Anyone used these cheap white tiles?
Both are under $10/ square meter.
Both have bows/ curves in them (so won't be laid in brick pattern). Bunnies tile slightly worse.
National tile is approx 7mm
Bunnings Dura Tile is 9.8mm
P.S. looked at Beaumonts cheap white tile and its white ceramic coating is nowhere near as good as these two.
Cheers.
Funny, that's exactly why I'd go for the National Tiles one LOL!
Frank Walker, Franco Cozzo, and Aussie John Symond - Aussie business owner/sales voiceover legends!
Edit: nearly forgot Chris and Marie from Wombat Gully/HelloHello.com.au
And what??? No Big Kev??? "I'm Excited!!"
We had Bunnings Duratile 60x30cm (textured) installed recently for a kitchen splashback. Not exactly the cheapies you're referring to, but the tiler had no complaints about them and they look pretty good.
I think you dropped these.
Franks for that.
I moved interstate to get away for this "Frank Walker" idiot and his ads on the radio… And now, after years of dodging them, he has made his way once again onto my radio.
I vote Bunnings, because (fropanity) that annoying arsehat and his radio ads.
I remember that it used to be "Bargain Tiles" and apparently, this company went to the wall and left a lot of investors and suppliers hung out to dry all while Frank moved all the business and assets into his son, Nick's name so it could not be touched. Frank still does the voice overs but "Nick" is the CEO of National Tiles.
"Unda $10 per skwar meeeetargh…"
I'm a tiler by trade and have laid 1000's of 'em, from my experience, the $10 per m² tiles from National Tiles are fine. They're usually consistent with the sizes (ie: not 1mm bigger than the next tiles( which can often happen. They lay well and have few imperfections.
Bunnings on the other hand, are usually very low quality. Don't bother.
If you have Beaumont tiles near you, last I heard, they were also doing the $10 a m² deal, I can vouch for those too.
Also, as these tiles are rectified edge, if you're getting a tiler in, ask them to use 1.5mm levelling clips to avoid any lippage. You'll end up with lovely flat walls that are a pleasure to see.
Quick opinion please. White tile, timber bench. All white grout or a colour? Ie light grey, black?
Usually white grout for a white tile unless it's a feature tile(like subway tile) in which case you can highlight them by using a light grey grout. (Ardex Misty Grey) if you can source it, woyld be a good choice.
Thanks mate, appreciate it
Cheers for this. All my judgement has been based on two sample tiles, so appreciate the experienced knowledge.
The Bunnings tiles physical surface look to be the best tile, especially compared to a Beaumonts $10 tile (which has a lot of orange peel texture to it and almost looks blue, patchy and see through). But a nice flat tile.
However, the Bunnings tile is massively bowed through the middle. The display they have have set up is in brick pattern and the raised mid section sticks out like proverbial dogs beanbags. If that was grouted it would look terrible.
The national tile sits between the two, albeit thinner. It looks like I'm going to need to sell my soul and buy from Frank…that voice! Thanks again.
You're welcome, once they're on your wall in something other than showroom lights then it's hard to notice the difference between them anyway.
Just one more thing. I've done a few bathroom reno's 5-10 yrs ago, and only ever used a board / level to get my tiles flat.
Now looks like these plastic levellers are all the go. Any tips on half decent budget systems. I will probably do kitchen, toilet, bathroom, laundry, ensuite and one more bathroom. So no pro tool needed, but some of the entry level types look a bit rubbish.
@tunzafun001: Careful with clips systems!! I saw 600m2 job where tiler used clips, 1/3 was loose after a month, and had to be replaced. That is because tiler abused clips and made bond breakage between glue and tile. You have to work a glue good under the tile and then use clips for minor adjustments (1mm). A lot of tilers are still using good old level and crosses…
@[Deactivated]: Clips wouldn't be the reason the job failed, more likely down to not buttering the back of the tile or prepping the substrate properly.
@tunzafun001: Something like this would do the job.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/173520827842
You'll only need 1 clip/wedge per tile and place it where the 4 corners meet and 1 for your corner tiles. So an average of no more than 1.5 per tile
@gooddealmate: Cheers, and then just break the tops off once dry?
Also, got Ardex Polar White grout left over. Is this still the whitest of the grouts?
@tunzafun001: One more thing. Don't do white grout in the shower or on the splashback (stove area) unless you love cleaning. Stick to misty gray like gooddealmate suggested. White is hard to maintain just like black.
Simple answer….Find out where they are from !!!!
Chinese tiles are terrible!
They are often NOT FLAT resulting in a terrible tile job.
Any tiler will tell you.
Always Go for the Italian tiles any day even if you pay more
Surprisingly, Italian tiles these days are not what they used to be. Sizey tiles, unusual dimensions like 595mm instead of 600mm.
Chinese made have come a long way. Quality is better than Italian these days.
Yeah, I just discovered our $75/m2 floor tiles are 597mm and I measured up for 600+grout. Guessing they do this now to 'auto factor' in grout lines.
While I've got you. Any tips for a screed that will taper off to zero mm (convertering single shower to double). Using a curb to make it easier. Not a big enough job to warrant a 20kg bag of leveller. Last time I made a sand / cement/ powerstick slurry for the thin part. Seemed to be ok, but this time it's over some terrazzo.
They all have 'china' printed on the back :) Funny enough, you would think China would make good..china.
Bunnings because
Hullow, Frank Walker from National Tiiiles