TSJ March 2012

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March 2012 Volume 9 Number 3 Editor Joe Simpson tandsjournal@aol.com M: 07885 294814 Advertisement Director Stuart Bourne stuart.bourne@kick-startpublishing.co.uk T: 01892 752400 Production Director John Heath 01892 752400

DISTRIBUTORS: CRAVEN DUNNILL P44

CONTENTS NEWS Marketing campaign by national Apprenticeship Service, RAK sponsors pro-Am golf event, Stott is tiler of the Month, norcros adjusts forecast, Ancora’s Russian win, and more

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Editorial Director Alan Bakalor 01892 680816

TTA NEWSLETTER CE marking, web marketing, ttA Awards dinner and tilezine 18

Editorial Administration Elaine Hudson 01892 752400

DESIGN TRENDS Abdulla Mahmood on the vital importance of raw materials 22

Designer Neil Owen 01892 752400

SITE REPORT Edgbaston teamwork by Schluter and birmingham tile

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Production and Design Janet Purchase 01892 752400

DESIGN RESOURCE Johnson tiles’ new three-part product library unveiled

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Print Management DPI Print and Production, Tonbridge, Kent 01732 371271 www.dpi-print.co.uk

SITE REPORT plunkett tiling uses Weber at national Museum of Scotland 32

GEnERAL EnquiRiES Editorial Unit 4, The Spelmonden Estate Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1HE T: 07885 294814 E: tandsjournal@aol.com

TILE DISTRIBUTORS tSJ’s annual survey of the uK’s tiling powerhouses

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DESIGN TRENDS Laticrete bonds limestone to Kuwait’s tallest tower

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MOSAICS & GLASS Key suppliers and current design trends in the spotlight

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PROFILE trade price Stone grows powerfully through the recession

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PORTFOLIO What’s new in tiles, tools, natural stone and fixing materials 60

Advertising and subscriptions The Oast, Great Danegate Eridge, East Sussex TN3 9HU T: 01892 752400 F: 01892 752404-752405 W: www.tileandstonejournal.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted 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 the publisher.

SubSCRiptionS United Kingdom £40.00 per annum

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Tile & Stone Journal is published by © Kick-Start Publishing Ltd ISSN 1744-4276

MARCH 2012 TSJ

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NEWS & COMMENT EDITOR’S COMMENT “Undertaking research for this issue of TSJ I came across many successful community arts projects, specifically mosaics. This set me thinking about just how effective such projects are at both helping to define a community and - perhaps more importantly - to modify the inhabitants’ attitudes to “their“ physical community.

As a general supporter of 'The Arts' I've come to the belief that interacting with art can change people’s attitudes and that “Art” carries far more value than most people think. However, I think that modern society has compartmentalised “Art” to such an extent that it now struggles to fill the role to which it is ideally suited.

Art helps to build healthy communities by challenging preconceptions, encouraging inter-personnel connections and facilitating interaction.

Community projects, such as public mosaics, draw members of the community together on a recurring basis to experience art in action, either through participation or as spectators. Project members get to know each other during the project, thereby becoming a small, supportive, community. They then share what they have experienced with friends and family, spreading the benefits.

The interaction comes from the community’s critical reaction to the final work.

Opinions will be voiced, discussions started and debates developed. Sharing a non-partisan event, like the design and construction of a community mural, allows non-threatening interactions to take place between what may otherwise be mutually-antagonistic religious, racial, political or economic groups. The dialogue generated around the community art project can help, in the future, should more confrontational differences need to be diffused.

Mosaic is becoming a more and more popular way for communities to define and project their image. Why not put out some feelers locally - through schools, voluntary organisations or local councils - and see if there is a community art project that you, as a member of the UK tiling fraternity, can help?”

Joe Simpson

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TSJ MARCH 2012

Campaign to promote apprenticeships The National Apprenticeship Service has launched a new marketing campaign to promote Apprenticeships to employers, young people and parents.

The campaign stars current and former apprentices from Bentley, insurance brokers Blue Fin, BT, builders Jelson Homes, housing association Incommunities and SEC Recruitment It aims to showcase the talents, skills and commitment of real apprentices in everyday workplaces. The campaign will also inform and persuade more companies and individuals to reap the benefits of Apprenticeships for themselves.

