tips for buying tiles, appointing a tiler?

curlybob

we need to go shopping this weekend to pick out tiles for our new house. I was just wondering if anyone here knows anything about tiles, grout etc that could advise me of the pitfalls of picking tiles? Budget is tight but at the same time we need to do it right.

also anyone have any idea of the going rate that tilers are charging at the minute? we are in galway.

thanks in advance

Jennyrose

You ask a lot in a small paragraph! For advice for your own home, best to talk to a decent supplier.

Personally, I will tell you :
Don't do it yourself
Have a good idea what you want before you start
If you have tiles on walls and floors, make sure you think of grout lines meeting up so choose the sizes carefully
Get appropriate grout for areas- bathrooms and kitchen counter splashbacks require more robust grout
When tiling a bath make sure the tiler loads the bath with ballast so that when he steps out of the bath, there will be a bit of give as the grout dries

Rates can be worked on square metre or by the job. I prefer the sqm route as that gives you some idea as to the general cost, 20 quid a metre is a start. Obviously, if the tile is hot stuff, then expect to pay more.
Know your square metres!
Prices are not including supply or vat obviously.

Finally, expect to get what you pay for. Peanuts and monkeys rule applies.