Planning a tiling project? Take time to research which tiles work best for your needs—making the wrong choice might mean starting over from scratch. Here in Perth, tiling jobs happen year-round, from cold winter days to hot summer afternoons.
Our team at GIB Tiling has put together this guide to help you tackle Perth’s weather challenges, understand important tile specifications like PEI ratings and DCOF values, and learn from real experiences shared by local homeowners and professional tilers.
You’ll find practical stories like Mark’s kitchen renovation problems alongside useful advice for preventing cracked adhesive during summer installations. We’ll show you how to select tiles that will last for years, no matter what the Perth weather throws at them.
The seasons
Perth’s four main seasons have weather patterns that directly or indirectly influence the cost, speed, and scheduling of tiling projects.
Summer (Dec – Feb) hot and dry
Summer in Perth happens between December and February. The average temperature at this time is 30°C+. The heat is good for such projects as the adhesives and grouts dry out fast. The only downside is the scorching heat can cause materials to crack if they dry out too fast. Start your tiling projects early to reduce exposure to peak sunshine.
Adhesives and grout must be stored in areas that are shaded or cool, away from heat sources and direct sunlight. If left out in the open, the summer heat can pre-activate these materials or reduce their effectiveness when applied.
Autumn (March to May) mild and decreasing temperature, rains
Generally, this is the best season for a tiling project. On average the temperatures are about 20-25°C and occasional showers shouldn’t be much trouble. Having your tiling project done at this time should attract a competitive rate.
Winter (June – August) cool and wet
Frequent rain showers around this time delay outdoor tiling and result in scheduling that conforms with the day’s weather. Constant showers can pose a big inconvenience and the cool weather slows the curing of your adhesives and grout.
The effect is a significant increase in expected project times. Winter showers can delay tiling projects not forgetting frost risks. However, at this time you might attract frost risks.
Spring (Sep to Nov) warm temperatures
At this time the weather is generally warm with few showers. This is a favorable time for tiling and tilers charge peak rates. At this time, demand for tiling services is high and tilers have fully booked schedules.
Real project experiences
Mark recently shared:
“I recently needed a kitchen renovation project so I contracted a builder who brought a tiler to fix the kitchen tiles. Expect an additional 20% on top of the hourly charge for running store drives to get additional items.”
Shared below is another comment from Thomas.
“Paid $1000 cash for our backsplash – best money I’ve spent on the house! 7 square meters of those tiny 8cm tiles—never again DIYing that! Seriously though, amazing job, so much better than the ‘good enough’ job my friend did on the floors. Worth paying for a pro, especially for tricky stuff.”
Common materials for tiling
Common materials used when tilting are ceramic, natural stone, glass, and porcelain, among others. Each is explored in detail below:
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic is clay heated to high temperatures. Afterward, it is glazed for finishing and color. Ceramics are both budget-friendly and offer a wide range of designs, patterns, and colors. While strong in texture, ceramic is not as durable as porcelain.
However, in areas with high traffic, surfaces are more likely to experience scratches, chips, and stains. Glazed ceramic tiles are water-resistant, making them ideal for use on bathroom and kitchen walls.
Applications of ceramic tiles:
Kitchen backsplashes
Bathroom walls
Low-traffic floors
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles are the most durable form of tiles among the easily available market options. Even in areas with heavy foot traffic, chips, scratches, and cracks are unlikely to occur. These tiles are waterproof so damage from moisture results in reduced water absorption making them immune from frost. Porcelain tiles come in several varieties, from sleek modern styles to textures that resemble natural stone or wood.
Porcelain tiles applications
Outdoor patios
Kitchens, hallways, and commercial spaces.
Bathrooms and showers
Natural stone tiles
Natural stones are dug from queries and then sliced up into tiles. While natural stone is porous, it requires sealing to safeguard it from water damage or staining. The variety of tiles you can buy depends on the type of stone. Granite has the highest durability but requires frequent maintenance.
