Help and FAQ

Porcelain tiles are denser, harder, and less porous than ceramic tiles, with a water absorption rate below 0.5%. They are suitable for floors, wet rooms, and outdoor use. Ceramic tiles are lighter, easier to cut, and more affordable, ideal for walls and low-traffic dry areas.

MBS Tiles offers matt, gloss, textured, and polished finishes. The right choice depends on the room, its function, and how much maintenance you are willing to do. Matt and textured finishes suit floors; gloss works best on walls and splashbacks.

Yes, outdoor-rated porcelain tiles with an R11 or higher slip resistance rating and a water absorption rate below 0.5% are fully suitable for outdoor use in the UK. They are frost-resistant, UV-stable, and will not crack under British winter freeze-thaw conditions.

Marble-effect tiles are porcelain tiles printed and glazed to replicate the veining and colour of natural marble. They deliver a luxury look at a fraction of the cost and with far better practical performance — no sealing required, no staining, no acid damage.

For UK bathroom floors, choose porcelain tiles with a matt or textured finish and a minimum R10 slip resistance rating. They must be water-resistant, durable, and safe to walk on when wet. Sizes from 30x60cm to 60x60cm work well in most UK bathrooms.

No. Floor tiles can be used on walls, but wall tiles must not be used on floors. Wall tiles are thinner, less dense, and not designed to bear the weight and impact of foot traffic. Using a wall tile on a floor risks rapid cracking, chipping, and premature failure.

Larger format tiles, such as 60x60cm or 60x120cm, can make a small room appear bigger by reducing the number of grout lines. However, 30x60cm and 45x45cm tiles remain practical and popular choices for compact UK bathrooms and kitchens.

Yes. MBS Tiles offers free 10x10cm cut samples on selected ranges, sent by post at no charge. Ordering a sample lets you assess the colour, finish, and texture of a tile in your own home before committing to a full order — something we strongly recommend for all projects.

Start by defining the application — floor or wall, wet or dry, indoor or outdoor. Then narrow your choice by material, finish, and size. Ordering a free sample before purchasing is the single most effective step you can take to avoid a costly mistake.

Tile colours and finishes can appear different on screen due to monitor calibration, photography lighting, and the natural variation inherent in tile materials. MBS Tiles product photography is taken under controlled conditions, but a physical sample is always the most accurate representation.

Batch variation refers to subtle differences in colour, tone, or texture between different production runs of the same tile. Even with consistent manufacturing, slight changes in raw materials and kiln conditions mean tiles from different batches may not match perfectly.

Lighting has a significant effect on how tile colour, finish, and texture appear in a finished room. Warm bulbs enhance beige and stone tones; cool daylight bulbs emphasise grey, white, and blue tones. Gloss tiles are particularly sensitive to the angle and direction of light.

Most tiles are sold by the square metre, and you typically need to add 10–15% extra for cuts and wastage. This ensures you have enough tiles for edges, breakages, and future repairs.

Allow a minimum of 10% wastage for standard straight-lay tile installations, and 15% for diagonal, herringbone, or pattern layouts. Wastage covers cut tiles at edges, breakages during cutting, and tiles needed for future repairs from the same batch.

Use a flexible, polymer-modified tile adhesive (S1 or S2 classification) for porcelain tiles. Porcelain's low porosity means standard adhesives do not bond as effectively to the back surface, so a rapid-set flexible adhesive is strongly recommended, particularly for floor tiles.

Grout joint width depends on the tile type and edge precision. Rectified porcelain tiles with precision-cut edges can be laid with joints as narrow as 2mm. Non-rectified ceramic or natural stone tiles with minor size variation typically need 3–5mm joints to compensate.

Order all tiles for a single project in one transaction. This is the most reliable way to ensure batch consistency. Tiles from different orders may come from different production runs, which can result in subtle colour or tone differences that become visible once installed.

MBS Tiles delivers across the UK, with standard delivery typically taking 3–5 working days from the date of order confirmation. Delivery timescales are confirmed at checkout and in your order confirmation email. Express options may be available for in-stock items.

Kerbside delivery means your tiles will be delivered to the nearest accessible point at your property boundary. The driver is not obligated to carry items inside your home, garden, or garage. Tiles are heavy, often delivered on pallets, so please arrange help in advance.

