Categories in the range, and where each belongs
| Category | Absorption | Typical use | Market band we observe (₹/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic wall tile | 6 – 10% | Bathroom and kitchen walls only | ₹35 – 85 |
| Glazed vitrified (GVT) | Under 0.5% | Bedrooms, low-traffic floors | ₹45 – 95 |
| Polished glazed (PGVT) | Under 0.5% | Living rooms, dining | ₹70 – 160 |
| Double charge | Under 0.5% | Corridors, lobbies, commercial | ₹95 – 180 |
| Full body | Under 0.5% | Heavy traffic, offices, staircases | ₹120 – 220 |
| Large-format slab | Under 0.5% | Living rooms, counters, wall cladding | ₹140 – 320 |
| Anti-skid / outdoor | Varies | Balconies, terraces, wet areas | ₹55 – 140 |
Open-market observations, not the manufacturer’s price list. Dealer discounting on tiles in Mumbai is substantial and varies with quantity.
The four numbers that should be on your BOQ
- Water absorption. Under 0.5% for any floor tile. Wall ceramics at 6–10% are fine on a wall and wrong on a floor.
- PEI abrasion class. PEI III minimum for bedrooms, PEI IV for living and circulation areas, PEI V for commercial floors.
- Slip rating. R10 minimum for bathrooms and balconies. A polished tile with water on it is the single most dangerous surface in a Mumbai flat.
- Rectified or not. Rectified edges allow a 2 mm joint; unrectified tiles need 3–4 mm and look quite different.
- Add one more line while you are at it: “all tiles from a single shade lot; lot number to be recorded on delivery.”
Design and build under one accountable roof
Buying: quantity, wastage and shade lots
- Order 8–10% over the measured area for a standard layout, and 12–15% for a diagonal layout or a room with many cuts. Running short mid-job and buying a second lot is the most common way a floor ends up with a visible shade change.
- Check the shade lot on every box at delivery, not at laying. Rejecting a mismatched box before it is opened is straightforward; after it is laid, it is not.
- Keep 3–5% of the order as spares, stored flat and dry. Tile designs are discontinued faster than floors wear out.
- Tiles are bought per box, and box coverage varies by size. Convert the dealer’s box rate to a per square foot rate before comparing quotations.
- Ask whether the quoted rate includes delivery to the flat or only to the building gate. In a Mumbai society with a small service lift, that difference is real money.
Laying in Mumbai: the practical constraints
Tile choice is half the job. In a Mumbai flat the other half is access, debris and the society’s rules.
- Large-format slabs may not fit the passenger lift and often cannot turn a landing. Confirm access before committing to a 1,200 × 2,400 format.
- Demolition of an existing floor generates several tonnes of debris. Most societies restrict debris movement to specific hours and require bagging; budget for it as a line item, not an afterthought.
- Use cement-based tile adhesive with full coverage for anything over 600 mm. Dot-fixing a large tile on a sand-cement bed is why tiles sound hollow and crack a year later.
- Epoxy grout in bathrooms and kitchens. Cement grout in a Mumbai shower darkens and grows mould within two monsoons.
- Anti-skid in every wet area, laid to falls towards the drain.
Our position
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We are not a dealer, distributor or channel partner for Kajaria or any other tile manufacturer, and no brand influences our specification. We buy through Mumbai dealers on the open market and pass through supplier invoices where we procure for clients. The bands above are what we observe as buyers, not official figures from the company.
Specification summary
| Line | What to state |
|---|---|
| Type | Ceramic, GVT, PGVT, double charge or full body |
| Size | Stated in mm, with rectified or unrectified noted |
| Absorption | Under 0.5% for all floors |
| PEI class | III bedrooms, IV living, V commercial |
| Slip | R10 minimum in wet areas |
| Shade lot | Single lot, number recorded on delivery |
| Fixing | Tile adhesive, full coverage; epoxy grout in wet areas |
| Spares | 3 – 5% handed over at completion |
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
Which tile type should I use where?+
Full body or double charge in corridors and entrances, PGVT in living and dining rooms, GVT in bedrooms, anti-skid in bathrooms and balconies, and ceramic on bathroom walls. Using one tile everywhere is simpler to buy and worse in use.
How much extra should I order?+
Eight to ten per cent over the measured area for a straight layout, twelve to fifteen for diagonal or heavily cut rooms, plus three to five per cent kept as spares. Ordering short and buying a second shade lot is the commonest avoidable defect in a tiling job.
Is Greenbox a Kajaria dealer?+
No. We are an independent studio and hold no dealership, distributorship or channel relationship with any tile manufacturer. We specify on merit, buy on the open market and share invoices where we procure for a client.
Are more expensive tiles actually harder wearing?+
Not automatically. Price tracks design, size and finish as much as durability. A ₹120 full-body tile will outwear a ₹220 polished large-format tile in a corridor. Buy on absorption and PEI class for performance, and on price for appearance.
What is a shade lot and why does it matter?+
Tiles are fired in batches and colour varies slightly between them, so each batch carries a lot number. Two lots laid in the same room show as a subtle band that becomes impossible to ignore. Check lot numbers on every box before the first tile is cut.