What Size Tile I Really Need? Solution!

Q: I'm planning on installing tiles on my kitchen floor and entryway backsplash. What size of tile do I have to purchase for each of the cases?

A: It is advisable to think about your tile requirements prior to looking for tiles. If you are installing tiles for your foyer floor or in your bathroom or kitchen walls, knowing the amount of tile you require is a crucial first step. This calculation can help you ensure that you have enough tile coverage and budget for the task, and prevent returning trips to the neighborhood home centers. The steps to the calculation of your tile requirements are the same for any surfaces, so get the measuring tape and calculator and start!

What is the amount of tile I need for floors? Solution!

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1. Take a measurement of the area you want to tile.

The area you are tiling by its shape:

For rectangular or square spaces, like the floor or wall that is, multiply the length by the width to calculate the square foot area. If the measurements are an entire number (i.e. that the measurement is comprised of inches and feet) Divide in 12 inches to translate it into feet. Add that decimal number to feet, and then complete the calculations as explained above to calculate the square-foot area. Always round your total by the closest foot if the area is comprised of the decimal.

The size of a 10-by-10-foot wall is 100 sq ft (10 x 10).

The size of a 6-foot-9-inch by 11-foot floor is 74.25 sq. feet (6.75 x 11) that is equivalent the area to 75 sq. feet.

For areas that are round like for a floor, simply make sure you square the radius (half of the area's diameter) and then multiply it by 3.14.

The size of a round floor that has a diameter of 20 feet would equal three hundred and fourteen square feet (3.14 10 x 10.10 x 10.10).

For areas with irregular shapes like an L-shaped floor, look at and consider the shape as two separate parts. Calculate the area of each part and then add them up.

Letas suppose that your floor could be split into two rectangular pieces of 6 by 3 feet. The floor's area is 36 feet (6 3 2).

What Size Tile Do I Have to Purchase? Answered!

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2. Determine the amount of tile boxes or tiles that you require in relation to the size of the area.

Once you have figured out the size of the space that belfast tiles should be covering, you can figure out the amount of tile you need to cover the area. The calculation is based on whether you intend to purchase boxes of tiles with several tiles (more typical for flooring or walls) or tiles in a single piece (for smaller walls or floors like those found in a half-bathroom).

When purchasing tile boxes make sure to divide the sq. footage into the amount shown in the package. The box will indicate the square footage each tile inside will be covering. There is no need to consider the dimensions that the tile. Round to the closest total number if the number is decimal.

If the space was 100 square feet, and each box contains 12.5 sq. feet, you'll need 8 boxes (100 + 12.5).

If you are buying tiles individually it is important to know the area (or percentage of) that each tile covers. Tiles that are sold in sets will indicate that the size of each tile is in inches when you purchase them. Multiply the length of the tile by its width to calculate the amount of space that a tile covers by square inches. Dividing the results by 144 to convert it into square feet. Divide the area you are tiling by the area for one tile in order to figure out the number of tiles you require. Then, round it up to the closest total number.

If you select tiles that measure six by six inches each tile will be 0.25 sq feet (36 /144). If the size of your floor or wall has 50 sq. feet of space, you'd require 200 tiles to cover the entire area (50 or 0.25).

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3. Then, add in between 10 and 20 percent of the overage.

Even for an expert in tiling purchasing the minimum amount of tiles needed to be able to cover the floor or wall will not cut it. There are many situations that require an extra amount of tile:

There may be a need for additional tiles in order to make tile fragments to cover corners of your floor or wall in areas where a complete tile will not be able to fit.

The tiles you purchase may have chips or cracks upon the day of delivery. (Itas not unusual for 2 to 3 percent of the tiles you buy inside boxes damaged and chipped!)

It is possible to snap tiles while cutting or laying it or fixing one that is cracked.

It is possible that you will require a new tile to replace one that is unglued after installation.

The tile you choose could be removed in the future. If the tile design or color you picked is discontinued, you'll be glad to have identical tiles to replace them; Without them, you could need to tile the entire floor or wall , or replace damaged tiles with tiles that do not match the ones you have installed.

Buy at minimum 10 percent more tile than what you estimated will be enough to cover. Multiply the tile number you estimated in the previous step by 1.1 before rounding up if the number is decimal. If, for instance, you calculated that you'd need eight boxes of tiles purchase nine boxes instead (8 8 x 1.1). If you estimated the need to buy 200 tiles purchase the 220 tiles instead (200 + 1.1).

Plan to budget up to 20 percent of the buffer when you are trying an unusual pattern such as herringbone or a diagonal offset. Installing tiles horizontally within these designs (i.e., in a 45 degree angle to the bottom of the wall or the floor) rather than vertically (where an edge is in contact with an edge on the wall or floor) generally, it is easier to leave more fragments of tile.