I have to start by offering this piece of advice to all of you who need to purchase tiles for their next DIY project. ALWAYS BUY MORE TILES THAN YOU NEED and store them safely somewhere.
The main reason to do this is that most tile manufacturers have the habit of changing their models and styles from one season to another. If you accidentally break one tile, or if you decide to use the same type of ceramic tiles in other areas of your home, you may not be able to purchase another box, the reason being that they've been discontinued. You might have to give up your idea, as finding the same style of tiles may prove to be tough, if not impossible.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks that could help you find the tiles you need. This article is going to show you my top tile finder tips.
Ask the contractor or the retailer you've bought your tiles from to search their warehouse and their other stores. If the shop assistant doesn't cooperate, kindly ask to see the manager of the business.
If the retailer can't help you, ask them to contact the tile manufacturer. If they aren't willing to spend time on your issue, ask them to provide you the details of the manufacturer so that you can do it yourself. Don't forget to ask about the batch number or other specific information that might help them identifying the style of tiles. Most probably, the shop owner should be able to find this information for you. If you still have the original packaging, you may not need to ask for the batch number, as you are going to find it on there.
If the manufacturer can't help you, ask them to provide you a list of retailers and stores they work with. If possible, ask them to filter their database by your batch number, to obtain only those retailers who have been supplied that quantity of ceramic tiles. Once you have the list, start calling these shops one by one. You will be surprised by the efficiency of this method.
If none of the retailers you've contacted has any of those tiles left, there's still hope, but this tip is a bit tricky. Ask the store if they could provide you the contact details of their customers who have bought that style of tiles. You should be aware that the UK has very strict privacy laws and perhaps your country of residence, too. You might have to cooperate with the Discount Ceramic Tile store manager to ask their clients this question. This approach is perfectly legal. Please note that you should offer to cover any costs such as phone calls.
This past tip doesn't require you to leave your home. You may want to know that many bankrupt stocks and up for sale on eBay, Amazon or other popular online marketplaces.
Lastly, if you need a great option to get the perfect match recreated, no matter the pattern, texture or size. TileMatch.com can match nearly any tile.