About Tiles

Due to their convenient properties, tiles are a popular solution for covering walls, floors, and even ceilings in New Zealand. They are characterised by their stylish appearance and hardwearing nature, which brought them out of the typical places such as kitchens and bathrooms into other home areas.

However, not all types and designs are the same. While water-resistant properties are essential for showers and kitchen backsplashes, flooring models need sturdiness to help them withstand heavy traffic. 

Types of Tiles 

Wall Tiles

Wall tiles can be used in different vertical places for protection and to create decorative effects. It’s essential to use adequate mortar that will secure the tile in place. Porcelain and glazed ceramic are resistant to stain and moisture, making a good choice for backsplashes, shower walls, and bathroom tiles. 

Floor Tiles

Floor tiles make a strong floor, resistant to moisture and effortless to maintain. Using designs made explicitly for floors ensures that they will be able to withstand foot traffic. Floor designs are more enduring than other types and feature a high traction rating (D.C.O.F.) in New Zealand.

Ceiling Tiles

Ceiling tiles are often used to create suspended grid ceilings, suitable for commercial applications. They can significantly improve room acoustics, light reflectance, and ambience. However, ceiling tiles can also be installed for mainly decorative purposes. The choice of materials ranges from small glazed mosaic squares to high-quality mineral fibre wool with a smooth, discreet finish ideal for open-plan offices. 

Mosaics

Mosaic tiles are small and available in a variety of colours and shapes in New Zealand, made from a number of materials. They are versatile in use and very decorative. Mosaics typically arrive as a set of hexagon tiles mounted on sheets for effortless installation. It can be put together by hand or machine.

Decorative Versions

Decorative tiles add a pop of colour, pattern and texture to the places typically unsuitable for the use of other features such as wallpaper and stickers. They provide a visual dimension and dynamics to humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms, along with benefits like stain resistance and effortless maintenance. 

Tiles and Stones

Tiles and stones can also be used outdoors to cover patios, sidewalks, balconies, terraces, and pool areas. All designs used for outside should be outdoor-approved in New Zealand in order to last. Natural stones are a convenient and stylish material for outdoor tiles, as long as properly installed and sealed.

Materials

• Quarry: Unglazed ceramic tile is called a query tile. It’s naturally coloured by clay pigments and needs surface sealing for protection. 
• Ceramic: A mixture of clay and other minerals, this traditional tile is “baked” and then treated with glazed colour to create a glass-like surface.
• Porcelain: Essentially similar to ceramics, the mix for porcelain tiles is exposed to extreme heat in order to become dense, durable, and moisture resistant. Porcelain makes an excellent choice for backsplashes and kitchen tiles. 
• Natural Stone: Versions made of natural stone are durable, strong, and distinguished by natural beauty. It’s strongly recommended to use stone tiles that are sealed for moisture protection in New Zealand.    
• Cement: Poured into moulds and then exposed to heat or dried naturally, cement tiles can be coloured or left natural. Like their stone counterparts, cement is also porous and requires sealing before use for moisture and stain resistance.         
• Terrazzo: A textured, composite terrazzo tile is a mix of stone or marble chips moulded into a cement or concrete tile.        
• Glass: Pieces of glass can be formed into uniform shapes and coloured in various shades. They can be found as individual items or as a part of mosaic sheets.      
• Brick: Brick tiles are essentially designed for outdoor areas but can also be used indoors to create rustic accents. Brick is a sturdy tile available in several earthy tones that needs a stain-resistant sealer due to porosity. Brick veneer is a thinner alternative to brick tile, a good choice for indoor walls and accent areas. 

Tile Patterns 

• Linear: The most common design type in New Zealand with neat and uniform grouts. Arranging different sizes forms a “mixed linear” pattern.
• Diamond: A variation to the linear pattern, achieved by rotating the design by 45°.
• Brick bond: Like the name says, this design resembles the way the bricks are arranged in a wall. 
• Herringbone: This pattern uses a mix of verticals and horizontals to produce a dynamic effect. Rotating grouts by 45° transfers the herringbone into a zig-zag pattern. 
• Basketweave 90°/45°: Making squares out of three horizontal and three vertical pieces, and arranging them next to each other, creates a basket weave pattern.

Things to Consider Before Choosing Tiles

Most designs come with either a matte or gloss finish. The choice between the two depends on personal taste and the overall decor style. Matte finish is slightly more convenient due to the surface that conceals marks and stains. 

Textured tiles are a popular choice to add more dimension to the walls, including bevelled metro tiles, various designer tiles, 3D tiles, and more. 

Only certain models are suitable for use in specific conditions in New Zealand, such as humid environments or with underfloor heating. 

The “R rating” determines the tile’s anti-slip properties, where R9 marks the lowest resistance grade and R13 the highest one.