TILE SHOPS IN BELFAST: HOW TO CHOOSE ONE
A checklist for comparing showrooms, trade counters and online sellers
The right tile shop is the one where you can see the tile at full size, get a total for the whole room and ask plainly about batches and returns before you pay. Use the checks below to compare any two shops side by side, including ours.
Belfast has showrooms, chains, trade counters and online sellers, and they suit different jobs. We are DB Tiles & Bathrooms, and our showroom is in Moira, not in Belfast, so we will say plainly where a trip out makes sense and where it does not.
SEEING THE RANGE
Can you see a whole tile, not a small square?
A small sample shows colour and finish. It cannot show how a large tile sits across a floor, or how a pattern repeats from one tile to the next. Where tiles stand upright at full size and are laid out side by side, you can judge both before you pay.
A wide range on display, with each tile clearly labelled, is also a good sign. It means you are shown what suits the room rather than whatever is nearest. Our guide to choosing tiles in person goes through what an hour in a showroom can and cannot tell you.
THE WHOLE JOB
Does one place cover the whole room?
Tiles rarely arrive alone. A bathroom also needs a vanity unit, a shower or bath and the fittings that go with them, and every tiled floor needs adhesive and grout chosen to suit it. Buying from one supplier means one set of advice and fewer gaps between orders.
Ask what else a shop can provide, and what it will help you plan. At DB Tiles & Bathrooms the showroom sets out bathrooms beside the tiles, and the 3D design service can lay a room out before anything is ordered. Costs may apply.
Showroom, trade counter or online?
Each has a place. A showroom lets you see the material, handle it and talk the room through with someone. A trade counter is quick when a fitter knows exactly what is needed. Online is convenient for comparing ranges, and works best once you have seen the tile, or a sample of it, in person.
Many good jobs use two of the three. Browse the full tile range online, then see your shortlist in a showroom before you order. For what we stock and how it is displayed, see our tile selection for Belfast customers. For styles and where each one suits, our guide to tiles in Belfast and Northern Ireland is a good place to start.
Compare like with like
A price per tile and a price per square metre are not the same thing, and a low figure can leave out delivery, cutting waste or the other materials the job needs. Ask each shop for the total for your room, and what it includes, so that quotes can be set side by side.
Four questions to ask before you pay.
Is it rated for where it is going?
Wall tiles are not made to be walked on, and a bathroom or wet room floor needs enough grip. Ask for the rating, not just the look, and mention underfloor heating if it is planned.
Are all the boxes from the same batch?
Shade and size can shift between production batches. Ask whether your order comes from one batch, and check the boxes before the fitter starts.
Who will answer my questions later?
Good advice does not stop at the till. Ask who you can speak to if your fitter has a question or the plan changes, and whether that person knows the range.
What if something goes wrong?
Ask about returns, damaged boxes and unopened tiles you did not need. Get the answer in writing before you pay, because policies differ from shop to shop.
IS THE TRIP WORTH IT?
Our showroom is in Moira, a drive from Belfast.
For a whole room, where you want to see the tiles at full size with the bathroom beside them, one visit can replace several. For a few spare tiles, a closer shop may do. We have been selling tiles across Northern Ireland for more than thirty years, and we supply fitters and builders as well as homeowners doing one room.
See what is on display in our Belfast tile selection.
Questions about choosing a tile shop.
Where can I buy tiles in Belfast?
Belfast has showrooms, chains, trade counters and online sellers, so compare them on the checks above. DB Tiles & Bathrooms is at 12 Meadow Road, Moira, BT67 0HH, a drive from the city, with tiles and bathrooms on display together.
How do I choose between tile shops?
Look for a shop where you can see tiles at full size, get advice that suits your room and ask plainly about batches, returns and what else it can supply. One that answers those questions clearly is usually a good choice.
Is it worth travelling out of Belfast for tiles?
It depends on the job. For a whole room, one visit to a showroom with the full range and the bathroom beside it can replace several. For a few spare tiles, a closer supplier may do.
Do tile shops sell to homeowners as well as trade?
Many supply both. At DB Tiles & Bathrooms we supply fitters and builders and homeowners doing one room, and the advice is the same either way.
Do I need an appointment?
No. You are welcome to look around without one. If you would like time with someone on a full bathroom layout, ring ahead on 028 9261 6950 so we can give it proper attention.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Bring your questions, and the room.
The showroom is at 12 Meadow Road, Moira, BT67 0HH. Call 028 9261 6950 or email info@dbtiles.com to check opening times before you set out. Samples are available on request, so you can see a tile in the room it is meant for before you order.
If you would rather browse first, start with our tile selection.