Tile Today #118

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FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

SILICOSIS SAFETY INSTALLING WET ROOMS WORLDSKILLS 2023 WINNERS

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

118 CONTENTS

INTERNATIONAL MTC MOSAICS 6

International MTC now offers mosaics in Mix, Steel, Ceramic, Hot Melt, Glass, Aluminium, Resin, Shell, Recycled Glass and Stone & Marble.

TERRACOTTA 9

Ecologica is a handmade terracotta range made by Italian tile maker Eco Ceramica, and available from Austile Imports.

COMMERCIAL PROJECT 10 Tessellated Tile Factory has been part of hospitality projects

that include Seven Hills RSL, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, Tella Balls Dessert Bar and Vibe Hotel Adelaide.

SILICOSIS SAFETY 14 The increase in silicosis for tilers can no longer be ignored.

Tile Today looks into the main reasons for the increase, and what tile installers can do in terms of protection. This is the first in a series of articles.

WORLDSKILLS AUSTRALIA 24 Competitions conducted by WorldSkills can inspire tiling

apprentices to be ambitious in their careers.

INSTALLATION 28 Waterproofing expert Paul Evans writes about installation in

wet rooms.

TILE IMPORTS 38 Imported tile products are currently on a downward trend,

according to Peter Halliday.

WATERPROOFING 40 Soprema’s specialist waterproofing range for roofs, walls,

basements and other applications.

WHAT YOU MISSED 42 If you missed any major stories in Tile Today’s new

e-newsletters, we provide direct links to them on the website.

Find Tile Today on social media

@tiletodaymagazine @tiletodaymagazine tile-today-magazine

tiletodaydigital.com.au

ECOLOGICA

Latest release Italian handmade, pre-sealed and wood-fired Terracotta.

In various sizes, including Subway, now in stock. Stain resistant.

Suitable for floors/walls, indoor/outdoor.

Email damien@austileimports.com.au RESELLER ENQUIRIES WELCOME

Call 0437 223 699

FO REWO R D

TILE TODAY Upon our return from Cersaie 2023, I came away with two main impressions:

Proudly produced and distributed 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.tiletodaydigital.com.au www.elitepublishing.com.au

• Australia may be small in size in terms of the global tile industry but it is not without its influence • The Italian tile industry continues to set a high standard in terms of design, production quality and innovation. There is nothing quite like the colour, crowds and intense deal-making at Cersaie.

PUBLISHERS Georgia Glimour Michelle Cammiade

The first of our series of videos and articles can be accessed from a recent article here: Betty Tanddo and Joe Simpson in the press room at Cersaie 2023. Betty was interviewed for Joe and Hannah Simpson’s podcast, Tilecast.

https://tiletoday.au/ articleGeneral/2023-41-1697154052616-004/ general

In this edition, we turn our attention to the serious subject of the increasing levels of silicosis amongst tilers. This is the first feature in the series of articles we will have on Silicosis Safety that specifically looks at its impact on tile installers. It will be followed up with another article in the next issue of Tile Today.

For the first time, Tile Today attended the tiling section of the national WorldSkills competitions held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Thanks to an invitation from Liam Cochran from North Metropolitan TAFE in WA, we were able to see the apprentices at work.

On the same day, we caught up with Gerhard and Michael Fleschsig from B.A.T. Trims, along with Jeff Kirkley from SIKA and Australian Tile Council president, Frank Vanzella (Holmesglen TAFE) and Ron Simeon (North Metropolitan TAFE).

The winning medalists are highlighted in our story that starts on page 26.

To keep up to date on the latest news and developments in the tile industry, just click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3dJ5EBc

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 GRAPHIC DESIGN Plum Publishing Pty Ltd dave@plumpublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: dave@plumpublishing.com.au ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Flooring Magazine, TileToday Magazine, and Supplier Magazine.

Betty Tanddo

Leading the Industry

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

118

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

FRONT COVER IMAGE Artwood Mix tiles are from Collection Alchemy by Azulev Ceramica. The porcelain stoneware tiles reflect a pattern of intertwined slats in different wood tones. Azulev Ceramica’s mission is to “offer a ceramic product with a sophisticated design and high added value for markets where sustainability is one of its fundamental ethical pillars". As seen at Cersaie 2023. Watch video here:

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.

SILICOSIS SAFETY INSTALLING WET ROOMS WORLDSKILLS 2023 WINNERS

TRENDS

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=537a4R53YgY

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.

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TRADE FAIRS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

MIX

CERAMIC

GLASS

RESIN

STEEL

HOT MELT

ALUMINUM

SHELL

Experience Air

STONE & MARBLE

RECYCLED GLASS Legacy Herringbone

Natural Mini

ALU 3D Crack Black

Ole Cafe

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A NEW BRAND IS BORN: INTERNATIONAL MTC MOSAICS The extensive range of mosaics offers high decoration for projects and helps to create lively and versatile spaces. Decorating with mosaic is like running from the conventional, giving each room an additional touch of exclusivity, according to International MTC.

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he company offers mosaics in Mix, Steel, Ceramic, Hot Melt, Glass, Aluminium, Resin, Shell, Recycled Glass and Stone & Marble.

Recycled glass mosaic, after a high temperature firing, does not change colour, has ultra-low water absorption and can be used anywhere: floor, walls or pools.

Easy to clean, and with durable environmental protection.

Natural stone, after cutting and polishing, has a natural texture and the colour does not easily change. There is no radiation, is environmentally friendly and highlights the noble characteristics of the original product. Ideal for walls and floors.

Resin mosaic, through the special shape of mould production, does not fade, is flame retardant, has ultralow water absorption, and provides

moisture-proof heat insulation.

Mostly used for walls Stone mosaics have great flexibility, where different colours and different materials collide, delivering unique combinations. They have a high level of hardness and durability, and protective of the environment.

Used primarily for wall and floors.

Mixed glass stone mosaics, have great flexibility, and are available in a range of colours and materials.

Similar to other MTC mosaics, they do not change colour, offer high hardness and durability, and are environmentally friendly. They can be used on walls and floors.

Pure natural shell mosaics do not absorb water, nor discolour. In addition, they do not emit radiation or formaldehyde, so it is eco-friendly.

They have a smooth surface or a pearl texture, are firm yet light weight with transparent colours. Easy to clean and suitable for walls, floors and swimming pools, as well as furniture such as tables and cabinet doors.

Ceramic mosaic tiles do not easily change colour — after a high temperature firing. 3D moulds are used for its production, creating three-dimensional effects, and conveying “new sensations”. Mainly used for walls.

Hot melted glass mosaics will not discolour or deform after high temperature firing, and do not absorb water. Unique lines, colour and transparent lustre can give off a jade-like quality and can be applied to both walls and floors.

Mixed glass stone mosaic tiles offer many options and come in many different colours and materials.

They have the same characteristics as other mosaics in the MTC range: they do change colour easily, have high hardness and durability, and protective of the environment.

Especially suited for walls and floors.

Stainless steel and copper mosaics offer rust resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and are easy to clean and eco-friendly. There is 3D mould variety, and lightweight yet durable.

Suiitable for commercial and residential indoor spaces, usually for walls.

Aluminium mosaics are delivered with distinctive colours and a high visual impact, with an assortment of effects, shapes and sizes in 3D moulds. They are mainly used for interior wall decoration. They do not change colour or absorb water.

Mosaics from MTC do not have deformed chip shapes commonly found on lower grade mosaics. n

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T E RR A C OT TA

Ecologica: Handcrafted terracotta tiles

The terracotta Ecologica collection is handmade in Italy by Eco Ceramica. In Australia, it is available from Austile Imports.

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andmade terracotta from the Ecologica line is baked in a wood-fired oven that guarantees its richness and variety of shapes, sizes and shade, according to Italian tile maker Eco Ceramica.

As a product composed of natural and environmentally friendly components, it is not harmful to health and can be safely used in any room of the house.

It also contributes to the hydrothermal regulation of the environment, absorbing it when in excess and releasing it to the environment when insufficient. It does not expand or warp.

The tiles are easy to lay and clean because they have a "BIO" pretreatment that waterproofs them, making them impervious to any type of liquid. So the cotto can be laid like a typical porcelain tile, using the same adhesives. Eco Ceramica’s cotto is synonymous with quality and resistance, installed in Italian homes for over 25 years.

Historically, terracotta has been more commonly used as a flooring option which demonstrates its reliability as material. It is resistant to climatic changes in the weather, between heat and frost. Moreover, it has developed a reputation for

being highly flexible and proven to withstand countless earthquakes over the centuries.

The Ecologica range of rectified natural terracotta tiles is ideal for wall and flooring applications, as well as indoor and outdoor use.

There are four selections in this collection: Ecologica Bio, Ecologica Bio Levigato, Ecologica Rect and Terra Madre.

Classic hand-painted decorations are also available.

