I will show how to calculate the number of tiles needed to tile various spaces within the building (floor and wall tiling).
We would make reference to 3 bedroom plan below, to calculate the tiles needed in the living room, one of the bedrooms and the master’s toilet’s floor and wall tiles.
SELECTING TILES
- Tiles come in various sizes, the common ones being 150×150, 200×200, 300×300, 150×300, 200×400, 300×600, 400×400 and 600×600; the first thing to do is pick a tile (based on clients choice or use) for each floor and wall. There is no rule stopping you from using any particular tile size for floor or wall, as long as it has the perfect surface finish for that use.
e.g, a glazed (slippery) tile is not appropriate in the bathroom, so if I find any non-slippery tile, irrespective of the size, I can use it for my wet floors. Wet floors include Bathroom, Swimming pool, Laundry, etc. (We’ve had buildings where 600×600 tiles were used on the wall and 150×150 tiles used on the floor) - in summary, the tile finish NOT the tile size determines where it is used.
- Select tiles for each space. (Let’s select ours too).
I’ll go with the popular opinion; Living Room (600×600), Bedroom (400×400), Bathroom Floor (300×300) and Bathroom Wall (200×400).
Note:
Glazed tiles cannot be used on wet floors - it’s very slippery if the floor is wet and dangerous
Un-Glazed, Matte, Rough tiles can be used on any surface (wet or dry)
Calculate the area of the spaces (floor and wall) separately - This uses the simple LxB (area of a rectangle principle) - and write it out.
Note:
Remember to deduct door and window openings where applicable (e.g Area of wall = 10m2; area of window = 0.5m2 therefore area to be tiled = 10m2 - 0.5m2 = 9.5m2)
After getting your area to be tiled, ADD 10% of quantity for waste & broken tiles. (e.g 9.5m2 + 10% of 9.5m2 >> 9.5 + 0.95 >> 10.45m2)
Calculate the Total area of Tiles you’re picking; this varies from one manufacturer to the other and from one product size to the other. >> this means that while 400×400 tiles from SaydFact Ceramics contain 11 pcs, those of Teewhy2 Tiles Ltd might contain 13 pcs - It is, therefore, important to know how much pieces each pack of tiles you’re buying contain.
Ascertain the total area of one pack of tiles (either by calculating or checking on the pack), use this figure to divide the total square area of the room to be tiled and the result gives you quantities needed - in simple terms >> (AREA OF LIVING ROOM / area of 1 pack of tiles) = Quantity of Tiles needed (remember to add 10% for waste).
LETS NOW GO PRACTICAL BY CALCULATING USING THE ATTACHED DRAWING (see pics below) and information in No2 above.
A. Master’s Bedroom:
- From the diamond below; total floor area of Master’s Rm is 13.20m2
- Lets agree that our 400×400 tiles contain 11 pieces; hence area of 1 pack in meters >> 0.4m x 0.4m x 11 pcs (400mm is same as 0.4m and area of 1 tile is 0.4 × 0.4, while the area of 1 pack is (Area of 1 tile x number of tiles in 1 pack)
1 PACK = 0.4 × 0.4 × 11 = 1.76m2
Number of tiles needed to complete Master’s Rm floor = 13.20 (divided by) 1.76m2 = 13.20 / 1.76 = 7.5 packs
before we add for waste; let’s calculate skirting for the Bedroom using 120mm as skirting height.
The 1st question is how many skirting can we get from 1 tile?
Ans: Lenght of tiles / Height of skirting = 400 / 120 = 3 skirting from 1 tiles.
What is the perimeter of the space needing skirting?
