Tile Today Issue 98 | September 2018

TILE TODAY 98

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

PREMIER COAST TILES IS A RETAIL SUCCESS STORY WATERPROOFING FEATURE

CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS 2017-2018 TRENDS

|

F E AT U R E D P R O D U C T S

MOSAICS DOMINATE POOL AND SPA DESIGN

|

TRADE FAIRS

|

INDUSTRY NEWS

Do YOU Fit The Membership? ive g s u l Exc Pricin .

1 0 rial & e Mat

m u m i x e a c M n 03. ependa Ind

um m i x aid a M 02. bates P Re

e v i s k s r a o M etw .

4 0 ort N p p u S

‘Maximum support, rebates and benefits for independants’ We’re not a franchise - We’re a Professional Buying Group.

We’re Tile Power Limited *For membership enquiries contact Adam on : 0430 930 921 Scan QR code for more information

Tile Power Limited - 18 Kelso Crescent, Moorebank - NSW 2170 T : 02 9734 9200 - F : 02 9734 9211 - www.tilepower.com Tile Power Limited is a ceramic retailers buying group.

contents

98 RETAIL FOCUS

08 Premier Coast Tiles owner, Thomas Sotriffer has made

the journey from professional tiler to retailer and is a strong advocate of the Tile Power group.

PROFILES 14 Europe Imports has confirmed its status as a significant

tile supplier with its win at the Swimming Pool & Spa Association.

46 Spanish company, Ezarri sets a high benchmark when it

comes to mosaics.

WATERPROOFING FEATURE 22 A call to raise the levels of professionalism in

waterproofing. Products from Laticrete, Davco and ACT Australia are highlighted.

INDUSTRY ROUNDUP 32 News from the industry includes a new sales manager

appointment, the Trowel Trade Awards, the latest range from Axolotl and Beaumont Tiles’ annual store awards.

MARKETS 38 Ceramic tile imports to the Australian market during

2017-2018. Peter Halliday reports.

TALKING POINT 42 The topic of potential tariffs on tile imports to Australia

is explored by Bryan Vadas.

REGULAR DEPARTMENTS 53 Featured Products 54 Trade Fairs

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

ualit y

importers of Q

GLASS MOSAIC TILES BY

EZARRI - AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER EMERALD

LIFETIME GUARANTEE 2018 NATIONAL SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

NATURAL STONE PREMIUM QUALITY BY

pds TRAVERTINE - PREMIUM CLASSIC 2018 NSW & ACT SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

2cm PORCELAIN BY

pds PORCELAIN - 2cm KANSAS ANTHRACITE

PLUS!

SEALERS • ADHESIVES & GROUTS SHOWERS • SKIMMER LIDS & MORE

sales@europeimports.com.au

Phone: 1300 EUROPE (387-673)

www.europeimports.com.au

FO REWOR T RENDS D

Tile Today’s latest edition showcases mosaics and the companies that produce and supply them to the Australian market, Ezarri and Europe Imports.

Ezzarri is a Spanish-based company known for its extensive archive of designs and colours of mosaics and is well-matched with Europe Imports as its exclusive distributor to the local market. Europe Imports is a home-grown success story, led by the glamorous and hard-working Paula Cowell-Yench. Read about their story on page 15.

Another local success story is Premier Coast Tiles, located in Ulladulla on the south coast of NSW. Store owner, Thomas Sotriffer, is passionate about being an independent retailer and being a member of the Tile Power group. His story starts on page 8.

This issue also highlights the issues and products in the waterproofing category on page 22.

Around the industry, we speak to the new sales manager appointed at ACT Australia, feature the new Axolotl Terrazzo range, interview the winner of the Trowel Trade Awards and place a spotlight on its industry sponsors. Winners of Beaumont Tiles’ store awards are also profiled.

Peter Halliday provides the latest data on ceramic tile imports on page 38 and we publish the best response to a few questions we put to our readers about the potential impact of tariffs on tile products coming into Australia. Danny Casey, Beaumont Tiles chief executive officer, is very articulate in his answers.

We hope you enjoy this edition,

TILE TODAY Proudly produced and printed in Australia ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au EDITOR Betty Tanddo betty.tanddo@elitepublishing.com.au INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Joe Simpson joe.simpson@elitepublishing.com.au MACHINERY EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley@yahoo.com.au ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Trudi Woodward trudi.woodward@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION MANAGER Georgia Gilmour georgia.gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Uber Creative – Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412 annette@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Press Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Flooring Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine, TileToday Magazine, Supplier Magazine and FB Magazine.

Betty Tanddo Editor Leading the Industry

Endorsed by Australian Tile Council www.australiantilecouncil.com.au

FRONT COVER IMAGE The Cottobello range of floor and wall tiles from Spanish company, Natucer comes in six sizes and three main colours. Natucer is known for its innovation and has been awarded with the Alfa de Oro at Cevisama for the development of several ceramic pieces placed in urban areas and a number of customised projects.

6 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD. All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

Please note: Shade variation is an inherent feature of tile production. The Publisher is not liable for any discrepancy between images published in Tile Today and actual products.

ALABASTRO ASH MADE IN ITALY

Available in 1200x600, 600x600, 600x300 | Polished, Matt R10 / P3, Grip R11 / P5

WWW.EVERSTONE.COM.AU

For all enquiries please contact 02 9795 2000

Premier Coast Tiles in Ulladulla (NSW).

Independence with group benefits Thomas Sotriffer from Premier Coast Tiles has made the successful transition from working as a tiler to becoming a retailer.

A

s a former tiler and now the proprietor of Premier Coast Tiles in Ulladulla (NSW) for the past three years, Thomas Sotriffer doesn’t think there is a major change from being a professional tiler to a retailer. He said, “I’ve got some experience in hospitality and I think I have developed good people skills. It was like second nature to drop the tools and come into the store.”

Thomas comes from Italy and has called Australia home since 2000. He was actually customer to the store he now owns. As he tells the story: “I said to John [the previous owner] that if he ever decided to sell the shop to let me know. So when he decided to sell, we had a chat and came to an agreement that was good for us both and I decided to give the trade away and go into retail instead.”

Not too surprisingly, Thomas is no longer doing tiling work. He said, “As much as I would like to but it is not physically possible. But in saying

8 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

that…the experience gained in the tiling industry in having to deal with different products and materials is definitely a big bonus in doing retail because I can advise the customers properly when they make their choice.”

Thomas says he is knowledgeable on “tiles, adhesives, waterproofing, the lot”.

Product know-how is a very important point of difference for the store when competitors such as major hardware stores and tile franchises are located nearby. Thomas explains, “They compete with us by selling cheaper product but we can match their prices, dollar for dollar. By the same token, they do sell products for the home renovator who soemtimes don’t want to spend a great deal. They are also open seven days, whereas we can only manage five-and-a-half.

“I don’t think I am losing a lot of business to them…what they don’t get at Bunnings is the expertise and sound product knowledge.”

Thomas believes he serves a particular market where product expertise can be crucial. He said, “As a tile shop, we need to provide warranties and a guarantee for our products such as adhesives, for example. Whereas a hardware store can sell the same product that I sell without [the same type of] warranty.”

Target markets Premier Coast Tiles services builders, tradespeople, renovators, DIY homeowners and local handymen in and around Ulladulla, a small town with over 15,000 people – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census data – on the south coast of NSW. The spit between customers is 60% professional and 40% DIY. Ulladulla is half way between Batemans Bay to the south and Nowra to the north. Thomas said, “There are quite a few new coastal developments happening with a lot of established and new builders 10

To sell to a diverse clientele, Thomas needs “to keep a bit of stock or a rather large variety of it in order to cater to everybody’s taste and affordability. New home buyers tend to be on a budget whereas people who move from Canberra or Sydney seem to have more expensive taste and some are prepared to pay a premium for a high-quality product.”

Despite “sluggish but steady” trading at the moment, Thomas is confident he has a unique selling proposition (USP) with an “excellent showroom, well-displayed products, competitive pricing and excellent service” in addition to product knowledge.

Buying group benefits Thomas has been a member of Tile Power since he took over the store, continuing on from the last store owners. He said he inherited membership to the group but it was his choice to continue with, and it wasn’t without an initial risk.

“Even with the up-front fees …you have to pay a bit of money to become a member and you don’t always know what you are getting yourself into. But John was very passionate about the group and he had been a member for

Above: The service desk at Premier Coast Tiles

moving to Ulladulla, as a touristy town. A lot of people have a holiday home or investment property for rentals, and there are many retirees relocating from either Sydney or Canberra.

10 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

The friendly staff at Premier Coast Tiles.

Left: Thomas Sotriffer has owned the store and been a Tile Power member for the past three years. Above: Concrete-effects tiles and polished concrete are currently selling well. .

in a particular product put to them by the executive then a member or a smaller group of members can get together [to purchase it] if they are prepared to get it for themselves.

“As a group, we may not be able to decide whether a product is feasible or not to bring in. But if others believe they can sell it, they buy as a mini-group within the group. If the sales of that product get any traction then the other members of the group can jump on board and re-orders can be done. Sometimes this is the only way it works.”

Thomas, in conjunction with two other stores in in Batemans Bay and Penrith, have decided to import a colourful tile range. He said, “They are sourced from Italy. I went to visit an Italian company I had previous contact with, and they gave me a good introduction to their products.

over 20 years. He explained the pros and cons and I decided to go with it.”

Being able to access good prices as a member of a buying group is “first and foremost” for Thomas. He said, “You become an co-owner of Tile Power, basically a shareholder, so you effectively have skin in the game.

“One remains independent as a retailer and, it leaves you with the freedoms to buy based on what your [local] market needs.

There is also flexibility in terms of what products can be purchased as a group. “It may not cover all bases so I can purchase tiles from any supplier [outside the group] willing to sell them to me,” explains Thomas.

Every member has input into the products that Tile Power buys. He said, “If the group is not interested

Part of the store interior at Premier Coast Tiles.

When I came back, I put it to the board and the rest of the members.

Two of them really liked the product and decided to jump on board so together we bought a container of a mixed lot of mainly coloured tiles, for both walls and floors. They are mainly blue with shades of green, or emerald and aqua.”

They seem to be colours that should work well for a tile store situated in a coastal town. Understandably, others in the group were more reluctant to import bright coloured tiles because they can be slower to sell in stores.

However, Thomas believes his local market only has “shades of grey and brown which becomes a little bit boring. It is more interesting and exciting to mix it up with bright colours.”

Allowing a great deal of flexibility, other group members can still purchase these tiles at cost through Tile Power Ulladulla, Batemans Bay or Penrith.

Premier Coast Tiles is also a member of bathroom group BIGA+ since late 2017. Thomas has seen plumbing shops starting to sell tiling and vice versa. “We decided to implement bathroomware with our tiles so it becomes a one-stop-shop for your bathroom renovation,” he said.

Overall, Thomas believes his membership to Tile Power has been so successful that he would like to encourage other Australian independent tile retailers to join the group for benefits such as great pricing, independence and networking opportunities.