If tiles arrive damaged, photograph the affected boxes and tiles immediately before moving them. Note the damage on the driver's delivery paperwork before signing. Contact MBS Tiles customer service within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photographic evidence.

Delivery costs at MBS Tiles vary depending on order size, weight, and delivery postcode. Exact charges are calculated and displayed at checkout before you confirm your order. Pallet deliveries for large orders typically carry a higher fee than small parcel orders.

MBS Tiles accepts returns of unused tiles in full, sealed boxes within 30 days of delivery. Tiles must be in their original, unopened packaging and in a resaleable condition. Partial boxes, cut tiles, and opened packaging are not eligible for return.

No. MBS Tiles only accepts returns on tiles in full, unopened boxes in their original condition. Opened boxes, part boxes, cut tiles, and installed tiles cannot be returned. This is why it is important to calculate your quantity accurately, including wastage, before placing your order.

Once returned tiles have been received and inspected by MBS Tiles, refunds are typically processed within 5–10 working days. The refund is issued to your original payment method. You will receive a confirmation email once the refund has been initiated.

Contact MBS Tiles customer service immediately with your order number and photographs of the tiles and packaging received. Incorrectly dispatched orders will be collected and replaced at no cost to you, and a replacement order will be prioritised.

Clean porcelain floor tiles regularly with a pH-neutral tile cleaner diluted in warm water, applied with a damp mop or soft cloth. Avoid acidic, bleach-based, or abrasive cleaners — these dull the tile surface and damage grout over time.

No. Porcelain tiles have a water absorption rate below 0.5% and do not require sealing in standard residential applications. Unlike natural stone such as marble, slate, or limestone, porcelain is inherently non-porous and resistant to staining without any additional treatment.

Grout haze — the cloudy residue left on tile surfaces after grouting — is best removed within 24–48 hours while still fresh. Apply a specialist grout haze remover or diluted white vinegar to the affected surface, let it dwell briefly, gently scrub with a non-abrasive pad, and rinse thoroughly.

Porcelain tiles are among the most durable flooring materials available, rated 6–7 on the Mohs hardness scale. They resist scratching, chipping, UV fading, moisture, and thermal expansion, delivering decades of performance in both residential and light commercial environments.

MBS Tiles is a UK-based tile retailer with a carefully curated range of wall and floor tiles — porcelain, ceramic, marble-effect, and natural stone-effect — backed by free cut samples, UK-wide delivery, and a 30-day returns policy on full, unopened boxes.

MBS Tiles product photography is taken under controlled studio lighting to represent each tile as accurately as possible. However, screen colour reproduction varies between devices, and the natural variation in tile materials means the physical tile may look slightly different from the on-screen image.

Every MBS Tiles product page includes a full technical specification covering material type, finish, slip resistance rating, water absorption rate, frost resistance, recommended use (wall, floor, indoor, outdoor), tile size, and thickness. Everything you need to make an informed decision is on the product page.

The PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating measures a glazed tile's resistance to surface wear on a scale of 0–5. The higher the PEI rating, the more traffic the tile can withstand. Choosing the correct PEI rating for your specific application is essential for the long-term performance of the floor.

Yes. MBS Tiles supplies tiles for residential and commercial projects across the UK, including offices, restaurants, hotels, and retail spaces. Trade professionals and commercial buyers are welcome to contact the MBS Tiles team to discuss volume requirements, lead times, and project-specific specifications.

On delivery, inspect all boxes for damage before signing the delivery note. Open a selection of boxes, check tiles for visible defects, and verify that the shade and caliber codes on all boxes match. Photograph any issues and note them on the driver's paperwork before signing — this is your strongest protection.

Sample orders are usually dispatched within 1–2 working days.

Currently, we do not offer finance options. All orders must be paid at checkout.

Delivery times depend on product availability and location.

Please contact customer support within 48 hours of delivery.

Orders can only be changed before dispatch.

Refunds are typically processed within 5–10 working days.

Kerbside delivery means goods are delivered to the nearest accessible point.

You may receive an estimated delivery window on the day.

Accepted payment methods are shown during checkout.

VAT invoices are available in your account or via customer support.

International shipping options may be available upon request.

All prices are shown inclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise.

Telephone orders may be placed via customer service.

Orders can be cancelled before dispatch.

Yes, our team can assist with area calculations.

Please contact support to check availability or alternatives.

Signature may be required depending on delivery method.