For more information and reseller enquires, contact Austile Imports directly on 0437 223 699 or email: damien@austileimports.com.au. n

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 9

C OMMER C I A L PROJECT

Tessellated tiles applied in hospitality settings

Products made by NSW-based Tessellated Tile Factory have been used in a number of diverse hospitality projects Tessellated Tile Factory (TTF) created both tessellated and mosaic designs for the dining and entertainment areas that were part of the $30 million Seven Hills RSL revamp. It worked in collaboration with builder Integrated Projects Pty Ltd and Altis Architects to supply tiles that were designed specifically to be part of overall design concept for the new look RSL. The refurbishment for the 30,000-member club was constructed over three stages and covered a footprint of more than 6,000sqm of new and refurbished areas. TTF's vitrified porcelain tiles satisfied both the technical and aesthetic performance requirements the project demanded. The tiles are slip and water resistant, highly durable, low maintenance, impact and stain resistant as well as aesthetically beautiful.

Altis Architects specified TTF’s tiles for the Fitzroy Lane bistro, Iron Bark café, courtyard dining, sports bar and kitchens.

Highlights of this project for TTF were the octagon and dot tessellated pattern — a traditional geometric floor design — used in contemporary colours for the main bar area. They were treated as an inlay within the timber floor finish of the RSL. The

TTF tiles in the main bar area of Seven Hills RSL 10 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

use of geometric floor designs added another design element to an interior space and helps to elevate it.

TTF's black and white mosaic pattern was used for the sports bar floor. The strong geometric floor design differentiated this space from the other bar areas.

Tessellated tiles were also featured in the kitchen and alfresco outdoor dining areas. They were applied in a chequered pattern in their colour and position, resulting in a fresh, modern design.

The architects’ vision focused on revitalising the club, increasing community engagement, functionality and performance. Seven Hills RSL group general manager Joe Bayssari has said of the project: “We are happy with the final result which has created a modern, light-filled club with numerous spaces for all our members and guests to enjoy, from our contemporary smart casual dining to our cosy bar, and plenty more.”

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets Tessellated tiles specified for the lap pool at Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets helped it to win top prize at the 2022 Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) Awards for Excellence. TTF

created and supplied these tiles.

The tessellated tiles selected for the hotel rooms, lifts and pool were developed through a collaborative design process with Loucas Zahos Architects. The architects required a custom design. So TTF undertook a rigorous design and production process, that consisted of developing variations of pattern templates and colour schemes. Each tessellated design was influenced by Adelaide’s artistic, political and cultural landscape, a design intent that is executed in every detail of the hotel.

From its based in Annandale (NSW), TTF had to deliver the tiles in a format that allowed for a nonspecialised contractor to install — to the hotel’s location in South Australia.

Tessellated tiles are typically supplied as loose tiles and specialists install the tiles piece by piece. However, this wasn't an option for this project, due to both the scale and location.

TTF’S solution was to supply the entire project as a sheeted product. As a result, it manufactured customised templates that held the tiles in place and allowed TTF to sheet the designs accordingly. This allowed the tile contractors in Adelaide to simply

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install sheets of tiles (similar to the process of laying mosaic tiles), a process that was far more efficient.

Timing was another challenge.

TTF had to deliver the order in stages in line with the critical construction timeline. This meant liaising with multiple stakeholders and getting sign off and approvals from the architect, client and contractors.

This type of large-scale commercial project demanded timely production, transparency with stakeholders, and the execution of a staged delivery of tiles to accommodate the construction process. The end-result was a combination of craftsmanship, attention to detail and meticulous planning for custom tiles in 145 hotel rooms, 65 hotel suites over 16 floors, lifts, and outdoor lap pool.

Tessa Balls Tella Balls Dessert Bar engaged TTF to supply wall tiles for its restaurant franchise. The company required a durable, sustainable and hardwearing finish that matched its brand

Black and white mosaic patterns were used for the sports bar floor at Seven Hills RSL

and product aesthetic. As a high traffic restaurant, the tiles had to be durable, high performing, with a high level of moisture resistance.

TTF’s collection of fully vitrified porcelain, unglazed tiles in pink and black were used for the fit outs. The pink tile can bring a vibrant look and feel to any room. The black is available in a 150 x 150mm or 100 x 100mm format, in 20 decor colours.

The interior design concept for Tella Balls had elements of biophilia

TTF tiles were treated as an inlay within the timber floor finish of the RSL

with plants and timber accents.

Combined with TTF’s porcelain pink and black wall tiles, the colour palette is rich and vibrant. It is a playful interior that represents the

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richness in the desserts that are on offer for patrons.

TTF’s porcelain black tessellated tiles were applied to the bars. This decor colour complemented the pink tiles, finishes and furnishings designed for the fitout of each franchise. They also formed an ideal backdrop to the backlit Tella Balls wall signage.

Vibe Hotel Adelaide In its second collaboration with Loucas Zahos Architects, TTF provided bespoke tessellated tiles for the hotel’s lift and pool.

The $45 million hotel project is one of Adelaide’s newest hotels with 123 luxury guest rooms, a pool deck, spa sauna and plaza. Vibe underwent a process to design Australia’s first suspended bridge swimming pool.

Located opposite the leafy fringe of the Adelaide parklands, the hotel has in-room photography from local artist, Alex Frayne, which adds to the quintessential South Australian experience at Vibe. Group chief operating officer, Chris Sedgwick from parent company TFE Hotels, said of the project: “What I particularly like about this property, is that our local owner/developers GuavaLime and Loucas Zahos Architects have infused a distinctly South Australian flavour into the fabric of the hotel.

“From a stunning serpentine chandelier suspended from a raw concrete ceiling in the lobby to pressed metal artwork – sourced, designed, and printed in South Australia – to a colour palette infused with Australian colours.”

TTF production TTF’s brand of tessellated tiles differ from others in the market because of its capacity to create custom geometric designs. It allows its customers to create a very personalised design.

Its main product is an unglazed, fully vitrified, porcelain tile, and its tessellated range is available in 20 colours and 21 shapes. TTF has a catalogue of 70 geometric designs, but each is completely customisable in terms of colourway.

Fully vitrified porcelain tiles are environmentally friendly. Made of naturally occurring materials, these products are plastic free and do not contribute to plastic pollution. The durability of these tiles means that 12 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

Guests’ rooms at Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets

Bespoke tessellated tiles at Vibe Hotels Adelaide

they have a long lifecycle, reducing the amount of natural resources needed to repair or replace them.

These tiles are manufactured in two main steps: • Pressed: a mixture of clay, quartz and other materials are tightly compacted by a hydraulic press

A close-up of pool tiles at Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets

• Fired: the tiles are then fired at extremely high temperatures, higher than most other materials.

This creates an extremely dense, therefore very hard product, resistant to staining and scratching.

TTF’s factory was established in 2015 and is the foundation for the production of its hand printed decorative tiles and tessellated range.

For more information about TTF, click on the link to a Branded Content profile that appeared in Tile Today earlier this year: https://tiletoday.au/issues/ tiletoday-tess-tile-factory.pdf n

Black fully vitrified porcelain, unglazed tiles use in Tella Balls Dessert Bar

XTecGen Materials Testing Services Supporting progressive outcomes is a significant part of the company’s ethos and approach

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uilding certifiers and authorities have stepped up their watch on compliance of waterproofing products and tiling systems, to keep product suppliers and manufacturers accountable. The key path to compliance is testing to ensure products in the market meet the requirements of AS/NZS 4858 and AS 4654.1, and Australia’s internal and external waterproofing standards, AS ISO 13007.5 and AS ISO 13007.6, the standard which tests the system of waterproofing membranes and tile adhesives bonded to ceramic tiles. XTec Gen also tests to AS ISO 13007.2, the test standard for the compliance of tile adhesives and grouts.

XTecGen Materials Testing Services, Australia’s only NATA registered laboratory to evaluate waterproof membranes to AS 4858 and AS 4654.1, has full capacity to carry out testing to all the requirements of these respective standards.

Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers and importers of waterproof membranes, tiling systems and building products engage the testing services of XTecGen. They do this to not only ensure their products

comply to relevant standards, but also to better understand the performance limitations of their products.

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. The key path to compliance is testing, to ensure products in the market meet the requirements of AS/ NZS 4858, AS 4654.1, AS ISO 13007.2, AS ISO 13007.5 and AS ISO 13007.6.

XtecGen can also test the compatibility of membranes to different substrates, primers, adhesives, etc. This provides a greater understanding of the performance of the product, outside the scopes of the standards. Waterproofing and tiling systems used in domestic and commercial construction are being assessed more frequently than ever before. That is because the industry is pushing to eliminate the costly problems attributed to inadequate product quality that have contributed to building failures.

XTecGen was created for the building industry and is here to support

External Waterproofing

Compatibility Testing

Tile Adhesives

Internal Waterproofing

progressive outcomes. XTecGen helps aid in development of products and RnD for clients, supporting continuous improvement and helps provide better outcomes for the building industry as a whole. This helps drive the industry to better overall quality, which will support the modern movement in building and construction.

Along with providing a full suite of tests and reporting to AS4858, AS4654.1, AS ISO 13007.2, AS ISO 13007.5 and AS ISO 13007.6, XTecGen provides testing to specific requirements. This enables manufacturers and suppliers to test custom requirements that may not need the full scope of testing. XTecGen has a wide range of equipment, versatile to many different standards such as Australian, British, American, European, etc. This means that XTecGen is not limited to the test standards listed previously but has the ability adapt and test to unique client enquiries.

