Bathroom: Full Tile Vs Part Tile

[DampCat]

I'm having 3 bathrooms redone (sadface) and currently they're all part tile. They're all a bit shabby and I kind of assumed it's because they're old so when getting quotes have asked to just do the same as what is in situ, ie part tile. Assumed it would just look much nicer after.

However now I've been looking about and can't really see any part tiled bathrooms that look.. clean, or luxurious etc.

The Mrs on the other hand thinks they're more homely.

What have you done?

 

[Buffman]

Full tile is easier to achieve a better finish imo and looks better/more modern . I've just had mine fully tiled. I imagine with 3 bathrooms could seperate out the works almost and possibly get some reasonable quotes.

Pics below
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/posts/32084408

 

[a1ex2001]

If it is a big room then for me full tile looks horrible it's ok in an on suite but even then I'd only want part of it doing!

 

[roadie]

I completely stripped out the bathroom and separate toilet in my flat before having them fitted with lovely new things, although the flooring is still to be done. I part tiled them; in the bathroom 3 walls are fully tiled with the exception of over the door and a side wall on which the towel rail is mounted. In the toilet only the far end wall and recess that houses a wall mounted sink/vanity unit and mirrored cabinet are tiled. I like the contrast of tiles against painted walls. Here's my toilet for example.

 

[Jez]

If it is a big room then for me full tile looks horrible it's ok in an on suite but even then I'd only want part of it doing!

With this guy.

A bigger bathroom i'd never want full tile for risk of it looking like a changing room. Smaller bathrooms absolutely.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

With this guy.

A bigger bathroom i'd never want full tile for risk of it looking like a changing room. Smaller bathrooms absolutely.

I have to agree with this as a general rule:

Small room - full tile
Large room - part tile

With a small room you generally don't have enough wall to use a second finish and make it look good. It also depends on the shape of the room, how its laid out, windows and lights etc.


If its just a cloak room I wouldn't be looking to tile it at all except behind the sink if I am honest but it does depend on the room. As others have said, it can often look like a hotel or restaurant rather than a home.

 

[sovietspybob]

I've never liked full tile personally, always feels like a hotel or a changing room.

The only bits that are tiled in our main bathroom or en suite is whats inside the shower enclosure and the floor itself, i think it looks a bit more modern and classy that way but it's all very much up to you.

 

[DXP55]

Fully tiled = bloody cold - no matter how big a rad you have - I now have a high wall mounted bathroom fan heater - worth it's weight in goosebumps - either put it on as you get in the shower or like me a quick dry off in shower then jump out and turn it on - it's nice standing in a nice warm stream of hot air.

 

[Participant]

Full tile where possible, and absolutely anywhere near a wet area. Much more luxurious feeling, but then I love that hotel / spa feeling in a bathroom. If you want it to feel cosier and more homely, like a 2* B&B, then part tile away .

If the rad is up to scratch, and there are some good towel heater rads these days, then cold bathrooms shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Fully tiled in large format grey porcelain tiles, something like 32sq mtrs in total including the walk in shower, single large designer radiator competing against a massive Velux for heat loss, our bathroom is anything but cold even with relatively minimal heating.

A part tiled bathroom usually ends up looking like a cost saving exercise.

 

[Camalot]

Fully tiled in large format grey porcelain tiles, something like 32sq mtrs in total including the walk in shower, single large designer radiator competing against a massive Velux for heat loss, our bathroom is anything but cold even with relatively minimal heating.

A part tiled bathroom usually ends up looking like a cost saving exercise.

Agree with this,

Mine is currently part tiled, only just moved in but when funds are available i will be fully tiling it. It's a rather large bathroom as well.

 

[DampCat]

I think I'm gonna throw up pics and measurements cause I'm so torn ><

It's an En Suite, an L shaped Family Bathroom and a Shower Room. Even the family bath isn't that big really but the shape could lend itself to part tile maybe!

I'm also totally down with hotel bathrooms as they just look clean. Current rooms have lots of wood in, round shower trays and skirting etc, which just looks crap.

 

[AKAK]

Much prefer full tile. Just looks cleaner to me.

 

[Nathan]

Interesting the split difference of opinion. Part tiled to me looks modern and clean. Full tile reminds me of grandparents.

 

[Buffman]

Fully tiled = bloody cold - no matter how big a rad you have - I now have a high wall mounted bathroom fan heater - worth it's weight in goosebumps - either put it on as you get in the shower or like me a quick dry off in shower then jump out and turn it on - it's nice standing in a nice warm stream of hot air.

Why would the tiling make a difference to heat?

 

[DXP55]

They always feel cold to the touch especially the floor - Yes I missed the opportunity to have under flooring heating -I have the biggest rad I can get in and it's double rad single convector --heated towel rads don't throw out much heat or they didn't 10 yrs ago.

 

[Camalot]

You can't beat the nice marble effect flooring under your feet! Fully tiled just looks so much nicer.

 

[Participant]

They always feel cold to the touch especially the floor - Yes I missed the opportunity to have under flooring heating -I have the biggest rad I can get in and it's double rad single convector --heated towel rads don't throw out much heat or they didn't 10 yrs ago.

Walking on tiles that feel cold because you don't have UFH has nothing to do with 'Fully tiled = bloody cold - no matter how big a rad you have'. Unless you were talking about fully or partially tiling the floor lol.

Modern towel rads are extremely good by the way. No need for a separate radiator any longer, particularly for those that didn't skimp on ufh .

 

[Buffman]

They always feel cold to the touch especially the floor - Yes I missed the opportunity to have under flooring heating -I have the biggest rad I can get in and it's double rad single convector --heated towel rads don't throw out much heat or they didn't 10 yrs ago.

Tiles do, but so does a wall. Fully tiling a room won't make it colder

 

[sovietspybob]

Tiles aren't any colder than anything else, they'll be exactly the same temperature they just feel colder to the touch as they're more efficient at wicking away the heat from your feet.

Same as a granite worktop, get a thermometer on it and it'll be exactly room temperature as will a wooden chopping board but the granite will feel colder as it conducts the heat from your hand away quicker.

Found these pics of our main bathroom from 2 years ago just before it was all finished.