Returning the last box of tile clears a little garage space and puts money back in your pocket. Then one tile breaks, the batch is gone, and every replacement looks almost right. Keep a repair supply separate from the pieces the installer still needs to finish the job.
Separate installation waste from repair stock
Daltile's tile FAQ recommends keeping material for future repairs from the original production. Discuss the quantity with the installer based on the layout, cuts, and tile format. Material needed to complete the job is not the same as intact spare pieces left afterward.
Keep the identifying information with the material
Photograph carton labels and record the tile, finish, size, shade or lot codes, and grout product. Store sound full pieces safely in an appropriate location without creating a heavy unstable stack. A spare tile does not make every repair simple, especially over waterproofing, but it removes one avoidable sourcing problem.
Before the next step
- Agree on repair stock separately from the cutting allowance.
- Keep intact pieces and photographs of the carton codes.
- Record grout and installation-system details alongside the tile.
The spare box is not especially decorative. Its best feature is being boringly available when a replacement piece suddenly becomes interesting.