The creatives lead with the strapline ‘Apprenticeships deliver’ and direct mail, public relations and advertising will focus on themes that define what organisers have termed ‘a new era for Apprenticeships’: quality, growth, pride and value.

Ministers have also announced that activity to boost skills in 2012 will include the first national Skills Show: a UK-only version of WorldSkills London, which saw 200,000 young people visit the biggest skills competition, careers and jobs event ever staged in the country last October. Further details of the Skills Show 2012, which will take place at the NEC in Birmingham from 15th-17th November, will be announced soon.

Speaking at the launch event in Parliament, Minister for Skills, John Hayes MP (above), said: "These young people are an inspiration to anyone looking to break in to their chosen industry. They show how the gold standard training in the apprenticeship programme can be a launch pad for careers across all sectors.”

"This exciting new campaign will spread the word that apprenticeships not only deliver the skills businesses need in order to grow, they also enable people to build long, fulfilling and productive careers. We are committed to making it easier for employers to take on trainees, in part by cutting bureaucracy, raising quality standards and providing cash incentives to small firms who want to take on apprentices."

Jaine Bolton, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “Encouraging more people to take up quality Apprenticeships is absolutely vital in equipping young people with the skills they need for the future – and the skills that Britain needs to grow. Quite simply, there has never been a better time to offer or take an Apprenticeship and our campaign will help ensure this is known across the country.”

Visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk for further details.

TSJMar12p 4-16_News and comment 01/03/2012 09:35 Page 5

NEWS & COMMENT RAK to sponsor Sussex PGA Centenary Pro-Am

RAK Ceramics is sponsoring a special fundraising centenary Pro-Am in conjunction with the Sussex Professional Golfers Union. The Pro-Am will take place on 25th April, followed by the SPGU Pro only event on 26th April: both to be held at Cowdray Park Golf Club, in Midhurst. All funds raised will be in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Snowdrop Trust.

Over 100 players will take part in this prestigious Pro-Am event; teams will consist of three amateurs with a Sussex PGA professional. As title sponsor, the line-up will include two teams from Petersfieldbased RAK Ceramics. RAK will also host the 19th hole marquee situated next to the clubhouse; special highlights will include wine tasting hosted by Petworth-based

Upperton Vineyards, plus presentations of RAK Ceramics myriad of bathroom and kitchen products.

Rob Jull, RAK Ceramics Managing Director commented: “It is a great pleasure for RAK Ceramics to support an event of this importance at the stunningly beautiful Cowdray Park Golf Club. Our chosen charities have strong links with Midhurst and I am sure a great two days are in store for everyone.”

For further information on the centenary Pro-Am, contact Cowdray Park Golf Club on 01730 813599 or email enquiries@cowdraygolf.co.uk.

For more information about RAK Ceramics and the event, contact 01730 237850 or visit www.rakceramics.co.uk

Cover Story: Mapei’s Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 is quick to apply and set This month’s front cover illustrates the extra coverage gained when using Mapei’s new high yield, flexible (S1), low dust adhesive; Ultralite Rapid Flex S1. In their 75th anniversary year, Mapei demonstrate their continued ability and flair to create innovative, first rate products.

The new adhesive, which covers approximately 60% more sq. metres per Kg than conventional Mapei powder adhesives, offers great value with its extra coverage. It is also lightweight, which in combination with its greater coverage reduces transport costs and the strain of manual lifting. Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 provides additional significant environmental credentials – containing >30% of recycled materials as well as possessing Low Dust technology; ideal where dust levels must be kept to a minimum. It is also classified to BS EN 12004 by Ceram as C2FT S1.

Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 also boasts significant installation advantages. Its innovative formula ensures it is effortless to mix and apply and offers high grab and non-slip properties. It can be utilised with a bed depth of up to 15 mm providing a powerful adhesive bond and excellent ‘wetting out’ capabilities. Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 is also rapid setting, with tiled finishes ready to grout after only three hours.

Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 is ideal to fix ‘thin’ porcelain tiles in addition to standard ceramic, vitrified and porcelain tiles, mosaics and natural stone tiles to a wide variety of substrate types including concrete, sand:cement and calcium sulphate screeds and existing tiles. Ideal for application on dry or wet duty installations including showers and swimming pools, it is also suitable in interior and exterior areas including balconies and terraces. It is ideal in both domestic and commercial settings and can be used in conjunction with under floor heating.

