Tiles for basement from the hardware store

How much waste do you approximately plan for? I will also buy tiles for a total of 4 rooms this weekend and of course want to plan the quantities accurately.

I planned 10% and then 1 sqm extra, which I leave aside in case one breaks. At these prices, that's bearable.

Is there already a specific leveling system you want to work with?

I had the one from Hornbach, where you screw on a cap. It worked well, but the parts that remain inside couldn't all be removed easily. I had to cut some off with a box cutter.

In different rooms, we have different tiles from the hardware store as well as from the tile specialty store.

I cannot see any quality differences (only price differences), because all of them showed chipping after > 10 years without heavy objects falling on them.

Because of these chippings, it is sensible to choose solid-colored tiles, regardless of the source.

Leveling systems only work if the substrate has already been precisely leveled.

I never did that, only tile spacers were used.

With a straight edge (mine is about 60 cm), you can see quite easily and quickly whether the tiles are leveled at the surface, even if the substrate is slightly uneven.

With a straightedge (mine is about 60cm) you can quickly and easily see whether the tiles are leveled at the surface, even if the substrate is slightly uneven.

As a layperson, you really have problems working well without a leveling system on larger areas and somewhat larger tiles. Even a perfectly flat floor won't help. With a leveling system, even 90x90cm is no problem anymore (at most, if you don't have a suction cup and can't properly place the tiles on the floor). If the substrate is not perfect, you can forget it without a leveling system as a layperson anyway.

I still have 3 large basement rooms ahead of me. Is there a leveling system that is especially recommended?

I still have 3 large basement rooms ahead of me. Is there a leveling system that you would especially recommend?

The cheapest clones of these. Available in abundance from all kinds of suppliers. Crosses in all sorts of sizes. Also washers for sensitive tiles (under the swivel heads so that small stones don't sandpaper).


For larger (rough) tiles, I can recommend the suction lifter from Veribor/Bohle: Tile suction lifter 602.44BL.
This also allows very rough porcelain stoneware to be lifted and placed well. For 90x90 and larger, then 2 pieces.