Best sellers The store sells a mix of Australian and imported Italian and Chinese products. “At the moment, concreteeffects and polished concrete are selling well for the industrial look.

The greys are the safest options for people who are often reluctant to go for bold colours,” explains Thomas.

“More colour comes into play when it comes to renovating a bathroom or a kitchen. We also offer free local delivery and discounts on bulk buys. “We mainly rely on store displays that are constantly evolving.

12 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Coloured tiles suitable for a coastal town.

“The store has been in its current form for 18 years so it is well established, and it has been in the area for over 30 years,” he adds.

Instead of focusing on traditional store promotions, Thomas said he is interested on developing on e-commerce in the near future.

“The product varies so much but we [Tile Power] do have a corporate website that has all the products we carry in stock with features and explanations. [It also] has ‘sub-sites’ that go to each store individually. If people are interested in a product they can contact the store directly

and make the purchase or get more information,” he said.

The website is regularly updated with new stock and brands. More interestingly, Thomas is also learning more about social media by doing an introductory course on Facebook and Instagram.“My daughter who is better versed in these things; she is part of the team and leads the way. She said she can easily take care of things for me and all have to do is feed her with pictures and promotions,” he said. ■ Story by Betty Tanddo

the natural look a striking concrete effect

THE CHALK RANGE • Concrete design collection includes: - classical 200x200mm tile - rhomboidal format (187x324mm) - brick format (75x300mm) • 4 concrete colourways + 3 multi patterns • 1 matt finish and a P3 rating • Internal use only

RHOMBOID

DARK

GREY

MULTI

BRICK

SILVER

WHITE

CEMENTINE

SMART SOLUTIONS FOR EASY LIVING Identical concrete/ minimalistic look

No sealing required

No staining

Very low maintenance

Easy to clean

Glazed porcelain tiles

Superior performance

Visit a ColorTile Showroom near you

1300 218 424

www.colortile.com.au

ALEXANDRIA | BROOKVALE | MIRANDA | WENTWORTHVILLE | COFFS HARBOUR | NARELLAN | PORT MACQUARIE

QUEEN OF THE POOLS

14 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Paula Cowell-Yench has helped steer Europe Imports to its major supplier status in the tile industry through her energy and drive.

She remains single-minded when it comes to providing products and service with distinction. >

T

he year 2018 could turn out to be a banner year for Europe Imports. Managing director, Paula CowellYench and her team were recently awarded Supplier of the Year by the Swimming Pool & Spa Association (SPASA), a significant accolade for a business known for being exclusive distributors of Spanish-made Ezarri mosaics.

“To win the Supplier of the Year award is undoubtably the pinnacle of my working career. I am so incredibly proud my entire team for the dedication and passion they have always given to myself and the company.

“We began marketing the win the next day and have not stopped yet!

I am also proud of the continued growth and excellent reputation we have gained over the years. We have developed wonderful long-standing relationships with our clients and our supply partners. We believe they deserve the ultimate in customer service as this is critical in any business for success. Bring on 2019!”

The Europe Imports team.

16 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Starting point Paula told Tile Today she admired the beauty of the Ezarri mosaics tiles when they were being used by pool builder on a project. More importantly, she recognised the potential for Australian tile store owners in stocking the range. “I was so taken by their beauty and versatility that I purchased some tiles off him and started mailing samples of Ezarri tiles to tile shops in NSW to see if there was an interest,” she explains.

The first sale enquiry came very quickly and Paula saw this as an indication that she had a chance to start a business. Soon after, she flew to Spain to visit the Ezarri factory and view its ranges and meet with management and staff. “Upon my return I was convinced that I should purchase my first container of Ezarri glass mosaic tiles,” Paula said.

Early on, Ezarri in Spain took notice of Paula’s dedication and passion to the brand through her proactive initiatives in advertising, marketing and merchandising. A

focus on the visual aspects of the business and working hard for her clients has always been a priority.

“It was during this time that Ezarri offered exclusive distribution, which was a dream come true for us and an affirmation of their confidence and trust in us. Our consistent annual growth has helped to establish Ezarri as the No.1 in glass mosaic tile in the Australian market for swimming pools,” she said.

As most people experienced in business know, trust and respect are hallmarks of a mutually beneficial professional relationship. But they are even more important when there is a lot of distance between the two entities.

“I have always believed that your supply partners are equally as important as your customers and you should give them equal respect,” said Paula.

“Your payments should be on time, every time, to develop that trust which is crucial. Our relationship over the years with Ezarri has developed into such a wonderful one

18

GASCOGNE IVORY

TAUPE

LIGHT GREY

IN STOCK NOW. GASCOGNE COLLECTION DARK GREY

BLACK

New limestone collection with subtle contrasting marine fossils, versatile enough for any interior or exterior space.

Finish: Size: Indent: Plus:

Matt & External Finish 300X300/300X600 and 600X600 Lappato Finish all colours 2cm Porcelain Paver in 600x600 Black ONLY

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED : We are seeking Expressions of Interest to join our distributor network interstate and in New Zealand.

Please contact us on (02) 9757 1822 to discuss this excellent opportunity.

TRADE PORT INTERNATIONAL 11-12 Hexham Place, Wetherill Park NSW 2164 (02) 9757 1822 tradeport@trade-port.com.au www.tradeport.com.au

About SPASA awards The SPASA Australia Awards of Excellence attract entries from around the country and effectively highlights achievements in construction, design, manufacturing, supply, products, retail and service.

The awards provide its members with the opportunity to showcase their efforts to a national audience of their peers, industry, government and local community. They are recognition that award recipients are leaders in their field.

The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Queensland held was the location for 2018 awards, with members and guests entertained with a mind-twisting performance from Australia’s mind reader, Anthony Laye and enjoying the sophisticated sounds of upmarket, corporate act “Red Tie band”. Laurie Lawrence, former Olympic and world champion swim coach, was emcee for the evening, and kept the audience engaged throughout the night.

The Tourmaline and Topaz (pictured above) series are designed exclusively for the Australian market.

Spiros Dassakis, chief operations officer at SPASA welcomed all attendees, acknowledging platinum sponsor Fluidra (Astralpool), silver sponsor Hayward Pool Products and other supporters, thanking them for their collaboration and encouragement.

SPASA chairman and CEO of Spa Industries Global, Rob Kruber, told the audience: “We have another record-breaking event with more entries and attendance than ever before. The work that our members are doing is world class. The products we build are inspirational and desirable, they create family memories, provide a place for recreation and relaxation, and enhance our lives.”

SPASA Australia is the country’s peak swimming pool and spa industry body. It is dedicated to improving the standards and growth of the swimming pool and spa industry for the betterment of members, consumers as well as the industry itself.

that is respected by both companies.

Our container orders have increased every year since 2004 which is also a strong indication to Ezarri that we are serious in our pursuit of growth along with them.”

Paula had the foresight to have long-terms plans when she wanted to take on the Ezarri products for distribution. “From the outset, I planned to eventually carry the vast majority of the range that Ezarri produced. Over the years, we have been organically increasing the volume of products. We are proud to say we now carry 95% of the range in varying quantities based on popularity and fashion trends,” she said.

The number of significant projects around the country that feature 18 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Ezarri mosaics include pools at the Park Royal hotel (Sydney), Meriton apartment developments, Darling Harbour (Sydney), Westfields Pacific Fair (QLD), Jubilee Towers (Hornsby, NSW), North Rocks Swim School (Sydney) and retirement homes.

Talent and skills After working in the highly competitive FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) sector as a manager for supermarket for almost a decade, Paula is very well-equipped to manage growth at Europe Imports.

Her skills and experience in this area also include marketing, advertising and knowing how to provide high levels of customer service. They translated effectively to the tile industry.

20

Paula Cowell-Yench and Carl Yench holding the SPASA Suppler of the Year Award at Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (QLD).

OrienTile

Precious Travertine Available in 3 colours: Precious Travertine Bianco Precious Travertine Ivory Precious Travertine Grey Matt Finish: Sizes: 300x300 / 300 x600/ 600x600 / 450x900mm P3 Pendulum Slip Rating

External Finish: Sizes: 300x600 / 600x600mm P5 Pendulum Slip Rating Variation: 450x900mm X 5 Digital Prints 600x600 / 300x600 / 300x300mm X 10 Digital Prints

Precious Ivory

Precious Bianco

Precious Grey

Orientile Pty Ltd

NSW - 02 9829 7889 - Email: cs@orientile.com.au 1/19 Aero Road, Ingleburn, NSW 2565 Vic - 0431 952 993 Warehouse: 99 Olympia St, Tottenham VIC 3012 Qld - 0435 860 025 Warehouse: 7C, 400 Bilsen Road, Geebung QLD 4014

Clockwide from left: Deco Mix is a combination of the Niebla and Lisa ranges that can bring a soft and subtle note or strikingly decadent feel to any project. Suitable for pools, kitchens and bathrooms; Arctic Dark is exclusive for the Australian market and is diverse in colour, tone and texture; The Tigrato tile from Ezarri’s Zen collection is inspired by stone, marbles and woods, with a natural matte texture, in a range of tranquil colours.

In a relatively short period of time, the company gained a reputation for quality products with an extremely high standard of customer service that continues to drive the company forward.

Family business Four years into the business, Paula said she was very pleased to have her son Carl Yench join the business, bringing with him his knowledge in business development and sales. He worked across all aspects of Europe Imports including warehousing, sales, technology, procurement, and eventually worked his way up into the role of assistant director working alongside Paula.

“During Carl’s time at the company, he developed a technical process relating to the installation of glass mosaics, adhesive and grout products. Carl also expanded the business with the introduction of natural stone, porcelain, adhesives, grouts and other products to complement the growing popularity of our Ezarri range.

“PDS (Poolside Design & Supply) was then formed as a part of Europe Imports servicing trade clients,” she said.

Europe Imports has also created the Gem range under the Ezarri name, designed and developed by both Paula and Carl, who came up with the idea to form the company’s Australian Designer series of tiles.

Paula explains the staff were also 20 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

given the opportunity to design mixes that she and Carl thought would suitable for the local market and enhance its mixes from Ezarri.

“The Australian Designer range mixes were chosen from the best designs from our staff as well as Carl and I. The outcome of this exercise was so successful that we now have 18 stunning ranges including the Gem range which have been very well received,” Paula said.

Another member of the family, Peter Cowell (Paula’s son) also recently joined the family firm.

For the last 23 years, Peter has held a number of senior sales and

operational roles outside Europe Imports and has joined the company as a director focused on growth.

Today Paula believes Europe Imports stands as “a highly respected company in the tile and stone industry with a strong emphasis on business ethics, quality products and customer service that is second to none”.

She added, “We are also grateful for the industry bodies who have supported us through the years.”

In addition to Paula and her sons, Carl and Peter, office manager Ashley Guevara rounds out the main leadership team at Europe Imports. ■

If you can dream it, we can make it.