For more Mapei product information, or for your local stockist, please call 0121 508 6970. Technical data sheets can be found online at www.mapei.co.uk.

NEWS IN BRIEF A redundant electricity substation is to be demolished on land earmarked for a new retail park in Stoke that could create more than 600 jobs. Johnson Tiles's parent company, Norcros, has applied to knock down the substation at the firm's former Highgate Works site in Tunstall. The application to Stoke-on-Trent City Council states: "The building is considered to be a hazard with the potential to attract trespassers on to the site." Supermarket chain Morrisons wants to build a new store at the 13-acre site, off Brownhills Road. The plans also include a petrol station, seven non-food shops and two restaurants. Up to 350 jobs would be created at the Morrisons store and petrol station alone, with a further 180 during construction and around 100 more at the other units. The site has been vacant since Johnson Tiles moved its HQ to Harewood Street in 1999.

Italian tile maker Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola said it has officially renamed the company Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola, North America. The new name is a result of the reorganization of the North American division of Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola based in Imola, Italy. The new structure is designed to allow Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola to better serve and respond to the growing North American market. The company said it is strengthening its distributor and designer support system with a dedicated customer service team already located at the North American headquarters in Miami.

Jet Edge, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ultrahigh pressure waterjet and abrasivejet systems for precision cutting, coating removal and surface preparation, is now posting used waterjet equipment for sale on its website. Jet Edge’s used water jet equipment inventory includes ultra-high pressure water jet intensifier pumps, waterjet motion systems, waterjet parts and accessories, and mobile waterjet cleaning and cutting equipment. Jet Edge’s waterjet intensifier pumps feature a reliable tie-rod design. W: www.jetedge.com Florida Tile recently announced that it has achieved certification by Bureau Veritas for inclusion of 40% pre-consumer recycled content across all porcelain products made in its Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, facility. Florida Tile reports it has been committed to sustainable manufacturing practices for decades and now, as part of the CARES (Creating A Responsible Environmental Strategy) program, those practices have been third-party tested and verified. For more information, visit www.floridatile.com.

MARCH 2012 TSJ

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NEWS & COMMENT HMRC targets building trades to recoup unpaid tax

Advanced digital printing technology used in volume tile manufacturing also enables limited edition designs and images to be seamlessly reproduced onto a ceramic surface. One recent example of this is the ventilated curtain wall system that was installed by Tau Ceramica at The Royal Academy of Arts in Tyumen, Russia.

This striking rainscreen consists of 1,080 pieces, each one different, depicting an allegorical scene of the foundation of the city. This digital printing technology is surprisingly affordable, as artisanal skill and pictorial beauty are united with the accuracy and speed of industrial production.

BASF showcases build-up concept at SDS

BASF’s UK Construction Chemicals division created an eye-catching optical illusion with its exhibition stand at the Surface Design Show. The stand highlighted surface preparation systems and floor finishes from the company’s PCI and Mastertop brands at the leading event for architects and interior designers.

The stand theme stressed the importance of good preparation in achieving an excellent finish, highlighting the fact that the company has the product range to assist at every stage.

“I felt we enjoyed tremendous exposure across all business lines and I was delighted with both the quality of the sales leads and how busy the exhibition was,” stated Business Manager, Michael Hailwood.

“The consistent attendance by visitors from both retail and commercial backgrounds was excellent, and there was genuine interest in the BASF product offering, as well as new exposure for us. Ours was the only stand of its kind exhibiting full system build ups and it illustrated our breadth of range perfectly,” added Jane Seymour, Project Design Manager. www.pci.basf.co.uk CORRECTION: In TSJ, January, Page 45 the photograph, below left, was incorrectly captioned as “Above: Some of the different components that make up Schlüter-Kerdi-Shower.” In fact, the photograph showed PCI Pecilastic U: a universal membrane for isolating, crack bridging, impact sound reducing and waterproofing all in one, especially developed for use under floor coverings made from ceramic and mosaic tiles, as well as natural stones. The membrane can be used for almost any application in both indoor and outdoor areas.

