, low density ceramic tiles (your typical wall tiles) are much softer usually with a very porous biscuit reverse side, whereas true floor tiles are very dense and have a much less porous reverse side, but the main telling point is the weight. Lay ceramic tiles that are designed for walls on the floor at your peril. If they don't quickly crack, at best they will soon become chipped and unsightly. But don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews for so-called 'wall and floor tiles' on some of the larger DIY outlet websites.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!