Choosing ceramic tiles: sizing for walls and floors

A small tile is considered to be a product, the size of one side of which does not exceed 150 mm. These tiles, of course, include a mosaic, just small “squares” and hogs – tiles like a brick. Regarding hogs, it should be clarified that they are usually produced in the following sizes: 10 by 20, 10 by 30 and 7.5 by 15 cm.

Designers advise using small tiles for kitchen aprons, choosing the right grout for joints that can withstand the effects of cleaning chemicals and water. In bathrooms that are large enough, solid mosaics can look out of place and crush, so it is best to pair them with larger tiles or simply painted walls. Plus, mosaics on all bathroom surfaces are expensive. Let it be a bright decorative accent against the background of a larger plain tile..

As for the kitchen apron, it usually has a height of 60 cm. This is a generally accepted standard that allows you to conveniently place the bottom and top rows of cabinets and arrange a work area. So that the tiles do not have to be cut, it is advisable to choose dimensions such as 20×30 cm or 20×20 cm for kitchen aprons so that everything fits neatly into the space.

As for the most popular and demanded sizes of tiles for the bathroom, experts note the following: 25×35, 20×40, 30×30, 20×45, 30×40, 25×25 cm. It is these sizes that you most often find in construction hypermarkets. Both square and rectangular ceramic tiles have their fans. Someone thinks that “squares” are too boring, and rectangles provide a great opportunity for experimentation, allowing, moreover, to visually either raise or expand the room (depending on the method of installation). Others are of the opinion that there can be no better square shape. Here, rather, a matter of taste, both sizes presented by us are considered standard and are widely represented by many manufacturers.

Separately, it is worth highlighting a tile of such a non-standard size as 36.5×12 cm. It imitates a parquet board and is appreciated for its classic look. Usually it is intended for flooring, therefore it has a very high strength, which is achieved by a special firing procedure..

On the floor, a standard square tile of 30×30 cm is often used. Experts note that this is the optimal size that can be used in the bathroom, in the hallway, and in the kitchen. However, in large rooms, it is still better to lay out large tiles, which are often called seamless. In fact, there are, of course, seams, they are just almost invisible due to the rectification of the edges and proper installation. Large tiles are considered to be larger than 60×60 cm. Note that rectified tiles are more expensive than usual.

Separately, mention should be made of such non-standard tiles as, for example, “scales” or “honeycombs”. The shape of such a tile, of course, looks unusual and therefore attracts attention, but we must warn you right away that not every tiler will undertake such work. In general, this option can cost significantly more than standard size tiles..

Now let’s touch on such an important factor as the thickness of ceramic tiles. Now many European manufacturers are starting to produce ultra-thin tiles with a thickness of only three millimeters. But so far this option is rare. Standard wall tiles are four to seven millimeters thick, and floor tiles are 6 to 12 mm thick. When calculating the thickness, do not forget that there will be a layer of glue under the tiles. It can be from four to eight millimeters. Even such small, seemingly, changes in the size of the layer of glue and tiles are important if you need to clearly fit a bath or washing machine into a corner, so do not forget about it.