Buying Your Own Tiles? A Tiler's Checklist Before You Order

At Tiling Canterbury we're installers, not a tile shop. That means you're free to buy tiles wherever you like — TileDirect, Mitre 10, a specialist showroom or an online sale — and you only pay us for the installation, with no markup on materials. Here's the checklist we run through with customers before they order.

1. Get the quantity right (plus wastage)

Measure each area and add a wastage allowance for cuts and breakages — typically around 10% for simple layouts and 15% or more for herringbone, diagonal or patterned layouts. Buy all tiles from the same batch so the shade matches, and keep a few spares for future repairs. If you'd like, we'll measure for you during the free quote.

2. Choose the right tile for the job

• Floors: porcelain is the hardest-wearing choice. In bathrooms and entries, check the slip rating.
• Showers: avoid very polished floor tiles in wet areas; smaller tiles or textured finishes give more grip.
• Splashbacks: almost anything works — gloss, handmade-look, mosaic or large-format.
• Underfloor heating: porcelain, ceramic and stone all work well.

3. Think about size and layout

Large-format tiles look seamless but need a very flat floor; small rooms with lots of cuts can suit smaller tiles. Rectified tiles allow tighter grout joints. Tell us your preferred layout (straight lay, brick bond, vertical stack, herringbone) so we can plan the set-out.

4. Don't forget the extras

Trims for exposed edges, grout colour, and whether you want a tiled niche or ledge are all worth deciding early. We'll let you know what adhesive, waterproofing and grout the job needs.