TileClick are introducing a new sample ordering service in the next few weeks.

We have received quite a bit of feedback in a recent survey that has made it ckear that whilst people like the full tiles we send on some products, that they tend not to ever use them so end up throwing them out, or they get broken, but that in a sample, most of the time they were just expecting a cut piece so they could feel the tile, see the colour better and judge the surface.

For these reasons, we will be able to send out 3 sample swatches, which for main tiles will be a minimum of 100x100mm, and send them via the post. As this will be a less expensive way for us to send the sample out, we are passing that saving onto our customers.

We haven’t as yet finalised what the cost will be, if any at all to cover the tiles, wrapping and packaging and and the necessary postage cost, but it won’t be much and will only be a contribution toward the cost.

We will still be able to send out the sample’s in full sizes if needed but just at a price to cover the costs.

When choosing bathroom tiles it is important to make sure you consider the appearance of the tiles.

All ceramic tiles will be glazed, this is a technical part of the tile that protects the biscuit (ceramic) part of the tile from water. Once the tile is printed it is then put through the glazing process.

Gloss and Satin are the most common types of glaze used. Gloss is a more traditional finish, providing a shiny, reflective and fresh look to the tiles, with many white tiles, tiles that are glazed with a gloss finish are whiter than than a satin verison of the same tile.

Satin is used on more natural looking tiles, such a a stone effect ceramic tile. This helps to replicate the thenatural stone look that is then sealed with a suitable sealer, Cornwall and Coniston are two popular stone effect satin glazed ranges that we sell.

However! Many people like the polished stone look and this is where a gloss glaze works very well on a stone effect ceramic tile. Marmaros has been a great selling tile for some while providing that clean and fresh polished stone look.

As far as ongoing maintenance goes, there isnt really much difference as they are both glazed, so the tile is protected but some satin glazed tiles can be a little harder to get them back to a good as new look.

It really is  a personal choice as to what you prefer and it is often the case that certain tile designs suit one or other finish as the designers have a finish in mind when designing the tile.

For the last seven years, TileClick have always provided our customers with good quality products at the best prices we can on our tiles and accessories.
We appreciate the current economic climate, but unfortunately all of our suppliers are implementing forced increases in January. The increasing cost of oil, gas, petrol etc are all the reasons that manufacturers and hauliers are being forced to cover their costs and unfortunately our keen pricing policy means we have to increase our costs proportionately.
At this moment in time we are not fully aware of the increases, but we will aim to keep them to a minimum.
Increased emission zone areas around London will also mean that certain London and surrounding areas may need to pay a surcharge as we are unable to absorb these increases.
These increases will only take effect from January 1st 2012 so please order as soon as possible to avoid these increases as we will not be able to honour 2011 prices once the increases have been implemented.

Using ceramic wall tiles in your bathroom is not only one of the most practical, but can be one of the most cost effective ways to finish your bathroom or kitchen.

Ceramic tiles provide not only a durable and stylish finish but an easy to clean an hygienic one.
All ceramic tiles are glazed with either a matt, satin or gloss finish glaze. This glaze is applied to a printed pattern that gives the look of tile and this is printed onto the body or ‘biscuit’ of the tile – this is the ceramic part!

The glaze is needed to make the tile waterproof as the ceramic body of the tile will absorb water, so the glaze should be on the surface and side edges so that when the tiles are grouted all the unglazed areas are covered and waterproof.

If a tile is cut and not sealed correctly with a grout or silicone, water will penetrate into the body and if the tile has a pale or translucent print, it can appear to darken.

TileClick include ceramic tiles by manufacturer British Ceramic Tile, Studio Conran and Laura Ashley, as well as Villeroy and Boch.

Our two newest and most stunning tiles are the Quebec and Ashdown tiles in the Heritage collection.

Firstly the Ashdown tile is a 60×40 medium travertine effect tile, a super print on a porcelain body makes this tile robust, the rectified edges ad the the authenticity of the Ashdowns look and with a print pattern over about 15 tiles, random placing of the tiles is easy and straight forward- add a PEI rating of 5, no ongoing treatment makes this tile an almost perfect substitute for the real thing.
The Quebec is a different style of tile to the Ashdown, a more traditional square tile with a more coarse surface, giving added anti slip properties. The Quebec tile has authentic earthy tones again on a porcelain body and is a perfect way to complete your bathroom or conservatory floor.

Manufacturer British Ceramic Tile are introducing a new set of range names. The products and the product codes will still be the same, but in the event you have ordered samples of say ‘buxton’ and cant find it, if you use the product code from your sample receipts in the search facility, or use the ‘old to new’ list below.

We hope this transition doesn’t cause any confusion and you have any queries  please feel free to call our free phone number 0800 849 2120 for further clarification.

The list below lists the OLD range name first, then the NEW range name.

Ashbourne  -  Country
Buxton  -  Rock
Brighton  -  Torquay
Carrara  -  Athens
Chambray  -  Cambric
Dartmoor  -  Cornwall
Elgin  -  Marmaros
Holborn  -  Blanco
Henley  -  Blanco
Mayfair  – Starlight
Modo  -  Nova
Oxford  -  Whitney
Piccadilly – Malaga
Renaissance  -  Renoir
Riven  -  Buckfast
Saturn  – Groove
Vivaldi  -  Vermont
Wiltshire  – Coniston
Willow  -  Pampus

Stocks are now in of the new Bathroom Tiles that we mentioned in our last post.

These new tiles are made by British Ceramic Tile, the Devon based tile manufacturer who manufacture bathroom tiles for leading design house Laura Ashley, with the Marchmont and Hinton ranges proving to be popular, as all the Laura Ashley bathroom tiles are.