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HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that in 2012 it will target tradespeople working in the home improvement market giving them an opportunity to come forward and declare unpaid tax. The campaign builds on previous initiatives aimed at plumbers and electricians, and will include hundreds of thousands of tradespeople in construction and building work such as tiling, roofing and joinery.

Mark Herson, Private Client Tax Director at James Cowper comments: “HMRC’s similar campaign to secure payments from plumbers has so far generated close to £4 million, so it is no surprise they are utilising similar tactics with builders. HMRC are using increasingly sophisticated software to identify those who are not paying sufficient tax and the chances of going undetected are therefore diminishing.”

“Tradespeople who suspect their tax affairs are not completely up-todate would be well-advised to take the disclosure opportunity,” continues Herson. “This could be the underdeclaration of income, overclaim of expenses or something unrelated to their business. We recommend that those who believe they might owe tax seek advice from an accountant or tax adviser before making a declaration. This way the bill for tax, interest and penalties can be kept to a minimum.”

Weber reports significant sales growth in new low dust tile fixing and floor levelling compounds Saint-Gobain Weber has witnessed substantial sales growth in tile fixing and floor levelling compounds. Since the introduction of Low Dust Technology (LDT) in 2009, an advanced formulation applied to Weber.Set Rapid SPF tile adhesive and more recently to Weber.Floor Flex levelling compound, sales have increased to an unprecedented level. LDT has been added to the original products after rigorous research, development and investment by Saint-Gobain Weber. The addition of LDT dramatically reduces airbourne dust created during pouring and mixing, while maintaining all of the original benefits to the contractor.

“Month on month sales gains indicate that our distributor network has taken this new technology on board and are really behind it,” says James Mead, Head of Product Management, Saint-Gobain Weber. “Equally tile fixers and flooring contractors are experiencing first hand the real benefits of these easy to apply, labour saving and technically superior products.”

Weber.Set Rapid SPF with LDT is a rapid setting, flexible cement-based floor and wall adhesive suitable for interior and exterior use. Ready for light foot traffic and grouting after only two hours, it is available in light grey and white, and packaged in 20kg paper sacks. It can be used to fix all ceramic, porcelain and natural stone floor and wall tiles. It is also perfectly suited to under-floor heating applications and on wooden floors that have been over-boarded.

The high performance Weber.Floor Flex is a cement-based, self-smoothing, fibre-modified, rapid-setting floor levelling screed with the added benefit of LDT. It is ideally used for correcting irregularities on difficult surfaces including wood, concrete slabs, ceramic tiles, floating floors and with underfloor heating. Weber.Floor Flex with LDT is suitable for interior use only, can build up to 50mm and offers excellent bond strengths even to difficult substrates. It is ready for light foot traffic after just three hours.

“These products have always been popular, but in the new formulation, with Low Dust Technology, tile applicators and flooring contractors really don’t want to use anything else,” continues James Mead.

The company’s manufacturing site at Flitwick, Bedfordshire, is one of the few factories in Europe with the capacity to manufacture low dust fibre modified products with total consistency and quality assurance. Local manufacture also affords the shortest route to market.

08703 330070 www.netweber.co.uk

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NEWS & COMMENT St Gobain cautious despite 13.7% rise in profits French building materials group St Gobain has expressed a cautious outlook for 2012 after reporting a hike in 2011 profits achieved by passing the rising cost of raw materials to customers.

"We are targeting moderate organic growth [for 2012], driven mainly by the increase in sales prices needed to offset the rise in raw material and energy costs, while operating income and profitability should prove resilient," stated Chief Executive, Pierre-Andre de Chalendar.

St Gobain, which produces a wide range of materials including insulation, roofing, glass bottles and plastic film used in e-readers, posted organic growth of 5% in 2011. The pace of acquisitions is also expected to be slower this year than in 2011 as the company awaits anti-trust green light for two recent deals.

Net profit in 2011 rose 13.7% to Euro1.28 billion, while sales increased by 5% to Euro42.12 billion, bolstered by price increases to customers that offset rising raw material prices and energy costs.

Excluding capital gains and losses on disposals, asset write-downs and provisions, net profit rose 30% to Euro1.736 billion. St Gobain is paying a cash dividend of Euro1.24 for 2011.

