Tile Today Issue 113 | June 2022

113

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR WATERPROOFING

MARBLE-EFFECTS TILES FOR MODERN BATHROOMS POWER TOOLS FOR TILERS TRENDS

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

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TRADE FAIRS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

113 CONTENTS DINAMIKA 6

Dinamika is Del Conca’s stone-effects collection.

Available from MTC International in Australia.

TOOLS FOR TILERS 8

A look at some of the top power tools for tilers and a simple guide to recent technical developments.

WATERPROOFING 15 These days, tilers and other tile professionals are more

than likely to click on a YouTube video to find out more about waterproofing. We direct you to some credible online content providers.

MODERN BATHROOMS 21 Marble-effects tiles and technology driven showers for

contemporary bathrooms.

AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL 29 Peter Carter has been a fixture of the council for over 30

years. He helped to establish the Tile Reference Manual and Tiles and Tiling Guide.

RETAIL FOCUS 30 Tilers continue to place their trust in the team at Tilers

Trade Centre in Maroochydore, Queensland.

SHOW REPORT: REVESTIR 34 Regarded as Latin America’s leading surfaces show,

Revestir celebrated the event’s 20 year anniversary in 2022. A report by international correspondent Joe Simpson.

INDUSTRY ROUNDUP 45 Holmesglen TAFE Wall and Floor Tiling apprentice awards;

Houzz Australia’s 2022 State of the Industry report; Ceramics of Italy; patterned tiles; an augmented reality tool for floors.

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Venice 50*50 P3 Light Grey

Dark Grey

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FO REWO R D

TILE TODAY In this issue, Tile Today finds itself at a crossroads in its role as a publication for the tile industry. As it emerges from a transitional phase of being a hybrid print and online publication in the form of a PDF and ISSUU format, Tile Today will lean into its digital capabilities and come out more frequently as a content-driven e-newsletter, produce additional PDFs, have a revamped website and become an app.

We believe there are far more tile professionals now who want to access information about the industry more easily and quickly through their mobile devices than a publication that comes out four times a year. We hope you will continue to travel with us on this journey.

This edition is another step towards Tile Today becoming a fully digital ecosystem as we look at the most credible online sources for waterproofing on YouTube. Tilers are more than likely to access Google, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram as a starting point when researching information.

This research is usually done in conjunction with what they can learn from their peers, retail staff and data sheets from manufacturers.

Other features include the Dinamika stone-effects range from Italian tile maker, Del Conca which is made available in Australia through International MTC. The marble-effects tiles in modern bathrooms is illustrated throughout by ranges available from Queensland-based Nerang Tiles. Staying in Queensland, we also speak to Sandra Mitchel co-owner of Tilers Trade Centre in Maroochydore. The store’s owners and staff have knowledge that tilers can trust and rely on for their work.

To be remain informed about the tile industry, just click here to subscribe or go to the ad at the bottom of this page:

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 PUBLISHERS Georgia Glimour Michelle Cammiade EDITOR Betty Tanddo betty.tanddo@elitepublishing.com.au INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Joe Simpson joe.simpson@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNICAL SPECIALIST Tim Christopher info@consultile.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Georgia Gilmour Georgia.Gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION For circulation enquiries please email: info@elitepublishing.com.au

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113

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: dave@plumpublishing.com.au ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD

YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR WATERPROOFING

PUBLISHERS OF: Flooring Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine, TileToday Magazine, Supplier Magazine and FB Magazine.

FRONT COVER IMAGE Bricks is a vibrant new range from International MTC, covering a rich variety of colours in a glossy and matte finish. From the deepest blues of the ocean, to the light shadows of yellow, green and grey, Bricks is the novel cladding that will give walls a fresh stylish explosion.

Leading the Industry MARBLE-EFFECTS TILES FOR MODERN BATHROOMS

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

POWER TOOLS FOR TILERS TRENDS

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

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TRADE FAIRS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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.

DINAMIKA, THE STONE EDITION DEL CONCA’S DINAMIKA COLLECTION IS A HYPER-REALISTIC NATURAL STONE-EFFECTS RANGE. IT REPRESENTS THE TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF A MATERIAL THAT HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

D

inamika is available in four textures for those who want the charm of a stone interior floor or wall covering.

Pietra Pece has colour variations from grey to dark brown that interprets a surface treated with powders and dark pigments with different grain sizes to create high and low relief effects Travertino, which reproduces the sedimentary stone Travertino Navona, in which small inclusions of animal and vegetable fossils generate a fabric of materials stratified and elaborated over time.

Breccia Grey, a grey-coloured slab on which light white veins that trace ever-changing patterns produce a very vibrant tactile effect, similar to natural stone.

Pietra di Borgogna, inspired by one of the world’s most recognised and loved French stones, whose warm beauty encapsulates Dinamika’s highly realistic look. It is beige in colour and has been used for centuries in architecture.

Each of these textures includes a decoration called Stories with a chiselled surface to emphasise the typical stone processing. Dinamika Stone Edition is available in 120 x 260mm and 120 x 120mm large sizes and 60 x 120mm, 60 x 60mm and 30 x 60mm medium sizes.

Australian connection International MTC has worked with Italian tile maker Ceramica Del Conca since 2019, said Sydneybased Stefano Mammi, managing director of International MTC. “It was imperative for Del Conca to work with an agent that has residency in Australia,” he explains.

“Today it is very important to be able to reach out the clients every day without expensive and time consuming trips from Italy.

With representatives in Sydney and Melbourne, International MTC can

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Breccia Grey is a stoneware slab

guarantee to clients the level and type of service Del Conca wants to deliver.

“Working with Del Conca means working with a family owned company, with a direct relationship with management which also owns the company. This makes every process very quick and smooth, resulting in a better service we can give to the clients.”

Dinamika market launch After two years of research and development and an investment of over EUR2 million, Del Conca officially launched Dinamika during Cersaie 2021. It is positioned as “a unique product that aims to revolutionise the ceramic sector”. As the new Del Conca-branded surface, the company said Dinamika is the result of an innovative technology that is the first to reproduce natural materials to such an accurate degree.

Breccia Grey resembles grey stone

Dinamika is the technological evolution of a material that has “life at its core” in which every single surface detail is enhanced to generate the realism created by the ideal combination of structure and graphic design. A threedimensionality and depth is made possible by the joint processing of structure and graphics, the result of two years of experimentation. Unlike previous production techniques that involve unrelated processing stages,

Pietra di Borgogna represents the most recognised French stone in the world

Dinamika now makes it possible for the first time to create a surface in a single stage that also includes graphic design, making it even more realistic and textured, both visually and to the touch.

Dinamika is also a revolution in line with the company’s tradition of environmental responsibility. It completely reuses production and water waste, uses cogeneration and photovoltaics to reduce CO2 emissions, and separates management of industrial waste.

Del Conca continuously raises awareness among employees and suppliers on the subjects of ecology and energy saving.

As a result of this commitment, Ceramica del Conca has been chosen as a partner by the Republic of San Marino at the forthcoming Expo in Dubai, with the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. From 1 October, the global community will gather to find solutions for achieving progress and prosperity without compromising the needs of future generations.

Del Conca has launched this highly ambitious challenge to highlight its strong, experimental identity in another way. The company has always been dedicated to innovation and technological development at the service of the ceramic product, It has not only heavily invested in technology, but also in marketing and sales, seeking new tools and product communication channels to keep up with the times and market trends. n

Pietra di Borgogna is beige in colour and has been used for centuries in architecture

Pietra Pece interprets a stone treated with powders and dark pigments

Pietra Pece represents a stone distinguished by high and low relief effects

Travertine reinterprets the sedimentary stone Roman travertine

Travertine resembles stone where small inclusions of fossils create a texture of materials stratified over time

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 7

TOOLS FOR TILERS

THE POWER EQUATION IN TOOLS Buying power tools doesn't need to be all that complicated. The best way to understand what's on the market is to understand a few technical facts, and how the tool companies are developing their lines of tools to meet specific market needs.

I

f you haven't had to buy tools for a few years, you might find your next visit to the tool store a little confusing. Not that long ago, buying a new set of power tools was somewhat simpler. Most of the major companies — DeWalt, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita — had just two lines of tools: the main 18V and a smaller 12V one.

Today most power tool companies have at least two main lines, and which then branches out into four or five in total. Many tool makers, for example, now have two main battery voltages, one in the "traditional" 18V, and one at two, three or four times that voltage. Additionally, many have also introduced a compact 18V line as well, and their 12V lines have grown from an "alsoran" into a fully-fledged range of tools.

One chief reason for this is that construction, in general, has not been able to increase its overall productivity. The only exception to that is using more powerful, more specialised and more adaptable power tools to get more jobs done a little quicker. With the high levels of workload — and, a little paradoxically, declining margins in some areas — being able to save that extra 30 minutes a day, which becomes 10 hours over a month, is now worth spending extra on better tools.

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Bosch says its BiTurbo system can produce 1800 watts of power, which means 100 amps in an 18V system

Tool tech One of the first tech things to understand is the difference between standard voltage in a tool, and "max voltage". The basics of this is that Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery powered tools marketed in Australia as being 18V and/are exactly the same as tools marketed as 20V in the USA. The batteries you buy for your power tools are made up

of several battery cells — just like you load in three or four AA batteries to power up a flashlight.

