Keeping extra tile after finishing bathroom renovation

[branimal]

When you guys finish a bathroom reno do you keep some spare tile around? I hate having extra stuff around and was thinking about taking all the extra tile back to the big box stores. Even the open boxes. Looks like my tiles are sold by the sq ft.

Only issue is if a tile cracks, you are sh*t out of luck.

 

[06 DIESEL]

I always keep a few of the tile from a renovation, depending on the size of the room I try to keep 10% as spares. When we put in a half bath I kept 4 tile, our downstairs hallway I kept 12 tile, kids bathroom kept 18 tile. You never know when you will break one and you will never get the same tile again, even if it is the same style and color it will be different if it is a different run number. Put some in the back of the utility closet and forget about them, return the rest.

 

[yeldogt]

yes -- I always keep some

 

[Todd.Brock]

I always keep an extra stack of tiles. Never used them, lol


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[hector]

I can comment on this from the opposite end of the spectrum.

My house was built in 2003 and as luck would have it, the original owners made material selections that generally stand up to the trends of today, nothing is the house looks dated.
As a result instead of doing a renovation of the bathrooms, we are just having someone come in and re-grout everything and re-caulk as needed.

There is 1 or 2 tiles (maybe less than 1% overall) needing replacement per bathroom.

Underneath the stairs in the basement were several large piles of spare tiles and bags of all the original grouts used.

Unfortunately there are a few missing tiles, e.g. the 12x12 tile used in the master bath, one is cracked and as per spares, I only have the half size for the perimeter, 6x12 tile.

The important part I want to point out is that the tiles are *completely* unobtainable. Even though I have the original boxes and packing slips, Google returns zero results - they're just not made anymore and there is literally zero record of them or replacements after 17 yrs.

So definitely keep some spares around for the future.. with the way trends and products change so quickly it could be as short as 3-4 years and you would be without replacements.

 

[ddurrett896]

I keep a box or 2 of tile, even some trim if I want to match in the future without tearing down a piece.

Cost almost nothing and takes up a small corner of the attic that would otherwise go unused.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Along with extra tiles I keep extra grout in a Tupperware container........ Stuff this in the attic and have it "just in case."

 

[BillK]

Absolutely keep them. I also have a few packs of shingles for the roof.

 

[Cougar]

Another vote for keeping some.

 

[branimal]

Got it. Will keep a few of each. Thanks

 

[The Cobbler]

keep some for sure. I like to store stuff like that under cabinets , between the floor & the cabinet base in the room they're used

 

[bwringer]

Absolutely keep some of whatever flooring you install. It's a lovely gift to your future self, or maybe the next owner.

 

[az-giallo]

Always kept them but never used them...until recently...used as a spacer under a table that the Roomba couldn't get under.

 

[astroracer]

My extra bathroom tiles are under one of the bottom drawers of the vanity. Pull the drawer all the way out and set the tiles on the floor. Wrap them in plastic bags to keep them clean. You may never need them but you will know where they are if you do.
Mark

 

[like2wheel]

If you don't save them, you are sure to break some.
If you do save them, you will likely never need them.

Cheap insurance.

 

[Dan C]

If you don't save them, you are sure to break some.
If you do save them, you will likely never need them.

Cheap insurance.

EXACTLY. The only tiles I have ever needed were ones not kept.

I usually keep any box that is opened, even if pieces are returnable. Natural stone tiles even more likely to keep as well. Even from the same manufacturer/quarry they will never match perfectly later. For specialty tiles (bullnose/pencil), I keep a few of each just in case. Those things are so hard to replace later on.

 

[nh_yota]

Absolutely.

When my dad had an in-ground gunite pool built in 1978 he saved a few sheets of the blue tile that runs around the water line and it came in handy 40 years later.

 

[4xdog]

I had tile custom made for my 1930s bathroom floor as the old galvanized pipe was replaced with copper over the last year. Porcelain mosaic tile consistent with the original style just didn't seem to be available anywhere.

The project turned out well, and you bet I've saved some tile for the whoever owns the house after I'm gone!

 

[nadogail]

Extra tile and carpet remnants have saved many a day for property managers.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Keep some carpet, baseboard, vinyl, tile and grout for future repairs etc. Probably should go through mine and toss some that aren’t needed anymore. Another job for another day.