Some of the unique capabilities XTecGen offers through their laboratory testing includes: • Elongation and Tensile Strength • Chemical Immersion Testing • Temperature Resistance Using Heat Chamber and Lab Freezer • Water Vapour Transmission • Water Absorption • Abrasion Resistance • Cyclic Movement Tests • UV Exposure and Accelerated Weathering Tests • Seam Testing and Dimensional Stability Tests for Sheet Membranes • Puncture and Tear resistance of Sheet Membranes • Bond strength • Pull Off Adhesion Test • Root Resistance Test • Hydrostatic Pressure Test 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.

For more tests, visit the XtecGen website: https://xtecgen.com/.

Enquire at info@xtecgen.com or call on 1300 152 298.

SILICOSIS SAFETY

THE SILICOSIS SURGE The surge in silicosis for stonemasons working with artificial engineered quartz stone for kitchen benchtops is something most tradies know about. What's been less clear — because not adequately publicised — is the increase in silicosis for tilers. In this article we delve into the nature of that increase, what might be causing it, and how tilers can better protect themselves.

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ost tradies are aware of silicosis as a major risk for stonemasons/kitchen installers working with engineered quartz stone, especially of the type used for kitchen benchtops.

However, far fewer tradies — even tilers themselves — are aware that this risk has spread to include tile installers as well.

While the websites of most Workcover authorities throughout Australia provide lots of advice and assistance for stonemasons, information for tilers is rare to see.

Yet this increased risk is very real. It is truly vital for all tile installers to revisit and revise their current work practices to account for this growing risk. Tilers need to develop safer ways of working with tiles. Particular attention must be paid to any process where a power tool comes into contact with ceramic tiles, including cutting, grinding and drilling.

ABOUT SILICOSIS Silicosis is a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very small particles of silicon dioxide, which are referred to as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). What is not broadly understood in the tradie community is that RCS is not the dust you see, but particles so small they are all but invisible.

These particles really cannot be seen without some form of vision magnification, as they are much smaller than the diameter of a human hair. So if you are controlling only for visible dust in your work practices, you have somewhat missed the point.

In the realm of lung disease, the size of particles is measured in terms of the "Particle Matter" index (PMx). Larger particles in dust might have a PM of 100, and these are the ones that get stuck in your mouth and the top of your throat, and can be spat out. Particles with 15 14 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

a PM of 10, will get down into your throat and the top of your lungs, and probably make you cough, until they are in your mouth and can also be spat out.

The ones that are of concern are those with a PM of less than four.

These can go down all the way into your lungs, and are too small to make you cough. It is also the case that not all particles of the same size will behave the same way.

Heavier particles will tend to fall to the ground, and lighter ones to float on air currents.

This is where the really bad news about RCS comes in: silica

dioxide forms relatively low-density particles. Once they've been formed and released into the air, they are going to drift around for some time. (If you want to read more details on this Microanalysis Australia — a commercial material analytics firm — has a very accessible guide at: https://www. microanalysis.com.au/news/sizemakes-poison/) If you are looking for an analogy that works, you could think of RCS as being more like a poisonous, odourless gas that gets released whenever you work on tiles with 17

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 15

SILICOSIS SAFETY

Chart 1

Chart 2

Chart 3

16 | TILE TODAY #118 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

a power tool. You're not going to see it, and it's not going to have an immediate effect, but cumulatively, over time, it could first disable you, then kill you. It really is that serious.

In its simpler form, silicosis is caused by the lungs trying to wrap the particles up so that they are harmless to the body. When the particles are some kind of bacteria this works great, as the bacteria eventually dies and breaks down, the threat is eliminated, and the inflammation goes away.

Unfortunately, as the RCS particles are somewhat "unnatural" and cannot break down, their ongoing presence triggers an over-response, somewhat like an auto-immune disease, and that wrapping up becomes so widespread that it eventually destroys the lung.

In a more complex form, if the RCS particles are small enough, they can go deeper into the respiratory system and directly interfere with the way the lungs transfer oxygen to the blood. It is very, very unfortunate, but patients with this form of the disease literally suffocate.

There are also additional bodily functions that can be impaired.

This can lead to cardiovascular diseases, as well as pulmonary tuberculosis, additional autoimmune diseases and kidney disorders.

It's also very unfortunately the case that once it gets started the process cannot be entirely reversed.

That said, if silicosis is detected early enough, there are some treatments that can provide relief from silicosis symptoms. Whole lung lavage — effectively "washing out" the RCS particles from the lungs — was a treatment originally tried in China, and has now been further developed in Australia, with some apparent success (though longer-term benefits remain to be determined). More details of this are available at: https://metronorth. health.qld.gov.au/news/worldfirst-treatment-silicosis-tpch. There has also been some success with various medications to help inhibit the inflammation.

At the moment the only known treatment for end-stage silicosis is a double-lung transplant, which is itself a difficult operation to

undergo. The three-year survival rate for the surgery is around 76%, and typically life is extended for a total of another six to seven years.

We realise that all this is very unpleasant, but pretending it doesn't happen is not going to help anyone.

TESTING You can be tested for silicosis, but early stage silicosis is not always reliably detected. In acute silicosis — the kind that stonemasons get from direct high exposure to RCS — the main sign is a persistent cough. For chronic silicosis — the kind more likely for tilers, caused by lower exposure but over a prolonged period, potentially decades — breathlessness is the main symptom, along with inflamed lungs. There is also accelerated silicosis — also seen in tilers, from more frequent low-level exposure to RCS — which manifests as swelling in the lungs, chest and lymph nodes.

(Tile Today will be providing a more extensive guide to treatment and testing, as well as a guide to accessing legal resources, in the second part of this article, which will be published in issue 119.)

The short diagnostic version is, if you have felt breathless at times, lack energy for no perceivable reason, and/or your chest feels swollen, please go and see your GP. A common indication is simply being more out of breath after climbing stairs than you were three or four years previously.

Testing includes a chest X-ray, as well as some tests to assess lung capacity. In particular, even if you smoke cigarettes and you experience these symptoms, you should still get tested. (Just to quickly knock one silly rumour on the head, even if you smoke and you are unlucky enough to contract silicosis, you are still protected by Workcover in Australia — the two are not related in any way.)

EVIDENCE OF SILICOSIS INCREASE Tile Today came a little late to the realisation that silicosis had emerged as a severe problem for tile installers — about a year later than we should have, really.

Specifically, we found out when

tilers in Victoria signalled to us that their Workcover premium rates had radically increased.

Finding and accessing the historical record for the WorkSafe Victoria's rates took some doing, but once we had translated the Gazette PDFs into spreadsheets, we could see a clear pattern.

Charts 1 through 5 show snapshots of the rates for stonemasons (the category is C20900: Other Non-Metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing) and for tilers (the category is E32430: Tiling and Carpeting Services). They are presented in the context of all other business categories with Workcover industry rates over 2.5% (just to make the dataset a little more manageable).

Equally, we haven't provided every year, just enough years to adequately represent the changes that have occurred.

Charts 1 and 2 show relatively low rates for these categories for FY2015/16, which continued into FY2018/19. However, with FY2020/21 the rates for stonemasons increases sharply, while the rate for tiling increases marginally, as shown in Chart 3.

Chart 4 and 5 both show the rates for stonemasons and tiling becoming the highest rates in the series. With the across-the-board increase introduced in Chart 5 for the current financial year, they've become almost ludicrously high in comparison.

Chart 6 is a similar comparison of rates, but this is narrowed down to just the more common construction trades, so you can see the changing risk profiles, and how unusual both tiling is in this context.

While Tile Today had some suspicion that silicosis might be behind the WorkSafe Victoria premium increase, this was the first strong indication that we might be on the right track, as it was evident a similar increase for stonemasons could only be due to the disease. We contacted Worksafe Victoria directly, and they confirmed silicosis in tilers was a major contributing factor to the rate increase.

Chart 7 shows two graphs, 18 tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 17

SILICOSIS SAFETY with the top graph tracking the combined numbers of claims for stonemasons and tilers by calendar year, and the bottom chart tracking the number of claims by financial year for tilers. It is evident that claims for tilers declined somewhat during the COVID-19 period, but post-COVID sadly the number of claims has reached an all-time high.

Chart 4

Chart 5

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One factor to take into consideration is that VIC legislation enacted in May 2019 — in response to a review of Worksafe Victoria practices — established more humane treatment for sufferers of silicosis, lifting the amount paid out per case. However, the data for the number of claims confirms that cases of silicosis are on the increase.

We see similar confirmation in our examination of statistics from Workcover authorities in other states, and we will delve more into that in our second article in this series. We will also be providing more details about how silicosis is being handled across the trades throughout Australia.

19

Chart 6:

WHY THE INCREASE IN SILICOSIS? We know that tilers are very rational people who like to think things through, so naturally all this newfound concern about silicosis brings up a couple of issues pretty quickly. The first is, why wasn't the tile community told all this before (as in three to four years ago) if it's so important? And the second, associated question is — what changed? How is it that tilers previously didn't have to worry quite so much about silicosis and RCS, and now they do?

