Specifying tile, by where it goes.
The tile configurator begins with WHERE the material will be used: the same attractive tile may suit a bathroom wall yet be unsafe on a shower floor or unsuitable as a countertop.
Real standard sizes, ratings and standards only — no invented SKUs, brands or colour codes. “Material price” and “installed-price impact” are fields to record, never values shown. The point is to sell a complete assembly, not a loose tile.
What to decide, and the trap to avoid
Application and exposure
Decision ruleClassify as dry floor, wet floor, shower floor, bathroom wall, backsplash, countertop, exterior, staircase or feature wall.
Common trapSelecting one tile for the entire project without checking whether it is approved for each application.
Complete installed budget
Decision ruleCompare tile, wastage, delivery, substrate levelling, waterproofing, adhesive, grout, trims, cutting and labour — not the tile price alone.
Common trapCheap large-format tiles become expensive because of levelling, specialist lifting, cutting and high breakage.
Material type
Decision ruleUse ceramic mainly for economical walls; porcelain for floors, wet areas and exterior use; mosaics for tight falls; slabs or suitable stone / sintered products for counters.
Common trapUsing wall-grade ceramic on floors, or ordinary floor tiles as countertops without appropriate support and edge treatment.
Tile format and thickness
Decision ruleChoose the format according to room size, drainage geometry, substrate flatness and handling. Confirm the actual thickness before selecting aluminium profiles.
Common trapLarge tiles cannot follow multiple shower-floor falls without envelope cuts; thin slabs crack when incorrectly supported.
Surface finish and slip resistance
Decision ruleUse matte / textured products for wet floors and exterior areas. Polished surfaces suit dry walls and selected dry floors. Request the applicable slip-test information.
Common trapPolished bathroom tiles become slippery. Very rough tiles improve grip but can be hard to clean.
Colour, pattern and variation
Decision ruleSelect colour under the actual lighting. Record vein direction, shade variation, print repetition, book-matching and whether the design should feel continuous or random.
Common trapA small sample does not show the full pattern; repeated digital prints make a “natural stone” design look artificial.
Layout, grout and joint width
Decision ruleApprove the starting lines, centre lines, grout width, grout colour, alignment with doors / cabinets and acceptable edge cuts.
Common trapThe installer starts from one corner and leaves narrow pieces at the most visible wall, doorway or floor trap.
Substrate, waterproofing and falls
Decision ruleSurvey flatness, moisture, cracks and levels. Complete waterproofing and flood testing before tiling. Form wet-area falls in the substrate — not with tile adhesive.
Common trapTile is treated as waterproofing. Leaks or cracks are blamed on the tile even though the failure is behind it.
Edges, junctions and aluminium profiles
Decision ruleResolve exposed edges, external / internal corners, countertop edges, skirting, stair nosing, floor transitions, movement joints and floor traps.
Common trapDecorative T / L profiles are used in place of genuine movement joints, or the profile depth does not match tile-plus-adhesive thickness.
Batch, wastage, installation and replacement stock
Decision rulePurchase one production batch, define wastage by format / layout, inspect before installation and retain replacement pieces.
Common trapA later reorder has a different shade, calibre or surface texture; no matching pieces remain for repairs.
Ceramic tiles are among the construction materials regulated by CIDB, which identifies MS ISO 13006 for ceramic tiles. ALUMAX should retain product and compliance documentation against each SKU. CIDB construction-material requirements
A practical starting choice per application
| Application | Practical starting choice | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Budget dry floor | Standard-format matte porcelain with controlled variation and a simple straight layout | A highly polished finish or complicated patterns that increase cutting |
| Premium living floor | Large-format rectified porcelain with carefully planned joints | Installing over an uneven substrate |
| Kitchen backsplash | Glazed ceramic, porcelain, mosaic or a large slab with an easy-clean surface | Deeply textured material behind the hob |
| Budget countertop | Properly supported porcelain tile with stain-resistant grout and a resolved edge profile | Numerous narrow grout joints and unsupported tile edges |
| Premium countertop | A suitable porcelain / sintered slab, quartz or stone system | Treating a thin wall slab as a self-supporting worktop |
| Bathroom floor | Matte, slip-conscious porcelain in a format compatible with the room falls | Polished tile around wet areas |
| Shower floor | Small-format porcelain or mosaic that can follow the falls to the trap | One large tile unless specifically cut and detailed for drainage |
| Bathroom wall | Ceramic for value; porcelain for greater durability; larger formats for fewer grout lines | Heavy large tiles on an unprepared wall |
| Exterior floor / balcony | Exterior-rated textured porcelain with low water absorption, drainage and movement joints | Interior polished tile, or adhesive not approved for exposure |
| Staircase | Durable porcelain with coordinated nosing, a visible edge and a slip-conscious surface | Sharp exposed tile edges without protection |
| Feature wall | Large-format porcelain, fluted / 3D tile, mosaic or a stone-look slab | Excessive texture in areas that need frequent cleaning |
| Pool or constantly immersed area | A complete pool-rated tile, adhesive, grout and waterproofing system | Selecting on colour or a water-absorption claim alone |
A backsplash is three zones, not one material.
Behind a hob, a sink, or only decoratively — wall panels are approved by zone and certified product system, not by the generic material name. See the full validation matrix.
What the format changes
| Format | Visual effect | Installation consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Mosaic / small | More joints and texture | Follows curves and drainage falls well; more grout maintenance |
| 300–600 mm | Practical and economical | Easier handling, replacement and slope formation |
| 600–1200 mm | Cleaner, more premium | Requires flatter substrates and better cutting |
| Oversized slab | Minimal joints and strong visual continuity | Requires specialist handling, cutting, adhesive coverage and replacement planning |
Large-format tiles need particularly accurate substrates. Mapei’s technical guidance emphasises substrate flatness and suitable installation techniques for large formats. Mapei large-format installation guidance
What the configurator records
Each SKU is recorded against these — enough to specify, price and replace it correctly.
The biggest improvement is to sell a complete tile ASSEMBLY, not only a tile:
Tile + substrate preparation + waterproofing + adhesive + grout + movement joints + aluminium profiles + installation method.