These cells used to be of a type known as 18650, which meant they were 18mm wide and 60mm long. A newer design of cells is the 21700, which are 21mm wide and 70mm long. The latter are more efficient — in fact the 18600 cell was not really engineered at all, while a lot of research went

the tool heavier, and as copper is quite expensive, also costlier to manufacture.

Approaches to power in tools

On the left, the sub-compact DeWalt 12V, and on the right the DeWalt 999 18V, which can utilise the FlexVolt 54V batteries

into developing the 21700. They have a higher amp hour rating, which means to achieve a target amp hour rating on a battery, fewer cells are needed.

Both types of battery cell have a nominal operating voltage of 3.6V. However, when they are as maximum charge, they output slightly over 4.0V. The simplest 18V Li-ion battery has five of these cells in it, so a nominal voltage of 5 x 3.6, which is 18V, and a maximum voltage of 5 x 4.0, which is 20V. Interestingly, however, the smaller 12V tools have just three of these cells, which means their nominal voltage is 3 x 3.6, or 10.8V. Bosch used to use that designation, but eventually moved to the 12V designation (probably because it is the usual voltage for an internal combustion engine).

What makes a tool powerful?

At the simplest level when looking at a tool you can work out how powerful it is with a simple equation: it's the voltage of the tool multiplied by the current, which is expressed in amperes.

The result of that equation is the number of watts that are produced.

The important thing about that equation is that you can lift the power of a tool in two different ways: you can increase the voltage, and/or you can increase

the amps it can handle.

That seems simple, but this choice — more volts or more amps — has pretty much defined new developments in the power tool industry over past four years.

Just to quickly brush aside one assumption people make, and is evident in that equation: tools with lower voltages, such as 18V, can be just as powerful as tools with higher voltages, such as 36V or 54V. Volts aren't equivalent to horsepower or kilowatts in a car; watts (volts times amps) are roughly equivalent to those measures.

One of the golden rules of all engineering (and physics in general) is you can't get something for nothing. If you choose to increase the voltage in a tool there are certain consequences, and if you increase the amps in a tool there are different consequences.

While going beyond that simple power equation gets complicated quickly, one simple way of looking at how it basically works is that higher voltage increases the speed a motor can run at, and increasing the amps boosts the torque it can provide.

There is only one more thing you need to understand when it comes to power tool motor design. As you increase the amps, that means you need to use thicker wire to carry that current in the tool. This makes

The power tool industry is highly competitive, and each manufacturer in the industry has been careful to carve out a slightly different market niche in the field of possibilities presented by the volts and amps equation. We rank those manufacturers from lower-voltage, higher amps, to higher-voltage lower amps like this: • Hilti • Bosch • Milwaukee • DeWalt • Makita That list isn't perfect or comprehensive, as most of these make 18V tools as well as other lines, but it does illustrate the general approach they take, which we will explore in detail.

Hilti Hilti has recently launched a new line of tools with the brand name "Nuron". Hilti has long used a slightly unusual voltage for its tools, which is 22V versus the more standard 18V. Hilti does this by adding one more cell to make six in their battery packs. This generates what they call 22V power, while brands marketed in the US, such as Kobalt and Flex, do the same thing, but, of course, refer to these as 24V tools, using the max voltage.

While most other manufacturers have developed split systems of tools, with 18V batteries combined with systems two, three or even four times that voltage, Hilti is doing just about everything with its 22V Nuron batteries. If you look at the media photographs of their tools, there is a heck of a lot of gleaming, beautiful copper featured in them.

That's because these tools pack a lot of amps to deliver the needed power for big tools with that 22V. This was a great decision for Hilti in two ways. First, Hilti services primarily companies with very big 10

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 9

fleets of tools. It's likely the feedback Hilti received was that those companies would very much prefer a single battery voltage platform, as that greatly simplifies their tool logistical challenges.

Secondly, if you look at the tool types that Hilti tends to specialise in, such as those for demolition and drilling in concrete, the main requirement for those tools is high torque.

Makita's 40V drill has same torque as 18V, but over 20% more maximum rpms

Bosch While Bosch does make some 36V tools — most notably for outdoor power equipment (OPE) — it has primarily concentrated on perfecting its 18V tools. These have been boosted by the introduction of its new ProCore battery system.

ProCore uses the new standard size for battery cells, which is designated at 21700. This means Bosch can make higher amp hour tools that are lighter than older batteries. This approach of concentrating on 18V makes a lot of sense for Bosch, as Bosch power

tool owners tend to be fans of the brand, and quite often have an extensive — and well-worn — collection of Bosch tools.

If Bosch has a place where it excels it really is in the Bosch motors in the tools, which are both very well-made and conservatively

designed. Bosch is, of course, a very large and diversified company, making everything from kitchen appliances to major systems for automotive manufacturers. It is larger than, for example, Stanley Black & Decker, and it has a wide field of technical research to draw on.

Proleveling System from Metro Tiles Pre-pandemic, Metro Tiles regularly attended international tile fairs to discover the latest innovations in not just tiles, but also tiling tools and accessories. Specifically, in terms of a tile levelling system, the company was looking to source a product that solved tiler’s requirements to eliminate tile lippage in a superior way to what was available in Australia.

The Proleveling System offers many unique benefits for tilers who are looking to eliminate lippage including the following: • It does not require any use of levelling guns or any other expensive, uncomfortable or unergonomic tools to install the system.

• Each Proleveling clip (cross, tee or straight) doubles as a 1, 2, 3 or 5mm tile spacer.

• The Proleveling cross and tee clips level up to four tile corners simultaneously saving up to 3 clips per intersection, reducing installation time and cost.

• The rotational design enables precise control during the installation, as well as the ability to unscrew the pommel cap and reposition tile without breaking any clips.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee has taken as split approach to its power tool designs.

In some ways it is very similar to Hilti, in that it sees its 18V platform as being able to handle a wide range of applications. Like Bosch, it has move rapidly to adopt the newer 21700 cells, helping it to boost performance. It has also often been the company to release the first high amp-hour battery packs, which currently max-out at 12.0 amp-hours — which weighs in at 1.6kg.

However, at the very high end of tools, it also has its MX battery, which operates at 72V. Milwaukee doesn't really see this battery as being for power tools, but more for what is sometimes classified as "light equipment" — big lighting arrays, rock-breaking hammers, demolition and so forth.

Milwaukee can be seen as adopting a strategy somewhere between that of Hilti and Bosch. It is both supplying a single platform — with some exceptions — for its

fleet users, while also maintaining long-term compatibility for its professional trade customers.

DeWalt DeWalt could be regarded, with some justification, as being the company that launched the "voltage war" in the power tool industry. This began with DeWalt's introduction of its FlexVolt line of tools in mid-2016. These tools relied on batteries which could do a simple trick: the connection between the cells could be switched from being in parallel to being in series. In parallel, the batteries would output 18V, while in series they output 54V. The reality behind this is that FlexVolt is more about marketing than actual functionality. FlexVolt batteries can be used on both 18V and 54V tools, and no doubt that is convenient, the FlexVolt 6Ah at 18V battery weighs over 1kg, while the standard 18V XR 5Ah battery weighs 0.6kg. There are some basic ergonomics to consider.

FlexVolt basically made it seem OK to trades and others to expand the tools they had effectively over two slightly compatible battery platforms. It's not surprise that DeWalt was the first to make this move. DeWalt's parent company, Stanley Black & Decker, has long succeeded more through being a great manufacturer than a great innovator in tools. The company realised it could obtain a lot of cost benefits in manufacturing by boosting volts instead of amps, and that is the competitive advantage it sought.

Makita Out of all of these brands, the Makita approach is perhaps currently the most interesting.

At the moment, the company is offering two parallel lines of tools.

It has adopted the US designations for these, so they are essentially 20V and 40V — which is 18V and 36V more correctly.

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This has turned out to be a great strategy, as it is essentially a blend between that of Bosch, Milwaukee and DeWalt. The company is not abandoning its many loyal fans with their 18V tools, but it is also offering them a genuine option if they want to "power up" to the 40V tools. The strategy differs from that of DeWalt and Milwaukee in that the power boost is more modest. The idea is less that its customers will operate both 18V and 40V tools, and more that they will, after potentially several years of using both, choose one platform over the other.

Which tool for you?

If there is one message to take away from the above, it's not to be too fussed about the voltage of the tool system you are buying into. In some cases, the higher voltage tool will cost less than a lower voltage tool that has equal power — because the higher voltage makes it less expensive to manufacture.

In fact, once the power tool industry has finished with its high power fixation, Tile Today expects to see more manufacturers looking downline to improve more of their basic tool lines, both in 18V and 12V. One area where that is already happening is with the sister brand to Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi. While Ryobi in the past has been more of a tool for DIY and people working in simple maintenance jobs, Ryobi has launched a new sub-brand, named "HP". HP is basically selling powerful, trade-ready tools — such as, for example, a track saw — at prices that make it an appealing option.

The 12-gauge braided copper wire inside a Hilti Nuron battery, capable of carrying a lot of amps 12 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Milwaukee's 12V cut-off tool is a popular way to trim tile around bathroom fittings

Unfortunately, Ryobi is available only through Bunnings, and Bunnings does not stock the full range of HP tools. If they do come to Australia in 2023 — as may be possible — this could be a surprising brand to look to in the future. It's not going to impress anyone on the worksite, but you could save yourself some money, and reduce the ever-present risk of loss through theft as well.

Looking after batteries As a final note, if there is one area of wild myth and speculation outside of the idea that high voltage equals high power, it is in how many trades look after their batteries. There has been a lot of misinformation put out about this — including by a major hardware retailer at one time.

