Tile & Stone

Buying surplus tile & stone: what to know

Tile jobs order extra for cuts and breakage, so part boxes and full spare cartons are everywhere. Tile does not age, rot, or go out of date sitting in a garage, which makes it one of the safest things on the site to buy used, if the lot matches.

Check before you buy

• Check the shade and caliber codes on every box

  printed on the carton end. Tiles from different shade lots genuinely differ in color and size, and grout lines make it obvious.

• Buy 15% more than your layout needs

  cuts, breaks, and the box you crack years later when a pipe leaks. Spare tile from the same lot is irreplaceable later.

• Stand a few tiles on edge and sight them

  hairline cracks show against the light. One cracked tile in a stack often means the stack took a hit.

• For anything outdoors, confirm porcelain rated frost-proof

  ceramic absorbs water and a Minnesota freeze-thaw cycle will split it. Porcelain rated for exterior use survives.

Rather have it installed? The directory has local flooring & tile pros you can message directly, and the cost guide shows what jobs like yours run locally.

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