EUROMARMO ICE GREY Available in 1200x600, 600x600, 600x300 | Polished, Matt R10, Grip R11

WWW.EVERSTONE.COM.AU

For all enquiries please contact 02 9795 2000

GUIDE TO

F E AT U R E In this special feature, Roeland from Melbourne Polytechnic discusses the major issues facing the waterproofing industry. It is followed by a story on a luxury residential project where a suite of Laticrete products were effectively used on the pool and spa. The latest waterproofing products from ACT Australia and Davco are also highlighted in this section.

INCREASING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALISM The construction boom in in Victoria has led to an increasing number of waterproofing professionals to meet market demand, according to Roeland Trietsch.

But the industry is being plagued with poor workmanship that has resulted in building defects. A significant amount of these faults is causing water damage due to a multitude of issues with the waterproofing industry. Over 80% of homeowner warranty claims are related to leaking wet areas.

A majority of builders are not aware of the importance of the waterproofing process from design to completion. They assume waterproofing contractors have completed comprehensive training and perceived to be the industry professional.

22 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Many builders consider a liquid applied membrane to a substrate to be sufficient. They do not understand that substrate identification, substrate preparation, expected movement, correct fall to a drainage system and membrane specifications are a crucial part of the process that are not immediately visible.

At the moment there is no system in place that would ensure the quality of a waterproofing application.

Building surveyors do not have the expertise to be able to sign off the waterproofing work; it is all up to the waterproofing contractor. In the current system, registered builders are liable for the waterproofing of a building. Waterproofing contractors are rarely held accountable when issues arise and the builder will incur the cost of fixing a leaking wet area.

Only a small number of contractors have completed an accredited waterproofing course. Some may have completed a one-day

manufacturer specific short course and believe that this is a sufficient qualification to install different types of waterproofing systems used the building industry. These courses can also encourage contractors to stick with one manufacturer. This might result in an incorrect selection of a waterproofing product. Certain products are not best suited with a specific application.

Often there is insufficient communication between the builder and waterproofing contractor.

The waterproofing contractor is usually engaged at a later stage of construction so they may not be able to install a membrane system, based on Australian Standards.

For example, when the doors onto a balcony that have already been installed, external cladding fitted and walls have been rendered then this will result in inappropriate termination of a membrane system.

The waterproofing contractor should

24

DAVCO

WATERPROOFING

Davco’s Class II and III waterproofing membranes offer a variety of features and benefits and are designed for commercial and residential applications. Depending on the area to be waterproofed, our range includes ready-to-use polyurethane modified acrylic membranes that can be applied directly out of the pail and cementitious 2 part membranes that eliminate the need for reinforcement layers.

Neutral Cure

Fast Drying

Highly Flexible

Davco K5 Bond Breaker

Davco K10 Rapid

Davco K10 Plus

A neutral cure silicone designed to be used as a bond breaker in the installation of Class II & III waterproofing membranes.

A fast drying, highly flexible, water based polyurethane, Class III waterproofing membrane ideal for cooler climates.

A flexible, 1 part, ready to use, water based polyurethane, Class III waterproofing membrane with excellent curing time.

CLASS III MEMBRANE

BOND BREAKER

Submerged Areas Davco Dampfast A grey, flexible, 2 part waterproofing membrane ideal for areas susceptible to ponding such as swimming pools and spas.

CLASS III MEMBRANE

Moisture Barrier CLASS II MEMBRANE

HYDROSTATIC

WATERPROOFING

PAREXDAVCO.COM.AU Contact us for product and systems enquiries on 02 9616 3000 | 1800 653 347

Davco Lanko K11 A cementitious, 2 part waterproofing membrane designed to prevent the transfer of moisture from the substrate to the surface. This membrane stops any likelihood of efflorescence being generated from the substrate.

WAT E R P R O OF ING

Waterproofing is arguably one of the most important stages of construction.

be engaged from the design phase to completion to ensure a quality outcome that will meet the Australian Standards.

structure if it is not done correctly.

Rectifying a problem with a leaking wet area can result in large repair bills that could have easily been prevented.

disregarding drying times are other major contributors to failure of a waterproofing system.

Waterproofing is an area where taking shortcuts is not recommended.

Saving a dollar at the start could lead to large repair bills later.

Which direction should we be heading after stating the major issues relating to waterproofing? I believe that waterproofing should become a licensed trade like plumbing and electrical.

Waterproofing contractors also often assume the previous trades have done their work properly and don’t always check if substrates are installed based on manufacturer’s specifications.

A government industry body should oversee the industry and regulate it.

All waterproofing contractors should complete an accredited training in construction waterproofing at a minimum.

Cost and installation time are crucial factors when it comes to waterproofing. The focus should shift towards quality first. There is a lot of misinformation regarding the waterproofing industry. People often think that it just involves painting a liquid to a substrate.

Another common issue in the industry are incorrect falls towards a drainage system. Waterproofing professionals should check that the fall is adequate for a specific wet area, according to Australian Standards.

If waterproofing professionals are engaged from the design stage to completion on a project, then their suggestions can be taken into consideration to ensure the best outcome of the waterproofing process.

Waterproofing is arguably one of the most important stages of construction. It can cause an enormous amount of damage to a

Incorrect film thickness, poor substrate preparation, high moisture levels in substrates, the absence of appropriate bond breakers and

Roeland Trietsch is a teacher in construction waterproofing at Melbourne Polytechnic

Unfortunately, waterproofing contractors seem to be undercutting each other to ensure a sufficient workload and builders are not always willing to allocate a suitable budget to cover the waterproofing cost of a structure. This can result in shortcuts during the application process. Contractors skip important preparation steps and sometimes only apply a single coat of membrane.

24 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

WAT E R P R O OF ING Left: Laticrete’s HYDRO BAN product was used for waterproofing all the areas of the pool and spa.

was to find a product to seal against a non-porous surface.

Lastly, there was an issue to make the air blow holes in the spa waterproofed. This was discussed and then eliminated after chiselling out a channel, and waterproofing below the PVC pipe to make the air being used through the seat above the membrane for movement and water.

LATICRETE IS BEST IN SHOW A new build, private residence in Indooroopilly (QLD) benefited from a range of Laticrete’s products including its HYDRO BAN® waterproofing membrane.

Professionals involved in this major undertaking include designer Owen Rentoul and Tim Stewart Architects who were engaged to assist with the project drawings. Large format 1200 x 600mm marble from SNB Stone and 40 x 40mm glass mosaics from Trend Mosaics were used on the pool, spa, and water feature.

The mosaics were new to Australia and not used before. The installation of these tiles required more than the above-average application technique.

With award winning skills from Sam Gardener Tiling and Laticrete’s solutions, the project was completed with exceptional quality and ease of mind for the homeowners.

Sam was faced with a few challenges throughout the installation of the pool, spa and water feature. The position of the pool was a big challenge as it was located on the second level above the main bedroom, so ensuring it was watertight was of extremely important.

Perspex was used at one end of the pool and in the spa. The challenge

26 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Sam had to ensure the air blow holes in the spa were watertight, and was reassured when HYDRO BAN waterproofing membrane was applied.

HYDRO BAN® is a thin, load bearing, waterproofing/crack isolation membrane that combines optimum performance with unmatched productivity. Its rapid drying means there is less down time. Colour changes from a light sage to olive green when dry for the ideal application guide between coats. It does not require the use of fabric in the field, coves or corners.

HYDRO BAN is a single component, self-curing, liquid rubber polymer that forms a flexible, seamless, waterproofing membrane that bonds directly to a wide variety of substrates. It is a low VOC emitting product that has been Greenguard certified. HYDRO BAN is a highly extensible Class 3 membrane and suitable for immersed installations, internal wet areas and external above ground use.

For this project, he also selected to use a full Laticrete installation system including 226 Thick Bed Mortar and 3701 Mortar Admix which was used for the render and bedding for the substrate preparation. 211 Crete Filler Powder and 4237 Latex Additive was used for the bond coat in the pool.

HYDRO BAN was used for waterproofing all the areas. Sam selected 335 Premium Flexible Adhesive White, knowing it was suitable for immersion and would give the partly translucent glass tile a more even, consistent look.

LATAPOXY® 310 Stone Adhesive was used to bond the 1200 x 600mm Perspex was used at one end of the pool and in the spa.

marble slab, nominally 50kgs/m2, to the front protruding featured face the of the pool. He was impressed with the result, which was a flat finish and knowing it will hold. SPECTRALOCK® PRO Grout and LATASILTM was used to finish it all off.

28

COMPLIANT MEMBRANES

WAT E R P R O OF ING Glass mosaics from Trend Mosaics were new to Australia and not used before this project.

the area to be waterproofed, its range includes ready-to-use acrylic and polyurethane membranes that can be applied directly out of the pail.

The company also have cementitious two-part membranes that eliminate the need for reinforcement layers, thus saving application time and mess.

Most importantly, the homeowners were very happy with the end result.

They said, “Sam’s drive for perfection consumed him on this project. We had many conversations about the pool finishes and it always came back to using Laticrete products so he could turn it into something truly spectacular.

He is a true craftsman and deserves the accolades for his effort.”

For this project, the Master Builders Association awarded Sam the 2017 with its Residential Trade Contractor of the Year Award for Brisbane and he was also the overall winner for Queensland, in the same category.

Sam also commented that without the confidence in the application products and the knowledge of the Laticrete technical team, it would have been a much different outcome. “The Profit Through Knowledge Training seminar I attended with Fred Gray and Mitchell Haw, answered many questions that I had. This helped in my decision in choosing Laticrete and also gave me the idea of using marble in the submerged part of the pool and spa.

“There are no leaks, and I sleep easy with the product warranty that comes when using Laticrete. I would like to thank Mitchell for his involvement throughout the project and for introducing my team to Laticrete,” he said.

Photography for this story supplied by Manuele Rinaldi.

28 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

WATERPROOFING FOR ALL AREAS Davco has an extensive range of Class II and III waterproofing membranes and bond breakers for interior, exterior and submerged wet areas.

By definition, waterproofing is the formation of an impervious barrier which is designed to prevent water entering or escaping from various sections of building structures. Areas where moisture can pool, such as bathrooms, laundries and external wet areas, must be waterproofed before tiling to contain moisture and protect the building structure.

Davco’s waterproofing membranes offer a variety of features and benefits and are designed for commercial and residential applications. Depending on

Davco’s waterproofing membranes are suitable for internal wet areas such as shower recesses, toilets and laundries, external wet areas such as roofs, decks and balconies and other applications such as planter boxes, water tanks, ponds retaining walls, swimming pools and spas.

Waterproofing bond breakers from Davco are designed to allow normal building movement to be accommodated by a waterproofing membrane. Bond breakers allow the membrane to stretch, rather than snap, taking advantage of the elastic property of the material.

The Davco System Selector can help users choose the right waterproofing product for a project.

Davco offers a range of waterproofing membranes and bond breakers.