The most important thing to understand about modern Li-ion batteries is that they are nothing like the old Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) batteries they replace.

The electro-chemistry in those

batteries meant they could easily develop a "memory" if they were not almost fully discharged before being recharged. That "memory" would limit their capacity into the future.

Li-ion batteries do not have anything like that kind of "memory" at all. Never, not under any circumstances. In fact, to look after Li-ion batteries correctly, it is vital that they are never fully discharged. If possible, it is best to recharge them after they have just 20% of charge left in them.

Equally, unless the battery is about to be used immediately after charging, it is best not to fully charge them, but instead charge them to about 80% of capacity.

Batteries are the power tool component that wears out in the shortest time, and typically begins to deteriorate after 20 months or so of hard use. Following those simple rules can greatly extend the life Li-ion batteries, by up to a year with careful use. n

EXPLORE. DISCOVER. ENJOY. Tile Today is the leading publication for Australia’s tile industry.

For tile installers, we provide a mix of indepth technical articles, product guides, the latest trends in design and business, as well as inspiring coverage of Australian and international tile shows and events.

For retailers, we cover all the latest industry news, interview the movers and shakers, and keep you up-to-date on industry statistics and forecasts.

For interior designers, architects and building specifiers, we offer an index to best practice and emerging concerns in the building and construction industries as they relate to tiles.

But what we offer to every reader, is a publication that shares your interest and inspiration.

• In-depth technical articles • Business opportunities • New tile developments • Guides to adhesives • Coverage of anti-slip issues • Waterproofing best practices • Trends in interior design Tile Today is now digital, which means you can read it on your smartphone, tablet and PC. Take it everywhere with you.

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Material testing for waterproofing and tiling Heightened building activity across Australia is heavily focused on waterproofing to ensure many of the sins of the past few decades are not repeated. Building certifiers and authorities have stepped up their watch on compliance of waterproofing products and tiling systems, to keep product suppliers and manufacturers accountable.

T

he key path to compliance is testing to ensure products in the market meet the requirements of AS4858, AS4654.1 and ISO13007.5. Waterproofing and tiling systems used in domestic and commercial construction are being assessed more frequently than ever before as the industry is pushing to eliminate the costly problems attributed to inadequate product quality that have plagued building failures.

XTecGen Materials Testing Services, Australia’s only NATA registered laboratory to evaluate waterproof membranes to AS4858 and AS4654.1, carries out testing to all the requirements of these respective standards including ISO13007.5.

Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers and importers of waterproof membranes, tiling systems and building substrates are engaging the testing services of XTecGen to not only ensure their products comply to relevant standards, but to also better understand the performance limitations of their products to drive continuous improvements that will help provide better outcomes for tiling applications over membranes.

Along with providing a full suite of tests and reporting to AS4858 and AS4654.1, XTecGen provides test bundles to specific testing requirements to select specific test needs for liquid and sheet membrane products. Some of the unique capabilities XTecGen offers through their NATA laboratory testing includes:

In addition to this list, XTecGen can test products to hydrostatic pressure resistance, Xenon Arc weathering tests, and any specific client needs that may fall outside the limits of the Australian Standards, e.g. to British Standards, ASTM or ISO standards.

• Elongation and Tensile Strength

Some of the largest global brands operating in the Australasian construction market are now utilising the testing services of XTecGen to have their waterproofing and tiling systems tested to ensure they have products that meet all the demands and requirements of Australian Building Standards.

• Chemical testing to bleach and detergents • Heat ageing and water immersion • Water vapour transmission • Cyclic Movement Tests • UV exposure and accelerated weathering tests • Seam testing and Dimensional stability tests for sheet membranes

For more details on the testing services offered by XTecGen, contact info@ xtecgen.com or 1300 152 298.

• Puncture and Tear resistance of sheet membranes • Bond strength

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• Adhesion to substrate or to specific primers

Instagram – @xtecgen

• Abrasion resistance • Bio resistance • Temperature resistance

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WAT E RPRO O F ING

TURN TO YOUTUBE FOR WATERPROOFING TILE TODAY PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE BEST ONLINE SOURCES FOR TILE WATERPROOFING ON YOUTUBE. GET YOUR DEVICES READY NOW…

K

eeping up-to-date with waterproofing products and techniques is one of the more difficult challenges that tilers face. It is a field where the "basics" of the past are constantly evolving, opening up new opportunities, and giving tilers the chance to produce better, less risky and longerlasting results.

That said, it is also an area where it is easy to find yourself

overwhelmed. It's often difficult to work out the limitations of products, and how those limitations apply to a particular project. That especially is the case when you are dealing with combining different products together: primer, liquid waterproofing, membrane waterproofing, reinforcing fabric for corners, tile adhesives and grouting.

All of those components

have to work together to provide risk-free, perfect waterproofing for, potentially, decades of use. It's easy to start out installing a simple shower, and end up feeling you are preparing to land a spacecraft on Mars.

The other layer of complexity of course is being able to do all of that in the most time-efficient 16 www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 15

and profitable way for your business.

As many tilers are getting slammed with available work and projects these days, this has tilted the calculations to privilege speed of execution over cost of materials in many cases.

Fortunately, even as tilers face these challenges, there are some innovative sources of support that can make it simpler to stay updated with the latest information. A little surprisingly, one of the best such sources are videos offered on the internet streaming service YouTube.

Be warned, however, that the quality of YouTube channels dealing with waterproofing is somewhat variable.

There are some pretty doubtful claims and techniques detailed in different places. However, with a little care, it is possible to find highly reputable and helpful sources.

At Tile Today we've done a bit of the "due diligence" for you, and the following are our top picks for waterproofing YouTube channels.

Chris Wiltshire from Master Builders Association SA and Gripset Industries' Phil Scardigno discuss building and waterproofing trends.

GRIPSET "SEALED FOR GOOD"

The benefits of using sheet and liquid waterproofing membranes.

This is pretty much the "gold standard" for waterproofing information on YouTube.

Sealed for Good is the official channel for Gripset Industries Pty Ltd (now part of RLA Polymers). It is hosted by Phil Scardigno, the former managing director of Gripset Industries. Those who have met Phil know he is an engaging, down-to-earth person, who is able to deliver complex information in a lively way.

The range of videos on Sealed for Good is comprehensive, and very timely, with new videos being produced at least monthly, and often weekly. One area where there is lots of helpful information is on how to choose between liquid membranes and sheet membranes for particular projects.

Phil also goes into the very most basic details of how best to use tile adhesive when laying tile over waterproofing in wet areas — straight lines, consider back-buttering, and always check for drumming, as voids are just going to fill with water and create problems.

In addition to those practical considerations, Sealed for Good also digs deep into overall industry matters as well.

There is a very good "trilogy" of videos on "The past, the present and the future of the waterproofing industry", where Phil talks with Chris Wiltshire from the Master

16 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Link: https://youtu.be/qFzKYIyGLNM

Link: https://youtu.be/5Sr5A_sL4K4

Best practice when waterproofing yellow tongue flooring.

Link: https://youtu.be/UDU1dOWgm8A\

The webinar is hosted by a number of knowledgeable industry figures.

Link: https://youtu.be/lhGblOcvvps

Builders Association in South Australia.

It's difficult to cherry pick the best videos, but the following is a sample of those that are interesting to watch.

DANRAE GROUP – WATERPROOFING STANDARDS SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 2021 This seminar — over an hour in length — takes on the new AS3740 standard on interior waterproofing. It features Byron Landeryou, David Previte, Ron Caruana and Daniel Caruana.

QUEENSLAND BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION/ AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF WATERPROOFING The Waterproofing Tradie Tour is a really informative set of nine videos on YouTube, which can be accessed at:

Excellent additional BARRIER to a waterproofing system

Part 6 of the series is especially interesting, dealing with membranes in installations such as external balconies.

Link: https://youtu.be/7ML8RyQzvCU

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Tivp6IeChg4&list= PLO2ZrkodtJu5fk5sWjkUk_ OgNDJbulQDT Part 1 is an introduction.

Part 2 covers efflorescence.

Parts 3 through 8 are about preventing defects, including design, specification, substrates,

REDUCES construction costs and extra processes

PROTECTS all layers in a tiling system

membranes, specifications and standards, and maintenance.

Part 9 is a Q & A session.

SHOWER FORENSICS The Tile Coach channel on YouTube is mostly aimed at 18

TO FIND OUT MORE & FOR STOCKISTS

www.efflock.com.au

DIYers, but one interesting aspect of it is some detailed analysis of where waterproofing has failed.

One part of waterproofing is learning from mistakes — and it is much easier to learn from the mistakes of others. This video might not be directly instructional, but it's a good example of what happens when waterproofing goes wrong — especially when the substrate is oriented strand board (OSB).

As it turns out, the point of failure wasn't the waterproofing installed by the tiler, but originated with the factory waterproofing attached to the drain that was installed.

The star quote is: "All of this mess happens because of one little leaky part on a drain, so it is really important that you can trust the products you’re are using".

In the second video from the Tile Coach, it's the excavation of an archeological shower type from the distant 1980s. The shower base is made from a folded lead sheet, and the walls of the shower are simple mastic over plasterboard. n

Shower waterproofing fails over OSB. Link: https://youtu.be/lYEzZa4n5xE

“Old school” shower fail: a lead base, mastic over plasterboard.

