Hello everyone,
Soon we will start doing some work ourselves:
Laying tiles in the basement utility room...
Of course, we won’t rely on the expensive specialist dealer nearby (we already have enough costly materials that will eventually be billed through the general contractor).
We want to buy affordable tiles for our utility and laundry room that are still technically reliable and easy enough to install as a DIY project.
Is there anything I especially need to pay attention to when doing the work myself (easier installation or similar)?
Are tiles costing around €10/m² (about $11/m²) from a hardware store any good? After all, slip resistance, wear resistance, porcelain quality, etc., all seem comparable to our €50 bathroom tiles... So where could the difference lie?
I appreciate any advice since we will need to purchase the tiles soon and naturally want to shop in the lower price range.
Soon we will start doing some work ourselves:
Laying tiles in the basement utility room...
Of course, we won’t rely on the expensive specialist dealer nearby (we already have enough costly materials that will eventually be billed through the general contractor).
We want to buy affordable tiles for our utility and laundry room that are still technically reliable and easy enough to install as a DIY project.
Is there anything I especially need to pay attention to when doing the work myself (easier installation or similar)?
Are tiles costing around €10/m² (about $11/m²) from a hardware store any good? After all, slip resistance, wear resistance, porcelain quality, etc., all seem comparable to our €50 bathroom tiles... So where could the difference lie?
I appreciate any advice since we will need to purchase the tiles soon and naturally want to shop in the lower price range.
B
barfly6668 Nov 2021 20:55Calibrated tiles simply mean that smaller grout joints can be used during installation. With non-calibrated tiles, you have to compensate for irregularities via the grout joint. You can easily feel this by running your hand over the edge of the tile when looking at them. I would recommend at least calibrated, slip-resistant (R10 or barefoot safe), and abrasion-resistant tiles.
If you still have some time, keep an eye out for special offers or clearance sales. About a year ago, I got lucky and bought calibrated R10 tiles for €7 (around $7.50). Unfortunately, my tile installer was too incompetent to properly lay even good tiles ... For one room, I’m now planning to do the tiling myself and had to buy the tiles at the regular price. Big-box store tiles are good enough.
I would recommend using a leveling system.
If you still have some time, keep an eye out for special offers or clearance sales. About a year ago, I got lucky and bought calibrated R10 tiles for €7 (around $7.50). Unfortunately, my tile installer was too incompetent to properly lay even good tiles ... For one room, I’m now planning to do the tiling myself and had to buy the tiles at the regular price. Big-box store tiles are good enough.
I would recommend using a leveling system.
We used 20€ tiles from Jonastone and ordered grout and other materials there at the same time. The tiles were not rectified but were very easy to install in the 30x60cm (12x24 inch) format using a leveling system. We just need to practice a bit more when it comes to grouting.
You can definitely look for special clearance items at specialty stores. Here, I have a Batzner hardware store with tile clearance sections. They fill the entire hall with the most beautiful and expensive tiles at discount prices. I’ve even bought top-quality calibrated Italian tiles there.
Porcelanosa floor tiles from Spain for 8 euros (about $8.50). Experts know what these usually cost.
Sometimes they have floor tiles in unusual colors like blue or orange for about 2 euros (around $2) in excellent quality. I haven’t been there for two years now, but I once bought blue tiles for 1 euro (about $1). I still have them—they’ll eventually be used in the chicken coop.
Many tilers from outside the area come here to buy at low prices. The customer doesn’t notice, though—they still end up paying 50 euros (around $53).
Porcelanosa floor tiles from Spain for 8 euros (about $8.50). Experts know what these usually cost.
Sometimes they have floor tiles in unusual colors like blue or orange for about 2 euros (around $2) in excellent quality. I haven’t been there for two years now, but I once bought blue tiles for 1 euro (about $1). I still have them—they’ll eventually be used in the chicken coop.
Many tilers from outside the area come here to buy at low prices. The customer doesn’t notice, though—they still end up paying 50 euros (around $53).
M
motorradsilke9 Nov 2021 06:14I installed inexpensive tiles from a discount tile store in the utility room. When laying them, you can notice that the tiles are not all perfectly the same size, which results in slightly uneven grout lines. If you can accept that, these tiles are not worse than more expensive ones. In terms of abrasion resistance, you can also find the same class and quality at a home improvement store. We had cheap home improvement store tiles in our old bathroom, and after many years they still looked just like new. Our children often walked into the bathroom with shoes on back then, so the tiles had to withstand quite a bit.
I also tiled under the heat pump. This creates a uniform surface that is easier to clean, and especially with tile baseboards and a silicone seal, you ensure a proper seal between the floor and the wall.
I also tiled under the heat pump. This creates a uniform surface that is easier to clean, and especially with tile baseboards and a silicone seal, you ensure a proper seal between the floor and the wall.
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