Ceramic, stone or special tiles? Sealed, glued or clipped installation? Learn everything you need to know about the different types of tiles, how to choose and how to install them, as well as how to budget.
Tiles can be used to cover any type of surface, both indoors and outdoors. Thanks to its many advantages, it has been used in many different cultures since ancient times.
If you have decided to renovate your floor or decorate your new home, this article is for you! You will find all the details you need to prepare your tiling budget.
First of all, you should know that to calculate the price of a tile per square meter, several factors must be taken into account:
- The surface of the space to be tiled : the larger it is, the higher the cost will be.
- The type of material for your tile: this is one of the two factors that will have the most influence on the final cost.
- The type of installation : along with the type of material, this is the second factor that will have an important influence on the final cost.
- The price of additional materials : such as mortar and joints, for example.
- The cost of the installation : this will obviously be different if you call in a professional or if you do the installation yourself.
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Advantages of tiling
In terms of surface covering, tiling is a material that has many advantages. These make it adaptable to all situations and all types of accommodation.
First of all, it enjoys great longevity . Unless it receives an impact, you will be sure to be able to maintain your tile for at least ten years.
Then, it is generally hydrophobic . This makes it ideal for rooms like the bathroom or kitchen, where it is necessary to protect surfaces from moisture. In addition, this feature allows easy cleaning and maintenance.
Finally, it is a very easy material to find . So you will have no problem finding out about the different models and finding a professional tiler for your installation.
What criteria should be taken into account when choosing your tiling?
First and foremost, the first step is obviously to choose your tile. This choice will depend a lot on where you want to put it and the characteristics it should have.
Indeed, although it is possible to install tiles everywhere and on any surface, you will not be able to lay just any tile in all places .
Thus, if you want to install tiles in a living room, such as a bedroom or a dining room, you will have few constraints. You can therefore choose the tiles you prefer, according to your desires and their aesthetics. On the other hand, in the case of a kitchen or a bathroom, you will have to make sure to choose a hydrophobic tile in order to ensure the waterproofing of the walls.
If you are interested in installing tiles on a terrace, you will need to choose an outdoor tile model. In general, these are non-slip, which prevents accidents when wet.
As for the choice of the size of the tiles, it is not always trivial. Thus, in the kitchen, we recommend that you lay medium-sized tiles in order to facilitate its cleaning and to avoid the accumulation of deposits.
Types of tiles and their prices
When we think of tiles, many of us think of the classic square porcelain stoneware. However, there are many possibilities to decorate your home. They can be classified into three categories: ceramic, stone or special tiles.
Ceramic tiles
This category includes porcelain stoneware tiles, but also earthenware, terracotta or terracotta.
- Porcelain stoneware : this is the most common model. It is easy to install and is affordable. It will take between 20 € and a hundred euros per m², depending on the finish.
- Terracotta : it is generally treated to resist stains and water. It will give an elegant touch to your surface, but you will have to pay between 40 € and 80 € per m².
- Earthenware : it is ideal for decorating walls, especially those of kitchens. However, it is a fragile material. You will need to count between 20 € and a hundred euros per m², depending on the model.
- The tomette : it is a robust but aesthetic option, which has very good thermal properties. For this type of tile, count between € 40 and € 100 per m².
Stone tiles
In this category, we find slate, granite, travertine, limestone or even marble.
- Slate : it is a classic material with an exceptional rendering. It will give a certain elegance to your room or to your exterior. You can get it for a cost ranging from 40 € to 100 € per m².
- Travertine : it is available in different finishes and can thus be brushed, polished or aged. It is more expensive: you will find it between 60 € and 150 € per m².
- Limestone : it can give a very natural look but it will have to be treated against stains and be careful with the cleaning products you use. For this material, you will need between € 40 and € 100 per m².
- Marble : we all have Italian palaces adorned with this noble material par excellence. It has an aesthetic rendering and hardness without comparison. However, these properties come at a cost and you will need to count over € 50 per m². Some models even cost more than 200 € per m².