Applications of natural stones
Kitchen floors and countertops
Bathroom walls and floors
Entryways and other living areas
Outdoor patio and landscaping
Surround fireplaces and accents
Glass Tiles
Recycled glass makes strong tiles that are visually stunning unique, and luminous and deliver great experiences. Tiles that are impervious to water and strains are easier to clean. Glass is resistant to chemicals, and is not recommended for floors that are susceptible to scratching or cracking.
Applications of glass tiles
kitchen and Bathroom backsplashes
Accent walls
Shower walls
Pools and spas.
Now that we know the types of tiles available in the market, we can explore what makes them suitable or unsuitable for a given project.
What do I look for when choosing tiles?
Which of the tile options presented works best for your situation? You are capable of maintaining aesthetically appeasing tiles that are highly functional by looking at the following:
Location and intended use
Floor/wall tiles
When shopping for floor tiles, go for something durable and slip-resistant. Glazed tiles with high PEI ratings like ceramic and porcelain are top picks. Alternatively, wall tiles are mostly decorative so are less thick. Most are aesthetically appealing and easy to clean.
Wet areas
Places that are frequently wet and moist like showers, bathrooms, kitchens, and pools will need water-resistant tiles. Glass tiles and porcelain are excellent choices for delivering low water absorption. Glazed ceramic tiles are great on the walls while glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are great on the bathroom floors. Tiles with a good Wet Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) slip rating prevent you from slipping. Pool tiles exposed to cleaning chemicals like chlorine are resistant to chemical degradation.
High traffic areas
Entryways, hallways, kitchens, and commercial establishments receive high foot traffic and it would be wise to invest in durable tiles that will not suffer scratches or damage from heavy impact. Recommended options here are tiles made from porcelain, dense natural stone (granite), and durable ceramics with high PEI ratings.
Outdoors
On the outside, tiles could mark your patio, pool deck, or walkway. You want something that is climate-agnostic and can handle frost. Porcelain or natural stones like slate are good options here given their low water absorption.
Durability
PEI score
It is measured as the PEI Rating (Porcelain Enamel Institute)—meaning how tiles resist abrasion. Ranging from PEI 0 (walls only) to PEI 5 (heavy commercial traffic), the scale helps you match tile durability to the intended use: for floors, a PEI rating of 3 or higher is generally recommended to withstand typical foot traffic
Mohs Hardness Scale
This measures the level of resistance of a material to scratching on a scale of 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Floors and countertops require tiles with a high Mohs rating and scratch resistance—granite and porcelain rank highly while ceramic is lowly rated.
Water absorption
Indicates how porous a tile is and how much water it can absorb. Non-vitreous (High >7%) tiles are highly absorbent and best suited for dry, interior walls only. Semi-vitreous (Medium 3-7%) are suitable for some walls and light-traffic dry area floors. Vitreous (Low 0.5-3%) tiles are good for most interior floors and walls, including bathrooms when glazed. Impervious (Very Low <0.5%) tiles offer the highest water resistance, are ideal for wet areas and outdoor use, and are frost-resistant.
Slip resistance
The Dynamic Coefficient of Friction rating shows a tile captures this metric. Going by the acronym DCOF, anything <0.42 is unsuitable for commercial floors and residential wet areas due to its low slip resistance. A rating of <0.42 is recommended for interior floors, while <0.60 is for highly slippery wet zones like the kitchens, or a ramp.
Style
Let’s explore what material is applied and the feeling it sends out:
Ceramic tiles are versatile and have a wide range of styles and colors.
Porcelain comes in several colors and finishings.
Natural stones like marble, granite, and travertine are unique and add character and warmth to any space.
Glass is very eye-catching when applied on any surface.
Now that we understand the guiding details for choosing tiles, we can appreciate that tiling is not a simple DIY project. Its many intricacies become apparent.
Beyond the weather, the success of a tiling project requires you to know the right tiles suited for the job. Get the best Perth tiling by collaborating with experienced professionals. Whether it’s working on a kitchen wall or revamping a pool deck, trust expert tilers who have a proven track record of exceptional service.