What to Bring When Buying Tiles: A Checklist for Your Shop Visit

A tile shop visit goes much faster when you walk in prepared. Without measurements or photos, you can end up liking a design that does not suit the room, or buying the wrong quantity. This checklist covers what to bring so you can choose confidently and avoid a second trip.

1. Room measurements

This is the single most useful thing to bring. For each area you plan to tile, note:

• Length and width of the floor in feet. For L-shaped rooms, split them into rectangles.
• Wall height and the width of each wall, if you are tiling walls (bathroom, kitchen backsplash, feature wall).
• Doors, windows and openings you will subtract from wall areas.
• Skirting length if you want tile skirting.
• Steps and risers: number of steps, tread width and depth, riser height.

You can get a rough tile count beforehand with our tile calculator. Our guide on how to calculate tiles for a room walks through it step by step.

2. Photos of the room

Photos help us understand light, existing colours and the overall feel. Take:

• A wide photo of each room from the doorway, in daylight
• Close ups of anything that will stay: wall paint, kitchen counter, cabinets, doors, sanitaryware
• Any problem areas: uneven floors, cracks, dampness, existing tile that must match
• For outdoor areas, photos showing slope, drainage and sun exposure

A short video walking around the room is even better.

3. Existing tiles or a sample

If you are repairing, extending or matching, bring an actual tile or a broken piece. Note the size printed on the back if visible. Photos can mislead on colour and finish, but a real piece lets us compare size, thickness, shade and texture directly.

Also bring anything that the new tiles must go with, like a cabinet shutter sample, a granite piece, or a paint shade card.

4. Your budget

You do not have to share an exact number, but having a rough idea per sq ft, or for the whole job, helps us show you suitable options quickly. Remember the total cost includes more than just tiles:

• Tiles, plus extra for cutting and spares
• Adhesive, grout, spacers and levelling clips
• Skirting, step tiles or borders if needed
• Labour and any floor preparation
• Transport to your site

5. Who is laying the tiles

Tell us who will do the work: your own mason, a contractor, or a builder. It matters because:

• Some tiles, especially large format sizes, need experienced layers and proper adhesive.
• Your layer may have preferences on sizes, thickness and wastage allowance.
• They can confirm the exact quantity based on the room layout and laying pattern.

If you can, bring your tile layer along, or call them from the shop. Five minutes of their input can save a lot of trouble.

6. Timeline and site details

• When does the work start? This helps plan whether to buy everything at once.
• Is it a new construction, renovation or repair?
• Which floor is the site on? Is there a lift? Large tiles may not fit in small lifts or narrow staircases.
• Any access issues at the site for unloading?

Quick checklist

At the shop: what to ask

Once you have shortlisted designs, ask about:

• Batch and shade. Make sure all boxes come from the same batch. Read our guide on tile batch, shade and grade.
• Extra quantity. Buy enough spares for cuts and future repairs. See how much extra tile to buy.
• Quality checks. Check flatness, edges and finish. Our guide on how to check tile quality explains how.
• Room suitability. Confirm the tile is right for the use, like anti-skid for bathrooms and outdoor areas.

Ready to visit?

With these things in hand, most people can finalise designs in one visit. Get directions or call the shop to check current stock before you come, and bring your measurements so we can help work out quantities with you.