Tyldesley tiler named Tiler of the Month David Stott, of Tyldesley-based Elite Tiling, has been named Tiler of the Month by TilerWorld, the free web site for tilers and their customers. He was chosen for his tiling quality and high standards of customer service, shown by reviews posted on TilerWorld.

Stott carries out all types of tiling throughout the North-West: bathrooms, kitchens, conservatories and more. This includes tiling with natural stone, Victorian flooring, mosaics and underfloor heating.

His customers would endorse the TilerWorld award, evidenced by their comments on the site. Typical is Mandy from Manchester who said: “Fantastic job, very impressed with the whole bathroom. He is also very clean and tidy, polite and happy to answer any question.”

David Stott is modest about the acclaim and praised TilerWorld: “It is great to have a site that’s free for both tilers and customers and there’s no better way for consumers to compare their local tilers. It compares well with a site currently being advertised where tradespeople pay to register, then pay for leads. For customers, an extra TilerWorld bonus is that they can win back the cost of their tiling.”

A customer using a TilerWorld rated tiler can submit their own rating, with the incentive of a free prize draw. Each month, one wins the value of their tiling up to a £1,000 maximum. The ratings are a key reason for TilerWorld‘s continuing growth. A consumer can list up to 20 local professionals, compare other customers’ ratings and request quotes for their own tiling from up to five tilers. As well as comparing ratings, consumers can see photographs of their work. www.tilerworld.com 8

TSJ MARCH 2012

MADELEINE HARRINGTON “With Cevisama over and nobody that I met feeling particularly positive about the prospects for 2012, I thought it would be a good time to look at the statistics for 2011.

As usual all figures are based on the UK government trade statistics and are for the value in £ sterling rather than volume. The commodity codes do not split out paving slabs so they are included as well.

Overall imports into the UK continued to decline slightly by 0.8% although this is a much lower rate than in recent years.

Spain and Italy also saw a slowing down of the rate of decline at 1.2% and 5.3% respectively.

The biggest loser was China with a drop of 47.9% due no doubt to the EU anti-dumping measures kicking in.

Interestingly the figures for unglazed ceramic into which porcelain falls actually show a 50% increase in imports whereas the glazed ceramic imports fell by 68%. So it looks as though people have switched their supplies of the cheaper gres products to other countries whereas porcelain still represents good value for money even with the anti-dumping measures.

As far as exports were concerned, overall they were up by 14.5% a reversal from the year before when they declined by 10.1%. This was due to increases to the EU and North American markets which have traditionally been the biggest buyers of UK tiles.

According to the Ceramic World Review the market in Great Britain was 51 million sq. million in 2010, slightly up from 50 million in 2009, and 83.8% of that total was made up of imports. Again according to the CWR the number of square metres imported in 2010 was 43 million meaning that the average price per square metre was £6.47.

If we take the same percentage of imports for value as for volume it gives us a total market value for the UK of £330 million in 2011 at factory gate/landed prices, a massive decline since the recession hit in 2007, but it seems that the fall is bottoming out and perhaps the worst is now over.

Let’s hope so.

If you want a more detailed breakdown of the statistics please visit my website www.mcmh.co.uk or contact me on the email below.”

Madeleine Harrington is a director of McMullin Harrington Limited, a marketing consultancy specialising in the tile and stone industry.

She can be contacted on madeleine@mcmh.co.uk.

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NEWS & COMMENT Norcros expect full-year profits will fall short of expectations Norcros Plc, the adhesive, showers and ceramic tile group, has announced that full-year adjusted profit will be slightly below its prior expectations due to weakness in its major markets. The company reported that revenue for the 18-week period that ended 5th February, fell 3.1% on a reported basis, and rose 0.9% on a constant currency basis. This leaves year to date Group revenues 5.6% higher on a constant currency basis and 4.2% higher on a reported basis than last year.

“Market conditions in the UK and South Africa were particularly challenging in December reflecting the earlier and longer than expected Christmas shutdowns in our major markets. However, Group revenues in January showed some improvement and we are confident that we have maintained our leading positions in our core markets. Revenues in our UK businesses for the 18 week period were 3.0% lower than last year, with year to date revenues 4.7% higher than last year,” stated the company.

