Floor Tile Focus

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TRENDS
Floor Tile Focus
by Anthony Stock
2. Timber look porcelain products
in the Metric Tile showroom
Recent advances in digital inkjet
printing processes have made it
possible for tile manufacturers to
radically improve their imitations
of the hard surface finishes
that have been recognised in
international studies as being
competitive in terms of life
expectancy.
1. ACE Ceramics, Downtown Series
I
t is no secret that those finishes are
natural stone, natural timber and
concrete. While manufacturers in
Italy and Spain are busily mastering
the art of inkjet printing, our own manufacturer National Ceramic Industries
Australia (NCIA) has acquired three
state-of-the-art Creta inkjet printers.
Managing Director Chris Schneider
explained, “In addition to being able to
quickly manufacture relatively low volumes of product, we can produce a substantial quantity of a tile without ever
repeating precisely the same pattern.
The investment in inkjet technology is
determined by the size of the screen you
produce. If we print a 400 x 400mm tile
pattern randomly on a 2 metre x 2 metre screen, no two tiles will be identical.”
The global investment in inkjet technologies continues to rise, however some
products manufactured in China are
actually clever screen prints, which provide a degree of variation in pattern, but
cannot match the totally random results
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produced by application of advanced
inkjet processes. A number of these products are being marketed as inkjet designs.
Our review of current floor trends
inevitably includes a number of clever
imitations of stone, timber and concrete. From the reseller’s perspective
the prime marketing thrust should
revolve around performance in preference to looks. While these products
closely resemble the surface finishes
they imitate, critically, a porcelain replication of timber or stone will show
fewer signs of wear, will cost considerably less to clean and maintain, and
will last longer.
Other prime trends include a return
to smaller formats, particularly 200 x
200mm geometric designs, and production of floor tiles in thicknesses which
range from 4mm to 20mm. Surface texture continues to be critical, in a market
where increasing numbers of homeowners want to extend internal tiling proposals to exterior entertainment areas.
3. Everstone, Urban Wood
In addition a growing number of manufacturers are producing larger products
which should properly be defined as
ceramic panels in preference to tiles.
Hexagonal and octagonal formats provide a new aesthetic.
The Timber Look
European tile manufacturers constantly strive to imitate the appearance of
natural stone, because a large proportion of important buildings, including banks, hotels and airports feature
natural stone. Conversely, interest in
reproducing the appearance of natural
timber has waxed and waned, simply
because the ceramic imitations of timber were unconvincing.
Digital inkjet technology has remedied that problem. Importers and retailers are reporting a substantial increase
in porcelain tiles that look like timber.
Fabio Marcon, the Victorian director of
Metric Tile has said, “Once you convince
4. Prestige Tiles (RAK), showroom floor
5. DTI Qld, Landers by Marazzi
customers that timber-look tiles will last
longer and require less maintenance,
they are usually prepared to buy tile. We
are receiving orders of 150 to 250 square
metres as homeowners lay tile instead of
timber.” Photo 2 illustrates a selection of
the timber-look tiles that are on sale at
Metric Tile. Fabio added, “We anticipate
that longer, wider planks will gain a foothold in the market.”
The adaptability of porcelain replications of timber is highlighted in photos
3 & 4 which depict use of Everstone’s
Urban Wood (Photo 3) in a residential
setting, and Prestige Tile’s Xilo in their
extensive showroom in Auburn, Sydney.
Photo 5 focuses on the Landers collection by market leader Marazzi. Many
of the available timber-look tiles are produced in 15 x 80 or 15 x 90cm formats.
Landers is manufactured in a 22 x 90cm
plank, in white, beige, grey and brown,
with undertones of decape timber. Many
of these ceramic replications of timber can be used externally. Landers is
6. Ocean+ Merchant, Colour Wood
www.infotile.com/publications | Tile Today #80 | 27
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TRENDS
produced in a grip finish for outdoor
use. (Image courtesy of Distinctive Tile
Imports, QLD)
Timber-look tiles are produced in
a variety of finishes, which include
high-gloss and distressed (Photo 6).
Colourwood by Ocean + Merchant,
Sydney, illustrates a growing diversity
in colour and size. The 150 x 900mm
planks are produced in six colours; blue,
green, yellow, brown, grey and the featured red. Applications include interior
and exterior walls and floors.
The illustrated products will last for
the life of the structure, without the attendant need for relatively regular and
expensive maintenance.
Romancing the Stone
The previous image emphasises how
tile can be designed to look like it has
already provided years of service. Some
materials look better when they age, especially terracotta, and certain varieties
of natural stone. A little wear and tear
around the edges, and the patina produced by age, add depth and character.
Downtown in Photo 1 by Ace
Ceramics, Sydney evokes the appearance of a well-worn path. The matt
version of this entirely contemporary
product has an ‘X’ rating on our pendulum slip resistance ratings. Downtown
is produced in five colours; ivory, ecro,
earth, ash and graphite.
At the opposite end of the spectrum,
Marvel (Photo 7) which is available from
DW Tiles, Sydney, demonstrates how effectively polished porcelain can be produced to replicate the enduring attraction
of marble. This durable product is produced in matt, lappato and gloss finishes
in a variety of popular sizes, ranging from
45 x 90cm floor tiles to matching mosaics.
Marvel is presented in three colours; calacatta (featured), moon and pietra grey.
The pure colours and realistic replication
of natural veining are prime attributes
of these porcelain stoneware floor tiles,
which are also available in a co-ordinated
white body wall tile.
Lovers of stone will claim that tile
manufacturers will never faithfully
capture the appearance of ‘real stone’,
but each advance in digital decoration
produces copies that are harder to discern from the real thing. At some point
the key questions will address the cost
of a product, the time and expense of
care and maintenance, and its life expectancy. In circumstances where these
concerns dominate the sales discussion, porcelain in all its forms must be
strongly considered. Photos 8, 9 and
10 provide further evidence of just how
appealing and convincing contemporary
imitations of stone have become.
