Acceptable defects in new ceramic tiles

How do they compare with the sample that you used to choose them? If the sample was perfect, so should your tiles be. If the sample has blemishes then you've got what you selected...

AWEM

That's not acceptable, assuming you saw the tiles with several in a panel and all were perfectly white and unblemished.

Yes they should stand close scrutiny and these are good reasons to return the whole lot.

Last tiles I bought were very cheap - whole box for a few quid from Wickes. On the box is says to check them before fixing and if any are not perfect, return them for replacement. At the price, it would probably be cheaper to have bought two boxes than pay for the petrol - had any been bad. :-)

I would expect no less from any other shop.

If you literally mean that there _are_ holes in the glaze, then they are unfit for purpose. Some dealers will try to fob you off with excuses such as "they're natural products from Italian tile mines" or whatever. Tosh.

Make sure that you get some compensation when they are replaced, such as adhesive and grout.

No - they should be perfect.

I've seen bargain-bin tiles which are fine. You tend to pay for the fashion rather than quality.

There is a Pilkingtons seconds store in Manchester, at the side of what is now the M60 in Death valley. To get to it, you have to take the exit that is closest to Liverpool at the top of the hill and turn left. The exit is the next one down from the M61 junction, for anyone that wants to pay a visit. Stop someone and ask directions, cos it's been a while since I last went there and with most of them you have to examine them very closely fo find any faults. OTOH some of the boxes do contain seriousy flawed tiles, maybe 2 or 3. You can open the boxes to look at them, as they want to get rid of them and get some cash back from their production. Is there a Pilkingtons around your way?

Dave

I've just had 9 boxes of high gloss jet black tiles from Topps. In quantity, they worked out at 11 quid a box. So far, I have used 9 boxes, and there has only been one tile that I have rejected for having a defect in the glaze. Had the tile have been white, I probably wouldn't have even rejected that one, but the black ones are very unforgiving in a large area. I wouldn't accept what you are describing, as being acceptable, and would be wheeling them back where they came from DDQ.

Arfa

Well, I did buy about 6-700 cheap bargain bin tiles (150mm white) from Homebase - £3.50/sqm. They had not a single defect, that I can remember and, yes, I did put every single bloody one of them up! I would be peeved with the defects you describe. White is white and that's how you want it.