Link: https://youtu.be/DOIz_3ns6NY

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT Then, of course, we have construction in India, where they seem to have a different approach to waterproofing.

Another way to waterproof a balcony?

You will particularly like the bit where they waterproof the shower floor after installing the wall tiles.

In this video you can see terrace should be prepared for waterproofing, correct way of doing water proofing, how they put the muddy, and then laying the tiles Link: https://youtu.be/Nwp1jcukok0

18 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

It's a little difficult to make sense of what is going on in this video.

Link: https://youtu.be/b3eR3ATuVX8

MODERN BATHROOMS

Marble-effects tiles for modern bathrooms Veined marble porcelains, especially those that emulate natural marble are seeing a surge. They have become more accessible as a result of digital inkjet technologies

I

f Australia follows recent US trends, the amount spent on bathroom remodels could be set to rise. Online inspiration source Houzz stated in a recent report that spending on primary bathroom remodels was up by 13%, with overall average

spending lifting from USD8000 for the past several years to USD9000 in 2021. Bathrooms still trail kitchens in the report, both in number of remodels and amount spent, but are truly a close second.

In Australia, Houzz reported

similar trends in 2020, with bathroom renovations becoming more popular and the overall cost increasing. (Full data for 2021 is not yet available.)

For the tile industry, what's of 20

Calacatta Arabescato is a glazed porcelain marble effect tile, and can be produced in a polished and matt finish, in sizes: 60x60, 30x60, 30x30, 60x120. In the 60x60 size, there are 20 faces available. From International MTC. www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 19

MODERN BATHROOMS critical importance is what types of tiles are proving popular with bathroom renovations in recent times. One very popular type of tile has been the "marble-look" or "marble-effect" tiles, which mimic the look of marble, but without both the high price tag and ongoing maintenance concerns.

This trend that has developed through several stages. Its origins are the result of the breakthrough development of using inkjet to "print" tiles. It's worth taking a look at how that technology developed, and how it differs from past technologies to fully understand the impact inkjet production has had on the market to date, and how that impact might expand in the future.

A brief history The first inkjet printers for tile manufacturing became available in 2000, but by 2005 there were only two companies selling production machines. In 2008 the number jumped seven, and by 2010 this had grown to 13.

Transfer printing was one of the first to industrialise tile design. It used an engraved copper plate or woodcut to transfer ink to a paper bat, which then laid the pigment on the tile. This was developed during the 1750s in Liverpool, England, where John Sadler used the technique to produce "Delft" style tiles. This method faded out by 1790 but was revived in England in the mid-1800s.

Automation developed post World War II transformed previous manufacturing methods, which could take 70 hours, end-to-end, to produce a tile. The use of a conveyor belt, which passed through a "tunnel" kiln, along with other innovations, cut the production time to just two hours.

"Flat" screen printing to impose a design on tiles began in the 1960s, and developed in the 1970s into rotary screen printing.

These techniques used a series of screens which had opened and closed areas to create patterns.

Pigment was squeegied through the screen onto the tiles in successive layers.

20 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Travertine look tile 600x600, matt rectified & marble look tile 600x600 polished rectified

by Intrend Bathrooms. Available from Nerang Tiles.

This was further developed during the 1980s to use computer-generated screens, enabling more complex designs.

In the 1990s rotogravure was developed. In that system, images were directly engraved on a silicone print roller by digitally controlled lasers.

Pigment was added to the roller, which then laid the pigment on the tile blank. Flexography also appeared in the 1990s, which produced a polymer plate which was set around a roller. The roller took up the ink, then deposited it on a second roller, which then set it on the tile blank — a process similar to that of the offset press for printing on paper.

Digital inkjet printing It is estimated that today something like 80% of tile production for the European, UK and USA markets is sourced from factories running inkjet technologies.

The core advantages of the inkjet system and its potential for the tile industry was understood from the start of the 1990s, but the technical difficulties were hard to solve. While the first commercial machine was developed by 2000, it took a further decade for the processes to become truly mainstream.

The advantages are summed up in a Qualicier paper from 2010 entitled "Ink-Jet Printing for

Marble look tile installed by Intrend Bathrooms 600x600 with polished rectified glazed porcelain tile. Available from Nerang Tiles.

The Decoration of Ceramic Tiles"

by Ian Hutchings of Cambridge University in the UK. • digital image definition and the flexibility of the process mean that each tile can be different if required, allowing more realistic representation of natural material such as stone, and also the possibility of printing one-off products such as murals or unique floors; • different patterns of tile can be processed in sequence or even together; • high image definition can be achieved; • overall production times for prototypes and new products are shortened; • customisation, through small changes to a basic design, is straightforward; • storage of designs in the form of digital data is simple and very low cost; •

edge-to-edge printing allows uninterrupted patterns across tile boundaries;

• profiled tiles can be decorated automatically, avoiding costly manual handling; • set-up times are significantly lower than for conventional printing methods; • changes to image size can readily be made to accommodate different tile sizes; • process colour capability is achieved with a small range

Marble look tile 200x1200 mix gloss and matt Italian rectified glazed porcelain.

Available from Nerang Tiles.

of inks, typically the standard four colours (CMYK) used in conventional printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and black; • there is more efficient use of inks, and so less wastage; • machine footprints are smaller than for conventional processes.

The main difficulty in developing the first inkjet printing machines was that there were a number of variables to tackle simultaneously. The print heads, and the size of droplets they produced was crucial, but so was the development of the ink pigments themselves. Writing in the Qualicer 2014 paper

"Ink Technology for Digital Decoration of Ceramic Tiles", authors Michele Dondi, Magda Blosi, Davide Gardini, Chiara Zanelli and Paolo Zannini point out the industry had to virtually reinvent how inkjet printing was performed: "The initial challenge was matching the strict requirements of available printheads, essentially addressed to desktop applications, starting from the existing formulations of pastes for screen and silicon roller printing, which proved to be unsuitable for DOD-IJP, particularly ceramic 22

MODERN BATHROOMS pigments due to their too coarse particle size distribution. It was soon clear that further ink properties must be kept under control beyond those usually considered in the production of ceramic tiles".

This led originally to the development of new dye-based inks, but these were eventually replaced by pigmented inks.

This required new techniques for producing the pigments, as they needed to be ground down to extremely fine particles in order to function with the inkjet nozzles.

While the scale of change initially made this a difficult process, once it gained wide acceptance, manufacturing scale and techniques improved considerably.

Meanwhile the inkjets have increased in complexity and capability. Where the original machines relied on simple colour combinations, modern machines can use up to six different inks to achieve more complexity in designs.

Marble look tile 600x1200 Italian matt rectified glazed porcelain. Built by DTL Constructions and Evoque Interiors. Photo by BWRM Gold Coast. Available from Nerang Tiles.

Marble look tile 60x600 with polished rectified glazed porcelain tile. Available from Nerang Tiles.

22 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

The market That's the background, but what has happened in the market?

One of the more "extreme" uses of inkjet tile printing has been the production of "timber" tiles, which mimic the detail and aesthetics of timber floors, while providing a more durable surface with reduced maintenance requirements.

However, perhaps the biggest change has been the ability to produce tiles that mimic forms of decorative stone, and in particular marble. Marble tiles have long been a staple of truly luxurious bathrooms, not only because the authentic marble tiles are expensive, but also because, as a comparatively soft and absorbent material, marble needs constant care.

The arrival of complex marble-effect tiles has enabled renovators to get the marble "look" at a fraction of the cost of real marble, and without having to provide considerable maintenance. The trend to marble-effect coincided with the trend towards very large format tiles, which together could produce an almost epic luxury look in some bathrooms.

Very popular from about 2014 to 2018, more recently the use of marble-effect tiles seems to have diminished slightly — or at least it has for high-end bathroom designers. However, with 2022 there can be seen the start of a resurgence of their use in designed interiors. This is part of the shift from the very active and engaging bathrooms of the pandemic years, to bathrooms that are more calming and reparative. There has been a decrease in the use of strongly veined marble effects, and a return to whites and very pale greys — though the stronger colours remain popular for feature walls and panels.

As useful as inkjet production has been, there remains some areas where it does run into difficulties. In particular it struggles with very dark marble colourations, due to problems related to pigment saturation. n

Marble look tile 600x600 honed rectified. Available from Nerang Tiles.

Marble look tile 600x1200 polished rectified & WC0418-60MIC stone look tile. Available from Nerang Tiles.

Marble look tile 60x600 with polished rectified glazed porcelain tile. Available from Nerang Tiles.

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 23

MODERN BATHROOMS

Shower product development Bathrooms become more thoughtful and the shower takes centre stage, based on the latest designs from Methvens

I

n 2022, bathrooms will be about simplicity and naturalness, according to shower manufacturer and designer Methven. The focus for the bathroom, more than any other room in the home, will incorporate the key trends of wellness and self-care, with an emphasis on the importance of creating harmony.

Methven believes choosing less and focusing on more quality items that last and provide comfort above all else will be the priority.

Size does play a part in the design for a bathroom, however, regardless of the space, trends for 2022 dictate functionality and eco-friendly as top of the list.

“Green” designs coupled with water-efficient and energy-efficient bathroom fixtures are a must-have.

Andy Grigor, head of design and innovation at Methven, explains that while water conservation may be at the forefront of consumers’ minds, it doesn’t have to mean compromising on the shower experience.

