It has been awhile since we have updated our blog. We have been busy as ever and are proud to annouce that within the next month we will be launching our new and improved Leafcutter Design site.

Alongside the new layout, products and information. We will be publishing great how tio guides on tiling, underfloor heating & choosing the tight tile for you. So keep an eye out…

Using their diverse experience we will produce the tiling top tips list to end all lists. Which will then go up live on our site featuring the knowledgeable tilers who gave us the top tips.

So if you are a tiler or just know how to tile get in touch with us via Twitter @Digeremy and suggest us your top tips.

We have people flooding in our showroom recently who are enamoured with Original Style’s Victorian floor. Due to their complexity, detail, designs and functionality they are a product that customers really enjoy buying. Unlike traditional Victorian Tiles which required treatment and care, modern Victorian tiles are still made from clay but are vitrified so they are less absorbent and more durable. Using a modern sealer like Lithofin Stain Stop means that maintenance for these tiles is almost non-existent.

Our passion for these tiles has meant we have assisted many cutomers by doing bespoke designs for their spaces. I thought I’d share some of our Victorian Floor Designs with you:

So if you need help with your Victorian Floor, don’t hesitate to give us a call for advice or designs on 01202 716969…

Our new website showcases some of our favourite tiles. It also shows our favourites from our varied suppliers such as Original Style Tiles, Porcelanosa, Winchester Tiles, Edimax and many others.

Why not have a look at our new website today for beautiful wall & floor tiles or pop into our Poole Tile Showroom.

So here they are:

1. Size. Most people make the decision of what size tile they want simply from the size of the room. This is not always the best approach. Using a large tile such as 60x60cm in a small room can give the impression of space, similarly using a rectangular 30x60cm across a narrow space can give the impression of width and using a small tile can give character to a floor.
2. Where the tile is to be used will play an important part on which tiles can be used, is it kitchen or bathroom? internally or externally? Kitchens floors are traditionally higher wear areas with risk of dropping and therefore porcelain is better suited to these situations.  On the other hand in bathrooms ceramic tiles more than suffice in both strength and wear but have a choice in appearance, texture and finish which isn’t available in most porcelain ranges.
3. Colour. Obviously the colour is integral to both the feel, look and finish of the room. The choice between a striking dark slate or a light beige can have a huge impact. Choose the colour according to light levels in the room and the impression that you’d like to create. Lighter tiles generally make an area look larger however darker tiles create a focal point that can define any room.
4. Texture. The surface texture of the tile can make a difference in many ways. Depending on the decor of the room/house the tile surface finish is very important. Modern design tends to be flat in texture which gives a cleaner more modern look, alternately for a more traditional and rustic look a natural stone finish is more suiting such as Oxida.
5. Gloss or Matt. Many people see this as one of the biggest choices that you have to make, which it is, mainly due to the impact it makes on the overall look of the room. There are a few smaller considerations to be aware of, for example, in our local area we have hard water and this can often leave limescale which is clearly visible on gloss tiles. Similarly gloss tiles tend to have less grip and therefore it is good to consider this before placing them on bathroom/wet room floors. But they do reflect light and brighten up a room.
6. Price. Obviously the price is extremely influential in the decision making process, but what people often forgot about tiles is their longevity. A good quality tile once properly laid is permanent and shouldn’t be needed to be replaced. People often forget this when deciding how much to spend on tiles and not going for quality, this is a particular concern when buying grade 2/3 travertine.
7. Aftercare. The potential need for aftercare/maintenance should be considered before choosing your tiles. As with most natural stone travertine requires considerable care, sealing and maintenance. For higher wear areas or rooms with underfloor heating choosing the right tile is essential not to create a need for excessive aftercare.
8. Environment. Whether you choose the tile first or choose the rest of the furnishings first, the colours, layout and the borders going with it all have to be considered when choosing your tile. There are many colours that blend naturally together such as black and white or wood and stone, but before buying the tiles it is always recommended to take a sample home to see how it looks with the room and get an idea how the colours and finishes are going to be linked (or not in some cases) together.
9. Specification. Technical properties of tiles such as non-slip, frost resistance and any other specification need to be considered in advance of the above. Although in most situations when a technical specification is issued, such as disabled wet room floor, this limits the choice substantially and will dictate what sort of tiles and finishes you can choose.
10. Advice. Often when in doubt the best thing to do is ask. Tiling professionals whether that is veteran tilers or experienced sales staff have a vast breadth of knowledge which can often offer solutions to most problems. Independent tile shops such as ourselves can source tiles that are discontinued, find tiles that are unique or specified and have an extensive knowledge that can help in both the selection and sourcing of any tiles.

If you’d like to give us a call to discuss sourcing, design assistance or selection of tiles please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01202 716969.

A room visualisation using for the oxida layout for one of our customers

The above image is created using Sketchup to show the substantial expanse that the mixed format covers. In response to a few requests by our customers we have changed the way we sell Edimax Oxida we now sell it per piece rather than square metre. This means that you no longer have to buy excess tiles and can tailor your order down to the exact quantities required.  In the interest of simplifying this further below is a plan to illustrate how to lay your Edimax Oxida:

Oxida Repeating Pattern

Also to help you calculate the number of each tile required per m2 we have a easy to use spreadsheet available. Click below to download it:

Edimax Oxida Calculator

If you have any further questions regarding Edimax Oxida or placing an order with us, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01202 737171.

Finishing the outside of a house using tile as cladding is often overlooked, but yet is a very good option. Below are some images from a recent job we did where they used porcelain tiles to clad the outside of the house:

Using porcelain tiles for outdoor cladding is frost proof, gives a modern look and is virtually maintenance free. As you can see our customer used a lightly coloured tile that tones in well with the darker wood and creates the impression of space. This was then waterjet cut (as talked about here) by us in order to give perfect edges and applied with a light colour grout to accentuate the clean minimalist design as echoed elsewhere through the architecture.

Bespoke water-jet cutting and good value porcelain tiles mean that this using tile as outdoor cladding isn’t beyond most peoples means, but leaves a lasting, different, attractive and most importantly maintenance free finish to any building.

The customer was David James Architects LLP a successful local company whose modern distinctive design is their trademark and thanks to their extensive knowledge and understanding of what works in design, their specification was well thought out and considered. They wanted a dark stone that would have good architectural properties whilst being able to withstand the external conditions and possible frost. For these reasons it was decided that we needed a porcelain tile that had a genuine stone/slate appearance, Edimax was the obvious option for it’s quality and is a product we’re proud to be associated with.

Above is a few images from the Quartz Design range from Edimax which the Dark 30x60cm was an obvious choice. After sourcing the tiles we arranged and organised the tiling with one of our tilers to highest standard, below is an image of the drastically improved entranceway.

The impact of the dark stone against the green walls creates in instant impression. The rectangular lines of the tile create width and straight lines that accentuate a modern look which changes the front of the building completely.  It just goes to show,  what a difference a tile can make…

Click here to have a look at our Quartz Range on our online shop.

Some of our Lithofin Range

All our products come with a subsidised next day shipping and all orders placed before 2pm should be shipped on the same day. So please have a look over our websites now for all your stone and tile care needs.