Hexagon tile backsplash
How to Measure Your Bathroom Tiles Accurately: Everything You Need to Know
When it comes to renovating your bathroom, installing the right bathroom tiles on the floors or walls is crucial in helping you to bring it all together and enjoy the aesthetics you dream of. How to measure your bathroom tiles accurately. However, measuring your bathroom tiles accurately can be a challenging task to try and ensure that you get the perfect finish around your appliances and fixings.
If you are looking to update your home, our expert bathroom installers have put together a thorough guide to help you to measure your bathroom tiles correctly. When you can accurately measure your bathroom, you will be able to guarantee that you not only order enough tiles to cover the entire room but that you also have enough overage to cover the project.
When it comes to renovating your bathroom and fitting new tiles, to ensure you can get the correct amount and style, there are many questions you should answer before beginning the design process. How to measure your bathroom tiles. This includes the usual expectations such as the material and finishes that you are seeking, as well as design features such as how much of the wall you will be covered in tiles and whether they will appear under appliances such as your bath.
How to get started
When it comes to measuring your bathroom tiles accurately, the first thing you should do is to measure the room. To do this, you should utilize a tape measure that has a metal blade of at least one inch to ensure that it retains its rigidity, something that vinyl and fabric tapes are unable to do. This rigidity is essential in helping to measure the room more precisely accurately, and for ultimate measurement, you should consider the use of a laser measuring device.
Of course, while measuring, you will be facing many different numbers and measurements, so having a pencil and piece of paper to keep these numbers to hand can be very helpful. Depending on whether you are installing floor tiles or wall tiles, then there are also some key points that you should remember.
Bathroom floor tiles
When looking to install bathroom floor tiles, you should first measure the entire dimensions of the bathroom. To do this, measure from each wall to the opposite wall in every direction. If your bathroom features additional alcoves or features different dimensions, then measure these as separate entities.
Bathroom wall tiles
For bathroom wall tiles, if you are looking for full walls, then you should measure from the floor to ceiling, while for wainscot options, you should ideally measure the height of the ceiling and divide by a third.
If you are looking to install bathroom tiles into specific areas of your bathroom, such as in the shower, then you should measure from side to side and floor to ceiling, not accounting for any shower pan or curb.
Accounting for variables
When trying to measure your bathroom, you will find that no matter the size or shape of the room, homeowners will always find similar issues. Every home has a range of variables, so you should remember:
- That measuring tapes can sag. To ensure you get the most accurate measurements, keep it as straight and level as possible, and where possible, utilize other people to help you keep it safe.
- Ignore all baseboards, and ensure that you always measure from wall to wall.
- Make sure you subtract any cutouts down to the nearest square foot, while any items such as your toilet or show drain under a square foot should not be deducted.
- Any areas that will not change, such as permanent cabinets, should not be tiled under or measured.
- Do not count any bathtub or shower areas as part of your measurements
- Account for tile grouting, which is typically between 1/16th and ¼ of an inch.
Purchasing your bathroom tiles
When you have been able to measure your bathroom accordingly, it is time to purchase your tiles. Useful measurements will help to reduce the chance of errors, but it is also important to remember a range of crucial issues:
Overage
Ensuring you always have enough spare tiles to cover any errors or mistakes is essential. When it comes to buying overage, it is always recommended that you buy 10% additional stock than your measurements dictate.
This additional stock will help to ensure that any tiles that might arrive damaged or are unusable will not slow your project down. Despite how correct your measurements are, it is almost impossible to buy the exact amount of tiles you need. That is why overage is a vital part of your bathroom renovations.
Unique shapes
While most bathroom tiles come in either a square or rectangular shape, if your bathroom is utilizing a unique shape or design, it is essential to consider this. Typically, if you are planning on incorporating a unique design into your home, then you should increase your overage levels to 20%.
Returns
One of the most important aspects of purchasing bathroom tiles is the returns policy offered on your tiles. Overage is an essential part of any project, and often brick-and-mortar stores provide customers with better return options than online retailers.
Final considerations
If you are looking to renovate your bathroom, then ensuring you have the right tiles for your home is essential. Floor and wall tiles will often come with a range of technical specifications, particularly floor tiles, which will come with a Coefficient of Friction, Slip Ratings, and the ability to withstand foot traffic.
If you are looking to give your home a new look, then at Explore Kitchens, our highly experienced team is here to help you. Working across Northern Virginia, we help clients transform their properties with beautiful and innovative solutions designed around their exact needs. From minor updates to full renovations, our team is here to help you, so get in touch today to find out more.