In terms of that first question, we just can't get anywhere with an answer. It couldn't be that the Australia-wide Workcover and the various state and territory agencies simply didn't want to draw attention to silicosis in tilers, as this would end up costing them money.

At least, we hope that's not the case. It might just be that so much attention went to stonemasons — who are at far greater risk — that various government bodies unintentionally neglected tilers. But there are very few if any signs of anything like a campaign to alert tilers to what is evidently increased risk.

What we do know, however, is that even if we found the answer to that question, it wouldn't help to stop one single tiler from contracting silicosis, or provide assistance to the many tilers for whom it is already too late.

It's better to work on solving the problem, than waste time finding an organisation or individual to blame.

As to the second question, Tile Today has been working to come up with some hard facts that answer the "why now?" of the situation.

It is evident that the actual work safety practices of tilers have not deteriorated over the past five years or so (in fact, they've improved). Also, there have not been any radical innovations in how tiles are handled (except more wet saws, which is a good thing).

So we've been left with one central suspect for the increase in silicosis: the tiles themselves. Have the tiles in use in Australia somehow increased their concentration of silica to the point where the safety

of tilers has been endangered?

One factor that indicates this may be the source of the problem is the commonly listed ranges for silica content in tiles. The figures most often quoted for ceramic tiles is between 5% and 45%. That's one heck of a range. It would be evident that tiles with 5% of silica would pose a minimal risk, and those with 45% could pose a substantial risk for RCS. Less alarming, but still indefinite, porcelain tiles are typically listed as having a silica content between 15% and 25%.

If we wanted to get more definitive data on silica content, we would need the sales figures from at least Australia's top two tile retailers/wholesalers for each line of tiles, along with the silica content of each of those tile lines. We would need that data for 2010, 2015 and 2020. Then we could compare how what we might call the "tile demand silica loading" varied over time, and draw conclusions as to whether the exposure had shifted.

Unfortunately, though that data exists, there is no way we will ever get access to it. So, absent the perfect, “definitive” data, we need to see if we can develop some kind of “indicative” data in its place.

What we came up with was this: we started with the tile products listed by several of Australia's top tile retailers, and downloaded all of the available product data sheets (PDSs) from their websites for current products. Then we processed those PDFs to extract three pieces of data: the product name, country of origin and declared silica content (where listed).

What that provides us with is what we might call the "tile supply silica loading". There are a lot of caveats that come with this. It's likely that, as several tile suppliers were used, that some product lines will be repeated, with the same product being listed under different names. That could lead to overrepresentation of some tile lines.

The other glaring problem is that, without adequate weighting for the number of tools actually sold and installed, we could uncover higher levels of silica in tiles that had low distribution, and were thus over-represented. That's a very real problem, but as it turns 20 tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 19

SILICOSIS SAFETY out the tiles with higher levels of silica fall into a group that is known to be widely popular.

Chart 8 shows two graphs. The doughnut graph on the left shows the proportion of tiles on sale by country of origin. The doughnut graph on the right shows the same data, but only for tiles with over 37% of silica content. Not only is a substantial portion of the high-silica sourced from China, but taking all the low-wage producing countries together, they account for 73% of all the high-silica tiles (Spain is also a major contributor).

So, one of the most likely scenarios is that, as tile imports from China — and other low-wage nations — radically increased from 2015 onwards, the tiles most tilers used in their daily work ended up increasing in silica content. That has meant that the safety practices most tilers learnt as apprentices prior to 2015 are simply no longer adequate for the materials they now work with.

PREVENTING SILICOSIS The good news is, you can stop RCS — and hence silicosis — dead cold, if you change the way you handle tile. It's not especially hard to do.

But it does mean changing some things in your workday — including familiar practices that you were taught by experienced tilers as an apprentice.

The following are some of the changes you should consider implementing.

Change the culture Most trades, including tiling, include physical stresses that are unavoidable. You may need to carry heavy equipment and material over long distances, and sometimes up stairs to considerable heights. For tilers in particular, working bent over and in awkward positions places big stresses on the body, resulting in severe fatigue and accumulated aches and pains.

Trades consequently have an attitude of "working through it" and "not being soft". There is a place for that kind of endurance and fortitude, and it has come to include (unfortunately) coping with dirty and dusty conditions with little support as well.

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The thing about RCS is that it isn't a stress test. You can't beat silicosis by working harder. Unless you take adequate protective measures you stand a real risk of getting ill. As we've outlined above, the situation has changed from that of 20 years ago. Many tiles are simply risky to work with nowadays, in a way they were not previously. Taking precautions is not being "soft", it's responding to more dangerous conditions with the proper level of protection.

Know your materials With the increase in the number of high silica tiles in use, it's a very good idea to double-check the silica content of any tiles you are going to use. As higher silica content (Tile Today would suggest additional caution with any tile that has over 30% silica) is going to mean you have to use extra caution, which will slow you down, it makes sense to consider adding a surcharge for handling those tiles.

It's also worth bringing up as a 21

Chart 7:

concern with your clients, if you can. We've seen people who are renovating their homes refuse to use engineered stone specifically because they don't want to endanger their tradies, and the same could apply to tiles.

Masks Many of us developed something of a "mental allergy" to masks after the long years of COVID-19. That's understandable, and there are ongoing debates about whether masks really helped during the pandemic, or how much they did help, and so forth.

Let's be very, very clear about this: masks can absolutely help keep you safe from silicosis. We're not dealing with a virus, we are dealing with incredibly small particles, which a good P2 mask is able to block.

You can also use masks that are a little more comfortable than the N95 medical masks used with COVID, including ones that have a valve to help exhaust air when you breathe out (a big help if you wear glasses).

If you have facial hair, there are comfortable full-face masks that can adapt to that.

The important thing is to develop a consistent practice. You need to always wear a mask when cutting tile, especially if you are making dry cuts.

Working in confined spaces and with groups As we emphasised above, a good way to think about RCS is as a kind of poisonous gas. If you are making cuts in tile in an enclosed area, you may be temporarily protected by wearing a mask, but RCS will continue to linger in the air for some time after making the cut. That means you may have to wear a mask continuously if you are working in a confined space.

Further, if you are working with others, the RCS from the cuts you are making can affect everyone around you as well. The best solution is either to make the cuts outside of the confined space, or to use a wet saw to make the cuts (while still wearing a mask yourself).

Tooling up If you speak to tilers who have successfully adopted safety processes, they advise the most important thing is to have the resources available at all times.

They don't go out and buy half a dozen masks, they buy 50 or 100 at a time, and they distribute multiple masks everywhere in their workspace. They make sure that using a wet saw is always an option they have available. Plus they take

time to plan out how and where they will do the different kinds of work with an eye to ensuring it is done safely.

CONCLUSION Silicosis is a growing problem for tilers. Please, if you have any kind of shortness of breath, no matter how minor, or if you've just started coughing for no apparent reason, go and get yourself tested. Be aware of the silica content in the tiles you are using — you're probably going to get a bit of a shock about that.

Go out and buy the supplies you need to work safely, and keep those supplies refreshed.

As we all know, tilers will obsess over things like substrates, waterproofing, adhesives, grouting and so forth — because they really, fundamentally, want their work to last decades. You need to apply that same concern to your health needs as well. These are fundamentals you need to get right, or else you could find things don't really work out too well.

In our next issue we'll be diving a little deeper into what is going on with silicosis in each state and territory. We'll also be looking at how — in the worst case scenario — tilers can get the best legal and medical help. n

Chart 8:

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 21

OUR MISSION: Tile Today has a unique outlook on the tile industry, as we cater for all sectors. That includes tilers, tile retailers, designers, architects, specifiers, service providers, tile distributors and tile manufacturers. We’re a one-stop resource for tile industry information. OUR GOAL: We seek to provide accurate, up-to-date information that is actionable by readers, whether it’s a better way to lay tiles in a specific situation, the latest tile releases, or emerging trends at events.

NEWS + ANALYSIS

Tile Today’s QUARTERLY MAGAZINE continues the tradition established over 30 years of providing information via feature articles, columns, reviews and news about topical matters related to the tile industry.

We profile the people, products and processes that help drive development and innovation in the industry, while featuring some of the best aesthetic uses of tiles.

The launch of the Tile Today WEBSITE a year ago has enabled us to increase the amount of information we provide to the industry. We’re now able to update readers more frequently, and to provide easily shareable resources.

Both desktop- and mobile-friendly, it’s now possible to read Tile Today virtually anywhere.

The Tile Today E-NEWSLETTER helps to link you to important news in the tile industry. It provides a condensed overview with links to online articles so you can choose how you are kept up-to-date.

BUYING GUIDES

to Click RIBE SC SUB

Tile Today‘s BUYING GUIDES are a special industry resource. In these guides, we bring together information from a wide range of suppliers, all into one space. Our unique interface enables users to tick box to state their requirements. The web page then displays only the products that suit their needs. Links to both suppliers’ product pages and product data sheets makes information collection and selection much easier.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS CERSAIE 2022

Tile Today‘s SPECIAL EVENT GUIDES are the next best thing to actually being at the events themselves. We feature the major shows, such as Cersaie, in great detail, including analysis and photographs.

