Frequently Asked Questions.
Should I look for porcelain or ceramic tiles?
Porcelain tiles have two key advantages. The water absorption rate is much lower than that of ceramic tiles at only 0.5%, and they are much more durable than ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles have a higher water absorption rate of 3-7%, and are not as durable and tough as porcelain tiles - these tiles are typically used in decorative areas, like a kitchen or bathroom splashback. At Tile Space Outlet we stock a wide range of floor and wall grade porcelain tiles and wall grade ceramic tiles.
Did you know that you can use floor tiles on the wall as well?
As long as you check the weight of the tiles against the weight that the gib board can support, you can use floor tiles on the wall. Floor grade tiles weigh approximately 19-22 KGs per square meter. Some tiles are manufactured in a matt finish and a polish finish so that you can combine the two tiles throughout the whole room to keep the pattern the same on both the floor and the walls.
Can I use outdoor tiles inside?
Although outdoor tiles are sometimes called antislip, the important distinction between outdoor tiles and indoor matt tiles is the grip texture. These tiles are not suitable for indoor areas, and are recommended for outdoor areas, especially where it may rain on the tiles.
What does rectified mean?
Rectified tiles have had their edges precisely finished in order to maintain a extremely consistent size across tiles within a batch. We always recommend asking if a tile is rectified and checking that the size is not a nominal size, but a real and true size.
What does nominal size mean?
Nominal size is used to group tiles with a small size difference together. This may mean tiles that are between 595x595 and 599x599 are all grouped and referred to as 600x600. We always recommend asking for the true size of the tile. When matching tile sizes together such as a 300x600 and a 600x600, it is important to make sure that the matching edges are exactly the same size.
Do I need to use a trim to finish the edge of the tile?
While you don't necessarily have to, we always recommend it. A trim provides a clean and defining finish to the edge of the tile which protecting the edge of the tile from chips and breakages as the cross section is exposed. Trims come in a range of sizes and colours to match with the wide range of tiles and mosaics in store - the most popular being a matt aluminum colour.