Porcelain Tiling in Bromley & South London

Porcelain is the workhorse of modern tiling, and for most busy floors it is what I would recommend. It is fired harder and denser than ceramic, absorbs very little water, and stands up to heavy traffic, pets and dropped pans far better than a softer tile.

Where porcelain works best

Kitchen floors, hallways, utility rooms, bathrooms and wet rooms all suit porcelain. Through-body porcelain carries its colour all the way through the tile, so a chip is far less obvious than on a glazed ceramic. Outdoor-rated porcelain is also an option for patios and thresholds, where frost resistance matters.

Wood-effect planks and large format tiles have both become popular, and both are less forgiving than they look.

What large format tiles actually need

Anything over 600mm on its longest edge needs a genuinely flat substrate. On a floor that is out by a few millimetres across a run, a large tile will rock, lip at the edges, or crack under load. Getting that right means checking the floor properly before any adhesive is mixed, and levelling it where it needs it, rather than trying to bury the problem in adhesive.

Rectified porcelain, where the edges are machine cut to an exact size, allows much narrower grout joints. It also shows up any inaccuracy in setting out, so the layout has to be planned from the start rather than adjusted as it goes.

Wood-effect planks need a brick bond of no more than a third, not a half, or the bow along the length of each plank causes lipping at the centre of its neighbour.

Getting a quote

I cover Bromley, Croydon, Orpington, Bexley, Swanley, Sevenoaks and the surrounding South London area, and quotes are free and carry no obligation. If you are still choosing tiles, I am happy to advise on size, finish and layout before you buy, which is usually cheaper than changing your mind afterwards.