Tile Today‘s SPECIAL EVENT VIDEOS are taken direct from over coverage of the events, and give you a quick, entertaining overview of the event and the most important announcements.

W ORLD S KILLS

Tile apprentices win at WorldSkills The WorldSkills Australia wall & floor tiling competitions test the common skills for the construction industry, as well as the specialist field of wall and floor tiling. This year, two apprentices from WA and one from ACT took out medals.

WorldSkills competitions offer students the chance to hone their skills and compete against their peers on regional, national, and international stages in more than 60 trade skill categories. Silver medallist, Cooper Camden-Smith from Canberra (ACT) told Tile Today that WorldSkills was first introduced to him while studying at CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology). “The idea of competing in my chosen trade in various locations sounded kind of appealing to me.

When I did get the opportunity to go, it was super interesting to see how other tilers around Australia would tile.

It was an exhausting but rewarding experience,” he said.

Cooper is enjoying the course at CIT. As he explains: “My teacher is very enthusiastic and experienced in the trade. I’ve noticed that being employed in NSW and learning in the ACT does have its differences as some of the techniques I utilise every day at work are not so similar to the ones I am taught at TAFE.

“Learning about tiling is fun.

Attention to detail, observing the work of others, and seeing the finished product of a hard day’s work are my favourite things about practicing and learning about tiling.”

In NSW, Cooper is employed by Michael Croker at Goulburn-based Michael Croker Tiling.

As Wall & Floor Tiling lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, Liam Cochran believes it is a “great honour” for the college to be part of WorldSkills. He said: “It shows that the level of training we provide is of a high standard and that formal training in any trade is a necessity to lift the level of professionalism in our trade.

“But full credit must go to Jacob, who has been with us since he was a VET in Schools student, and his employer Next Level Tiling and Stone.

“WorldSkills plays a great role in encouraging young people to go into the wall & floor tiling industry.

Most of the national and some of the regional competitions are held

WorldSkills winners, from l-r: Daniel Ogden (bronze medal), Jacob Dixon (gold medal) & Cooper Camden Smith (silver medal)

(l-r) Liam Cochran (North Metropolitan TAFE), Gerhard Flechsig (B.A.T. Trims) & Michael Flechsig (B.A.T. Trims)

(l-r) Ron Simeon (North Metropolitan TAFE) Martin Stallard (Canberra Institute of TAFE) & Jeff Kirkley (SIKA and Australian Tile Council)

(l-r) Gerhard Flechsig (B.A.T. Trims), Michael Flechsig (B.A.T. Trims) and Frank Vanzella (Holmesglen TAFE)

24 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

in the convention centres around the country. These are also held in conjunction with the Skills Expos and school students walk through while different trades show off what they can do.

“Judges talk to the kids and explain what the apprentices are doing and answer questions they may have. The projects are always colourful as we use 200 x 200mm soft biscuit ceramic tiles, and these really attract a fair bit of attention.

“WorldSkills is a great exhibition of our trade, and the heights you can reach if you choose to try to excel at something.”

About WorldSkills WorldSkills challenges competitors to compete against their best and brightest peers for international recognition.

Starting with the regional competitions, WorldSkills competitors

26

A Melbourne tram is the subject of a work piece at WorldSkills 2023

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- Free access to the Tile and Tiling Guide

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complete specially designed tasks which test their skills and pressure management against regional peers.

Those who place in the top three at a regional competition are eligible to go on to the National Championships that are conducted in different cities around Australia.

One competitor from each skill category is then eligible to compete in the international competition which is held the following year in varying cities around the globe.

A group of eligible top performers will be selected as Skillaroos, representing Australia at the international competition to be held in Lyon, France in September 2024.

The competitions are set up to inspire apprentices to be ambitious in their careers, and equip young people with the appropriate skills to help Australian businesses compete better globally.

Designed by industry and skills experts, the competitions assess an individual’s knowledge, practical skills and employability attributes against a set of strict criteria. Focusing on the highest quality standards that are linked to industry endorsed training packages, employers and training providers can use the activity to benchmark their own apprenticeship and training programs.

Run every two years, and managed by dedicated volunteers, WorldSkills Australia is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education & Training, state governments and partners in industry and associations.

Like the Olympics, competition activity begins at grass roots level.

Regional competitions take place in over 34 regions around the country, generally held within Registered Training Organisations. These competitions see entrants compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in their chosen skill. Content can be tailored to meet local skills demands, enabling employers and training providers to introduce the benefits of using a competitive environment to test and build on a young person’s knowledge and skills.

Past competitors are invited to become a WorldSkills Australia alumni and join a network of professionals who act as inspirational role models delivering careers advice to young people.

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For employees Tile businesses that want to get their employees involved in regional competitions highlights their commitment to raising standards in work-based learning. According to WorldSkills, the businesses are contributing to: • Promoting the achievements of employees will raise the organisation’s profile in the industry, community and beyond • Cultivating and improving the level of skill and trade excellence across Australia • Raising the status of vocational education and training • Promotion of skill development and the value of choosing a skill-based career

For students Promoting the achievements of students, educational institutions and training organisations are contributing to the following:

Work in progress: A map of Australia

• Benchmarking students against the best in Australia

•

• Promoting the institution as a centre of excellence in skills training and delivery • Aligning with the strategic goals of both state and federal governments to train, attract and retain a diverse workforce • Endorsing curriculum and celebrating excellence by marketing medal winners

VDSS (Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students) (l&r) gold medal winner Merv Abrahams and silver medal winner Christian Malinovic

Raising the status of vocational education and training

• Value-adding to curriculum, offering students extracurricular experiences and pathways • Professional development for staff and lecturers, endorsing and supporting their participation in WorldSkills Australia competition as project designers, mentors, judges and workshop managers n

Winners from WA: (l&r) Jacob Dixon and Daniel Ogden

P ROD U C T FOC US

Dribond Acoustibond tile adhesive

As multi-dwelling construction grows, the need for adequate soundproofing will increase. Acoustibond offers both better noise control and water-resistance suitable for showers and balconies, in a two-part, easily applicable packages.

O

nce Australians have recovered from the COVID-19 inspired desire for nothing but detached houses, there is little doubt that the solution to the housing crisis will rely largely on medium-sized multi-unit dwellings, mostly located on the fringes of innersuburban areas.

As anyone who has lived in multi-level flats and apartments will tell you, a critical aspect to making this type of dwelling work for individuals and families is the suppression of noise. Truly effective noise suppression is seldom the result of a single barrier, and more commonly about a dozen or more seemingly small contributions that add up to an adequate system. While there is a lot of attention paid to walls, experts know that floors play a major role in keeping noise transmission down, and making multi-dwelling buildings more liveable.

If you can hear the neighbour who lives above you walking around in her high-heels at midnight, relations can become somewhat fraught. Not to mention other somewhat percussive activities you would really rather not be disturbed by.

Using the correct tile adhesive can have a major impact on impeding inter-room noise transmission. With that in mind, Dribond Construction Chemicals has come up with its Acoustibond product, a multi-functional adhesive that combines water resistance with soundproofing for use with ceramic and porcelain tiles, as well as stone.

CASE STUDY: Oak Tree Retirement Village A case study from 2020 prepared by Live IT Acoustics (acoustic engineering consultants) is testament to just how Acoustibond can be used. According to the study:

In terms of basic capabilities, Acoustibond ticks all the expected performance boxes. It features C2 high bond strength (over 1MPa), and S2 flexibility deformation (over 5mm). It provides water resistance, making it suitable for both balconies and shower recesses. It's a two-pack formulation based on an acrylic resin/rubber crumb-based powder, that achieves a good "trowelable" viscosity when mixed for easy application. It is also low odour, and gives off a low amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in use. It's highly flexible and provides excellent adhesion.

Beyond these capabilities, Acoustibond also provides a range of extra features. It exceeds the acoustic requirements of the Building Code of Australia, reduces impact noises by 50%, and generally enhances both acoustic and thermal movement properties. A 3mm layer of Acoustibond and 10mm thick ceramic tiles will reduce a 60dB bare floor down to just 48dB. As decibels is a logarithmic measure, a reduction of 10dB amounts to 50% less noise, which gives some idea of how effective Acoustibond can be. n

“The Building Code of Australia (BCA) specifies verification methods to determine if the level of sound transmission through a floor system is compliant. The verification method used within this assessment is FV5.1. Under this method, the BCA require that floors separating soleoccupancy units provide a field tested isolation rating of L’nT,w ≤ 62 dB when determined under AS ISO 717.2. L’nT,w is a weighted standardised impact sound pressure level, whereby a lower value indicates better isolation performance provided by the floor under investigation.”

The testing utilises a standardised "tapping machine", which produces impacts in a source room, which the noise then measured in a receiving room. Live It Acoustics testes three different floor solutions: Acoustibond, a 4.5mm matting, and a 200mm concrete slab. In the end the engineers concluded: “The Acoustibond flooring sample was the only finish which achieved a L’nT,w rating of ≤ 62 dB and therefore complies with the BCA criteria.”

