Ordering From a Bellingham Tile Store: Overage and Lots
Ordering too little tile can leave you with a mismatched floor. Here is how a Bellingham tile store thinks about overage, production lots and shade variation.
One of the most common calls a tile store in Bellingham gets goes like this: the installer is nearly done, a few tiles short, and the customer wants three more boxes. Sometimes that is simple. Sometimes the tile has changed shade since the first order, or the line has been discontinued, and there is no easy fix. Getting the quantity right at the start avoids most of that.
This guide covers how to work out how much tile you need, why overage varies by project, and what shade and lot information means when your boxes arrive.
Start with accurate measurements
Measure each surface separately rather than guessing a total. For a floor, break the room into rectangles and add them together. For walls, measure each wall and subtract large openings like windows and doors, but do not subtract small things like outlets.
Write the numbers down on a simple sketch, because the shape of the room affects waste. A room with many corners, a shower with a niche and a curb, or a backsplash broken up by windows and outlets all produce more cuts than a simple rectangle.
How much extra to order
Overage covers cuts, breakage, installation mistakes and future repairs. A reasonable starting point:
- Straight lay in a simple room: a modest overage, often around 10 percent, is common.
- Diagonal, herringbone or complex layouts: more, because each row produces offcuts that cannot be reused.
- Large-format tile: more than you would think, because one bad cut can waste a big piece.
- Handmade tile, zellige and natural stone: extra for sorting out pieces you do not want on the wall.
- Mosaics on mesh sheets: usually less waste, but still order some extra for repairs.
Your installer may have their own rule based on how they work. Ask them before you order. They are the ones who will be cutting it.
Keep some tile after the job
Put a box or two somewhere dry when the job is done, such as a closet shelf or a heated garage. A damp crawlspace is a poor choice, because the cardboard and labels rot long before the tile does. If a tile cracks in a few years, or a plumber has to open up a wall, you will have a matching piece. Tile lines change, colors get updated and products get discontinued, so that spare box can save a whole floor.
Write the product name, color, size and lot number on the outside of the box in marker. Whoever does the repair, whether that is you or the next owner of the house, will thank you for it.
What shade and caliber mean
Tile is made in production runs, and each run can differ slightly in color and sometimes in size. Most manufacturers print this on the box:
- Shade or lot number: tiles from the same lot are the closest match to each other.
- Caliber: the actual size of the tile within the nominal size. Mixing calibers can make grout joints uneven.
When you order, try to get the entire quantity from one lot. When the boxes arrive, check that the shade and caliber codes match before installation starts.
Shade variation by design
Many tiles are designed to vary from piece to piece. Manufacturers often use a rating from uniform to high or random variation.
- Low variation: most tiles look similar.
- Moderate variation: noticeable differences, but within a clear family.
- High variation: tile to tile can look very different, typical of stone looks, zellige and many handmade styles.
This is separate from lot differences, and it is why installers mix tiles from several boxes as they work. If you pull from one box at a time, you can end up with blotchy patches.
Tips from a Bellingham tile store
Ordering sensibly is mostly about avoiding surprises:
- Order everything for a project at once, including trim and mosaics.
- Ask whether the product has a matching bullnose or trim piece, and include it in the order.
- Open several boxes on delivery and confirm the lot and color before installation starts.
- Blend tiles from different boxes during installation.
- Keep leftovers, labeled with the product name and lot number.
In older Bellingham houses, where rooms are rarely square and floors are often out of level, it pays to be a little generous with overage. You can browse options in our tile category, or check slabs and countertops if you are planning a kitchen with both.
When you call (360) 255-8377, have your room sketch and the layout you want. We are at 1201 Cornwall Ave in Bellingham, WA, and can help you work out a sensible quantity before you order.