Your local Tile Experts

The Tile People Melbourne, Victoria

Ask us more questions...

  1. What are your trading times? As The Tile People stores are all independently owned we all have various trading hours. We are open Monday to Saturday. To find out the trading hours of the store near you, click on to ‘Store Locations’.
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  2. Do you install tiles? The Tile People specialise in tile supply, that’s why we have the latest trends and fashions sitting on our shelves ready for you to peruse. However, over the years, stores have built a network of trade contacts that specialise in various fields like the tiling of ceramic and porcelain tiles, fixing of stone and slate, cleaning and sealing, and even tile removal. Just click on ‘Find a Tiler’ to locate a trade specialist near you.
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  3. I have no idea how many tiles I need! Can you help me? Sure! At The Tile People we are well versed in measuring and estimating. Just bring in your scaled building plans, or a drawing with measurements and we can estimate how many tiles you need. Remember to always allow extras for on-site (hyphenated) cuts (10% for straight tiling, 15% for diamond pattern or tiles (600mmx600mm and larger), and then an extra box or two to put away in case you need them sometime down the track. Some of our Tile People stores offer local on-site measures – check out a Tile People store near you to see what they can offer you.
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  4. Do you provide free written quotes? Of course, it’s all part of the service; we help you select tiles for your home and then provide a written quote. That’s free, and without obligation. All our quotes are numbered so if you’d like to proceed with the quote it’s as simple as a phone call.
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  5. How do I care for my tiled floor? This depends on the type of tile you choose. Generally speaking, our floor tiles can be mopped regularly with tile cleaners. There’s no need for strong and expensive acidic cleaners you buy from the supermarket shelf. Our friends from Aquamix have a great range of friendly cleaners that will do the job. The most important clean is the initial clean after laying. We have products designed to remove any grout residue and any stubborn marks on your floor.  Porcelains and some natural stones like sandstone, terracotta and slate, require different products; we can give you all the information and an in-store demonstration.
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  6. Do my tiles need to be sealed? Possibly, depending on the product you choose. Typically, natural products, quarry tiles, and some porcelain tiles need to be protected with a sealer. Most glazed products, with a standard ceramic surface, do not need to be sealed. Of course, our expert staff can advise on the question of sealing, and we have all the right products from our friends at Aquamix.
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  7. What's the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles? Because of their durability and low porosity, porcelain tiles have traditionally been used in commercial applications- think Flinders Street Station, commercial kitchens, etc. Nowadays for similar reasons, more and more people choose porcelain tiles for their homes. Porcelain, or fully vitrified tiles, do not have a glaze over them like traditional tiles. Rather, the colour runs right through the tile from top to bottom, allowing them to be polished, honed or produced in a natural finish, quite like natural stones such as granite and marble. Because they don’t have a protective glaze, most porcelain tiles require special maintenance, something that we can explain further in store. The latest trend in porcelain tiles is blending the benefits of porcelain products (durability, low porosity) with benefits of ceramics (low maintenance, endless colour range, low production cost), to create a hybrid product called ‘glazed porcelain’. These products have proven to be very popular with time-conscious builders and home owners, and The Tile People have Victoria’s largest range of Australian-made glazed porcelain tiles. Remember, whether it’s a standard ceramic or vitrified porcelain, a The Tile People person is always on hand to help you choose the right tile for your project.
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  8. Are outside tiles different from inside tiles? Definitely. Outside, or Alfresco/external tiles are exposed to harsher conditions than indoor tiles. For this reason, outside tiles need to be resistant to the elements – like frost and slipperiness. The last thing we want is a tile so slippery you can’t walk outside if it’s been raining! The Tile People has a wide selection of products for outdoor use, including glazed ceramics, terracotta, slate, sandstones, porcelain, and not to mention all sorts of external feature tiles, like pool surrounds and bull nose, pebbled borders and sandstone chips.
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  9. Can I tile over my existing tiles or vinyl? You sure can. Our friends form Ardex and Davco have great glues to make this happen, however you should ensure that you are satisfied that the substrate you are tiling over is sound and secure. The tile job will only be as durable and as good as the substrate you are tiling over. Be sure to get the ok from you tiler.
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  10. Do you deliver? We sure do. All Tile People stores offer store pick ups Monday to Saturday, or for an additional charge we can deliver direct to your door. We suggest that orders up to about 30m2 be collected with a trailer or ute. Anything above 30m2 should be delivered by our expert Tile People crew. Just ask your nearest store for advice.
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  11. Does a tiler charge extra for laying large tiles, porcelain tiles, glass features or patterns on the floor? In general a tiler will have a fixed rate for fixing standard ceramic and glazed porcelain tiles, however when you are dealing with large format tiles, glass, patterns, or hard structural tiles like vitrified porcelain, you will find that most tilers will charge additional rates for things like time, use of wet saws, etc. Be sure to ask your tiler up-front what additional costs there are so that there are no surprises at the end.
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  12. Can I have tiles in my home if the floor is not level? The Tile People stores carry a great range of floor levellers from leading brand manufacturers Ardex and Davco. A good looking tile is only as good as the tiling job itself, so you want to be sure that the substrate that the tiles are applied to is secure and level. Speak to your tiler for the best advice as to how to tackle this problem.
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  13. Can I put glass tiles on the floor? In general The Tile People do not recommend glass being put onto the floor as a main tile, however in low traffic areas like a bathroom or ensuite, glass can be used as a décor or feature.
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  14. How long does it take for special order items to come in? At The Tile People we have thousands of décor pieces on display from a lot of local and interstate suppliers. Because of the vast selection we tend to order these in as they are required. We allow at least 7-10 working days for these pieces to come in as some actually need to get made from scratch. The Tile People recommend you allow plenty of time from order date to fixing stage so that your tiles will not hold up your tiling project. As these tiles are specifically ordered for your project, we require a 20% deposit and unfortunately we can not accept returns as batch lots will vary from production to production.
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  15. What accessories do you have to make my tiles look great? The Tile People have a great range of plastic and metal trims and angles, as well as soap holders from leading brands Roberts Design and DTA. Trims and angles are used to finish off corners and edges and come in many colours to coordinate with you floor and wall tiles. Soap holders can come in traditional ceramic or metal, and also come in various styles to accommodate your soap, shampoos, conditioners, and face towels. See our in-store displays and a Tile People person will be happy to assist to coordinate the right accessories for your project.
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