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 27

INSTALLATION

WET ROOMS

Waterproofing in wet rooms Expert application of waterproofing has a critical role in safeguarding structures and enhancing longevity of any room that may have a moisture or water source, writes Paul Evans

I

n the realm of modern architecture and interior design, the popularity of wet rooms has grown exponentially, as has the size and quality of fit out.

These elegant and functional spaces seamlessly integrate shower areas into bathrooms, offering a luxurious spa-like experience in residential spaces. Yet, behind the allure lies a critical aspect that can't be ignored: proper waterproofing.

Waterproofing, often relegated to behind-the-scenes construction, is the unsung hero that ensures the safety and aesthetic appeal of wet rooms.

When installed by qualified applicators, it serves as an impermeable shield against water damage, mould growth, and structural compromise, offering a host of benefits that extend far beyond initial construction costs.

Guardians of the interior Water is a pervasive force that, when left unchecked, can wreak havoc on building structures. Wet rooms, with their constant exposure to moisture and water splashes, are particularly vulnerable to water infiltration. This is where effective waterproofing plays a crucial role.

By creating a sealed barrier between wet and dry areas, professional waterproofing prevents water from seeping into vulnerable substrates, thus mitigating the risk of structural deterioration.

The allure of wet rooms lies in their aesthetic appeal and ability to enhance property value. However, this investment can quickly turn into a liability if water damage or structural issues emerge.

Waterproofing failures can lead to unsightly stains, peeling paint, and even structural decay.

29

28 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

By engaging skilled applicators who understand the nuances of waterproofing, homeowners and property developers can protect their investments and ensure that the allure of their wet rooms remains intact for years to come.

One of my constant frustrations is the selection of cheap materials or unqualified applicators apply a membrane and then it has probably several of the most expensive fixtures installed over it.

When it goes wrong, it’s really wrong and expensive to fix.

Consider the cost of removing fixtures, tiles and linings, and sometimes floor substrate. Renewing the waterproofing (correctly) and re-installing everything back is a massive cost.

When you look at the repair costs against the cost of a good waterproofing application done in the first place, it’s a fraction of the build cost. I don’t understand why builders, architects, project managers and homeowners opt for the cheapest waterproofer, when they know it can all come back to haunt them and cost them big money.

Remember, the buck stops with the builder at the end of the day because they are responsible and it’s extremely difficult to know where or who caused a leak.

If you also give consideration that there are multiple trades working 30

INSTALLATION

WET ROOMS

over a finished membrane. The chances of one or more of those following trades may damage the membrane, thus resulting in leaks.

Sadly, many areas that are damaged, get covered up so quickly so they are not seen and don’t attract a “back-charge” from the builder or supervisor to repair it correctly. The perpetrator will usually do a rough patch with adhesive or blob silicon at best.

As a remedial builder/ waterproofer contractor working on projects regularly, we see these horrible acts that have occurred and only show up when we pull them apart. The entire process requires constant and diligent supervision with adequate protection at each step and each trade over the membrane to ensure it is not damaged.

There are too many “armchair builders”, who are building without getting out to site enough to check the works, or rely on others to check who may or may not have the expertise to identify a mistake or damage when it’s staring them in the face.

Financial constraints are a very big part of the problem. Builders take on too many jobs to cover their cashflow and the control spirals “out of control”. We are seeing builders go into liquidation, on an almost daily basis lately.

The industry and consumers need to recognise there is a major problem and it will not get any better if we constantly drive the “best-price” scenario so there is not enough money to build correctly.

After spending many years in the industry, I have witnessed many builders with good reputations who fall on their swords usually due to a control problem. Their clients drive them down to be as cheap as possible which will always end in tears. As a contractor, I have been burnt by the best of them!

Liquidation is a terrible word (except for the liquidators).

Now let’s get back on track about waterproofing.

Preventing health hazards Mould, mildew, and rot thrive in damp environments, posing a serious threat to indoor air quality and the health of occupants.

Correctly installed waterproofing 30 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

acts as a barrier against moisture, inhibiting the growth of these harmful agents.

Qualified applicators understand the intricacies of choosing appropriate waterproofing materials and

methods that not only meet regulatory standards but also contribute to a healthier living space.

Proper waterproofing isn't a onesize-fits-all solution. It requires a delicate balance between material 31

selection, surface preparation, and application techniques.

Qualified applicators possess the expertise to assess the unique needs of each wet room, tailoring their approach to ensure optimal performance. Their attention to detail, backed by years of experience, minimises the risk of leaks and failures.

Regulatory compliance and warranty assurance Australian Standards and the Building Code are the “minimum” guides for installing a waterproof membrane. What we should be looking for is what is better than the minimum – this way we might raise the quality of applications, and this goes for all components of building.

In many regions, building codes and regulations mandate the use of certified waterproofing applicators for wet room installations, we do unfortunately find the same mistakes are being made right across the country regardless of legislation.

My belief is we do invest enough time in training practitioners across the board and the “policing” of works 34

Excellent additional BARRIER to a waterproofing system

REDUCES construction costs and extra processes

PROTECTS all layers in a tiling system

TO FIND OUT MORE & FOR STOCKISTS

www.efflock.com.au

INSTALLATION

WET ROOMS

Insitu shower bases These pre-formed shower bases are made by Demtech in Australia. These tile-over bases are used as a screed alternative in wet areas. They can be used in both set-down and above ground applications and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Waterproofing remains one of the key areas of concern for most tilers. Much of that comes down to the kinds of designs and substrates that tilers inherit, either directly in a new build, or more indirectly in a renovated dwelling.

It is difficult to predict every situation that might arise, and the risk of having to eventually do some kind of remedial work in the future is every tiler's nightmare — getting "the call" which means you have to revisit a client.

That's one of the reasons why prefabricated shower bases have grown in popularity. While a good screed can help limit many of the problems with substrate, it's simply not a universal solution.

Pre-fab shower bases can, in rare circumstances, develop problems, but they are a great way to de-risk many installations, as they provide

32 | TILE TODAY #118 | www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

near-total isolation from those inherited substrate problems.

That said, there are also variations in the quality of shower bases, as well as the shapes and sizes that are available. It's not all that long ago, for example, when you could get any shower base you wanted, as long as it was square, and under 1000mm a side.

Nowadays, you can get shower bases that have been independently certified, and that come in a surprising range of shapes and sizes. In fact, instead of shower bases being a limiting factor in bathroom design, they improved so much that they can help inspire better-designed bathrooms.

One of the brands at the forefront of these modern changes is the Insitu range from Demtech.

These tile-over shower bases

provide superior waterproofing protection, as they are factorycoated in Cureflex SLR2000 Waterproof Membrane. They have been found to drastically reduce waterproofing related defects in shower areas.

Insitu is available in three basic ranges: the Mono Series, the Duplo Series, and the Cirque Series. The Mono Series are basically square, from 900mm to 1500mm, but include the option of an oblique angle door, to make a five-sided base. The Duplo Series is rectangular, in eight sizes from 900mm x 1200mm, all the way up to 1000mm x 2100mm — suitable for double showerhead installations.

The Cirque Series comes in 15 different configurations, including circular, ellipsoid 33

and half-ellipsoid, and provide custom sizing to suit almost any requirement. All these ranges featue the Aquaflo Linear Grate System, opening up a lot of options for handling wastewater, depending on the style of tiling being considered.

The these tile-over-shower base systems are just about as far from the "plastic fantastic" shower bases of the past as you can get.

All Insitu Systems are

manufactured in Australia from a specially formulated polyurethane called Flexothane. This is ultra light-weight, provides both thermal and acoustic properties, and is completely impervious to water.

Demtech have a number of accredited installers who are able to provide an installation service for these products.

Furthermore, all these products are BRANZ certified. BRANZ is

a New Zealand certifier, which branched out to certifying products against the Australian Building Code back in 1991.

A BRANZ appraisal is a rigorous process, and are commonly accepted by approving authorities in New Zealand and Australia as evidence for Building Code performance requirements. The installations come with a minimum 10-year warranty. n

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 33

INSTALLATION

WET ROOMS

is so far behind, it seems an impossible plight to rectify.

Hiring qualified professionals is the best way to achieve compliance but also offers the added assurance of warranties and guarantees, which do change from each state and territory.

This not only provides peace of mind to homeowners and property

developers but also establishes a reliable recourse in the event of any issues arising from defective waterproofing.

The increasing appeal of wet rooms in modern architecture has transformed bathrooms into luxurious oases of relaxation and rejuvenation.

However, the aesthetic allure should

not overshadow the critical importance of proper waterproofing.

The investment in expert waterproofing is an investment in the long-term integrity and appeal of wet rooms, ensuring that their beauty and functionality remain unblemished over n time.

About the author Paul Evans is immediate former president of the Australian Institute of Waterproofing (AIW) for six years. He is a committee member and Honorary Life Member of the AIW. He is a Master Builders Association Victoria – Specialist Contractor and member of the Australian Society of Building Consultants, Concrete Institute of Australia, the Australian Concrete Repair & Remedial Building Association, Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd. Paul also has a number businesses including Remedial Waterproofing Consultants, F.E.W. Waterproofing, Building Services Australia, and is a Commercial Builder Unlimited-4077 and Domestic Builder Unlimited-7983.

