Planning your tiling project
Whether you are putting a splashback in a new kitchen or laying large-format porcelain tiles across a new extension floor, getting the tile count right is essential. Tiles are often manufactured in "batches." If you buy too few and have to order more later, the new batch might have a slightly different color shade.
Why do we add 10% wastage?
Rooms are rarely perfect squares, and tiles do not magically fit perfectly edge-to-edge. Our calculator adds 10% to the total tile count to account for:
- Edge Cuts: When you hit a wall, you have to cut a tile. Often, the remaining offcut cannot be used anywhere else.
- Breakages: Tiles are ceramic or porcelain. Snapping a tile incorrectly during a tricky cut around a pipe or toilet waste is common.
- Complex Patterns: If you are laying your tiles in a herringbone pattern or diagonally (diamond), you should actually manually add 15% wastage instead of 10%, as the angles require more awkward cuts.
What about grout lines?
While grout lines do take up a small percentage of surface area (usually 2mm to 4mm per tile), they are generally ignored in basic calculations. The space saved by grout lines is absorbed by the standard 10% wastage allowance, keeping the math simple and safe.
Building a new kitchen or bathroom?
Tiling is often the final step in a much larger project. Advanced-Builders specializes in complete property refurbishments and extensions throughout Peterborough, ensuring the plumbing, plastering, and tiling are all flawlessly executed.
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