Ans: From the diagram, bedroom is 4150 by 3150 hence perimeter of room = 4150 + 4150 + 3150 + 3150 = 14600mm
Deduct openings from the perimeter ie 2 doors (toilet and bedroom doors) where there won’t be need for skirting >> 750+900 = 1650mm
Length requiring skirting = 14600mm - 1650mm = 12950mm
Numbers of Skirting needed = 12950 / 400 (lenght of 1 tile) = 33 pcs (approximate to the next whole nos)
Number of Tiles needed to make requirement = 33 pcs / 3 (number of skirting gotten from 1 tile) = 11 pcs (11 tiles are needed for skirting)
Number of packs needed for skirting = 11 pcs / 11 pcs (number in 1 pack) = 1 pack is needed.
TOTAL TILES NEEDED FOR MASTER’S BEDROOM:
7.5 PACKS (FLOOR) + 1 PACK (SKIRTING) = 8.5 PACKS.
ADD 10% FOR WASTE >> 8.5 Packs + 10% of 8.5 = 8.5+ 0.85 = 9.35 packs needed
HENCE BUY 10 PACKS (approximated to the next whole number because you can’t buy half tiles)
B. Living Room:
We’re using 600×600 tiles and each pack contains 4 pcs; hence Area of 1 pack = 0.6×0.6×4 = 1.44m2
Area of Living Room (see diagram) = 22.02m2
- Number of Packs needed for Floor >> 22.02 / 1.44 = 15.2 packs
Skirting >> Perimeter of Living Room - (All Openings) = 12.2m or 12200mm
Number of Skirting in 1 tiles >> 600 / 120 = 5 pcs (from 1 tiles)
Number of skirting needed for Living Room = 12200 / 600 = 21 pcs
Number of Tiles needed to meet requirements = 21 / 5 = 5 tiles
Number of packs needed for skirting = 5 tiles / 4 pcs (number in 1 pack) = 1.25 pack is needed.
TOTAL TILES NEEDED FOR LIVING ROOM:
15.2 PACKS (FLOOR) + 1.25 PACK (SKIRTING) = 17 PACKS.
ADD 10% FOR WASTE >> 17 Packs + 10% of 17 = 17+ 1.7 = 18.7 packs needed
HENCE BUY 19 PACKS (approximated to the next whole number because you can’t buy half tiles)
C. Bathroom Floor: (using 300mm by 300mm Tiles)
Area of Floor / Area of 1 pack of Tiles >> 3.26 / 1.35 (assuming nos in 1 pack = 15nos) = 2.4 packs
There’s no skirting in Bathroom because we have wall tiles.
TOTAL TILES NEEDED FOR BATHROOM FLOOR = 2.4 + 10% of 2.4 = 3 PACKS
D. Bathroom Wall:
We’re using 200×400 tiles and each pack contains 17 pcs; hence Area of 1 pack = 0.2×0.4×17 = 1.36m2
Let’s also assume that we’re tiling up-to 2.1m only i.e Window level (the alternative is to tile up-to 3m; i.e ceiling level)
What is the perimeter of the space needing wall tiles?
Ans: From the diagram, bathroom is 2100 by 1500 hence perimeter of room = 2100 + 2100 + 1500 + 1500 = 7200mm = 7.2m
Find total area to be tiled >> Perimeter x Height used >> 7.2m x 2.1m = 15.12m2
Deduct Area of openings from the Area above i.e 1 door (2.1m x 0.75m) and 1 window (0.6m x 0.6m) >> (1.6m2 + 0.36m2) = 1.96m2
Hence; Area to be tiled = 15.12m2 - 1.96m2 = 13.16m2
Now we revert to our earlier formulas i.e AREAS TO BE TILED / AREA OF 1 PACK = NUMBERS OF PACKS NEEDED
- 13.16m2 / 1.36m2 (area of 1 pack) = 9.7 packs = 10 packs (approximate to next whole number)
TOTAL TILES NEEDED FOR TOILET WALL: 10 PACKS
ADD 10% FOR WASTE >> 10 Packs + 10% of 10 = 10 + 1 = 11 packs needed
HENCE BUY 11 PACKS
Do the above for all space in the building; You can even prepare an excel file with the formulas so you won’t need calculations each time; just input the area of floor and area of tiles and bingo.
Thanks for Following…