Watch F.E.W. Waterproofing YouTube channerl here: https://www.youtube. com/c/WaterproofingfewAu

34 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

INSTALLATION

WET ROOMS

Demtech's Cureflex waterproofing membranes The Cureflex range offers a CodeMark certified product suitable for wet rooms. Cureflex SLR2000, for example, is a Class III Membrane that complies with AS/NZS 4858:2004 and exceeds AS3740 requirements set out under "Waterproofing Wet Areas in Residential Buildings" codes.

The CodeMark Certification Scheme (CodeMark) is a voluntary third-party building product certification scheme, administered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

The genesis of CodeMark was the need to establish a set of shared standards with New Zealand, as the building markets between that country and Australia became increasingly integrated during the 2000s. The original scheme, with that goal in mind, was established in 2008.

That shifted radically in 2016. At that time the ABCB came up with a new set of CodeMark scheme rules designed specifically for Australia, and CodeMark New Zealand began operating independently.

In 2021 the Australian Federal Government introduced rule and regulation-making powers to strengthen the existing CodeMark scheme, through the Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (the Amendment Act 2021). This included new criteria for the accreditation and registration of product certification bodies and registration requirements for product certificates. The Building (Product Certification) Regulations 2022 were made on 7 June 2022 and came into force on 7 September 2022.

Today CodeMark supports the use of new or innovative building products in specified circumstances in Australia, by providing a nationally accepted process for demonstrating compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).

Demtech and CodeMark A certificate of conformity is one of several options available for

meeting the “evidence of suitability: requirements of the NCC. Demtech has a number of waterproofing membranes have achieved CodeMark Certification. These include: - Cureflex SLR2000 - Cureflex UVX4000 - Cureflex PCM17 Cureflex SLR2000 is ideal for "wet room" installations, as it is designed to withstand water retention and permanently wet conditions, without experiencing re-emulsification. It is a Class III Membrane that complies with AS/NZS 4858:2004 and exceeds AS3740 requirements set out under

"Waterproofing Wet Areas in Residential Buildings" codes.

When fully cured, it provides an excellent compatible surface for bonding other construction materials such as tile adhesives, renders and screeds. As with all of Demtech's Cureflex products, it's easily recognisable through its vibrant violet colour.

For more information on Cureflex, visit the following link: demtech.com.au/cureflexwaterproof-membranes-are-nowcodemark-certified Cureflex is featured in Tile Today’s Waterproofing Guide, accessible at the following link: tiletoday.au/waterproofing n tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 35

YOUR OPTIONS

Choosing the right adhesive is crucial to the success of every tiling project.Tile Today’s online digital Adhesives Buying Guide makes it easy to find the perfect adhesive for your project.

Just go to tiletodaydigital.com.au/adhesives, on your PC or mobile device. Click/tap to select your adhesive requirements, from tileover-tile and submersible, to quick-curing and a range of substrates.

The Buying Guide will then show you the adhesives, across the major brands, that best suit your project. You’re just one click away from data sheets and general product information.

tiletoday.au/adhesives

ADHESIVES BUYING GUIDE

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T I LE I MPORTS

Tile imports are trending downwards in FY2022-23

Import volumes of ceramic tiles can be correlated to the number of dwelling unit commencements over time, writes Peter Halliday

T

he recent financial struggles of some commercial and residential builders along with ongoing concerns over higher material costs, interest rates and the cost of living, saw dwelling commencements continue their downward trend over the 20222023 financial year (July 1 to June 30).

Recent Australian Bureau Statistics (ABS) data reveals imports of ceramic tile over 2022-2023 also showed a corresponding but smaller downward trend, alongside a significant increase in the landed material costs.

Australia imported 41,534,845 square metres of ceramic tile in the 12 months to the end of June 2023, a fall of 1.5 per cent over the previous 12 months. This was lower than the 4.5 per cent fall in the previous 2021-2022 financial year. The Australian customs value of tile imports in 2022-2023 was AUD495,384,036, an increase of eight per cent over the previous financial year. A 10-year annualised graph of import volumes and Australian customs values can be seen in Fig.1.

The average Australian customs

value of imports per square metre jumped by over one Australian dollar from AUD10.88 in 2021-2022 to AUD11.93 in 2022-2023. This can be attributed to supplier price increases and a further decline in the foreign exchange rate for the Australian dollar against the US Dollar and Euro, as shown in data sourced from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in Fig.2.

Imports from China fell by 4.5 per cent in 2022-2023 but still dominated Australian imports with a market share of 73.8 per cent of total imports. The Australian customs value of Chinese imports rose by 6.7 per cent and averaged AUD9.41.

Italian imports fell by 4.5 per cent while the Australian customs value rose by 3.2 per cent to average AUD27.12.

Spanish imports fell by 1.5 per cent, in line with the overall market, while the value increased by 14.5 per cent. The average Australian customs value for Spanish tiles rose to AUD25.87.

Imports from India rose 53 per cent, and now make up 3.6 per cent of total imports. The Australian customs value

of Indian tiles rose by 37.8 per cent over the previous year and averaged AUD8.07 per square metre.

Malaysia continued its long downward trend, with imports falling 9.2 per cent while the value rose 4.4 per cent. Malaysia now supplies only 1.9 per cent of imported tiles at an average Australian customs value of AUD9.01.

Imports from Vietnam rose by an impressive 137 per cent in 2022-2023

38 FIG.2 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE 2013 -2023

Based on RBA data

FIG.1 AUSTRALIAN CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS 2013 - 2023

Based on ABS data tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #118 37

FIG.3 CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS FY2022-23 IMPORT DESTINATION STATE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Australia (Re-imports)

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Brazil

5

Victoria

Western Australia

Total Imports (Square Metres)

39

29,415

13,456

6,165

29,148

14,476

17 340

Chile China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

Tasmania

2,183

Bulgaria Cambodia

South Australia

518

Bangladesh Belgium

Queensland

4 11,869,336

230,072

6,672,007

1,346,537

74,335

8,413,449

Czechia

Total Australian Customs Value (AUD)

518

$9,770

2,183

$32,113

44

$82,667

92,660

$1,505,602

17

$3,169

340

$24,352

4

$1,026

2,050,208

30,655,943

$288,507,595

1,359

1,359

$15,853

702

$29,536

Egypt

592

110

France

20,495

1,792

3,911

1,984

2,423

30,605

$1,267,737

Germany

94,009

6,100

50

38,916

5,192

144,267

$3,516,457

200

$37,971

2,838

$39,441

Greece Hong Kong (SAR of China)

150

50

814

243

Hungary

1,781

20

20

$10,015

India

759,986

3,253

117,933

41,595

2,709

371,862

178,764

1,476,102

$11,908,319

Indonesia

66,103

14,008

70,507

18,389

1,179

22,196

35,767

228,149

$2,247,776

Iran

661

661

$7,578

Ireland

250

250

$1,488

Israel

1

Italy

1,537,879

Japan

140,610

6,424

Korea, Republic of (South)

85,321

1,440

Lebanon

4

5

Malaysia

162,300

7,602

4,854

542,310

193,505

125,183

25,512

5,093 75,609

1

$1,155

982,106

412,894

3,633,486

$98,538,905

400,235

1,506

548,776

$5,283,916

950

90

92,894

$922,878

300,668

67,592

9

$6,759

804,528

$7,245,456

Mexico

812

73

576

1,461

$18,480

Morocco

21,082

1,364

5,889

28,335

$2,142,034

Netherlands

3,935

350

1

4,286

$253,268

New Zealand

81

96

103

280

$27,126

Philippines

1,023

Poland

100

Portugal

45,519

Romania

265

76,889

14,408

9,267

Samoa Singapore South Africa

3,813

25 100

2,784

4

Spain

808,170

1,400

424,551

Sri Lanka

58,241

5,499

52,928

7,335

6,693

1,023

$9,846

76,989

$56,228

73,006

$1,567,485

265

$6,280

25

$2,271

2,884

$20,522

4

$5,090

567,633

223,219

2,039,001

$52,748,499

5,165

182,280

304,112

$3,326,827

Switzerland

1

1

$8,460

Syria

24

24

$2,173

Taiwan

3,167

Thailand

34,252

Turkiye

49,085

United Arab Emirates

80,850

United Kingdom

75,480

50

United States of America

13,717

1,814

Vietnam

176,822

14,258

174,874

29,298

16,140,245

286,746

8,539,141

38.9%

0.7%

20.6%

Grand Total State Share Based on ABS data

38 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

1,336 4,465

36

609

5,587

24,720

3,009

132,794

8,524

211,809

2,794

34,604

26,437

1,342

18,303 115

9,398

$237,973

204,635

$1,910,546

324,729

$4,681,577

104,960

$1,687,750 $520,751

3

23

75,671

98

20

15,648

$983,946

1,564

140,564

14,169

551,550

$3,919,373

1,665,793

111,992

11,559,367

3,231,560

41,534,845

$495,384,036

4.0%

0.3%

27.8%

7.8%

100.0%

FIG.4 TOP CERAMIC TILE SOURCE COUNTRIES

to become the sixth largest source of imported tiles to Australia. The average Australian customs value per square metre from Vietnam was AUD7.11.