WAT E R P R O OF ING

WP-1 is ready to tile over or apply screed over after only 24hrs of application of the second coat. It is super durable with strong adhesion and will not be easily damaged even if other trades are working on top of the finished floor surface before it’s tiled over. Both Neutral Cure silicone or PU sealant are the recommended bond breaking systems for WP-1 applications.

TIME EFFICIENT TILE WATERPROOFING SpeedCoat – available from ACT Australia – is a premixed ready to apply super fast drying under tile waterproof membrane. Its unique cross-linking moisture-cure technology allows for extremely rapid curing times even in Australia’s most challenging and varied weather conditions. This includes damp and cold through to humid and hot conditions.

The moisture cure technology means that SpeedCoat can be applied over green screeds and new concrete.

Speedcoat can be applied with a brush or roller and will dry in as little as one hour per coat. Speedcoat can also be flood tested, tiled on or screeded over after only one hour of the second coat being applied.

Speedcoat requires two coats on floors and only one coat on walls applications. It comes in a 3.8lt container and will cover up to 10m of finished waterproofing. Speedcoat dramatically brings down the construction time frame on both new build and renovation projects, saving time and money.

WP-1, sometimes referred to as “The Pink One”, is a 24hr under tile waterproofing membrane.

Suitable for both commercial and residential shower installations, SpeedCoat creates a continuous waterproofing barrier with outstanding adhesion in tile and stone floors. It also bonds directly to clean metal, PVC, stainless steel and ABS drain assemblies.

30 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

When using Flexi bandage there is no need to apply a neutral cure silicone or PU sealant as a bond breaker saving you time and money.

WP-1, sometimes referred to as “The Pink One”, is a 24hr under tile waterproofing membrane. It is a Class III waterborne flexible SBR under tile membrane. In most cases, priming is not required because WP-1 has Infused Primer Technology (IPT).

A 20lt of WP-1 will cover 20 square metres of finished waterproofing.

WP-1 is a two-coat system for both floor and wall applications with the second coat being applied after just two hours.

WP-1 bandage is an economical flexible polyester bandage option available in 50m x 100mm wide roll.

SpeedCoat is a premixed ready to apply super fast drying under tile waterproof membrane

ACT Australia also offers two bandage options. WP-1 bandage is an economical flexible polyester bandage option available in 50m x 100mm wide rolls. Flexi bandage is a premium flexible bandage available in pre-formed internal and external corners and 50m x 120mm wide rolls.

Flexi bandage is a premium flexible bandage available in 50m x 120mm wide rolls.

IF ONLY THEY KNEW...

Meet Ed and Sarah. They love their home and recently retiled their balcony. The job was perfect and they were thrilled.

But 1 month later, they started to get leaching so they had their tiles professionally cleaned.

The efflorescence returned so they cleaned it again.

And again, and again.

IF ONLY THEIR TILE RETAILER OR TILER HAD RECOMMENDED EFFLOCK

ENSURE CUSTOMER HAPPINESS FOR ONLY $4/m2* RECOMMEND EFFLOCK

Efflock is an advanced additive that prevents migration of calcium hydroxide and other salts that cause efflorescence.

For stockist or technical enquiries contact: Ben Burdett – 0414 730 736

It works by impregnating mortar to provide a hydrophobic function that is unaffected by building movement or traffic wear.

Denis Suess – 0418 422 858

When added to screed, render, tile adhesive and grout, Efflock provides a primary water barrier and is proven to be a reliable solution for preventing efflorescence.

(Agent for Central & North Coast NSW, Hunter & New England)

(National sales and technical enquiries)

(Agent for Southern & Central regions NSW, South Coast, Riverina & ACT)

Chris Garling – 0408 275 369

www.efflock.com.au

*AUD based on RRP for a 20 litre drum and used in a 40mm screed, tile adhesive and grout.

Industry roundup ACT adds to sales team Daniel Passey has already achieved quite a lot in his career for someone who hasn’t yet turned 30. Starting out working in the warehouses of a number of tile companies, Daniel worked his way up from territory sales, key account management and business development. Now he has become the sales manager at ACT Australia.

Prior to joining ACT, Daniel had been acquainted with founder and managing director, Colin Morrow for around 10 years. “The job was really good timing. Colin was looking for someone and I was looking to do something different.

Something I could get my hands on and help Colin grow the business,” he explains. “We have a good professional relationship, and he’s always good for a chat!”

Daniel came to ACT from a senior sales role at DTA Tools but before that, he had already gained considerable experience working in the industry. “I actually started at Metro Tiles at Capalaba [QLD] as a storeman and helping out in the warehouse,” he said.

Then a position became available at Amber Tiles and Daniel worked there for about 12 months as a storeman before going to work at DTA, initially in the warehouse. “A sales job came about looking after the Brisbane-Gold Coast-Northern New South Wales region and I took up the opportunity,” he said.

When Tile Today points out it is a huge territory for a sales person to look after, Daniel replied, “I enjoyed being on the road and meeting a lot of different people along the way.” He spent about 6-7 years as a territory manager.

In the last few years he spent at DTA, Daniel looked after tile contractors in the Queensland commercial market. As a result, he was involved in a lot of major projects like the W Hotel. supplying material such as expansion joints.

Following this role, Daniel became key account manager for hardware retail. “I was looking after the likes of Independent Hardware Group or Mitre 10, Total Tools, Natbuild, HBT and all that part of the business.”

32 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Modern terrazzo range

ACT Australia’s newly appointed sales manager, Daniel Passey at the company’s new Glendenning warehouse, western Sydney.

This senior role involved a lot of travelling away from home which he managed even as a father of three young children under seven.

Daniel’s role with ACT will be based in Brisbane and will keep him at his home base more. “I am looking after all aspects of sales in Queensland at the moment. It’s all about growing market share in the retail sector, and winning any contractors along the way.

“Customers buy some things from us but not everything. It’s a matter of getting out there and talking to the trade as well and making sure they like our product and hopefully feed that back to the retailers,” he said.

In terms of the ways he is seeing the industry change, Daniel said smaller re-sellers like the ‘Mum & Dad’ shops are making way for bigger players like National Tiles and Beaumonts. For the past 3-4 years, he believes there has also been an increase in dedicated trade centres and businesses such as Glues ‘n Tools. “Tradies are starting to go to these type of specialists,” he said.

In general, Daniel is grateful for the opportunities he has had along the way to gain his experience in the industry. At ACT, he has been enjoying his new role. “It’s been a good challenge,” he said.

Architectural products supplier, Axolotl has a new collection called Terrazzo that can be customised with fine or oversized aggregate in monochromatic, pastel or bold colour tones. The company said it comes in a range of concrete colours to complement a variety of residential and commercial styles.

From its origins that can be traced back 8,000 years to the Venetians, terrazzo as a material has been reinvented by Axolotl in 2018 as a cementitious surface that is only 0.5mm thick and available in almost any colour combination.

Axolotl Terrazzo can be applied to flat panels up to 1600 x 2400mm.

Unlike a traditional terrazzo, endusers can design beyond shelf colours and create the ideal scheme to fit their design.

Axolotl Terrazzo is not a laminate, but rather an applied finish whereby the fine coloured aggregate is bound in the Axolotl Concrete treatment.

It can be applied to almost any substrate including MDF and mild steel. The range is suitable for internal applications, and each panel is treated to order.

This selection from Axolotl Terrazzo showcases just some of the company’s capabilities.

Applications can include counter fronts, feature walls, lift interiors, cabinetry, splash backs and signage.

The unique properties of Axolotl Terrazzo provide a flexible surface effect that encompasses the beauty of terrazzo without the common weight, colour and size restrictions of the traditional material.

Tiling attracts talent The future of the tile industry is assured if proactive and talented apprentices like David Van Keekan are involved in it. David recently won the best third year tiling award at the Trowel Trade Awards hosted by Holmesglen TAFE in Victoria. These awards are sponsored by RLA Group, Parex Davco, B.A.T. Trims, Laticrete and Ardex, companies doing their bit to support young people coming into the industry.

David told Tile Today that tiling interested him because it gave him the

opportunity to be creative. “I’ve always liked working with my hands to create what the imagination can think up…

As a finishing trade, we learn about the process of tiling and we get to see the idea come to life…There are so many different styles of tiling and I wanted to learn them all…It makes each day different,” he said.

Working together with the client to improve the look of a room is another aspect of tiling that is important to David. “It’s a great feeling to finish a job and look back at what is achieved,” he said.

David’s enthusiasm matches his positive experiences being at Holmesglen TAFE. He said, “I always enjoyed going to trade school because I had the chance to try any type of tiling design I wanted.

“My teachers had lots of knowledge and were happy to teach me…Unfortunately we would need to smash what we tiled afterwards but there is fun in that too.”

Branding for sponsors of the Trowel Trade Awards.

TRIED AND TRUSTED TOOLS + EQUIPMENT, WITH THE SERVICE WE ARE RENOWNED FOR.

MONTOLIT SUPERSTICK HOLDING NEOLITH ZAHA SINTERED STONE

HANDLING & CUTTING EQUIPMENT cdkstone.com.au/montolit

MODULAR SYSTEMS | TRANSPORT CARTS | WORK BENCHES | COMPLETE CUTTING SYSTEMS TOOLS + EQUIPMENT | NATURAL STONE | NEOLITH | MACHINERY | STONE CARE | SERVICE

For more products and information visit cdkstone.tools

David Van Keekan (third from the left) won the best third year tiling award at the Trowel Trade Awards.

His advice for tiling apprentices is to work hard and put in the effort in all aspects of the course because it pays off. David said, “Ask lots of questions to expand your skills and knowledge. The more you learn, the easier it becomes to work smarter not harder…attention to detail will make your work stand out from the rest.”

David is currently running his own business called Inventive Tiling and studying a Certificate IV in building and construction to help in apply for his DBL (Domestic Building Licence). He explains, “I am working towards offering specialised services and designing new products…”

Tiling awards do not happen without the support of industry sponsors. Jeff Kirkley, national business manager, RLA Group said he was initially approached by Peter Fox from Tilemart to become a joint sponsor of the trailer (pictured).

Over the years, other sponsors have been asked to be involved and now the awards have six main sponsors.

Frank Vanzella, one of the teachers from the Tiling Department at Holmesglen TAFE said the Trowel Trade Awards have been established for 33 year, since 1985. The awards

criteria include high standard of workmanship, completion of tasks in allocated time, good communication skills, punctuality and a positive attitude.

This course offered by Holmesglen provides comprehensive training for wall and floor tiling, and covers all practical and theoretical aspects of the trade. (Marco Parisella is the other tiling teacher at Holmesglen.)

David Van Keeken’s work can be seen on his Instagram Business page: https:// www.instagram.com/inventive_tiling/

Artaic’s SPLASH! Collectionwas launched in July 2018.

Marbled murals The Artaic SPLASH! collection comes in a number of colourways: Magma, Neon, Zion, Silver, Sangria, Emerald and Curacao. These mosaic tiles are ideal for walls.