Special tiles
In this category, you will find glass paste type tiles, or imitation tiles.
- Glass paste : it has the advantage of being combinable in an infinite number of colors, and you can even use it to make mosaics. You will find them from € 10 per m².
- Imitation tile : it is porcelain stoneware tile, but which has finishes imitating other materials such as wood, marble, etc. The advantage of this model is that you can adjust your desires on a more modest budget. Indeed, the prices of imitation tiles are substantially similar to porcelain stoneware tiles.
Why call on a professional to lay the tiles?
After choosing your tile, you will need to consider the laying technique. This represents the second pole of expenditure in the final cost of your tiling. Especially since in some cases, depending on the technique you choose, you will have to call a professional to lay your tiles.
In any case, if you do not have experience in laying tiles and / or you are not equipped, we recommend that you hire a professional tiler. Indeed, it requires a certain technical know-how and precision in the gestures.
In general, using a professional has many advantages. First of all, this will ensure that your tile is laid on a 100% flat surface that is free from imperfections . This will also prevent unnecessary losses in the event of failed attempts. This is all the more important if the tiles you have chosen represent a certain budget!
In addition, by calling on the services of a professional, you will have the opportunity to benefit from his advice in order to adapt your tiling as much as possible to your situation and your desires. Finally, you will have the guarantee that the tiling is installed correctly and respecting safety standards . Under certain conditions, you could even benefit from the ten-year guarantee.
Types of tiling and their cost
It’s important to check with different tilers and compare quotes to choose the one that’s right for you. In general, when you request a quote, the craftsman will show the cost of the tiling, but also of the materials necessary for its installation (braces, mortar or glue, etc.), as well as the cost of labor. work for the installation.
For the installation of a tile, it is generally necessary to count between 35 € and 70 € per m² . That said, the cost of installing your tile depends largely on the type of installation you choose. Three different types of poses can be offered to you: it can be sealed, glued or clipped.
Sealed installation
The sealed laying technique is the traditional tile laying technique . These are placed on a mortar screed that covers the entire surface that you will want to decorate. This base will make up for differences in level if your floor is irregular or damaged. It is also recommended for large size tiles (30cm x 30cm or larger), as it will facilitate their installation.
While sealed tiling is the most common method, it is also the most complex and difficult to install. If your tiling were to be poorly laid, this coating would not last over time. You would then have to deposit it, that is to say to remove it in order to put new tiles.
In the end, you would therefore have to have the work done twice and especially to pay double. It is therefore preferable to invest correctly in the sealed installation from the start, by calling in a professional.
Glued laying
If you opt for this technique, your tile will be placed directly on the space to be covered by applying an adhesive mortar to each tile. You can therefore lay your tiles on a concrete screed, but also directly on an old tile. The most important thing is to ensure that the ground is level and clean.
This method is used more and more. It is suitable if you have a flat floor in good condition. If this is not the case, it will be mandatory to repair and plan your floor.
Glued installation has several advantages. First, it is a bit simpler than the previous method because it is not necessary to carry out heavy masonry. Second, you can use this technique of laying on floors as well as on walls . Third, it is very easy to find glues with excellent adhesion in stores. Finally, among the three installation techniques, it is also the cheapest .
Clip-on pose
If you’re not a DIY expert or don’t want to go through a professional tiler, there is the option of clip-on installation.
In this case, you won’t need any mortar, grout or glue. Clip-on installation is a floating technique , that is to say not fixed to the ground, which could be compared to the installation of floating floors. It consists of an assembly of notches and tabs. It is thus possible to replace a tile or to easily restart the installation.
In addition to the ease of replacing a possible broken tile, the clip-on tile offers many advantages. On the one hand, it does not require carrying out masonry work , either for the concrete screed or for the preparation of the glue. On the other hand, it is also ideal when you do not want to damage an already existing coating or when you have changing tastes and you like to vary the decorations regularly.
However, this option is quite expensive.