Full details of the countries of origin, destination state import quantities and total value of all imports is shown in Fig.3. A comparison history for the last five years of the top five source countries is shown in Fig.4.

The declared destination state for all imports over the last five years is shown n in Fig.5.

Peter Halliday has a career-long involvement in product design, manufacture, import and distribution of ceramic tiles, natural stone, and glass mosaics.

Based on ABS data

FIG.5 STATE SHARE OF CERAMIC TILE IMPORTS DECLARED DESTINATION STATE

Financial Year

StateTotal

% of annual total Based on ABS data

Tasmania

8,012,069

2,012,168

236,768

Victoria

Western Australia

10,808,548

3,345,253

Combined Total M2

% change SQM to Previous Year

41.5%

0.6%

19.0%

4.8%

0.6%

25.6%

7.9%

100.0%

`

15,509,131

221,068

7,704,671

2,084,898

224,454

10,948,933

3,178,153

39,871,308

-5.5%

38.9%

0.6%

19.3%

5.2%

0.6%

27.5%

8.0%

100.0%

`

16,684,646

358,272

9,559,133

2,280,103

218,872

11,433,566

3,701,476

44,236,070

10.9%

37.7%

0.8%

21.6%

5.2%

0.5%

25.8%

8.4%

100.0%

`

16,072,873

395,051

8,684,349

1,859,885

165,530

11,073,592

3,934,130

42,185,411

-4.6%

38.1%

0.9%

20.6%

4.4%

0.4%

26.2%

9.3%

100.0%

`

16,140,245

286,746

8,539,141

1,665,793

111,992

11,559,367

3,231,560

41,534,845

-1.5%

38.9%

0.7%

20.6%

4.0%

0.3%

27.8%

7.8%

100.0%

`

2020-2021

2021-2022

% of annual total StateTotal

South Australia

2019-2020

% of annual total StateTotal

Queensland

17,507,520

% of annual total StateTotal

Northern Territory

2018-2019

% of annual total StateTotal

New South Wales (inc ACT)

2022-2023

249,604

42,171,930

-8.8%

WAT ER P R OOFI NG

Waterproofing that meets evolving needs of construction SOPREMA’s waterproofing systems can meet the most complex needs for specifiers such as architects, builders and designers. It has reliable, durable and versatile products for waterproofing roofs, walls, basements and other commercial and residentia projects.

A

s an innovator in waterproofing, SOPREMA provides roofing solutions that range from bituminous waterproofing and liquid waterproofing to synthetic waterproofing. It has special solutions for waterproofing blue, green and inverted roofs.

SOPREMA believes green roofs provide a variety of benefits, from enhancing building performance and increasing asset value to improving the environment. It is an ideal way to create sustainable building envelopes, promote biodiversity and turning what would otherwise be wasted space into useful areas for people, wildlife, and plants.

They replace mineral surfaces with permeable and living surfaces as part of the building and compensate for the loss of ecosystem services caused by urban development. Due to the evapotranspiration of plants and the shading they provide, vegetated roofs promote natural control of the outside temperature.

SOPRANATURE systems are compatible with SOPREMA roofing and waterproofing systems, including SBS & APP-modified bitumen and PVC membrane systems.

40 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

A newly functional roof after using SOPREMA products

Other products SOPREMA’s APP and SBS modified bituminous membranes are suitable for a wide range of applications, such as flat roofs, warm roofs, cold roofs, low-pitched roofs, domes, etc. Its bitumen membranes are known for their quality, long service life, and high level of resistance. They can be mechanically fixed, torch-applied or self-adhered.

SOPREMA also has a range of PVC and TPO single-ply membranes.

These synthetic waterproofing solutions are characterised by their ease of use, superior performance and exceptional aesthetic flexibility.

Curved roofs, flat roofs, waveform roofs, mono-pitch roofs, cold roofs and warm roofs are just some of the many structures that its PVC and TPO membranes can waterproof. In terms

41

of colours, they offer extensive design possibilities because of the following: - SOPREMA’s synthetic waterproofing membranes can be made to match any RAL colour, as well as feature symbols and logos - FLAGON Copper and Silver Art membranes imitate the look of natural metal, allowing users to add imitation profiles for profiled roofs ALSAN TRAFIK liquid waterproofing can be used to waterproof pedestrian and vehicular traffic areas on concrete decks. It can also be installed on concrete deck for balconies, creating a homogenous watertight layer.

The waterproofing systems can be adjusted for pedestrian traffic by protecting them with paving slabs.

SOPREMA membranes are compatible with paving support pads designed to support pedestrian paving and decking areas, which are installed above the waterproofing system.

For waterproofing walls, the idea is to treat these areas as an extension of the roof and to use the same products for waterproofing roofs. For

Green Roofs — more benefits Vegetated roofs can help improving the quality of outdoor air by removing certain contaminants such as dust particles, acting as carbon sinks and oxygenating living environments.

They create conditions that promote the development of microhabitats to support life, and can increase connectivity between ecosystems in the area.

Green roofs can absorb, retain and filter water. They improve stormwater management while helping to reduce the risks associated with overflows and floods. They can also enhance acoustic comfort thanks to their soundproofing capability.

Green roofs are among the best solutions in the improvement of energy efficiency which can generate savings in the operational costs of the building. By acting as an additional protective layer, the vegetated surface extends the service life of the roof’s waterproofing system.

SOPREMA believes green roofs improve the quality of the living environment by highlighting nature as an architectural component of the building. It helps beautify the living environment and elevate the real estate heritage.

upstands, ALSAN FLASHING can be applied, which is compatible with all of SOPREMA’s products. This liquid waterproofing resin allows users to create a seamless and consistent look.

ALSAN FLASHING can, for instance, be finished with mineral granules so that it blends right in with the bituminous membrane.

Should a project require more

than one product, the interfacing or detailing can be designed by SOPREMA to make sure customers get one warranty while SOPREMA carries the responsibility for the interfacing.

SOPREMA is featured in Tile Today’s Waterproofing Guide here: https://tiletodaydigital.com.au/ waterproofing n

advertiser

index ACT Australia

29

Austile Imports

3

Australian Tile Council

25

Clear Software

11

Efflock

31

International MTC

5

Laser Measure

8

What you might have missed on Tile Today Digital If you missed a number of stories that were featured in Tile Today’s recent e-newsletters, here is an overview on a few and some useful links that will take you directly to the story page.

Cersaie 2023: The video Tile Today travelled to Bologna, Italy to attend Cersaie 2023. With over 600 exhibitors and close to 100,000 visitors, the 40th year of the event was a crashing success. You can relive some of the colour, excitement and preview what's to come from a country that leads the world of international tiling in just seven minutes. Watch the video at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=537a4R53YgY

Cersaie 2023: an overview Cersaie 2023 was utterly overwhelming in the best possible way. Extravagant stands by tile manufacturers in vast halls, and close to 100,000 visitors saw an enthusiastic, engaged festival of tiles and tiling take place. There is nothing else like in the tile industry, and it helped change Tile Today’s previous perspectives after seeing it up close and personal. More at the link: https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-41-1697154052616-004/general

MeasureSquare at Marmomac

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TILE COUNCIL

Estimating software company MeasureSquare exhibited at Marmomac for the first time this year. Nigel Welsh, managing director of Laser Measure Australia was there to see it all and said of the event: “It is Mecca for anyone looking to see the latest in technology, machinery and incredible displays of stone and tile.”

More at the link: https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-41-1697154052615-003/general

TileCast (Diary of a Tile Addict) Tile industry veteran Joe Simpson and daughter Hanna have launched Tilecast, a podcast based on their combined 40 years' experience travelling the world writing about tiles. During Cersaie in September, Tile Today editor Betty Tanddo was a guest on an episode. Podcasts are another way to gain Joe’s insights. More on the podcast at the link https://diary-of-a-tile-addict.castos.com/

ABS stats indicate tile prices stable Tile prices have plateaued, not declined in Australia, according to ABS stats. The good news is that tile prices have not risen as steeply as many other inputs into construction. More at the link: https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-38-1695014613011-006/general SILICOSIS SAFETY INSTALLING WET ROOMS WORLDSKILLS 2023 WINNERS

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National Tiles celebrates low price, luxe-look tiles Building on last year's "Whatever You're Into" campaign, National Tiles has released a fresh series of eye-catching and fun-filled TV commercials, billboards and animated ads. More at the link: https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-38-1695014613010-005/general

YOUR OPTIONS

Choosing the right waterproofing products is crucial to the success of not just tiling projects, but overall builds as well. It can be complex, as you often need five or six products for even a relatively standard project, such as a bathroom.

Tile Today’s online digital Waterproofing Buying Guide makes it easy to find the perfect set of waterproofing products for your project.

All you need to do is to click/tap on checkboxes to narrow down the range of available products to exactly what you need.

Access with your PC or mobile phone, giving you the information you need on the go.

tiletoday.au/waterproofing

WATERPROOFING BUYING GUIDE

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