Photo 8 features Quartz Stone, a
striking glazed porcelain product supplied by Colortile, Sydney. This robust
600 x 600mm replication of Quartz is
available in four popular colours; black,
white, ivory and grey. Like most of the
28 | Tile Today #80 | www.infotile.com/publications
7. DW Tiles, Marvel
8. ColorTile, Quartz Stone
9. Johnson Tiles,
Sandstone Grey
Eternal luxury
Exclusive product, selected stores only
Available in:
Matt / Lappato / Gloss
45 x 90, 30 x 60, 60 x 60, 74 x 74cm (indent),
Mosaics, 3D mosaics
CALACATTA extra
MOON onyx
GREY stone
CHAMPAGNE onyx
17 Everley Road, Chester Hill, NSW 2162 phone 02 9743 8122 fax 02 9743 8133
email [email protected] www.dwtiles.com.au
BEIGE mystery
BRONZE luxury
DW Tiles
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TRENDS
10. Trend Tile, Livingstone
featured products it can be used internally and externally, where its R10 slip
rating provides excellent traction.
The prevailing popularity of natural materials coupled with increased
interest in ceramic replications of
these products has impacted heavily
on traditional outdoor favourites like
terracotta. Photo 9 features a convincing ceramic rendering of sandstone,
which is available from Johnson Tiles
Australia. Sandstone Grey is available
in semi-polished and matt finishes in
300 x 600 and 600 x 600mm formats.
The semi-polished product could be
used internally; the matt finish could be
used outdoors.
Photo 10 shows Livingstone grey
(smooth) which is available from industry major Trend Tile, New South Wales.
This hard-wearing glazed porcelain tile
is ideal for interior spaces. The smooth
finish is available in 30 x 30, 45 x 45 and
60 x 60cm. A 45 x 45cm anti-slip finish
is available. It is produced in grey, ivory and suede (beige). Glazed porcelain
13. Urban Edge, Tex
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11. Di Lorenzo, Concrete
products require no sealing, or special
maintenance.
Set in Concrete
Using incredible technology to make
tiles that look like concrete sounds like
a waste of time, not to mention, money.
Nevertheless, concrete surface finishes
have their appeal and specifiers like
their looks and their durability. Like
timber and stone, a concrete substrate
provides a level of resilience that compares more favourably with tile than
run-of-the-mill resilient floor coverings
like vinyl.
Consequently, many of Europe’s
leading manufacturers are focusing on
easy to clean and maintain imitations
of concrete. Photo 11 features a scene
we would all like to see every morning.
The Jordi Garces range is available
from Di Lorenzo, Sydney. This project
illustrates the advantages associated
with extending tiling proposals to outdoor entertainment areas. Simply use
the same finish, or introduce a more slip
resistant version of the material, in the
same colour tones.
At the outset, I mentioned the fantastic range of sizes, thicknesses, shapes,
and textures which are available in
contemporary tile collections. Some of
these materials are becoming so large
that the term ‘tile’ no longer provides an
adequate description. Anything larger
than 1 metre square could be construed
as being a panel.
Photo 12, the Industrial collection,
also from Di Lorenzo, features an incredibly durable material that is available in
a plethora of sizes including the featured
giant 1200 x 3000mm panel. This amazing interpretation of cement possesses
industrial overtones, in three thicknesses
ranging from a slim 6mm to 2 centimetres. This porcelain collection, produced
in six colours; ivory, taupe, moka, sage,
steel and plomb, epitomises all the very
best attributes of tile, enhanced by a
porosity value of <0.1 per cent which exceeds ISO 10545.3 rating of <0.5 per cent.
14. Everstone,
Durastone Botticino
12. Di Lorenzo, Industrial
Texture & Shape
The first European tiles to capture local
attention were 200 x 200mm wall and
floor tiles which arrived en masse in the
1970s. They were bigger and thicker
than the 6” x 6” imperial tiles we used
back then, and they could be used on
wall and floors.
Bigger sizes are here to stay, but
200 x 200mm tiles are still immensely
popular. Interest in this format has been
re-enforced by the emergence of a variety of geometric and frequently colourful
products that can be used to create solid
fields of design. A return to smaller formats coincides with renewed interest in
hexagons, octagons and the 20 x 11.5cm
Rhombus featured in Photo 13. Tex
is an abbreviation of the word textile.
The series is produced in five different surfaces (fabrics) and eight colours,
which can be used to create appealing
three-dimensional patterns. Tex is available from Urban Edge Ceramics in the
Melbourne suburb of Richmond.
Photo 14 shows a 520 x 620mm
hexagonal product from the Durastone
range by Everstone.
Tile manufacturers frequently produce the same product in a variety of sizes, colours and shapes to encourage use
of modular laying patterns; and pleasing colour combinations. Contrasting
surface finishes are available to suit
anticipated levels of
foot traffic, and resistance to spillages
and the possibility
of slipping.
Photo 15 features series ECI
600 x 1200 x 9mm
porcelain tiles laid
in
Metric
Tile’s
showroom. A mixture of natural and
levigato (polished)
textures combine to
emphasise how contemporary ceramic
finishes can be used.
16. Metric Tiles, EC1
Photo 16 shows the structured version
of the same tile adhered to the external
ramp which leads to the showroom. The
internal finishes are R10, the external
tile is R12. The range is designed to withstand constant and heavy foot traffic,
similar to levels experienced daily in the
City of London postal district EC1 which
inspired the name of this series.
15. Metric Tiles, EC1 is typically available in several finishes
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