DIY Related: Where to buy cheap tiles?

[Stealth]

Hope someone can help me with this one.

I’m a DIY’er doing a few tiling jobs around my own house.

The tiles I am buying / going to fix are averaging around £25 - 30 per sq metre and I’ve got a fair area to cover (wall and floor in the kitchen, utility, conservatory, couple of bathrooms and cloakroom ).

I’ve got limited experience laying tiles so before I start I would like to practice with some cheap largish format tiles (preferably 400mm +). The cheaper the better. I don’t care about the colour, the type or what they look like I just want to cut a good few metres up to get some practice (cutting curves, drilling holes in the correct positions for pipework etc).

Now I know I can buy a few boxes of white ceramic wall tiles for a few quid a box but I’m really looking to practice on some larger format tiles to replicate what I’m going to cut.

So the question is:
Does anyone know of any trade / factory outlets etc that sell uber cheap tiles? I was thinking of maybe factory ‘seconds’ – tiles not good enough for the retail outlets etc or end of line stuff. I did ask in a couple of my local tile shops but didn’t have any luck.

These tiles are going straight in the bin when I’ve cut them so I’m reluctant to splash out on decent (and pricy) tiles.

I live in Stafford and travel throughout the midlands in my job so anywhere in between say Stoke and Birmingham would be ideal.

Any suggestions appreciated.

[Matt]

What sort of price are you looking at spending? Do you have a limit?

[brian c]

b and q always have specials on large format tiles but they are not necessarily the best tiles in the world but just might be what you are looking for.

[Stealth]

What sort of price are you looking at spending? Do you have a limit?

I'd be happy spending around a fiver a sq metre (most shops have budget lines starting at £9/£10 a sq metre anyway).

Wouldn't grumble at spending £40/ £50 scrapping off a few metres as I would consider it money well spent in the long run.

[kilty55]

contact a tiler training centre? they use seconds and may be able to sell you some

[Matt]

We have some floor tiles at £5.50 and £6.20 a square metre. Not as large as you are looking for (300 x 300 and 330 x 330) but they may suffice?