“People tend to associate less water with bad experiences. Our mission at Methven is to change that. We design with the intent to use less but not at the expense of experience. Our shower designs focus on innovation, sustainability and water conservation, and along with leading-edge technology result in a transformative shower experience,” he said.

Methven offers a number of 4-star shower options, such as The Rua Rail Shower, where the water flow rate is optimised to be water efficient without compromising the luxurious spray performance.

The Rua features the awardwinning Aurajet technology. The design is a standout with hidden nozzles generating individual jets of water that collide against precisely angled surfaces offering a seemingly floating shower head.

The result is a stunning fan of luxuriously dense droplets.

The future of bathroom design

24 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Bathroom design in 2022 sees “a simple pallet with natural materials of stone and wood allowing bathroom fixtures to accentuate the detail and finishing touches”, according to Methven

will be the integration of intuitive products that make life easier and use energy efficiently. “Our lives already have an overload of information and there is a movement to transition from the smart home to the thoughtful home,” explains Andy. “We are working on hidden technology that helps meet everyday demands, with products that have intuitive features that use several metrics to predict your needs.”

An example of this is development is a shower that automatically sets preferred temperature and water flow.

Intuitive shower technology will keep track of your habits and will automatically power on the thermostat at just the right temperature for you, and on the preferred water flow.

From an interior design perspective, artistic touches give character to bathrooms with the use of modern wallpaper, wall panelling or warm, moody colours to add personality and harmony to a bathroom. The natural hues

The Aurajet Rua rail shower has an unique square-halo shaped single function showerhead

of stone and wood dominate.

Bathroom spaces, including vanities, walls and ceiling linings are adopting finishes in raw timber, stone and concrete. Sustainable timber is a natural material that brings a sense of warmth and depth to a room, adds texture and movement, bringing nature indoors.

“The connection to nature and earthy raw colours and textures provides a calming yet resort luxe feel to an ultimate bathroom sanctuary,” said Andy. Overall bathroom design sees, “a simple pallet with natural materials of stone and wood allowing bathroom fixtures to accentuate the detail and finishing touches.

“We’ll start to see softer forms become more prevalent, but for tapware clean lines and a minimalist touch will enable other features in the bathroom, like the shower design, to become the hero feature.”

Methven’s Futura MK2 rail shower set against a natural stone is an ideal combination.

The Futura collection offers streamlined styling that allows consumers to combine everyday luxury with water efficiency. “This one function rail shower features Satinjet® Technology with twinjets of water colliding to create a full-body shower sensation, whilst also delivering on water efficiency,” said Andy.

Variations of the green colour

The Krome Short Twin Shower System in matte black has a voluminous, refreshing, rain-like sensation Advanced Airstream™ technology that infuses water with air. This increases the volume of shower droplets for users.

The Krome 120mm Short Twin Shower System has a 3-function 120mm adjustable spray handset with single function 200mm slimline overhead drencher in chrome

palette are the colours to look out for in 2022. “There is no ignoring the dominance of green which is growing in popularity. There seems to be a renewed zeal for nature and the outdoors, and we see greening in our interiors, bringing the outdoor in,” said Andy.

Chrome set against darker colours such as Forest Green and dark wood are the ultimate finisher, he added.

Methven Limited is part of GWA Group Limited and is a

market-leading designer and manufacturer of showers, taps and valves. The business is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand where the team designs, develops and makes products with a technology focus and have won a number of awards.

Methven’s international operations means its products are distributed in Australia, China, UK, Middle East, USA and Europe in addition to its home market of New Zealand. n

Methven’s Futura MK2 rail shower set against a natural stone

The Kiri Satinjet Low Flow showerhead is energy saving and award winning. It is part of the Kiri collection known for its clean lines and strong, dynamic forms.

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 25

Australian Tile Council Supporting the tile industry

Become a member today

Member benefits: - Industry support from the Australian Tile Council (ATC)

- Member Benefits programme with exclusive offers

- Technical and Industry related information and support

- Tiling literature, brochures and notices

- Free access to the Tile and Tiling Guide

- Professional recognition as a member of the only recognised national body industry

- Free access to the Tile Reference Manual

For further information visit australiantilecouncil.com.au

ATC

By actively providing information on tiles and tiling, the ATC offers its expertise and support Crosby Tiles owner Peter Carter joined the WA division of the Australian Tile Council in the late 1980s, taking the position of state president in 2003 and maintaining it to this day. He is also the vice president of the national body.

Peter Carter is the current vice president of the national body of the Australian Tile Council

P

eter’s long-standing involvement in the ATC includes an eight-year stint as president of the national body. He said: “When I first joined the national body of the ATC, the organisation was primarily just playing the role of being the representative body for the industry on issues that arose from time to time that could be detrimental to the industry. Although that was a very reactive type of role, the ATC played it very effectively which has helped the industry to continue to grow and prosper.”

During his stint as national president, Peter said he had a vision for the association to be more proactive, which can give added value for members and answer more directly the “What’s in it for me?” question.

His main insight led the ATC to being an active provider of technical information and resulted in two significant achievements: • The Tile Reference Manual which has over 260 pages of comprehensive tiling information. From substrate preparation through to the finished grouted job, it is arranged in easy-to-read sections covering causes, cures and prevention for a wide range of tiling issues or applications.

• The Tiles and Tiling Guide. Written by the ATC, the guide has been developed to provide a pool of all of key information regarding supplying and installing tile to ATC members. It is designed to assist and inform their staff, builders, designers, architects and tile specifiers.

It is updated annually and is providing a central pool of information all in one place that is highly valued by ATC members, according to Peter.

Peter has been part of many committees over the course of his long business career and throughout his involvement with the ATC. From his perspective, he believes the most important one that has been set up is the council’s Technical Committee that oversees and updates the Tiles and Tiling Guide. He said: “For the first time in our history, we now have a resource that is dedicated to providing up to date technical information for the industry on a regular basis.”

Memberships for the tile council start from $150, and a full list of being a member of the ATC can be found in the following link: https://www.australiantilecouncil.com.au/about-us/ what-we-do

n

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 27

R ETAI L FOCUS

Tilers’ trust leads to many gains The team at Tilers Trade Centre knows its customers exceptionally well. Its constant emphasis on “small things” has led to a large and growing customer base.

The exterior of Tilers Trade Centre

T

ile Today spoke to Sandra Mitchell — who owns the business with husband Brett — about what has made Queenslandbased Tilers Trade Centre a “go to” place for the products a tiler needs for their tiling projects. Their eldest

Brett and Sandra Mitchell, owners of Tilers Trade Centre in Kuluin, QLD on the Sunshine Coast

28 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

son Nathan Is also a manager which makes it a family enterprise.

Sandra said its main customer is the tradesman, the tiler. “Anyone from an apprentice all the way through to the crew that has 20 staff and been working for 40 years,” she said. The percentage split between tradies and DIY customers is generally around 80/20 or 70/30. It experienced an influx of new DIYers as a result of the pandemic.

“With the tilers, they generally know what they're doing ... because we don't do tiles. We do the waterproofing, the glue and the products [needed for tiling].”

A typical question might relate to a product or brand that tilers are not aware of yet so trust plays a big part in the interaction with tilers.

As Sandra explains, “They’ll say, ‘I normally use this. You've run out of stock … so what is my alternative to do this type of job?’

“Most of the customers have been coming here for long enough because we're in our eighth year …

They trust our answers.”

This type of trust has been

cultivated through product knowledge and a clear understanding of what their customers do on a daily basis which can involve complex decisions especially when it relates to colour variation. As Sandra puts it: “They will love a brand, or they will really dislike a brand. They’ll say, ‘I need a grey grout but not that brand. Or what shade of grey has this other brand got?’ We tend to know our greys and our whites. And colours are not straightforward.

We've got whites that have a shade of grey through it, some colours have got more cream through it ... So our customers just generally trust us.”

Sandra believes it’s the consistency with “little things” such as pricing that has helped it grow as a business and helps differentiates it from nearby competitors.

“Our prices include GST so people know exactly what the price is … they can easily price match.

We hold accounts, we try to provide good old-fashioned service. If we say we don't have it, and we need

to look something up and call back then we try to make sure we call back. If we're going to order it in, we make sure we order it and then call when it arrives.

“We try to answer the phone within three rings … and we also deliver free across the Sunshine Coast. Bruce was our main delivery driver for many years, and is over 60 now so he's gone back to three days a week. In saying that, the customers love it because they can go straight to site and get that good park. Because when you're on a building site, parking is a premium because tilers have trailers. And the apprentice could be wasting time because he's stuck in traffic.

So we do about 50 to 60 deliveries a month, and we've got three delivery drivers.

“We go 45 minutes in any direction. For our customers what they'll do is generally ask for more than one or two items. They'll say, ‘All I need is this. But can you bring 10 bags of that … and it'll make it worth your while driving down.”

Staff at work

Tilers Trade Centre offers tools and equipment rental for tilers which is another differentiator for the business.

“We rent out the Battipav brand for wet saws as well as mortar mixers … It looks like a damn great big mixer that you mix a birthday cake in, like a 120litre kind. We rent

them per day or per week. And we deliver them too. When the goods come back, we wash them and make sure there is no wear and tear.

“I am also qualified to do test and tag but only with goods in my

30

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Part of the floor stock available at Tilers Trade Centre

own business. When you're renting gear out, you've got to have it test and tagged, and it would be a pain in the neck to get an electrician done every time we need it. I've got a little flyer that I clip onto it that says, 'Please rent me'.

