Other than for the simplest orders, we’d recommend contacting us first to discuss your project. That way we can make sure that everything is going to be suitable for your requirements.
Video call
Why not make an appointment to show us the area you want to tile over Zoom or WhatsApp? We can show you our tile boards and give you a few ideas if necessary.
Lead times
Lead times for orders are normally around 6-8 weeks. Large orders will take longer.
Uniformity
You’ve heard it all before but… All our tiles will be slightly different – even square tiles! Handmade tiles almost always show more variation in shape, finish and colour than a factory-made tile. That’s what gives them their appeal!
You should order all the tiles you require for your project in one go. Glazes can vary slightly from batch to batch so we’d recommend mixing (shuffling) the tiles before fixing. We’d generally recommend ordering 5-10% extra tiles to cover wastage and cutting.
Samples
We can send you small sample boards for a deposit, refundable if they’re returned in good condition, or send you sample tiles at cost.
Borders
We can produce solid borders (edges) in a variety of sizes. We are able to glaze the top or side edge of a border tile. We’re also able to modify the tiles, for example by supplying wider borders, so that the tiles fit exactly in a recess.
Mounting on a mesh
We can mount small tiles on a flexible mesh, which you can then fix to a wall easily using tile adhesive. This approach is only suitable for small tiles and small areas – intricate borders lend themselves to this. Bigger heavier tiles are likely to fall off a mesh under their own weight! Please discuss this with us when ordering. We charge 25% of the price of the tiles to fix them onto mesh.
Suitability
Our tiles are not suitable for floors or work surfaces. They will craze over time – this is normal for artesanal ceramics. We think this enhances the natural beauty of the surface. If this does happen you should thoroughly clean your tiles, then apply a crackle glaze protector. For some of our “crackle” glazes we will always recommend applying a protector before grouting the tiles (particularly if you are using highly stained dark grouts) and periodically thereafter. Your tiler will be able to advise you on this.
Our tiles are also not generally suitable for outdoor use in the UK – they are not frostproof. We do have a few clay / glaze combinations that are suitable – get in touch to discuss.
Costs
The work involved in producing a handmade tile is roughly the same whatever the size, and the labour comprises the majority of the cost of a handmade tile – so the relative price of a large tile is not that much more than the price of a small tile. The smaller the tiles you choose, the more they will cost per square metre.
One way to maximise the impact of our tiles is to use a larger field tile, with smaller tiles to create an exciting border!
We can modify most of our tiles to suit your project – for example making half tiles for a border or glazing the edges of a tile. This will be charged at cost, typically adding 50% to the cost of an unmodified tile. We can also make many of our tiles in either a small or a large version, depending on the scale of your project.
As we make most of our tiles to order, we ask for a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the order price upon agreeing and confirming the details of your order. The balance is payable before dispatch of your tiles.