SHOP AROUND FOR YOUR KITCHEN
Whilst some of the big retailers offer fantastic deals it's always worth asking a local joiner or home improvement company to give you a quote. They can access exclusive trade prices and deals that can compete with those that the big DIY warehouses.
CHOOSING YOUR TILES
Choose your tiles carefully, nip down to our showroom in Glasgow or Greenock and have a look at our huge selection of tiles catering for every taste. NEVER choose tiles without seeing them in person first – be aware that not all retailers supply the same quality of tiles as Cosmo Ceramics – what looks great online might not be as good in reality. You might also be surprised to know that Cosmo often offer better value than some of the big retailers so don't think you have to buy your tiles from the same place you're getting your kitchen from.
The latest trend is for very large tiles but they may not suit your kitchen particularly if there are a lot of electrical sockets to cut around. Large tiles are heavy and cannot be fixed to some backgrounds.
CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS AND PRACTICALITIES
Plan how the tiles are to be set out ensuring that borders and motifs are not broken up by electrical sockets and light switches. Mosaics can be very useful in kitchens which tend to have a lot of switches and sockets to cut round. They come on a mesh which can be cut with scissors.
Tiling an entire kitchen in mosaic could prove expensive. Instead, use mosaics between the worktop and wall units and choose a complimentary tile for the other wall areas.
More and more people are choosing to tile their floors as well as their wall areas as tiles are ideally suited to high use areas that are easy to maintain. It also makes it easier to coordinate colours - see below. To find out more about floor tiles have a look at our guide.
A CO-ORDINATED APPROACH
Don't try and match the colour of the worktop, a contrast or a similar colour to the floor, co-ordinating with the units, will always look more effective. Don't be afraid to mix matt finish tiles with gloss units or worktop and vice versa.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ADVICE
Talk to a tiling specialist – it doesn’t cost anything to talk to a member of our knowledgeable staff to help you decide on the right tiles and other materials for your project. We can even provide samples for you to take away and get an idea of how they might look in situ before you commit.
Make sure floor tiles are suitably slip resistant for bare feet in wet conditions and that you have the correct adhesives, profiles, mattings and waterproofing systems to ensure the tiling lasts a lifetime.
DON’T SCRIMP
Tiles can add value to your home so be prepared to spend money and time. Wall space in a kitchen is usually limited to between the worktop and wall units so the quantities are small. Pay a little more and get something that really makes your kitchen special. It will be a lot cheaper than getting something you’re not 100% happy with and changing it at a later date.
DOING IT YOURSELF?
If you are thinking about tiling yourself buy or hire the best equipment, it will save time and money and give you the best results. Before you start visit The Tile Association website and download Tile it Right, a free DIY tiling guide which includes tips on tile selection and calculating to number of tiles needed.
Download The Tile Association Tile It Right guide here
EMPLOYING A TILER
If you are in any doubt about your own tiling skills then think about employing a tiler – taking down tiles once they are up is not the easiest or cheapest job. Not only should they give you a better finished job but, on average, it will take them about 1/3 of the time it takes an amateur. If you don’t already have a recommendation for an experienced tile fixer go to the search facility on the TTA website, www.tiles.org.uk and put in your postcode. We also allow local tilers to leave their business cards at our reception in both Glasgow and Greenock so you can always grab a card while you are in seeing us. And that’s it – all you need to know to help make your project a success! Good luck.