“We've been doing it couple of years. When the machines get about six to eight months old, depending on how worn they are, we'll sell them off secondhand to some of our regular renters. And then we buy a new one.”

Tilers Trade Centre also has a referral system for tilers when staff hear of any jobs.

“COVID made us busier with [more] DIYers coming in. Moving forward six months when they've all gone back to work, they need the help! So now customers are coming back and saying, 'Now I need a tiler, can I have a tiler's number? So we have tilers’ numbers on hand and it's up to them whether they get the job and what the timing is. But we can at least provide phone numbers and they take it from there.”

Rental equipment for tilers

Promotions and suppliers Each Friday morning — COVID permitting — Tilers Trade Centre hosts a bacon and egg burger breakfast for customers and staff.

It is a fun and savvy way for sales reps to promote new products in-store. “…If a rep has a new product, or 30 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Some of the staff on a lunch break

More products on display

something to 'show and tell', we'll get them to come and set up on a Friday morning and do a display, talk about it and mingle with the customers … While they're eating their bacon and egg burger, they've got to stand still and that gives the rep the opportunity to talk to them,” she explains.

Sandra said all the sales reps visit the store and help with merchandising and customers. She name checks Norm (McCall) from DTA and Shane (Anderson) from Laticrete as being particularly helpful.

Sandra and Brett also chose to do radio advertising around the same time COVID hit which helped to boost store traffic. They had not done any advertising up to that point.

“We bounce between two [local] radio stations. We do five days on one, and then five days on the other. And we also have our ad as a filler when an ad has dropped out for whatever reason, they'll just throw ours in there. It's a catchy tune and has been really well received,” she said.

The staff at Tilers Trade Centre are familiar with the sales patterns of products that sell well.

They change on from day to day, said Sandra.

“When it rains consistently, obviously all outside work stops so after a couple of days, it'll go

a bit quiet. But then tilers realise that their back pocket is going to be affected they usually find an internal job and start that.

“We can usually tell by what they're buying, while they're on that job. If they are buying primer and waterproofing, then are it’s at the beginning, if they are doing sealing and silicone, they are at the end of the job. So we do what I like to call, 'Would you like fries with that?' where we can upsell.

History Prior to purchasing Tiles Trade Centre, Brett was managing the adhesives side of the business. The previous owner was involved in

flooring, transport, curtains and blinds, and tiles, and sold them all off so that he could retire, according to Sandra who was working in aged care for a couple of years before coming on board.

The trade centre is set up as a double warehouse. “We've got the counter set up with all stuff that you would expect to see, and the further down the back there are more pallets and storage …

We've got two forklift which we use to empty or fill he warehouse, tidy it all up and rearrange it. We are constantly topping up shelves because if the customer can't see it, how are they going buy it?”

There are currently eight staff with six or seven on the floor at any given day. Since Brett and Sandra took over, they have been hiring one or two employees every 12 months to accommodate their growth.

“Brett and I do a lot of analysing and statistics ... to make sure everything is covered including the best phone contract available and, we've got solar on the roof now because of electricity.

“What we try and do is do everything that we ask the staff to do. Because then we can understand and relate to it better.

Although I don't have a forklift ticket, I can lift a 20kilo bag, I can sort out deliveries, I can serve on the canner and answer the phone.

And I can balance the payroll and stuff like that. We juggle everything because we choose to.” n

A local radio station promotion

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 31

REVESTIR ADAPTS TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER 32 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

REVESTIR 2022 WAS UNIQUE. IN RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THIS YEAR’S SHOW HAD A HYBRID FORMAT: PART DIGITAL AND PART IN-PERSON EXHIBITION. JOE SIMPSON REPORTS.

K

nown as Latin America’s leading surfaces show, Revestir celebrated the event’s 20 year anniversary in 2022. It covered all seven pavillions of its established home, the Transamerica Expo Center, Sao Paulo. As well as porcelain and ceramic tiles, the exhibitors spanned sanitaryware, taps, brassware, ornamental stone, mosaics, wood, laminates, and various conglomerate materials.

The digital component of Expo Revestir allowed visitors to still access products and brands, and check out launches from the in-person event. The online platform was designed to provide complete immersion in the trade show, offering an authentic Revestir experience from any device.

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www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 33

REVESTIR SHOW REPORT “By connecting the physical and digital universes, we increase the reach and business possibilities, in addition to strengthening contact with the market, resellers, specifiers, and everyone who is part of the construction production chain,” explains Maurício Borges, CEO of Expo Revestir and FIAC (Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain is an international contemporary art event held every year in Paris since 1974.)

In 2023, Revestir is relocating to São Paulo Expo at Rodovia dos Imigrantes, São Paulo, said Anfacer, the event’s organiser.

(Translated, Anfacer is the National Association of Ceramic Manufacturers for Coatings, Sanitary Fixtures and Similar.)

PRODUCT SELECTION Beauty, functionality, visual continuity, and different applications for floors, walls, furniture, and worktops were all prominent this year. Large formats including gauged porcelain panels up to 3,000mm long, were centre stage at Revestir, boosted by the advances in high-definition digital printing.

Portobello, one of Brazil’s major tile brands, showcased new designs that expand the portfolio in different formats, colours, and finishes. The highlight was the Ms. Barcelona Antracita colour, an intermediate shade between Crystal and

Ceramica Savane launched 10 ranges at Revestir

Acero. The warmer shade of grey provides cosiness and broadens the options for multiple environments.

With the upgrade of

Colours, textures, and prints characterised Incepa’s launches at Revestir

34 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Portobello’s Via Durini line, this stone-effect has gained a cosmopolitan air with its soft texture and neutral tones.

Available in four tones, both in

the 900 by 900mm format and in the exclusive 900 by 2,700mm format for walls, Via Durini expresses European elegance.

A new 600 by 1,200mm format further expands the possibilities.

Eliane, another leading Brazilian brand, offered products inspired by minimalism and anchored in high technology. The Lumina collection, for example, presented pieces based on the design-wave style, such as Poente (150 by 150mm). Micron seeks inspiration in natural stone and delivers high performance.

The range's wildcard is Micron Beige. This is a surface based on the aesthetics of coloured granites; versatile and timeless.

Eliane is now owned by the US-based Mohawk group, the world’s largest tile producer and distributor.

Pamesa’s latest textures and formats were inspired by natural rocks. This year’s ranges feature organic veins and natural forms in a striking way. Bay, for example, presents the sobriety of cobalt blue in an exotic polished marble, while Bórgia is inspired

by Calacata marble, with soft greyish veins on a neutral background.

With pieces up to 3,200mm, Portinari, another of Brazil’s top tile brands, put the emphasis on applications on different surfaces, such as floors, walls, façades, furniture, panels, stairs, and

Itagres presented the Reflexos 2022 collection

36

Incenor products feature irregular edges that fit perfectly with minimal joints

Lepri showcased products that simulate bricks in maxi formats www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 35

REVESTIR SHOW REPORT

The Cristalato line from Carmelo Fior

worktops. The brand delivered a diversity of surfaces, colours, and shapes. There were product lines inspired by wood, metal, natural stone, and timber, as well as concepts such as minimalism and cosmopolitanism, seen in the Moscou collection.

Roca Cerámica launched 22 collections, from supersized formats to varied prints, indicating that personalising space is a growing trend. The lines also has BioSafe technology, an additive that remains active for the entire life of the tile and is capable of eliminating 99% of bacteria that come into contact with the surface.

The Jaipur collection from Lurca Azulejos, is a modern take on the rich culture of northwest India, known for its colours, flowers, and fabrics.

With predominantly warm tones, the range has six designs: Jalis, Sari, Mahal, Mandir, Lotus, and Delhi. This designer brand also launched Agra and Udaipur Kits.

Lurca's tiles are silk-screened and fired at 940oC, resulting in durable, low-maintenance pieces that can be used on indoor and outdoor walls and wet areas.

The idea of immaterial architecture runs through the latest launches from Decortiles.

The Maestro collection is inspired by clean, classic marbles, with 38 36 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Portobello is one of Brazil’s major tile brands

Roca Cerámica launched 22 collections, from supersized formats to varied prints

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 37

REVESTIR SHOW REPORT Calacatta Ouro being one of the highlights. In the large 1,200 by 1,200mm porcelain tile format, the golden and fluid veins of this fabulous Italian marble gain life and movement. There is also a 600 by 1,200mm version.

Decortiles is an Eliane brand.

Lepri, a brand known for rustic looks and an ecological focus, majored on products that simulate bricks in maxi formats. The Maxi Brick line brings the Maxi Brick Mattone Graffiatto Cappuccino model (90 by 360mm), made from the mud that devastated the city of Mariana, in Minas Gerais.

The design features the grooves often seen in clay and has a tactile, velvety texture. The Maxi Brick Mattone Chiaro range reproduces the feel of reclaimed demolition bricks, but with a surprisingly smooth texture.

For sheer exuberance and vitality, Almma Design really stood out. As well as curating a great portfolio of wall and floor tiles, the company bills itself as a platform for ideas and inspiration. Almma believes in “affectionate design, which goes beyond decor: it expresses feelings, values roots, gives meaning and meaning, uniqueness and belonging.

The emphasis is on the possibility of materials and visual references that “arouse sensations”. Almma’s Artemix range mixes and matches patterns and prints in most unexpected ways, in an inspired interplay of colour, and pattern.

The sources of inspiration are vast and wide, from iconic cobogós, psychedelic patterns, cartoons, and geometric patterns.