Johnson Tiles, the UK manufacturer and supplier of ceramic tiles, saw revenues for the 18 week period increase by 1.1% year-on-year. For the first time, the comparable period last year includes the full revenue effect of the demise of Pilkington’s Tiles in June 2010. Year to date revenues are 10.3% higher. UK revenues for the 18 week period were 1.0% higher with share gains in retail outweighing a marginal revenue decline in trade business. Export revenues were 1.7% higher with supply constraints noted in our interim results beginning to be overcome.

The Triton shower business saw revenues for the 18 week period decline by 7.8% versus the comparable period last year. However, trade revenues in January rebounded strongly helped by a major product launch.

Revenues in the UK adhesives business for the 18 week period were 5.0% higher than the comparable period last year, with year to date revenues 20.6% higher. Housebuilder and other national contract specification wins noted in Norcros’ Interim report have helped drive further UK market share gains in the 18 week period.

Johnson Tiles South Africa, a tile manufacturing operation, saw third party revenues on a constant currency basis 20.3% higher reflecting increased business in the DIY retail segment. Encouraging signs of progress have also been made in manufacturing performance in January 2012 where the benefits of recent management changes and investment in process improvements are beginning to show through.

Revenues at Norcros’ retail operation, Tile Africa, increased by 6.6% on constant currency basis. This was driven by price increases and the continuing benefits of the store refurbishment and operational improvement programmes.

TAL, Norcros’ South African adhesive business, saw third party revenues grow 19.0% on a constant currency basis, and, as with Johnson Tiles South Africa, has secured additional business with a leading DIY retailer.

“Since the announcement of our interim results in November 2011 consumer confidence has become weaker and market conditions more challenging. Trading profit for the year is anticipated to be marginally below the Board's previous expectations although lower cash finance costs and a lower effective tax rate should offset any shortfall. The Board remains confident that through the ongoing self help programmes and growth initiatives Norcros will continue to gain market share and make solid progress,” the report concludes.

Norcros shares have lost about 30% of their value in the last eight months.

Ancora supplies Euro-Ceramics new porcelain tile plant Ancora Group has won the contract to supply equipment for the Euro-Ceramics facility in Pechory as part of a programme to start up production of polished full-body porcelain tile. The company, one of Russia's leading ceramic tile producers, has commissioned Ancora to supply a complete polishing line consisting of a roughing machine, two polishing machines, a score-and-snap machine, two squaring and chamfering units and a dryer.

The installed line is able to produce sizes up to 600 by 1,200mm and also create submultiples, including listellos. The investment will enable the Russian ceramic company to take the important step of converting to porcelain tile production in response to growing demand from its domestic market.

"Russia has shown good tenacity, even during the most difficult times for the international economy," says Ancora Group's Vice Chairman Fabio Corradini. "Our Group has continued to achieve good results in the Russian and Eastern European markets, as this order goes to show."

Ancora is the largest third party production centre in the world for polishing, lapping, cutting and grinding of ceramic tiles.

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JOSS THOMAS “Over the last few seasons, large format tiles have been very popular. As with most trends, I was expecting this to change at some stage but, if anything, demand is getting greater.

As well as large square tiles, rectangular formats seem to be proving popular too - if not more so. Even in small areas, like bathrooms, big tiles are being chosen instead of standard 305 by 305mm tiles. Mainstay stones, like Opus Romano patterns, are proving slow, compared to 900 by 600mm formats. Many customers are using them on their own; others are using larger formats to create random length effects with straight grout lines, so that surfaces carry you through a space and the end result can look fabulous.

In design terms, larger formats certainly create a more contemporary look and a feeling of space – and they keep grout lines to a minimum. As so many homes have more open plan areas, stone tiles are now being used throughout larger, continuous spaces, rather than different floor coverings being chosen for different rooms. This has to be good in terms of sales but it has thrown up a whole host of new considerations for suppliers, tilers and customers.

One of the main concerns is thickness. Whilst it’s largely dependent on the density of the actual stone, many manufacturers are offering 900 by 600mm formats that are just 12mm thick. If the subfloor is perfect and where the stone is bedded correctly, this may be fine, but personally I prefer anything over a 600 by 400mm to be 15mm thick.

Suppliers also need to think carefully about packaging and delivery, as tiles of this size are more likely to move around in a pallet, which can result in either the framework collapsing or the tiles getting damaged.