However, the new additions to the Brighton range of Bathroom Tiles are selling very well, the Truffle, Grey, Ivory and Beige seem to be a really clever move by BCT to add to this range and allow end users to really have a wide scope for designing their ultimate contemporary bathroom.

The original colour selection provided a collection of strong vibrant colours including orange, blue, red, lilac and green. These colours really are eye catching and are all popular for being used as feature panels either above a bath or in a shower enclosure or even to create borders. When used with the white the effect can be fantastic!

Another thing the introduction of these colours has shown is that laying them horizontally in a brick pattern as opposed to the more traditional ‘portrait’ style. Both ways have produced some stunning designs but in my opinion, the brick pattern style does look very good.

One product we are not sure of in this range is the regency inserts and strips? They do look good as a stand alone product but incorporating them into a design doesnt seem as comfortable in a design concept – possible the strong colours combined with the striking pattern is just a little bit too much, but they are still a relatively new product so time will tell.

July will see some new products coming to the TileClick.co.uk website.

In the Laura Ashley range there  are 2 new ranges, Hinton and Marchmont. The Hinton collection is a contemporary design of a black and white ceramic bathroom tiles with a stunning strip tile. These tiles can be comebined and laid either horizontally or vertically and look fantastic either way. The Hinton range is a different take from this well known design house, but maintains a classic and contemporary combination.

The Marchmont range is a more traditional Laura Ashley range with a simple mix of a printed and embossed tile to allow flexibility in design to create a stunning look.

The Wiston range also includes some newly designed border tiles to further enhance the range.

British Ceramic Tile are also looking to add to their existing ranges with more tiles into the Brighton range, the wall tiles are being added to with the Truffle, Grey, Ivory and Beige.

The creative colours range is being expanded with the re-introduction of more 198×198 size tiles that are available in many of the new colours in this range, popular in the domestic and contract market.

TileClick are pleased to have been able to help out Nick Knowles and the team of DIY SOS The Big Build at Aberystwyth on their show featured on BBC 1 on 13th April.

This is not the first time TileClick have been involved with the DIY SOS team, but this was by far the biggest project that had been undertaken with TileClick’s Tiles in.

The project featured The Granite Beige and Red tiles in the new shower room, manufatcured by British Ceramic Tile and also the blue and white Crystal tiles RAK Ceramic’s.

TileClick are pleased to have been able to help Michael and Lynn in completing their home and we hope they are very happy with the work done.

The project story (from DIY SOS team):

Earlier this year we received a DIY SOS application at the BBC from Allyson & Rob Pughe, on behalf of Allyson’s mum and partner, Lynn Wiseman and Michael Saunders.  Five years earlier Rob had been diagnosed with MS and very quickly became debilitated by his illness and restricted to a wheelchair.  At the time Allyson and Rob lived in a small house which, due to it’s size, could not be adapted to become wheelchair compatible for Rob.  It was at this point that Allyson’s mum, Lynn Wiseman, and partner, Michael Saunders, stepped in to help Rob and Allyson.  They suggested they try to apply for planning permission on the side of their own cottage in Llangwryfon, enabling Allyson and Rob to build a specially adapted extension and giving Rob the access and support/care he needed.

Planning was granted and so Rob and Allyson were able to sell their own home and use the money to buy all the supplies needed for the build, while living in a caravan.   Lynn’s long term partner, Michael Saunders, was a builder and had agreed to do all the work on the build to keep costs down.  Rob Pughes condition rapidly worsened as the build began and so Michael stepped up a gear to ensure that Rob and Allyson could move out of their temporary caravan and into their new adapted home ASAP. There was a great deal of upheaval for Lynn and Michael, tearing apart their own home in order to build the new Annex but they felt it would all be worth it    So as Michael managed to single handedly carry out the work on the extension and roof, in the process he had to bash about the original part of his and Lynn’s home leaving it in a real state.  This would all have been rectified in time but without warning Michael was very sadly struck down with a brain haemorrhage and was rushed into hospital.  It has since been confirmed that Michael has a brain tumour and he is now registered disabled.

In the blink of an eye, work came to a standstill half way through and they can not afford to get a builder in to finish it leaving Mike and Lynn living in a building site. Mike is now sleeping on a mattress in what will be the bathroom and Allyson’s Mum is sleeping in the annexe as their top floor is uninhabitable.  Michael is no longer able to work, has very limited short term memory and has to remain within the range of his personal alarm which he must wear at all times due to now suffering from fits and epilepsy.  This has meant that Michael is house bound in the day while Lynn and Allyson are out at work (they are both dinner ladies).  With Michaels sudden limitations he is now unable to progress with the house but is faced with sitting in this building site daily.  If we were able to turn the house from this shell back to a home it would benefit the whole family.

We are very keen to help them complete this project as in their attempt to do the right thing for their family they have been really caught out by illness.  With the help of the DIY SOS team we hope to finally get their house back up and running as a home.

TileClick are pleased to announce our brand new TileClick Trade website.  It is a dedicated website just for the trade community.  There will shortly be a link on TileClick’s homepage taking you directly to it.  On the logi in page of the trade site there is a sign up for a trade account button.  Once you have filled out our simple form and provided us with two copies of invoices or correspondence addressed to your business we will send you your exclusive user name and password.

When you have received your user name and password, you will be able to log in to buy at fantastic trade prices, either in full pallets or in packs.  There is a wide range of bathroom, kitchen, wall and floor tiles to choose from as well as ancillary products and, as long as your order is over £150 (ex vat), you will also qualify for free standard delivery.  Standard delivery is 3-5 working days, and you will receive a telephone call to book in your delivery.  We also offer a faster delivery option for an additional £15 (ex vat).

So why not sign up and start saving money today !!!!!