Inspired by free-flowing patterns and rich textures of the spontaneous movements of water, the SPLASH! Range incorporates gentle lines to create its forms. The latest design creates a marbled mural, with a mixed colour palette that can translate into almost any space.

Moreover, the tiles are made to be very reliable and ensures they are built to last through all kinds of wear-and-tear.

Artaic uses robotic technology and innovative design tools to

customise, design and fabricate award-winning mosaics.

By combining modern technologies with this historic art form, the Artaic team is passionate about the creation of architecturally compelling mosaics for any size project, from small to large-scale production. Through fast design iterations, custom sampling and robotic production, the process of customisation can seem seamless.

The US-based company’s TylistTM software enables its skilled in-house design team can easily collaborate with clients on the creation of modern mosaics.

This unique manufacturing process increases design flexibility and decreases lead times and costs.

(l-r) Nick Collett (CTA), Kristy Lee (Airlie Beach owner), Annie Owen (Airlie Beach manager), Bob Beaumont, Kyal & Kara Demmrich (Beaumont’s brand ambassadors).

Beaumont Tiles honours store award winners The annual Beaumont Tiles conference held in Melbourne recently celebrated some of the best and brightest in tile retailing from around the country.

Seven stores across the country were acknowledged with awards to highlight excellent performance and outstanding achievement.

Erina Beaumont Tiles took out the most awards on the night, presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award both in the ACT/NSW and nationally. It also claimed Best Performance Award for ACT/NSW. “This win was a significant nod to the team’s dedicated focus on customer service and its commitment to helping customers achieve their renovation dream,” said owner Andy Young.

“As a team we pride ourselves on in-depth technical knowledge, understanding the seasonal style trends and practicality – while all the time listening to what the customer wants and helping them make the right decision.”

Other recognised stores included Airlie Beach, who were presented with the national and Queensland Best Performance Awards.

36 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

For South Australia, the Mount Gambier store won the Outstanding Achievement Award and Murray Bridge won the Best Performance Award. Oakleigh was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award for Victoria, and Studio Malvern took out the Best Performance Award for the state. Springwood was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award for Queensland.

(l-r) Shaun Cozens (DTA), Andy Young (Erina store owner) & family, Bob Beaumont, Simon & Shannon Vos Beaumont’s brand ambassadors).

Top: (l-r) Nick Collett (CTA), Michelle Kearney, Bob Beaumont, Kyal & Kara Demmrich.

Above: (l-r) Robert Cameron (Ardex), Bob Beaumont, Darren Brittain, Simon & Shannon Vos.

As part of the award ceremony, two team members were inducted into the Beaumont Tiles Hall of Fame. This award is given to a staffer who has made an outstanding contribution to the company across a range of different categories. This year’s inductees were Bathurst Beaumont Tiles owner Dave Browning and executive assistant Donna Jones.

Speaking at the event, Beaumont Tiles executive chairman Bob Beaumont said the award winners typified the exceptional customer service levels that the company aimed to offer all Australians. “Our customer focused philosophy runs across the people we employ, the technologies we deploy, the products we offer and the value we place on our customers,” he said.

“These stores consistently demonstrate exceptional levels across all these values and I’m proud to have them as part of the Beaumonts brand.”

This year’s conference was about growth and keeping exceptional customer service, industry knowledge and expertise at the forefront of everything the company does.

“For Beaumonts to achieve greatness, we will become a very different business in some ways over the next couple of years, but we will also stay, in many ways, exactly the same, building on our tremendous strengths,” said Mr Beaumont.

“Over the next two years, I consider ‘greatness’ as our warehouses achieving almost Amazon levels of effectiveness, a totally integrated computer system that talks to both suppliers and customers, new and spacious warehouses in all states, expanded stock and range and a company covering all states, including Western Australia.” ■

Top: (l-r) Robert Cameron (Ardex), Bob Beaumont, Cassie Arnold (Mt Gambier store manager), Simon & Shannon Vos. Centre left: (l-r) Nick Collett (CTA), Gail Vanson (Murray Bridge store owner), Bob Beaumont, Kyal & Kara Demmrich. Centre right: (l-r) Robert Cameron (Ardex), Bob Beaumont, Alana Sanders (Springwood store manager), Simon & Shannon Vos. Above: Hall of Fame Winner Dave Browning (left) with Bob Beaumont.

1. Ergonomic design, less fatigue on hands 2. Strong & Flexible 3. EZE break off unique ‘T-Post’ design 4. Economical 5. Faster Installation 6. Patent Pending 7. Proudly 100% Australian Designed, Engineered & Manufactured by:

Ceramic tile imports 2017-2018 Peter Halliday presents the latest data on ceramic tile imports and details the latest movements of these important industry statistics.

T

here has been considerable interest in the latest ceramic tile import data covering the 2017-2018 financial year released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in August.

When the figures were last reviewed at the end of the March quarter 2018, ceramic tile import levels had shown no change on the previous 12-month figures.

However, the June quarter 2018 saw a 5 per cent increase over the same June quarter in 2017 which resulted in a 1.6 per cent overall increase over the full 12 months to the end of June 2018.

Australia imported a total of 46,235,311 square metres of ceramic tiles in the 2017-2018 financial year. The Australian Customs Valuation of those imports totalled A$469,760,539. While the volume of imports increased by 1.6 per cent over the previous financial year, the value was only 0.2 per cent higher.

Fig.1 illustrates the total imports of ceramic tile since 2010. Imports reached their highest ever level in the March quarter 2017 with an annualised rate of 46,860,750 square metres. Since then, imports have dropped slightly but have remained at historically high levels.

The total volume of imports for the 2017-2018 financial year is only 1.3 per cent below the peak level of March 2017. The high volume of imports reflects the continued level of construction activity especially in Sydney and Melbourne, however the significant and continuous growth experienced over recent years has been tempered by tighter financial lending requirements, higher costs for investors along with concerns that Australian residential property is overvalued, especially in the major population centres of Sydney and Melbourne. These factors have contributed to falls in new building approvals which peaked in May 2016 along with an increased number of projects where approval has been granted but construction has not yet commenced.

The detailed breakdown of the import data by country of origin and destination state is shown in Fig.2. The average price per square metre of imported tiles reduced to A$10.16 in the 2017-2018 financial year, the third year in succession that the average value has declined, down from A$10.30 in 2016-2017 and A$10.88 in 2015-2016.

The trend of sourcing tiles from a smaller number of countries continued

FIG.1 AUSTRALIAN ANNUAL CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS

38 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

in 2017-2018 with over 91 per cent of imports originating from just four nations. In the previous financial year, over 90 per cent of tile imports were sourced from five countries.

China still supplies the overwhelming volume of imports, as illustrated in the comparative graph Fig.3. China’s share of tile imports remains unchanged at 67.8 per cent of total imports when compared to the previous financial year. China exported 31,461,050 square metres to Australia in the 2017-2018 financial year. Despite the volume of Chinese imports increasing by 2 per cent in 2017-2018, the value of Chinese imports fell by 2 per cent but still represented 54 per cent of the total import value.

While China supplies the majority of tiles imported into Australia, the changes in other major exporting nations over the last five years is interesting. Fig.4 illustrates the volume of the second to tenth largest exporters to Australia while Fig.5 compared the annual volumes of the countries that in addition to China make up the top five exporters to Australia.

Italy overtook Malaysia in 20162017 to become the second largest exporter of tiles to Australia. Italy

FIG.2 TOTAL CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS 2017-2018 DESTINATION STATE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

Australia (Re-imports)

4,093

Belgium

1,225 180,287

1,323

China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hong Kong (SAR of China) Hungary

2,487

2,236

40,219

7,076

135

51,686 467

296,522

6,504,269

1,527,021

81,134

215

2,570

28

80

133,898

7,444,811

2,327,484

31,461,050

$253,669,230

2,406

2,922

89,247

$126,678

224

8,570

1,270

100,277

6,190

182,815

$3,433,307

35

$1,655

874

1,110

601

4,215

6,945

$114,503

263

$6,917

61,398

58,308

355,049

$3,180,515

93,731

38,000

517,229

$5,584,675

6,890

50

8,737

$62,457

1,235,066

692,285

4,724,122

$104,342,074

42,022

2,540

135,949

$2,623,586

35 145 263

Italy

1,853,369

7,792

19,446

766,136

143,761

71,772

169

16,787 25,712

Jordan 109,463

21,432

3,033

1,202,636

251,316

5

5

$3,815

36

133,963

$1,362,503

Lebanon 893,209

34,291

Mexico

21,354

1,009

Morocco

3,797

6,545

Netherlands

1,969

196

New Zealand

1,764

86

1,190

50

46,528

147,520

924

147

Saudi Arabia

798

468

$4,093

4,267,015

$30,581,932

240

767

23,370

$80,624

13,307

$418,543

3,455

$217,435

231

2,081

$77,872

1,633

1,633

$3,115

3,040

$39,228

276,517

$2,444,528

1,271

4,977

18

65,109

12,383

1,037

25 1,317

1,327

Singapore

Sri Lanka

208,551

12,640

119,716

125,867

8,226

2,860

1,147

386,193

8

1,043

48,329 291,555

19,085

$40,844

2,303

$25,692

25

$1,101

2,644

$43,379

394

$31,185

177

275

$4,395

364,929

195,099

1,718,692

$35,916,598

19,314

210,028

483,152

$4,403,604

4,279

2

8,288

$224,896

98 918,381

1,072

104

290

Spain

103,027

4,726

104,049

72,704

671,741

$5,205,390

115,500

12,437

71,010

24,062

271,338

$4,016,838

4,426

93,122

4,164

394,321

$4,573,279

2,783

361

8,127

$184,367

4,966

811

20,017

$577,458

546

4,598

108,359

$869,766 $469,763,379

1,054

3,964

1,020

United States of America

13,861

328

Vietnam

62,045

34,852

6,318

State share

2

169,196

3,040

Puerto Rico

Total

2 1,715,177 2,915

Pakistan

United Arab Emirates

$32,509

66,284

23,311

United Kingdom

1,419

$697,948

164,162

Turkey

$1,546

20,722

14,426

Thailand

$22,454

10

4,053

1,797

Taiwan

$4,248,597

2,106

3,344

166,812

South Africa

300,748

1,505

3,193

Iran

Seychelles

19,244

1,696

Indonesia

Serbia

$62,267

6

3,238

Portugal

$98,742

1,240

8,429

10,340

Philippines

$101,243

9,254

1,311

942

Malaysia

3,240

10 13,227,045

Total Customs Value AUD

Total Square Metres

2,160

220,823

Korea, Republic of

Western Australia

1,352

India

Japan

Victoria

15

Bulgaria Canada

Tasmania

1,080

Argentina

Brazil

South Australia

50

18,762,413

359,866

9,542,365

2,017,243

202,181

11,499,975

3,851,270

46,235,311

41%

1%

21%

4%

0%

25%

8%

100%

Data source: ABS

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #98 | 39

FIG.3 TOP FIVE EXPORTING NATIONS TO AUSTRALIA

FIG.4 MAJOR EXPORTING NATIONS TO AUSTRALIA (EXCLUDING CHINA)

FIG.5 ANNUAL IMPORTS MAJOR EXPORT NATIONS (EXCLUDING CHINA)

40 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

again was the second largest source of imported tiles in 2017-2018 with imports rising 13 per cent to a total 4,724,122 square metres. This represented 10.2 per cent of the total volume of imports. The value of Italian imports rose by 7 per cent in 2017-2018.

Imports from Malaysia rose by 4 per cent in 2017-2018, totalling 4,267,015 square metres while the value rose by 2 per cent. Mirroring the rise in imports from Italy, imports from Spain also rose by 13 per cent, to reach 1,718,691 square metres. The value of imports from Spain rose by 16 per cent in 2017-2018. Thailand experienced a significant decline of -43 per cent in exports to Australia. The value of tiles from Thailand declined by 24 per cent.

State imports over the last five financial years are shown in Fig.6.

In 2017-2018, New South Wales was the declared destination for 40.6 per cent of all tiles imported into Australia. While the volume rose by 0.8 percent or 143,982 square metres in the last financial year, the share of the national imports declined by 0.3 per cent in 2017-2018. This was predominantly due to the 10.5 per cent increase in imports into Victoria. An additional 1,092,743 square metres were imported over the previous financial year, the total being 24.9 per cent of all tiles imported into Australia.

Queensland imports fell by 269,299 square metres or -2.7 per cent.

Imports to Northern Territory rose by 2.3 per cent while imports to all other destination states declined; South Australia by -1.9 per cent, Tasmania by -5.2 per cent and Western Australia by -4.9 per cent.

A breakdown of imports by the new HTISC codes that were introduced in January 2017 is shown in Fig.7. The revised HTISC numbers classify tiles by water absorption and traditional size categories, distinguishing between mosaic sized tiles and others.

Unfortunately, there is currently no differentiation between

FIG.6 CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS

BY STATE Financial Year State Total

2013 – 2014

% of Annual Total State Total

2014 – 2015

% of Annual Total State Total

2015 – 2016

% of Annual Total State Total

2016 – 2017

% of Annual Total State Total

2017 – 2018

% of Annual Total

DECLARED DESTINATION STATE New South Wales*

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Total SQM

13,125,816

607,672

7,428,412

2,067,966

183,187

8,824,870

4,659,182

36,897,106

35.6%

1.6%

20.1%

5.6%

0.5%

23.9%

12.6%

100.0%

15,138,141

682,979

8,563,024

2,142,032

210,162

9,920,488

5,092,978

41,749,973

36.3%

1.6%

20.5%

5.1%

0.5%

23.8%

12.2%

100.0%

17,876,255

572,244

9,697,908

2,150,700

204,007

10,163,057

4,914,468

45,578,639

39.2%

1.3%

21.3%

4.7%

0.4%

22.3%

10.8%

100.0%

18,618,431

351,876

9,811,664

2,055,415

213,268

10,407,232

4,051,627

45,509,514

40.9%

0.8%

21.6%

4.5%

0.5%

22.9%

8.9%

100.0%

18,762,413

359,866

9,542,365

2,017,243

202,181

11,499,975

3,851,270

46,235,311

40.6%

0.8%

20.6%

4.4%

0.4%

24.9%

8.3%

100.0%

Square Metres Total 2017-2018

Percentage of Total SQM

Customs Value (AUD) 2017-2018

Percentage of Total Customs Value

Average Cost Per Square Metre

Data source: ABS * Incudes ACT

FIG.7 HARMONISED TARIFF CATEGORY IMPORTS 2017-2018 HTISC Code

Description

6907211001

Tiles, cubes and similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight not exc 0.5% (excl. 690730 and 690740), whether or not rectangular, largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is less than <7 cm

344,070

0.7%

$4,997,915

1.1%

$14.53

Tiles, cubes and similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight not exc 0.5% (excl. 690730 and 690740), whether or not rectangular, largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is greater than >=7 cm

26,415,386

57.1%

$313,009,321

66.6%

$11.85

Tiles, cubes & similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight exc 0.5% but not exc 10% (excl. 690730 & 690740) whether or not rectangular, largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is <7cm

30,035

0.1%

$342,888

0.1%

$11.42

Tiles, cubes & similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight exc 0.5% but not exc 10% (excl. 690730 & 690740) whether or not rectangular largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is >=7cm

8,247,623

17.8%

$61,397,574

13.1%

$7.44

Tiles, cubes and similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight exceeding 10% (excl. 690730 and 690740), whether or not rectangular, largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is <7 cm

28,729

0.1%

$265,198

0.1%

$9.23

Tiles, cubes and similar articles, water absorption coefficient by weight exceeding 10% (excl. 690730 and 690740), whether or not rectangular, largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is >=7 cm

7,963,163

17.2%

$55,081,958

11.7%

$6.92

6907301007

Mosaic ceramic tiles, cubes and similar articles (excluding those of 690740), whether or not rectangular, the largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is less than 7 cm

189,711

0.4%

$4,554,261

1.0%

$24.01

6907309008

Mosaic ceramic tiles, cubes and similar articles (excluding those of 690740), whether or not rectangular, the largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is greater or equal to 7 cm

231,439

0.5%

$3,459,904

0.7%

$14.95

6907401009

Finishing ceramic tiles, cubes and similar articles, whether or not rectangular, the largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is less than 7 cm

53,102

0.1%

$1,050,630

0.2%

$19.79

6907409010

Finishing ceramic tiles, cubes and similar articles, whether or not rectangular, the largest surface area of which is capable of being enclosed in a square the side of which is greater or equal to 7 cm

2,732,053

5.9%

$25,600,890

5.4%

$9.37

46,235,311

100.0%

$469,760,539

100.0%

$10.16

6907219002

6907221003

6907229004

6907231005

6907239006

Total Data source: ABS

conventional tile sizes and the large ceramic slabs or panels being widely promoted by many manufacturers and retailers.

From Fig.7 it can be clearly seen that 58 per cent of the import

volume are porcelain tiles, 18 per cent are tiles with water absorption of between 0.5 and 10 per cent and a further 17 percent of tile imports are traditional wall tile with water absorption over 10 per cent.

Tiles specifically categorised as mosaics make up only 1 per cent of the total import volume while tiles categorised as finishing ceramics make up a larger 6 per cent of the total import volume. ■ www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #98 | 41

Talk turns to tariffs Bryan Vadas writes about a recent trip to North America at a time when tariffs were just talk and not a reality for some trading partners.

I

n late 2017, I was privileged to be having dinner in the USA with some “heavy hitters” in the tile industry that included a major manufacturer, the owner of a large retail chain, and the managing director of an international trading company.

The topic of conversation was that of tariffs. Would the US president introduce them for tile imports into America or would such a move be counter-productive to employment, market momentum and pricing?

I sat and listened intently as the conversation bounced around the table, with consensus being reached between my esteemed guests that the introduction of tariffs on tiles would never happen, as the level of imports into the USA was such a high percentage that the industry would be cruelled by such a move. But something wasn’t sitting easy with me at the time.

Fast forward just a few months later and the world had started to revolve on a totally different axis. The peaceful trade enjoyed between the world’s two biggest economies was starting to sour as the talk of tariffs had begun to escalate into a game of retaliation and counter-retaliation. And the size of each reprisal was growing considerably.

Suddenly there was a whole new world of economic unpredictability, and whilst Australia was not in the direct line of fire, the effects, whilst yet unknown, will be inevitable in so much that we won’t be coming out of this unscathed. The game of tit for tat played out something like this: • March 23 – USA imposes US$3bn in tariffs on steel and aluminium • April 2 – China retaliates with US$3bn in tariffs on 128 product categories • April 3 – USA swiftly responds with a list of 1,333 products that could face a 25% tariff

42 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

• Apr 4 – China sets out a list for possible retaliation should the USA implement the tariffs as per their April 3 list • Apr 5 – President Trump issues a statement that said “in light of China’s unfair retaliation” he has instructed the US trade representative to “consider whether US$100bn of additional tariffs would be appropriate”, and to identify which products should be affected.

• Apr 17 – China announces a 178.6 per cent import tariff on sorghum, of which it imported more than US$800m from the US in 2017 • May 10 – In the middle of this, the Coverings event was taking place in Atlanta, Georgia. The only dour note was in the hall where the bench top manufacturers were exhibiting. On the second last day of the show, it was announced that the US government had introduced (with immediate affect) a 30% tariff on specific benchtops, effectively pulling the rug out from these exhibitors who had invested heavily in taking part in the fair. Their quotes from the previous days of making deals were now invalid.

But the trade war raged on.

• June 15 – President Trump decides to impose tariffs on about US$50bn worth of imports from China, claiming the new restrictions were justified by Beijing’s longstanding theft of US companies’ intellectual property. The first of the new US tariffs on a US$34bn tranche of 818 product lines, which mainly affect agricultural products, will take effect from July 6*. Duties on a separate list of 284 products worth $16bn will be subject to a public consultation period and take effect later.

• June 16 – Beijing announced it would retaliate against new US tariffs, with the commerce ministry saying that it would “immediately introduce countermeasures of the same scale and strength”. China’s finance ministry said it would begin imposing its own 25 per cent tariffs on 545 categories of US products worth US$34bn including soya beans, beef, whiskey and off-road vehicles on July 6. It also threatened to add a further US$16bn later, targeting US energy exports such as coal and crude oil.

• June 18 – President Trump ordered his administration officials to draft plans for tariffs on a further US$200bn in Chinese imports if Beijing does not abandon its intention to retaliate against US duties on imports that were previously announced. US officials said the process of assembling a new US$200bn list would follow the same public consultation process used for a previous list, meaning it could take at least three months to finalise. *On July 6, the 25% tariff on US$34bn of Chinese imports came into effect, and it was well and truly “game on!”. The markets reflected the uncertainty of what other threatened moves would now also follow their way into being, and which would simply be political leverage.

Australian tile industry So how does affect us here in Australia, and especially in the tile industry?

To date, over 1,500 items are included in the slated plans for tariffs, yet tiles have managed to fly under the radar at the time of writing this article.

Price is perhaps the greatest area of impact if the US government imposes tariffs on Chinese imported tiles.

But before one considers the effect on the local tile industry, one must appreciate the backdrop against which this trade war is being played out.

It is a difficult time for China with domestic growth slowing.

Tariffs will just put more pressure on growth. Exports to the USA currently represent 3% of China’s GDP. US tariffs could cut around 0.5% off growth and negatively impact business confidence and decisions. And it is this lack of confidence and effect on decisions that starts to get one thinking as to the potential impact on Australia.

The three areas which will be most significantly impacted are stock, quality and price.

