The metro tile: Origins, styles and installation tips
Update 2021-02-04
A subway tile is a popular style of glazed ceramic tile originally used on the walls of the New York City subway stations in the early 20th century. First seen in 1904, the gleaming white, 75mm x 150mm tiles covered the walls of new subway platforms and were often accented with colourful tile mosaics forming the names of the subway stations, or prominent buildings in the area.
The design aesthetic of the subway tile quickly became fashionable in pre-war bathrooms and kitchens around the United States. State-owned institutional buildings such as prisons and hospitals soon caught on too, and not because of the tile’s aesthetic, but because it was easy to clean, stain resistant and light-reflective (the pale colour and high gloss was a way of bringing light into the dark recesses of the subterranean subway).
Around the same time, from 1904 to 1914, the now-famous bevelled white tiles were also chosen for their effective reflection of ambient light in the Paris underground, leading to the name 'metro' tile, which we use in South Africa today. In the Parisian underground, the white metro tile was complemented by arches of coloured tile over the vault and garland-like swags on the walls. This complementary tiling was colour-coordinated: brown for normal stations and green for terminal and transfer station.
Metro Tiles in 2021
More than a century later, ceramic metro tiles are a firm favourite for homeowners, designers and craftsmen alike. Available in just about every colour, texture and finish imaginable, metro tiles are excellent for creating a current, contemporary look that still feels timeless.
Metro tiles are being used in everything from splashback designs, bathroom renovations to counter tops and much more. Visually, the shape of the metro tile draws the eye upward, which makes the space seem wider and the ceilings appear higher. This is especially true for the larger-sized metro tiles. Many homeowners are choosing to install metro tiles vertically, as well as in a herringbone pattern. This trend is especially being utilised in bathrooms and kitchens.
Tips on selecting the right metro tile for your home
Tip 1: Choose your space
Metro tiles are a good choice of tile for just about any space in your home owing to its small size. From bathrooms to kitchen splashbacks, the metro tiles is your ideal choice owing to its versatile small size. Metro tiles are generally not recommended for flooring applications.
Tip 2: Consider different sizes and colours
The most popular sizes of metro tiles are 75mm x 150mm, 100mm x 200mm, 100mm x 300mm, 100mm x 400mm and 100mm x 600mm. Whilst traditional colours include classic white or black, modern metro tiles are available in a variety of trend-forward colours.
Tip 3: Create some contrast
A standard-edge or bevelled-edge metro tile can be used with either matching or contrasting grout to create the look you want with this tile design. A dark grout, for example, will accentuate the running brick pattern for an industrial-style look, or use a lighter colour grout for a homogenous effect. You can also try alternating these tiles or developing a pattern using a number of different colour tiles. Try using a contrasting tile every five to ten tiles.
Tip 4: Installing metro tiles in your home
Installing metro tiles with a multi-level installation system ensures a long-lasting result. Each level builds on the previous, to accommodate the requirements of where the tiles are being installed. From surface preparation and priming of the wall, to waterproofing in applications where the metro tiles will be exposed to water, and the correct choice of tile adhesive and grout. We recommend TAL Mosaicfix when installing metro tiles, in either Super White or Light Grey.
Some light-coloured tiles are susceptible to glaze discolouration due to moisture pull-through, where the grey adhesive shows through the light-coloured body of the tile, and is often viewed as 'staining'. If you have chosen a white, or light coloured metro tile, the Super White variant of TAL Mosaicfix will ensure that the tile colour is unaffected.
Considering a metro tile installation? Give us a call or send us an email and we'll give the right advice, no matter how big or small your tile installation: 0860 000 TAL (825) or taltech@tal.co za.
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