PLAIN AND CIVIL: 4.0. ESTIMATING TILES

Tiles are construction materials not only to add to the aesthetics of the structure but also for easier maintenance and cleaning. Different tiles are available today and most are estimated using area method.

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Most tiles would only require cement mortar, grout, and adhesive but other materials would require much more.

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4.1.TILE ESTIMATION

The basic general formula to get the number of pieces of tiles is to have to compare the area of the wall to the area of a unit tile.

$Tiles=\frac{Area_{wall}}{Area_{1tile}}$

However, the tile set-up would have an effect on the estimation. There are three cases on how tiles are installed to add to aesthetics.

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Case 1: Square tiles: Tiles are of equal sides:

This is the easiest case to estimate, which leads the estimation to the basic general formula.

$Tiles_{case1}=\frac{A}{a}\left ( \frac{B}{a} \right )$

Case 2: Rectangular tiles: Vertical installation:

$Tiles_{case2}=\frac{A}{b}\left ( \frac{B}{a} \right )$

Case 3: Rectangular tiles: Horizontal installation:

$Tiles_{case3}=\frac{A}{a}\left ( \frac{B}{b} \right )$

The rounding up of estimated quantities follow these rules:

Decimal numbers less than 0.50 should be rounded DOWN to 0.50.
Decimal numbers 0.50 up to 0.90 should be round UP to 1.0.

4.2. MORTAR AND JOINT FILLER

The previous decades used cement mortar and joint filler. However, the use of tile adhesive and grout have gained popularity over the years. Estimation of quantities are as follows:

Cement mortar = $0.086\frac{bags}{m^{2}}$

White cement joint filler = $0.50\frac{kg}{m^{2}}$

Tile Adhesive = $0.11\frac{bag}{m^{2}}$

4.3. TILE ACCESSORIES

Previous tileworks have different accessories to curve out edges in tileworks. At present, instead of cappings, PVC tile trims are used. Since PVC can be cut into the desired shape of intersection, there are numerous tile accessories which turned obsolete. Like other PVC materials, tile trim is commercially available in 6m length.

Example 4.3.1. Estimating the tilework for a wall

Example 4.3.2. Estimating the tilework for a floor

Example 4.3.3. Estimating the tilework for a restroom

Example 4.3.4. Estimating the tilework for a restroom

4.4. MARBLE TILES

Marble tiles are special materials used for tileworks due to their elegant appearance. Installation of these heavier type of tiles uses a different set of joining materials.

Polymer liquid = $0.035\frac{gallons}{m^{2}}$

Hardener = $0.030\frac{quarts}{m^{2}}$

Calsomine powder = $0.045\frac{kgs}{m^{2}}$

Size	Number	A	B	C	Sand
cm.	/sqm	bags	bags	bags	cu.m.

15 x 30	22.3	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
20 x 20	25.0	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
20 x 40	12.5	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
30 x 30	11.1	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
30 x 60	5.6	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
40 x 40	6.3	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025
60 x 60	2.8	0.45	0.30	0.225	0.025

Example 4.4.1. Estimation of Marble Tiles

4.5. VINYL AND RUBBER TILES

Vinyl tiles are different from the usual ceramic tiles. Instead of mortar, this type of tiles uses rubber adhesive or cement adhesive.

SIZE	Number per sqm	ADHESIVE
3mm thk		gals/sqm

0.20 x 0.20	25.00	0.042
0.225 x 0.225	19.75	0.042
0.25 x 0.25	16.00	0.042
0.30 x 0.30	11.11	0.042
0.40 x 0.40	6.25	0.042
0.60 x 0.60	2.78	0.042

Example 4.5.1. Estimating Vinyl Tiles

4.6. TERRAZO AND GRANOLITHIC

These are tiles with marble mosaic finish using cement as the base material. Two installation methods are as follows:

Cast-in place (Monolithic). Cement and marble chips mixtured proportioned as 1:3 casted on a rough floor. The thickness is usually 1.25cm. After drying, the floor will be grinded (usually 48 hours after casting).
Pre-cast (Granolithic). Tiles which are molded in the factory

Hard brass strips with alloy zinc are used as dividers in between tiles to control shrinkage or cracks due to flexure. These strips' thickness ranges from 1.56mm to 3.12mm.

4.6.1. PROCEDURE OF ESTIMATING MONOLITHIC TILES

Determine the total floor area (sqm).
For the required white or colored cement = $Cement_{white}=0.172\left ( floorarea \right )$
For the marble in kilograms: $Marble_{weight}=12.50\left ( floorarea \right )$

Example 4.6.1. Estimate the required Cast-in Place Terrazo Tiles

4.6.2. ESTIMATING GRANOLITHIC TILES

The table for granolithic tiles is as shown:

SIZE	PIECES	A	B	SAND	BRASS DIVIDER
		CEMENT	CEMENT
m.	/sqm.	bags	bags	cu.m.	meter/sqm

0.20 x 0.20	25.0	0.338	0.225	0.0188	10.80
0.225 x 0.225	19.8	0.338	0.225	0.0188	10.00
0.25 x 0.25	16.0	0.338	0.225	0.0188	8.90
0.30 x 0.30	11.1	0.338	0.225	0.0188	8.00
0.35 x 0.35	8.2	0.338	0.225	0.0188	6.00
0.40 x 0.40	6.3	0.338	0.225	0.0188	5.80

Example 4.6.2. Estimating Granolithic Flooring

4.7. CEMENT TILES

Cement tiles are pressed with the thickness of 20mm (3/4") in the following sizes:

1" x 6" x 6" or 25mm x 15cm x 15cm
1" x 8" x 8" or 25mm x 20cm x 20cm
1" x 10" x 10" or 25mm x 25cm x 25cm
1" x 12" x 12" or 25mm x 30cm x 30cm

There are two ways to estimate cement tiles:

The unit measure method
Square meter area method

Example 4.7.1. Estimating Cement Tiles on Regular Shaped Floor

Example 4.7.2. Estimating Cement Tiles on Irregular Shaped Floor

4.8. WOOD TILES

6mm to 8mm thick wood pieces are laid together on concrete surface. These wood pieces vary in size. After 24 hours, the tiles area grinded with No. 100 and 300 sandpaper.

Procedure of estimating wood tiles:

Determine the floor area to be covered.
Since wood tiles are sold in square foot the computed area should be converted into square foot by multiplying 10.76.
For the wood glue: $Woodglue=0.165\frac{gals}{m^{2}}\left ( floorarea \right )$

Example 4.8.1. Estimating Wood tiles

4.9. WASHOUT FINISHES

For washout finishes, 1:2 or 1.:3 stone-cement proportion is applied to a concrete floor. The slab is then washed with sprinkler until the desired appearance. Scrubbing with muriatic acid follows after the mixture has dried, usually after 24 hours.

Example 4.9.1. Estimating Pebbles and Washout Finishes