Tile Talk

Tiles have been around for centuries and are today still one of the most popular forms of wall and floor covering. Tiles have a neat and slick appearance that will definitely not be going out of fashion soon – and best of all is that DIY enthusiasts and homeowners with a limited budget can install and thus revamp their homes themselves without too much trouble.

Latest trends

Wall tiles: According to Kate van Niekerk, marketing manager at Tile Africa, the latest trends as far as wall tiles are concerned is metallic tiles and luxurious metallic finishes that match décor in shades of gold, bronze, silver and pewter. “Metallic tiles are ideal for glamming up a wall to give a beautiful shimmer.”
“Mosaic tiles are very popular and offer more decorative opportunities than any other tiling method and are suitable for any space or environment.

Another popular wall tile trend is to mix large tiles with smaller tiles, either of the same or in a contrasting colour.  Mosaics crafted from ceramic, glass, natural materials or metal are scattered in among plainer wall tiles to create both visual and textural interest,” says van Niekerk. 

Precious Tiles’ marketing department adds that tiles inspired by natural organic forms with superb depth & textural nuance are also highly fashionable at the moment.

Floor tiles: According to Precious Tiles carefully crafted tiles, that share an affinity for tones and colours that echo nature are very popular at the moment. Van Niekerk adds that porcelain tiles are currently very popular in South Africa and their water, chemical and UV resistance make them ideal for use in living areas. “Polished porcelain tiles, in bigger sizes and light colours, create a marvellous sense of space, especially indoors, because of the light reflecting off the surface.”

Did you know?

• Dark wall/floor tiles will make a small room appear smaller and more dramatic, but with the correct lighting can add marvellous glamour to any bathroom.

• Light wall/floor tiles create an air of quiet sophistication. Size and colour is a matter of personal taste. Often a smaller tile, especially ones with a rustic finish are the correct route to go as they give a rustic and cottage-style look, whilst a bigger tile will make a small space look more spacious as there are less fussy grout lines.

If you don’t have access to an online tile calculator, you can calculate the amount of tiles needed for your project by:

• Measuring the length and width of the room and multiply (for example, a 3x3m floor would need 9m² of tiles / A 2x3 section of wall would need 6m² of tiles).
• Confirm size if tile (if single tiles) or sheet size (for mosaics) with your supplier and ask them to tell you how many tiles you will need per square meter - this is the simplest.

Tiling Tips with Tile Africa

Keep the following in mind before you start working on your DIY-tiling project:

• Measure the area you wish to tile, do it more than once to make sure you have the correct measurements.

• Buy enough tiles for the job and allow for extra tiles for breakages.

• Make a list of the supplies and tools that you are going to need for the tiling job to save yourself unnecessary trips in the future. Remember to include the correct adhesives and grouts. Spacers will simplify the task of ensuring 100% even gaps between the tiles.

• First take a sample home before purchasing the full stock of tiles that you like. Test the tile in the environment in which it is going to be used to make sure that it looks right in the lighting and is co-ordinated with the other colours in the room.

• Don’t start with a complicated project. As a novice to tiling select a simple project to start with to get the basics right. This will build confidence to continue until you have renovated your entire home.

* Precious Tiles recommends using a Pre Mixed Tile Adhesive which is available at most hardware stores.

Images and information supplied by: Tile Africa and Precious Tiles.