In today’s maximalist world, this is a portfolio well worth exploring.

Gaudí Porcelanato showcased blue, gold, and white tones across more than 65 tile designs in 600 by 600, 800 by 800, 610 by 1,200, 200 by 1,200, and 1,200 by 1,200mm formats, in polished, satin, and two non-slip 38 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Part of the Reflexos 2022 collection from Itagres

Elizabeth Revestimentos’ latest large format included the Imperial Branco, a hybrid marble with cement texture

Biancogres presented porcelain tiles inspired by organic forms

finishes. The highlight was Dunne Blue porcelain from the Pallazo range. The polished design, inspired by the oriental Year of the Tiger, has a powerful colour palette.

Elizabeth Revestimentos’ latest 1,200 by 1,200mm format included strong designs such as Imperial Branco, a hybrid marble with cement texture.

Biancogres presented porcelain tiles inspired by organic forms in a palette of neutral, earthy, and pastel tones. Highlights include the Botanic and Folhas (both 450 by 900mm), Terrazzo Veneziano Avorio 900 by 900mm, Treviso 600 by 600mm, and Legno Maso 260 by 1,060mm.

The concepts of nature indoors, and care for the environment, ran through Alfagres’ launches. Among light and dark tone options, wood shapes and textures dominate the Carvalho Natural, Ipe Brown and Carmel lines. Another trend was marbles such as the Marfil and Marmo Grey ranges.

The Castelli brand presented pieces based on dark marble, which express sophistication in a unique way. The Castel Belvedere Lux P71005 – Brodick 70706, for example, brings the authenticity of the marble veins for a fluid and organic look.

Ceusa’s new designs include Passarela, Alegria, Imaginária, Exótica, Cacau, Metal Garden,

The idea of immaterial architecture runs through the latest launches from Decortiles

Miragem and Astro. Among the highlights is Exótica, which seeks inspiration in the natural stone quartzite, with vivid textures and fluid palettes that refer to shades of blue and grey. The pieces are ideal for worktops, tables and panels, with dimensions varying from robust rectangular formats (260 by 1,600mm) to no less significant square pieces (800 by 800mm and 1,000 by 1,000mm).

Incenor stood out with products featuring irregular edges that fit perfectly with minimal joints. This makes the pieces appear natural and minimises the perception of grouting. The products offer practicality, durability, good looks, and a great cost/benefit

Eliane offered products inspired by minimalism and anchored in high technology

ratio. Stone-effects, in various textures, shapes, and sizes, are the stars of a range that emphasises natural design.

The most eye-catching design on Helena Porcelanato’s stand was the Hope Blue porcelain tile (610 by 1,200mm) from the Marmo range. In all, this factory launched more than 40 designs in satin, satin/glossy, granilla and gloss, polished, relief, relief and gloss, and rustic finishes. The formats range from 820 by 820mm up to 1,200 by 1,200mm, divided between the Marmo, Mineralli, Metropoli, Albero, and Essenziale ranges.

Helena is part of Grupo Cedasa.

Karina Revestimentos’s Prima 40

The Hope Blue porcelain tile from Helena Porcelanato

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 39

REVESTIR SHOW REPORT collection features designs in high relief that focus on the effect of light and shadow. The Fileto line has filleted wood as a source of inspiration and modern 3D relief full of personality.

Itagres presented the Reflexos 2022 collection, with a wide range of bold products designed for different environments and functionalities. Lightness and versatility set the tone for the brand's new collection. The variety presented ranges from inspirations in marble and geometric shapes to artistic prints. Also present in the collection are pieces inspired by macramé patterns, and those that play into the minimalist trend.

Colours, textures, and prints characterised Incepa's launches.

Balanced tones and a calm atmosphere differentiate the new Nature range, offered in a 300 by 900mm format. Alfama has a more intimate, cottage, feel such as Alfama Candy, in pastel shades. Incepa also had Super Formato pieces, from the Portofino line, inspired by Crema Marfil marble, in 1,200 by 1,200mm, and 1,000 by 2,000mm formats.

Carmelo Fior launched the Cristalato line, with products in large formats (750 by 750mm) and polished or satin finishes.

The range presents high gloss models with the aesthetic effect of crystal, recalling the veins found in marble. The neutral tones can augment a wide range of environments.

One of Damme Porcelanato’s highlights was the Sahara product, inspired by brands such as Dior and Versace, which dared to use distinctive colours (such as neon, yellow, orange, green, and pink) and brought dark tones to the foreground. Sahara highlights earthy tones and is available in the 1,210 by 1,210mm, 1,200 by 1,200mm, 620 by 1,210mm, and 610 by 1,200mm formats.

Marbled textures were at the fore in Delta’s launches, in a 40 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

colour palette that highlights the free forms common to marble, with light, dark or chiaroscuro backgrounds that combine sophistication, grandeur and lightness in their surfaces.

Integrated to the large formats trend, the pieces vary between 840 by 840mm and 630 by 1,200mm. The high gloss surface finish is impressive.

Marble’s guaranteed space in architecture and decoration is typified by Topázio Brown from Incopisos, a 560 by 560mm design inspired by brown topaz stone. It has white and beige veins. Sagres Taupe, in a 750 by 750mm format, is versatile and can be used in indoor residential environments such as living rooms, dining rooms, and bathrooms.

Pierini’s latest Ondas Soft collection brings pieces in 200 by 200mm based on the colours and movement of the sea, in soft shades of blue. The Duefratelli Ceramica lines – Oro Blu, Carvalho, Ravena, and Bávaro Blue – speak to a similar concept. The result is a union between fluidity, tranquillity, and sophistication.

Ceramica Savane launched 10 ranges with a wide selection of different inspirations. These included Essence and Anticato, both in 900 by 900mm, and Artesanale in 570 by 1,150mm.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS One of the strengths of the event was was its comprehensive education program, offering indepth insights into current trends and innovations.

This year, FIAC remained virtual. It hosted notable speakers from the world of architecture and design such as Dutch designer, Maarten Baas, and American architect, Charles Renfro, who delivered lectures on a diverse range of architectural and interior design themes.

Their presentations explored the challenges of a post-pandemic world, and considered other

Karina Revestimentos’s Fileto line has filleted wood as a source of inspiration

The Jaipur collection from Lurca Azulejos is a modern take on the rich culture of northwest India

geo-political influences that are impacting the construction sector.

Exclusive content related to the topics of quality and sustainability were the focus of the Anfacer + Sustainable Marathon program.

Topics included “The potential of specification in the digital journey” and “Towards a low carbon economy”. Alongside this, Women's Day presented a female perspective of the construction industry. Other talks looked at lighting in architecture, and façades in commercial buildings.

Interior Designer Day featured Lissa Carmona and Liliah Angelini. The latter explored the house as sanctuary and spaces that coexist in the physical and digital world influenced by the rise of the Metaverse.

Meanwhile Andréa de Paiva investigated the impact of technology on people's minds.

Other speakers included Maarten Baas and Omar Fernandes.

The next edition of Revestir will take place from 14 -17 March 2023. n

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 41

EXPLORE. DISCOVER. ENJOY. Tile Today is the leading publication for Australia’s tile industry.

For tile installers, we provide a mix of indepth technical articles, product guides, the latest trends in design and business, as well as inspiring coverage of Australian and international tile shows and events.

For retailers, we cover all the latest industry news, interview the movers and shakers, and keep you up-to-date on industry statistics and forecasts.

For interior designers, architects and building specifiers, we offer an index to best practice and emerging concerns in the building and construction industries as they relate to tiles.

But what we offer to every reader, is a publication that shares your interest and inspiration.

• In-depth technical articles • Business opportunities • New tile developments • Guides to adhesives • Coverage of anti-slip issues • Waterproofing best practices • Trends in interior design Tile Today is now digital, which means you can read it on your smartphone, tablet and PC. Take it everywhere with you.

Subscribe to Tile Today for FREE.

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

I N DU ST RY RO U ND U P

TAFE tiling apprentice awards The Holmesglen TAFE Wall and Floor Tiling apprentice awards were held once again recently, the first in-person event since COVID restrictions were lifted. This year, Worlasi Tsagli was awarded the top prize for best 3rd Year Apprentice.

Teacher Frank Vanzella said some of the main qualities that led him to win the prize are his excellent work ethic. “Worlasi is a hard worker and has a very high quality of workmanship. He obviously loves his work and always maintains an excellent standard.

Worlasi is also very easy going which means he would probably get along well with people on a project,” he explains.

Not surprisingly, the awards felt like a “truly personal event” for Frank, and he said it was great to be able to connect in real life with award winners and sponsors.

Despite the enthusiasm displayed at the event, there has been a dip in the number of enrolments for the tiling course in 2022. This is a little disappointing and does not reflect some of the activity in the industry through active, working tilers, individual businesses as well as on a macro level in terms of building and construction. Frank said, “Students numbers have been on the low side in the last 12 months. This could be due to tiling not being seen as an attractive trade for some reason, compared to carpentry which is attracting many eager young apprentices.” n

Worlasi Tsagli won the top prize for best 3rd Year Apprentice

(l-r) Daniel Minos (Laticrete), head of department Jamie Weston, Jeff Kirkley (Sika and Australian Tile Council), Sam Hale (Ardex), tiling teacher Marco Parisella, flooring teacher Ben Hawks and George Elkhouri (Sika)

Award winner Worlasi Tsagli with Sam Hale from Ardex

(l&r) Worlasi Tsagli with his uncle

(l-r) George Elkhouri (Sika), Worlasi Tsagli and Jeff Kirkley from Sika and president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Tile Council

(l-r) tiling teacher Marco Parisella, education manager – trowel trades Colleen Carter, tiling teacher Frank Vanzella, Worlasi Tsagli and associate dean – building construction and trades Elizabeth Jansz

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 43

Home reno professionals anticipate business growth: Houzz As the leading platform for home renovation and design, Houzz Inc. has released its annual Houzz Australia State of the Industry.* The report provides an outlook on 2022 and a review of 2021 performance for residential renovation and design businesses based on data reported by industry professionals in the Houzz community.