The potential downturn in consumption from China’s two biggest markets (being their domestic market and the USA) will see increased stock levels short term in China, and a possible review of the way production is run and how stocks may be held at the factories.

The first phase will be an oversupply of stock as the tap turns off before stocks are cleared. Australia is one of the few, ever decreasing list of countries with no import tariffs on tiles, and with our narrow manufacturing base of tile, it is unlikely that Australia will follow suit with the introduction of tariffs. This leaves Australia open for China to clear stock.

China has a strong presence in our market, and the proximity, as well as other economic reasons, makes Australia an obvious choice for the Chinese manufacturers to clear product.

Once manufacturers deal with stock levels immediately following the downturn they will have to consider how future production is undertaken.

Whilst digital production technology has seen it possible to make smaller runs more often, factories may opt to collect orders, make longer runs and keep production more efficient as they look for ways to make production more cost effective. This would mean longer lead times for product and more inconsistent supply.

There is also the question of what may happen to exclusivity arrangements enjoyed by buyers who may come under more pressure to significantly increase the volumes they purchase from factories will also be under increased pressure to find markets for their production.

As the urgency to clear stock and recover the cost of inventory increases, there is the potential to allow lessthan-perfect product to slip through.

There will be greater pressure on yields, and the ratio of first quality

DISTINCTIVE TILE IMPORTS 485 Zillmere Rd, Brisbane QLD 4034 P 07 3862 9195 E sales@dtiqld.com.au

FEATURED TILES

542014 10x10 Aqua RAL 2404020 534476 10x10 Aqua RAL 2306020 1BB0050028 10x10 Aqua RAL 2307015

YOUR WHOLESALER OF CHOICE DISTINCTIVE TILE IMPORTS

AUSTRALIA – NEW ZEALAND

www.dtiqld.com.au

stock to seconds must increase as cost recovery becomes essential on lower volumes.

Intermediaries will play a more important part to ensure quality control is maintained, but price pressures may see some from both ends of the supply chain (manufacturers and buyers) short cutting the process and taking a chance with the quality of a greater amount of stock coming through a pipeline which will become under pressure to pump out slowermoving stockpiles.

Price is perhaps the greatest area of impact. Basic economics and the theory of supply and demand tells us that when there is an oversupply, prices come down. And there is a very real chance that in the short term we may enjoy some cheaper prices as factories look to quit stocks and shore up volumes.

As the prices go down, the issues relating to potential impacts on quality, increased lead times and unreliability, and pressures on exclusivity really come into consideration. The Chinese RMB was already dropping in value, with the RMB – USD exchange sitting at around 6.30 early last quarter, but now sitting around 6.70. With a change of around 6%, this was starting to put upward pressure on prices. The potential overstock situation and the temptation to drop prices to increase volume may again put pressure on the quality, stockholding and lead times.

Some believe that the decrease in price may be a short-lived phenomenon. For some time, the Chinese have been manipulating their currency, much to the chagrin of those in power in the US. The US is keen for China to take a different tack on the value of the RMB, and the economic sceptics believe the trade war and toing-and-froing of tariffs is simply a way in which President Trump will get Beijing to revalue its currency making Chinese exports more expensive.

Perhaps if the Chinese follow suit, the tariffs may be dropped if this is indeed the real desire of the current US administration.

Apart from the direct effects on the tile industry, there are the broader economic impacts that will affect the industry. A significant downturn 44 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

in China, Australia’s major trading partner, would see an impact on our economy as exports would slow. The same would be the case for other trading partners in the region whose reliance on export to China would be impacted.

The entire East-Asia supply chain would be affected. China slows, their neighbours slow, and we drop income.

It’s the old adage of “if China sneezes, we all catch cold”.

The USA- China trade war could mean an overall general slowdown in the global economy. Australian National University has already done some modelling forecasts with global tariff increases showing a decrease in employment, living standards, lower pricing, lower national income, and a lower Australian dollar. Fortunately all are still a way off, but the risk is there and consideration must be given for the way we manage risk and run our businesses.

With the USA-China trade war, China may offer concessions to European countries offering greater market access to China if they lower or remove the existing tariffs. This could potentially take some of the pressure off Chinese products and their focus on Australia, but potentially affecting the supply of tile to Australia from Europe as sales from Europe to China could theoretically increase.

Re-investment in design may also be impacted as Chinese manufacturers keep their powder dry while they focus on the balance of stock levels, sales and cash. With the market already starving for another trend to take over from concrete-look and wood designs, the lack of a buoyant and highly profitable market may cause product and design development to stall, leaving businesses to look to other markets for the design differential we all seek.

The first shots of the trade war have only just been fired. The markets have not responded in the manner predicted by even the most adept economic forecasters. Despite this and despite all the uncertainty, we know there will be effects on Australia and the tile industry.

There are no tariffs on USA tiles imports from China yet, but with large sectors of the tile industry in the USA

lobbying for the introduction of tariffs on tiles to protect and bolster local manufacturing base, it seems like it is only a matter of “when”. Until then, it is time for us to rug up and position ourselves so that as China reaches for their tissues, we don’t all catch one hell of a cold. ■ Story by Bryan Vadas, Tile Agencies Group

Tile Today recently invited industry participants to provide their views on the potential impact of tariffs on tile imports into Australia.

Danny Casey, Beaumont Tiles chief executive officer, provided the following thoughtful responses.

How will the trade war that is being carried out by the Trump Administration impact on the Australian tile industry, considering it imports large quantities of Chinese and European-made tiles?

The Trump trade war is resulting in most of Asia weakening their currencies to counteract the negative impact of trade tariffs. The Australian dollar has also weakened against the US dollar because of Australia’s perceived reliance on China and its position as a general barometer for risk appetite. However, Asian manufacturers are now benefiting from their weaker local currencies against the US dollar. For example, 1 USD is now buying 10% more CNY than it was back in April.

This means Australian importers should be able to offset AUD weakness by renegotiating prices with Chinese suppliers.

Regarding Europe, the Euro has been broadly on the backfoot as a consequence of the Trump trade war, and with economic growth slowing across the zone, we expect the Euro to come under pressure in the months ahead and thus European imports should become cheaper.

What do you think might happen if the US imposes tariffs on tile imports from China and/ or Europe?

Thus far, Trump’s trade tariffs have focused on heavy industry and products where the US has a large domestic supply. So we would be surprised if the Trump Administration did impose tariffs on tiles. But then, who knows with Trump? However, should the US impose tariffs on Chinese and European imports, this may provide an advantage for Australian importers as manufacturers may use price to try and sell more into the Australian market to compensate for lost demand in North America and force prices down.

www.battrims.com

1800 BAT TRIMS 2 2 8 8 7 4

COMPACT Mixers 100L

Lockable protective grid with automatic safety cut-off switch.

140L

Extra transport wheels for easy loading.

Drum volume: 140 liters Drum volume: 100 liters Offset agitation arms and blades guarantee extraordinary mixing results.

Easy discharging by segmental slide in drum bottom.

Heavy duty 2kW, 240V Motor.

Heavy duty 2.3kW, 240V Motor.

Easy transport thanks to large Ă&#x2DC; 330 solid rubber wheels.

140L Big Brother Has Arrived!

Blue is the colour of serenity and luxury International correspondent, Joe Simpson profiles Ezarri, a Spanish company with a 30-year track record in setting the standard for mosaics.

“W

hat will be the colour of my pool´s water?”

This may seem an obvious question, but how many mosaic and swimming pool tile manufacturers really emphasise the final look of the water-filled pool during the mosaic selection process?

And yet this is surely the fundamental question; the architectural equivalent of “Does my bum look big in this?” If mainstream shoppers will not buy skinny jeans based on the garment’s appearance on the hanger, why should home-owners be expected to buy a swimming pool mosaic on the basis of a sample board?

Ezarri takes a radically different approach; one based on an archive of hundreds of designs and colours, and an international portfolio of successfully completed projects spanning private pools, hotel spas, wellness centres and eye-catching

46 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

commercial installations.

From this experience Ezarri knows that the pool water´s colour is not going to be determined solely by the shade of glass mosaic chosen. Many other factors will have an influence, such as the water’s depth, the quality of light at the pool’s location, shadows and reflections from surrounding buildings, the type of artificial light used and, fundamentally, if it is an indoor or an outdoor pool.

Ezarri’s understands that the greater the volume of water, and the deeper it is, the bluer the swimming pool will tend to look. Sunlight is also a crucial element. The more light there is, the clearer the water will look; while less light will tend to darken the water. If the pool is surrounded by plants, it will look greener and darker; and if the surrounding landscape is more desert like, the water will look clearer.

So, when it is consulted on a project, Ezarri’s approach is to take

Top: The Diamond line of white mosaics will deliver light, sky-blue water tones.

Above: Beige and rose-coloured mosaics such as Marfil are ideal for achieving green shades of water

all of these factors into account and provide the customer with a series of guidelines and recommendations to ensure that the final mosaic is meets, or even exceeds, design expectations.

Ezarri’s comprehensive mosaic collection can achieve a range of different pool looks. White mosaics, such as Carrara, Perla, Diamond and 2545-a, will deliver light, skyblue water tones. Its beige and rose-coloured mosaics are ideal for achieving green shades of water, that range from light through to dark depending on the colour of the mosaic. Typical examples include Marfil, Arena, Nacar, 2514-b, 2576-, 2596 and 2597.

Right: Colours from the Niebla range imitate the brilliance, colour and lustrous effects of precious stone.

Below: Dolerite tile from the Zen collection.

If the selected Ezarri mosaic´s colour is grey, such as Inox, Cuarzo, Stone, 2660-a and 2522-b, the water will tend to have a mix of greyishgreen tones. Whereas blue-green mosaics, such as Azur, Sky, 2521-b, 2508-a, 2518-b and 2529-b, tend to yield a light, turquoise blue colour.

Customers seeking classic Mediterranean blue water should consider Ezarri’s blue style references, such as Ocean, Zafiro, Blue Lagoon, 2505-a and 2503-d. These yield a water colour that ranges from light blue through to a deep and intense blue. If the required look is even more dramatic with a water colour similar to high-mountain lakes, then Ezarri can offer references like Ebano, 2502, Capricorn, and Lava.

Want to run your tile business more efficiently?

Save your business thousands of dollars using

CLEAR TILE

How to increase your sales and cut costs with ClearTile 1 Analyse your biggest sellers, most profitable customers and peak sales periods with customised reports. Be marketing smart and discover who and when to target, and which items to sell to boost sales.

2 Calculate every inch of your tile stock m2 (to 4 decimal places) so you make the maximum amount of money from every sale.

You’ll never give away another tile free again!

3 Convert the number of tiled m2 into the exact number of tiled pieces, boxes and pallets. It makes packing orders in the warehouse so quick, easy and accurate.

4

Always hold the right level of stock in the store.

You will never over/under stock your warehouse. Get suggested stock re-order reports and trigger automatic purchase orders in seconds.

