A Guide to Bathroom Wall Tiles

In the Gallery:

1 Bisazza glass mosaic blend, Le Gemme, Smalto and Gloss collections, POA (020 8253 9200)
2 Villeroy & Boch’s Bianco Nero, 30cm x 60cm, £27.42 each (020 8871 4028)
3 De Ferranti’s Diamanti tiles consist of minutecut glass crystals, from £350/m (020 7384 4424)
4 Oyster tiles from Fired Earth’s Glass Elements range, £224.68/m² (0845 366 0400)
5 Craven Dunnill’s Rustic Metal mosaic tiles, £11.20 per 295mm x 145mm sheet (01747 761611)
6 Bisazza glass mosaic pattern, from the Opus Romano collection, POA (as before)
7 Cosmopolitan China White and Marsh from The Winchester Tile Co, £69.95/m² (01392 473005)
8 Mandarin Stone’s St Adrien Polished Marble, £76.48/m² (01600 715444)
9 Fusion by Vogue, from £19/m² (01908 264470)
10 Trojan Tumbled Limestone, £65.02/m², from Mandarin Stone (as before)

Choosing a Style

When choosing the look of your tiles, start with the fundamental issue of room size, as Rob Jull, MD of RAK Ceramics, explains: “A small room can be opened up by using neutral colours and pale shades — this will also help to create a serene, quiet sanctuary. Make a larger bathroom cosy by using stronger, darker colours.”

Classic white is currently the most popular colour for bathroom suites, and this trend has followed through to tiles; however, all-white bathrooms can appear clinical — so take the advice of Sheila Elliot, Design Director at British Ceramic Tile: “New techniques can be incorporated to produce an exciting range of effects in white tiles that, until recently, weren’t available. The use of relief, metallic effects, lustres and raised prints can make a big difference to the humble white tile, taking it into the range of designer chic. Accent colours can also be inserted to make tiles stand out.”

Don’t be afraid to mix up materials: matt stone with a border of glass tiles, or blends of different stone types or ceramic finishes creates an individual, striking bathroom.

Materials

Natural stone tiles are inherently hardwearing and will age beautifully. Slate is particularly durable and water-resistant. Granite, marble and limestone are options, though, unlike slate, can be susceptible to staining if left untreated, so a manufacturer-recommended sealant must be applied.

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles are ideal for bathrooms: they are water-resistant, stain-proof and easy to lay. Because they are glazed, an infinite range of colourways and patterns is available, from mass-produced versions to characterful handmades. But if you love the look of stone, then take note of this advice from Sheila Elliott: “Digital print technology now allows for the printing of structured surfaces, resulting in high-quality marble and stone effects in ceramics. Ceramic tiles can have all the appeal of natural stone without all the necessary after care, at a much more competitive price.”

The other materials on offer include coloured glass, which is commonly used in mosaics and small-format decorative tiles, and statement-making materials such metal, wood and leather.

Sizing Up

The standard size of a large-format tile is 152mm x 152mm; small format around 100mm x 100mm. Although large tiles are quicker to lay, there are issues with weight restriction, which largely applies to heavy stone tiles. Waterproof backer board (e.g. Aquapanel) is ideal for fixing tiles in bathrooms. The flatness of the surface being tiled is also imperative — large tiles can’t be installed properly over deformities in the wall’s surface, so it must be completely even.

Tiling Wetrooms

Wetrooms – and shower enclosures, where a powerful spray can over time damage standard tiling work – require an extra degree of skill. James Reed from The Tile Association comments: “You must follow the guidelines in BS5385, the Code of Practice for fixing wall and floor tiles where it states: ‘It is essential to tile onto an already water-resistant background. Sand/cement render, dense concrete or water-resistant tile backer board are ideal. Plaster, plaster board, timber and timber-based products such as MDF or plywood are absorbent and should be made waterproof by the use of a waterproofing or tanking system.’

“We should highlight the word ‘essential’, as failure to do this is currently the most common cause of tiling failures. When you are sure the background is waterproof you should then use water-resistant adhesive, ensuring that you achieve as near as possible 100% coverage of tile adhesive to the tile and background. Use a water-resistant grout and a quality silicon sealant on any angles and where tiles meet sanitaryware, taps etc.”

Mosaics

Mosaics are commonly seen in stone, ceramic and glass. For a basic colour mix, the tiles can be bought in sheets, which are quick to lay; designs in random colours or patterns are time-consuming and expensive. A simple mosaic border will lift plain tiles.

According to Jeannie Mies, Manager of Bisazza’s flagship London store, “When installing mosaics, the most important part is the preparation stage. Surfaces must be prepared with even more precision than the actual laying of mosaics themselves. All areas must be perfectly straight, smooth, plumb and squared.”

Advice from the Experts

Use Floor Tiles

Rob Jull, Managing Director, RAK Ceramics UK (01730 237850)

“Floor tiles (ideally ceramic as they’re lighter in weight than natural stone) can look amazing on the walls, but only if the substrate is solid — preferably screed or plasterboard rather than old plaster. They can be interspersed with mosaic or 10cm x 10cm tiles to break up the area, perhaps within an alcove or as a subtle border. Mixing the scale of tiles – especially if they are of the same design family – is an inspired way of adding depth and perspective.”

Maintaining Stone

Ella Small, Managing Director, Mandarin Stone (01600 715444)

“When stone tiles are initially fitted, the surfaces and joints are rendered water and oil resistant by impregnation with an appropriate sealer. To maintain the appearance, an appropriate stone treatment must applied on a periodic basis together with a regular cleaning regime using a neutral stone cleaner, or warm water and a chamois leather or dry cloth. Household detergents, cleaners, limescale removers, and those containing bleach should not be used.“

Further reading:

• How to tile a wall
• Showers: A Buyer's Guide
• How to replace a broken tile