Premium wall tiles: 8 checks before you buy
Premium is not a price tag. It is a set of things you can check: how the design is printed, how many faces it has, the glaze, the size accuracy, the thickness, the strength and the packing. Here is the checklist we use.
Premium is the most used word on a tile box. It means something only when you can check it. These are the eight checks that separate a premium wall tile from an ordinary one, with the figures for our own tiles so you can compare.
1. The print
Look closely at a sample. A premium digital print has sharp detail and smooth colour changes: veins in a marble look, grain in a stone look, clean edges on a pattern. Blurred lines, banding (faint stripes across the tile) or flat-looking colour are signs of a cheaper print.
2. The number of faces
A design printed exactly the same way on every tile repeats itself across the wall. Premium designs come with several faces: different prints of the same design, mixed in the boxes. Ask how many faces a design has. Some of our pattern and texture designs carry 64.
3. The glaze and finish
The glaze is what you touch and clean. It should be even, without pinholes or rough patches, and the finish should suit the room:
| Finish | Looks | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Glossy | Reflects light, colours look deeper | Kitchens, bathrooms, small rooms |
| Matt | Soft, no glare, hides water marks | Living rooms, bedrooms, feature walls |
| Rustic | Textured and natural | Elevations, terraces, stone and brick looks |
4. Size accuracy
Lay four tiles together face down. The edges should line up without gaps or steps, and the corners should be square. Accurate tiles give straight, even joints; uneven ones force wide grout lines.
5. Thickness for the size
Thickness should suit the size. Our 300 × 450 mm wall tiles are about 7.5 mm thick, and our 300 × 300 and 300 × 600 mm tiles about 9.5 mm.
6. Strength
Ask for the breaking strength. Our ceramic tiles are rated at 150 to 180 kg/cm². Check the edges of a sample too: a tile that chips easily in the hand will chip when it is cut and fixed.
7. Packing
Tiles that arrive broken are not premium, whatever they cost. Good packing means a strong carton and protection between the tiles. Ours are packed in laminated, rain-proof 5-ply boxes, with paper between the pieces in the higher ranges.
8. Shade and batch
Tiles from different firings can differ slightly in shade. Buy the whole job from one batch, check the batch details on each box, and keep a few spare tiles for future repairs.
Premium and commercial tiles compared
| Premium | Commercial | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp and detailed | Simpler and flatter | |
| Faces | Many | Few or one |
| Size accuracy | Tight | Looser |
| Packing | Protected | Basic |
| Best for | Feature walls, homes, showrooms | Large plain areas |
A sample settles most questions: request one for any design. Read also what makes a tile designer and how digital wall tiles are made.