Imagine how much time that will save staff!

What is ClearTile?

ClearTile is a sophisticated business management software product purpose built for the tile industry Quote, take orders and invoice customers seamlessly Purchase stock from international and local suppliers cost effectively Monitor your financials with informative reports Improve customer service with an efficient easy to use point of sale system Create colour selection sheets for builders Pay your employees and much more! “ We moved from a standard computer software program to ClearTile and what a difference!

ClearTile’s reporting system is one of the best Ive ever seen”

- Paul Cannizzaro Director - Designer Stone Solutions

NEW Introducing ClearLink A web based inventory enquiry, ordering and management dashboard add-on for ClearTile

Improve your business with Australia’s leading tile-specific software Brought to you by

CLEAR SOFTWARE

Call 07 5593 3022 for your FREE information pack or FREE personal demonstration today! www.cleartile.com.au

Installation advantages Using Ezarri mosaics has many practical as well as aesthetic benefits.

Pool builders have long recognised the benefits of installing a material with near zero absorption of water, and excellent resistance to chemicals.

Factor in the tesserae’s inherent hardness, and their ability to adapt to the shape of the pool, and it is easy to see why they enjoy such enduring popularity.

When it comes to installation, contractors will readily testify to the benefits of Ezarri’s unique Joint Point system. Unlike conventional mesh-backed or paper-faced mosaics, which are difficult to install and can compromise adhesive coverage, the Joint Point offers proven ease of installation and can reduce installation time by up to 25%, while ensuring an excellent finish.

Invented by Ezarri more than 20 years ago, Joint Point remains the quality reference for the swimming pool mosaic sector; one that guarantees a perfect and uniform mosaic tile installation.

Joint Point’s main advantage is that it delivers a maximum grip 48 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

surface, with 92% of the mosaic’s surface free for receiving adhesive.

This guarantees the durability of the finished installation. Joint Point also aids accuracy as it offers better visual control over tile placement.

It is also unaffected by moisture, as the adhesive dabs do not expand or contract like mesh or paper-based systems.

Above: This project at a private residence in Sydney features the Ocean colourway from Ezarri’s Iris collection Below: The Zen Stone range draws its inspiration from the natural beauty of stone and marble.

The system provides the ideal combination of malleability and stiffness. It is flexible and easy to cut; making even the smallest area remains uniform and controllable.

Furthermore, Joint Point has minimal thickness and is very uniform and controllable.

To make sure that every contractor can deliver Joint Point’s full capabilities, Ezarri provides a downloadable installation tutorial on its corporate website (www.ezarri. com).

Eco credentials Aesthetically speaking, Ezarri provides range of over 300 colours with different textures and formats, including anti-slip options. The company said this provides the contractor everything they need to guarantee client satisfaction. This is enhanced by Ezarri’s ability to produce customise colours and offers the creative possibilities that digital printing brings. Finish options are another point of differentiation with shiny, gloss, matt and anti-slip textures all available in three size formats: 25 by 25mm, 36 by 36mm, and 50 by 50mm.

Sustainability is another important advantage.

Ezarri’s mosaics have strong ecological credentials, as the raw material used is 100% recycled glass. Its products have ISO 14021 Environmental Certification, and the company

The Etna tile from Ezarri’s Vulcano range.

holds ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification.

Ezarri is a popular specification source for architects and interior designers, who are drawn to its wide range of colours and formats.

The extensive style references it has developed means that designers can find the mosaic solution to deliver their design concept for any pool, spa or interior design project.

If required, Ezarri can customise any project via digital printing that can transform any image onto a mosaic, ensuring a look that is unique.

It also produces custom colour mixes for customers. Indeed, the mix generator tool, allows designers to discover the limitless creative possibilities of multiple mosaic mixes.

Left: Jade tile from the Iris collection.

Right: A private pool in Italy uses the Azur tiles from the Iris range.

Below: Lava is a reflective and edgy mosaic from the Metallica range.

references in the portfolio in stock at any time. This translates into marketleading service standards.

Project experience All of Ezarriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mosaics are manufactured in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stateof-the-art facilities in Lazkao, Spain.

This ensures 100% quality control of the production process, while allowing the company to pledge to have at least 95% of the style

50 | TILE TODAY #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Ezarri has both a large project department and a design department to help designers and their clients deliver successful projects.

Experience counts, particularly when it comes to large projects featuring glass mosaic installations where unforeseen circumstances must be minimised as much as possible.

The company proudly flags over 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience and hundreds of completed international projects.

Ezarri also stresses that, due to its variety of colours and formats, and because these products are always available, backed up by high quality marketing materials, it is perfectly aligned to the commercial needs of ceramic tile distributors.

It prides itself on having a sales team who enjoy their job and being able to offer a range of promotional materials specifically designed

Ezarri has also been at the forefront of designed mosaic installations that take full advantage of the emerging potential of coloured grouts. The company encourages customers to explore the possibilities of different joint colours and their glittering effects to enhance the mosaic´s aesthetic qualities. The same colour mosaics with varying grout colours can yield very different design results, and customers can use Ezarri’s mix generator to see the different effects.

At a technical level, Ezarri recommends the use of epoxy grout classified as RG. This type of joint remains consistent over time and is easy to maintain. for distributor’s showrooms. This material effectively displays the design potential of Ezarri’s mosaics for both interior and exterior projects.

Distributors are supported by a fully automated 300,000sqm warehouse that simplifies logistic planning.

Obvious sales potential for Ezarri’s distribution partners lies in mosaics for bathrooms, kitchens and interiors.

From a shower tray or backsplash, right through to an overall tiled finish for bathrooms or kitchens, its interior mosaics are designed to capture the customer’s attention.

Australian accents, new product launches For Australian customers seeking a distinctive local accent, Ezarri’s Gem mosaic tiles is a range of glass mosaic tiles based on the characteristics found in gemstones of the Australian outback. The Gem range comprises five colours: Aquamarine, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, and Tourmaline.

The company’s design department developed each colour using combinations of the pearlescent effect of tiles from the Iris range with colours from the Niebla range to imitate the

brilliance, colour and lustrous effects of precious stone. The Gem range is available only in Australia from the exclusive Australian distributor of Ezarri mosaic tiles, Europe Imports.

Two new ranges from Ezarri really stand out. The Zen Stone range draws its inspiration from the natural beauty of stone and marble. The collection focuses on the natural, going back to basics where simple harmony and beauty reign. The result is 18 designs inspired by stone, marble and wood, all with a natural matte texture, and delivered in a number of tranquil colours.

The other significant launch is Safe-Steps. Here the beauty of mosaic, its glossiness, large array of colours and smooth texture are maintained and yet delivered in a new anti-slip system. Safe-Steps is the result is an extensive R&D project designed to create a long-lasting safety surface with a subtle texture and low maintenance requirements.

The result has all the desired elegance of glass mosaic with maximum antislip effects.

The latest mosaics encapsulate the commercial acumen of Ezarri, a company that is constantly pushing the boundaries of this exquisite material’s potential. ■

Ezarri tiles are on full display at the Park Hyatt hotel in Sydney.

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #98 | 51

F E AT U RE D PR O D U CTS

Tiling made easier EZECLIP is a patent pending tile laying system that is ergonomic so there is less fatigue on hands. Strong and flexible, it has an EZE break off unique “T-Post” design that offers faster Installation.

Proudly Australian designed, engineered and manufactured

by ACT Australia.

ACT AUSTRALIA 1300 794 321 www.actaus.com

Protection from ponding Dampfast is a grey, flexible, 2-part Class II waterproofing membrane that is ideal for areas susceptible to ponding such as swimming pools and spas.

Suitable for interior and exterior applications. It cures in 6-8 hours and eliminates the need for a reinforcement layer.

PAREX DAVCO 1800 653 347 www.parexdavco.com.au

No more moisture The Lanko K11 waterproofing concept is based on the crystallisation process. Lanko K11 compounds combine with free water and other elements in the substrate to produce a waterproof membrane.

PAREX DAVCO 1800 653 347 www.parexdavco.com.au

Raw and uncomplicated The Agrestic range pays tribute to its handmade origins and no two tiles are the same. Organic colour pallets and two size variations means that this collection is adaptable to any wall space, and easy to install.

BEAUMONT TILES 08 8292 4444 www.beaumont-tiles.com.au

Marble for modern bathrooms Beaumont Tiles’ Eloquence Marble range is part of its new packaged bathroom offering. It has a variety of flexible dimensions and finishes, including soft polished and a Chev Pattern – which can be used to add texture to a design.

BEAUMONT TILES 08 8292 4444 www.beaumont-tiles.com.au

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #98 | 53

advertiser

index ACT Australia

34-35, 37, 49

Australian Tile Council

52

B.A.T. Trims

45

CDK Stone

33

Clear Software 47 Colortile 13 Distinctive Tile Imports

43

Efflock 31 Europe Imports

5

Everstone

7, 21

Foshan China Ceramics

55

Mapei 29 National Ceramics

9

Orientile 19 Parex Davco

23

RLA Polymers 27 Starstile (Fenice International)

Back Cover

Tile Power

2-3

Trade Port

13

Get your copy of Tile Today magazine...

Just go to our website, click on 'Free Subscription' and fill out the form.

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au 54 | TILE TODAY #96 #98 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

CeramBath ready for visitors Known as the biggest and most influential ceramic and bathroom expo in Asia, the biannual Ceramic & Bathroom Fair (CeramBath) in Foshan, China will be ready to welcome attendees to its 32nd event on October 18-21, 2018.

For the past 16 years, CeramBath has provided a platform for international brands to expand their market in China.

It has become the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth largest ceramic and bathroom exhibition following Cersaie in Italy, Cevisama in Spain and the US-based Coverings show. The show has helped to put China centre stage in the global ceramic and bathroom industry.

A number of special mini-events have been organised at the upcoming CeramBath including an International Trade Mission. To register for free, please contact bowie@eccc.com.cn.

There will also be numerous opportunities to win cash rewards and prizes throughout the show.

April show report Event organiser, Foshan China Ceramics City Group said its previous show held in April 2018 attracted just over 750 domestic and international exhibitors.

Attendees discussed new technologies, products, trends and ideas.

The 31st edition of CeramBath had 183,206 visitors with 88% coming from the Chinese mainland and the remaining travelled from other countries, predominantly from other parts of Asia and For this event, organisers established the Tile Auxiliary Material Zone and Soft Design Zone. There was also an increase in the number of e-commerce companies and business that dealt with internet platforms.

CeramBath is hosted by the China Building Ceramics & Sanitaryware Association and China Ceramic Industrial Association. The show is spread across three venues located in Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guangdong Province: China Ceramics City, China Ceramics Industry headquarters and Foshan International Conference & Exhibition Center.

Other supporters include the China Building Materials Association and Foshan Bureau of Commerce.

Top: The opening of the CeramBath event in April 2018. Below: China Ceramics City is one of the venues where the biannual CeramBath event is held.