It indicates that businesses have a confident outlook for 2022, with nearly three-quarters anticipating revenue growth (73%) and two-thirds expecting profits to increase (66%). This follows strong 2021 results with more companies reporting revenue growth, as compared to the previous four years, exceeding expectations for the year.

“Following a successful year for the home renovation and design industry, the findings from the Houzz State of the Industry show that professionals are confident that momentum will continue through 2022,” said Tony Been, managing director at Houzz Australia. “The positive outlook is prevalent across industry groups from interior

44 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

designers to builders, despite global challenges and increased costs of doing business.”

Interior designers and decorators are the most optimistic about revenue growth in 2022 (77%), followed by home builders and building designers (76 and 72%, respectively). Companies across all industry sectors plan to grow revenue by increasing marketing and sales efforts and increasing prices, markups and margins (52% each).

In 2021, a larger share of businesses reported year-over-year revenue growth than in the last four years (70%). Two-thirds of companies reported that revenue growth was at or above their initial expectations for the year (66%).

Nearly 4 in 5 interior designers reported increases in gross revenues in 2021 (79%), followed by building designers and home builders (67 and 63%, respectively).

More than a quarter of businesses increased headcount in 2021 (28%), compared with only 17% of businesses who added employees in 2020. Home builders

were the most likely to hire last year (47%), compared with interior designers and building designers (32% each). Hiring is expected to continue among a third of businesses in 2022 to support revenue growth (34%).

Nearly seven in 10 businesses reported an increase in the cost of doing business in 2021 (69%).

Home builders were the most impacted by rising costs (84%), followed by interior designers and building designers (70 and 50%, respectively). Price volatility of products and materials was one of the top challenges reported by one in five businesses (22%).

There are more than 2.7 million active home renovation and design professionals on the Houzz platform including architects, interior designers, home builders and design and build firms. *The Houzz Australia State of the Industry was conducted among home renovation firms in the Houzz Australia community that offer services related primarily to residential renovation and/or design. The study was fielded from February 21, 2022 to n March 9, 2022. N=147.

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Upcoming spring-summer tile trends Most people working in the tile industry know that ceramic tile is one of the most versatile surfacing materials in the world, lending itself to a vast range of uses from decorative to architectural for over two millennia.

This season’s trends — as identified by Ceramics of Italy — pay homage to that historic versatility in terms of materiality as well as design: timeless luxury; outdoor living; wellness and environment.

Timeless Luxury: Although technically a humble material, ceramic has a long, storied history of being associated with luxury.

It covered the floors of ancient villas and the walls of historic churches throughout Italy, many of which are still intact today.

Although today’s ceramic is more technology-driven, hundreds of new collections from Italian tile manufacturers conjures the same luxurious feeling, from artisanal techniques such as frescoes and Venetian plaster to large slabs of bookmatched marble and semiprecious gemstones like onyx.

Outdoor Living: The pandemic spurred a heightened desire for outdoor living and socialising, which, in turn, created the need for a beautiful base in exterior environments. Enter ceramic tile, which is an elegant yet hard-wearing material that can withstand extreme weather conditions as well as frost and sun.

Italian manufacturers offer all manner of products to transform outdoor spaces including porcelain pavers and pedestals for instant outdoor patios, ceramic and porcelain tiles for exterior cladding, and special pieces for pool coping.

Wellness & Environment: Ceramic is a naturally hygienic material that can improve the atmosphere and air quality of indoor spaces. Made of natural materials such as clay and sand, it is designed to last a lifetime but can also be recycled at the end of its life. On top of its inherent sustainable qualities, Italian tile 46 | TILE TODAY #113 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Tiles that represent the Wellness & Environment trend

Tiles showcasing the Timeless Luxury trend

producers offer myriad design options to improve the wellness and health of its occupants.

These include plant motifs and natural material looks that can be incorporated into biophilic design; thin porcelain slabs to create curbless showers; as well as grip finishes on floor tiles that can add

an extra layer of safety; and many more.

Ceramics of Italy is the trademark for Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, and tableware, and are members of Confindustria Ceramica. For more information visit ceramica.info. n

Patterned tiles: The new emerging trend that is centuries old Patterned tiles come in all sizes, shapes, styles and colours, offering unlimited design options. But are patterned tiles a soon-to-disappear home design fad or something more enduring?

“Patterned tiles have been around for centuries,” said Cindy Pickering, showroom buyer for Tileology, a tile store in Pennsylvania (USA). “They are completely classical. Patterned tiles are historical and beautiful and never really fade out of style.”

Emily Foltz, design consultant for Martin’s Flooring, agrees. “The farmhouse style, with plain tiles, was popular for a while,” she said, “but now there’s a shift to a more modern style using patterned tiles as accent pieces.”

If home dwellers are ready to give their home a design upgrade, here are five tips for tile professionals incorporating patterned tiles into their home’s décor.

Material – Patterned tiles can be made from porcelain, ceramic, terra cotta and concrete (also called encaustic). Foltz recommends porcelain as the most durable material: “Porcelain is non-porous and needs no maintenance. Other types of tiles, like concrete tiles, need to be sealed and maintained.”

Porcelain also has the advantage of being a thinner material – generally less than a half-inch thick. Pickering said that porcelain patterned tiles are more affordable compared to products like waterjet cut stone.

Placement – Patterned tiles can be used indoors or outdoors and are best used in smaller applications.

Foltz sees a lot of patterned tiles being installed in laundry and bathroom floors as well as on stove backsplashes.

Pickering suggests placing all of your patterned tile “in one part of the room, and don’t overuse it.

Create an art wall or an art floor and make everything else in the room calm and serene.”

Colours – Stick with a subtle colour palate for your patterned tiles. According to Pickering, “Softer, muted colours are the most popular because the really saturated colors are more of a commitment. Use soft white with soft grey or soft charcoal. Muted blues are also gorgeous.” Using this softer palate simplifies coordination

with the rest of the furniture, fixtures and materials in the room.

Patterns – Bold geometrics and Moroccan patterns are valid choices, but Pickering recommends using tiles with “soft, flowy lines and curving shapes”. These softer patterns compliment a subdued color palate and create visual impact without being overwhelming.

Grout – Make sure the grout matches the background colour of the tiles. “You don’t want to mess up the pattern with a bold grout,” said Pickering. “A contrasting grout will interfere with the pattern on the tiles.”

If a home has a dull, lifeless space that needs a lift, consider installing a section of patterned tiles to bring a sparkling pop of interest. n From LNP Media Group

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | TILE TODAY #113 | 47

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Houzz has introduced a new Augmented Reality (AR) feature for 3D Floor Plans in Houzz Pro, an all-in-one business management and marketing solution for residential construction and design professionals.

The AR feature enables residential construction and design professionals to showcase life-sized floor plans. Pros can walk homeowners through a virtual tour of their finished project against the backdrop of their current home, using the Houzz Pro app.

“At Houzz, we’re focused on building technologies that make the home renovation and design experience more productive and enjoyable for industry professionals and their clients,” said Alon Cohen, Houzz cofounder and president.

“Visual tools empower pros to easily communicate their vision for a project to clients. Now, we’ve created a true AR-enabled experience for residential construction and design pros to immerse their clients in a proposed renovation or redesign and better visualise how their space will be transformed.”

With the AR view for Houzz Pro 3D Floor Plans, pros can provide a lifesized walkthrough to better communicate the value of making major changes to a home, such as adding or removing walls, windows, cabinets or islands. Pros can also easily show clients how proposed products and materials, such as benchtops and furniture, will fit within their homes, speeding up the decision making and purchasing process.

The 3D Floor Plan tool is included with any subscription to Houzz Pro, which helps pros run an efficient, profitable business. It is designed to make it easy for them to reach new customers, while delivering a standout client experience.

Houzz Pro is available in more than 10 countries across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Subscription packages, and priced to fit any budget or team. It can also include email marketing services, lead management CRM, online invoicing and payments and other business management tools. n

EXPLORE. DISCOVER. ENJOY. Tile Today is the leading publication for Australia’s tile industry.

For tile installers, we provide a mix of indepth technical articles, product guides, the latest trends in design and business, as well as inspiring coverage of Australian and international tile shows and events.

For retailers, we cover all the latest industry news, interview the movers and shakers, and keep you up-to-date on industry statistics and forecasts.

For interior designers, architects and building specifiers, we offer an index to best practice and emerging concerns in the building and construction industries as they relate to tiles.

But what we offer to every reader, is a publication that shares your interest and inspiration.

• In-depth technical articles • Business opportunities • New tile developments • Guides to adhesives • Coverage of anti-slip issues • Waterproofing best practices • Trends in interior design Tile Today is now digital, which means you can read it on your smartphone, tablet and PC. Take it everywhere with you.

Subscribe to Tile Today for FREE.

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE