How many tiles?

There can be significant variations between batches of tiles. Always buy the quantity you need in the first place, and check the batch number on each box on the side of the carton.

The number of tiles needed for plain, uninterrupted wall areas are easy to calculate. Find out the number required for the height, and for the width (counting part tiles as whole tiles). Multiply the two together, and add a further 10% for breakages

Window recesses and alcoves should be calculated separately and added on. If you are using patterned tiles as inserts, these must be calculated and deducted from your total figure.

If you want to incorporate design or motif tiles, plan their exact positions using graph paper, with each large square representing a tile. Shade in where you want the pattern tiles to fall. Stick by this plan, as it may be difficult to change once you have started tiling.