Planning and permits
Mallet Tile guides
Useful tile planning for real rooms.
Start with the part of the project you are trying to settle: the base, material, layout, wet-area details, care or approval path. Each guide should help you make one clearer decision before installation.
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Planning and permits
Bathroom tile renovation permits in Ontario
Check when changes to walls, plumbing, electrical work or room use may need municipal or ESA review before tile dates are set.
Read the permit guidePlanning library
Find the next useful answer.
Filter by topic or move through the full set of installation, material and care guides.
Floors and heated floors
How much extra tile should you order beyond the measured area?
Plan on roughly 10% extra tile for a straight, roomy layout, and 15-20% once a set pattern, tight cuts or an awkward room starts eating pieces. Round the order up to full boxes, buy everything in one batch so the shade and caliber match, and keep a few spares for later replacements. The exact figure depends on layout, tile size, how many cuts the room needs, and whether you want matching tile on hand.Read the guide
Floors and heated floors
Planning tile installation across several rooms
When a kitchen, hall and adjoining room are part of the same tile project, the decisions extend beyond choosing a tile. You need to know which areas are included, how their finishes meet and how you will use the home while the work is under way. This guide walks through those planning decisions so your estimate describes the whole project.Read the guide
Floors and heated floors
How to measure floors and walls for a tile installation estimate
Measure each surface that will receive tile, work out its area, and keep floors, shower walls and other sections separate. You do not need a perfect drawing to start: labelled measurements, a simple sketch and clear photos are more useful than one unexplained total.Read the guidePlanning and permits
What to photograph when water appears outside a tiled shower
Follow a practical photo sequence for water outside a tiled shower. Record the visible condition and context without guessing at a hidden cause.Read the guidePlanning and permits
Bathroom tile renovation permits in Ontario
Check when changes to walls, plumbing, electrical work or room use may need municipal or ESA review before tile dates are set.Read the guide
Backsplashes and fireplaces
Kitchen backsplash planning for Toronto homes
Settle the focal area, material variation, outlet cuts and cabinet edges before choosing the final pattern direction.Read the guide
Bathrooms and showers
Bathroom tile ideas for GTA homes in 2026
Consider current colours, textures and formats alongside the room size, maintenance needs and layout they require.Read the guide
Bathrooms and showers
Why bathroom tiles crack and what to check first
Cracks can point to movement, impact, a weak base or moisture. Start by identifying the pattern before deciding what work is needed.Read the guide
Materials, layout and care
How to choose tile for a GTA home
Compare where the tile will be used, slip needs, maintenance, format and available trim before choosing on appearance alone.Read the guide
Planning and permits
Five tile mistakes that can make a renovation harder
A room-first look at surface condition, layout, transitions and scope decisions that are easier to settle before installation.Read the guide
Backsplashes and fireplaces
Backsplash patterns and where the layout should begin
Compare focal lines, corners, outlets and cabinet edges before choosing the starting point for a backsplash pattern.Read the guide
Backsplashes and fireplaces
Planning a stone or porcelain fireplace surround
Coordinate the hearth, substrate, heat requirements, edge treatment and focal layout before fabrication or setting begins.Read the guideBathrooms and showers
Choosing tile for a shower niche
Coordinate the niche dimensions, shelf, trim, waterproofing and surrounding grout lines before material is cut.Read the guide
Floors and heated floors
Using ceramic tile in living rooms and shared spaces
Review the base, traffic, furniture, tile rating and transitions before carrying ceramic tile through a larger area.Read the guide
Bathrooms and showers
Five bathroom tile installation errors to avoid
Look for problems with slope, waterproofing, layout, movement and changes of plane before they become finished-surface defects.Read the guide
Planning and permits
Tile installation cost calculator
Explore installation costs for your project and receive a preliminary estimate by email.Calculate project cost
Floors and heated floors
Planning a tile floor installation from the base up
Work through the existing base, flatness, movement, tile layout and transitions before the first row is set.Read the guideFloors and heated floors
Protecting tile floors under heavy furniture
Understand point loads, movement and surface protection before placing heavy furniture on a finished tile floor.Read the guide
Materials, layout and care
How tile shape changes the way a room feels
Rectangles, squares, hexagons and mosaics create different focal lines, joint density and visual rhythm.Read the guide
Planning and permits
How to plan tile installation around the room
Use the full room, selected material and connected trade work to define a clearer installation scope.Read the guideMaterials, layout and care
A practical guide to tile and grout care
Match cleaning methods to the tile and grout, address spills early and avoid products that can damage the finish.Read the guidePlanning and permits
When damaged tile points to a problem below
Repeated cracking, loose tile, moisture or movement may require the cause to be checked before replacing the visible finish.Read the guide
Bathrooms and showers
Shower tile ideas that work with the full room
Plan the shower walls, floor, niche, drain, glass and bathroom transitions as one connected layout.Read the guide
Materials, layout and care
Choosing tile for a small bathroom or entry
Tile scale, grout contrast, lighting and cut locations can change how a compact room reads and how practical it is to maintain.Read the guide
Planning and permits
How installation choices affect a tiled room over time
Surface preparation, movement, layout and transitions shape how the finished room performs and how later work is approached.Read the guide
Planning and permits
Layout, movement and edge decisions for complex tile work
A practical overview of the room conditions and visible details that need more planning on demanding installations.Read the guide
Materials, layout and care
How tile patterns travel across homes and design traditions
A look at the origins and room-planning implications behind several familiar tile shapes and pattern directions.Read the guideShowing all guides
When the room is ready to discuss
Request an estimate for your tile project.
Send your project address, measurements and selected tile information. Email room photos to office@mallettile.ca. We can then prepare your preliminary estimate.
Request an estimate
Tell us what you are planning.
Tell us what you'd like tiled, the project location and the measurements of each area. Include the tile size or product link if selected. We'll review the details for your preliminary estimate.
Email your project photos to office@mallettile.ca.