From both a tiler’s and customer’s point of view, floors intended to accommodate this size stone need to be flat – especially if it’s a fully rectified tile being laid. If a floor isn’t level, it’s certainly much easier to take out the undulations using a smaller size tile, than it is a super sized stone!”

For more information, call 01993 824200 or email enquiries@indigenousltd.com.

TSJMar12p 4-16_News and comment 01/03/2012 09:35 Page 12

NEWS & COMMENT Fila launches The Professional Installers Club Surface care specialist, Fila has created a new, exclusive club for tile installers. The Professional Installers Club will help support businesses and reward loyalty with a wide package of rewards and benefits.

Membership will be open to installers throughout the UK and Ireland.

Branded ‘Maestro Trattatore’ (‘Professional Installers’) to reflect Fila’s Italian roots, the Professional Installers Club aims to support fitters, promote best practice and increase product knowledge. An ongoing training programme will include practical workshops and refresher courses, exploring treatment systems, surface characteristics and trouble shooting. Members will also have access to technical and practical support from Fila product experts. Meanwhile, loyalty will be rewarded with the launch of a tandem incentive scheme, providing points for purchases which can be exchanged for gifts from Fila’s Rewards’ Catalogue. In addition, members will also be able to benefit from exclusive facilities and discounts for legal, commercial and insurance services, from Fila partner service companies.

For more information and to become a Professional Installers Club member, please contact Lisa Breakspear at Fila UK on tel. 01584 877286, email professionalinstallers@filachim.com or visit www.club.filachim.com.

Top hair salon gets the Ultra Tile treatment The Stafford Francesco Group salon has reopened following an extension project completed using primer, leveller, adhesive and grout from the renowned Ultra Floor and Ultra Tile brands.

Stylish salon brand, Francesco Group commissioned Stafford Tiles and Flooring Solutions to complete the 150 sq. metre extension. The existing substrate required levelling before the tiling could commence; Saber Systems were subcontracted to carry out this work. Both companies are long-standing Instarmac customers and regularly choose to use products from Ultra Floor and Tile. The sub-floor preparation carried out by Saber Systems Ltd. included priming with Ultra Floor Prime IT AR and the application of Level IT one HDB. Ultra Floor Prime IT AR is an acrylic polymer emulsion primer suited for use over porous substrates such as concrete and sand/cement screeds. It will prepare the surface, enhancing adhesion and sealing it. The bond strength of subsequent cement based levelling compounds and similar cementitious underlayments to the surface will then be dramatically improved, enhancing durability. Ultra Floor primers are easy to use and safe to apply, and boast fast drying times.

Ultra Floor Level IT one HDB is a self-levelling base compound designed to smooth undulations in cementitious floor substrates. It has a working time of 20 to 30 minutes and will set within 2 to 3 hours.

It can be applied at thicknesses from 3 to 50mm and a 25kg bag covers an optimum 5 sq. metres at 3mm. The product is protein and ammonia free, shrinkage compensated and polymer modified.

Stafford Tiles and Flooring Solutions then fitted porcelain floor tiles using Ultra Tile ProRapid RS, a rapid setting adhesive expertly formulated with exceptional bond strength and flexibility. The adhesive can be applied at a bed thickness of between 3 to 12mm on walls or floors. It has an open time of 40 minutes and is set after just two hours drying time.

Ultra Tile FlexJoint in limestone was used to grout the floor. It’s a product suitable for joint widths from 1mm to 20mm. FlexJoint is specially formulated to provide a hygienic finish that is mould resistant and water repellent.

Stafford Tiles and Flooring Solutions E: sales@stafstiling.co.uk Ultra Tile W: www.ultratileadhesives.co.uk.

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ALAN REYNOLDS “I was taken to task recently by a fellow fixer and TSJ reader who wanted to know why I rarely deal with tiling issues in my column. I responded by pointing out that the journal regularly features technical articles written by experts covering many aspects of the fixing process whereas I know enough about what I do to scratch a living. Besides, writing about the mechanics of a working day would drive me to distraction.

One of the consequences of working on your own is the amount of time you spend locked in your head thinking about everything and nothing. Once you open that tub of adhesive in the morning and the auto-pilot kicks in you’re off; time ceases to have any meaning, talking to yourself is a given, music from the radio fuses into background static and the only interruption: command control with tea and biccies – if you’re lucky. Is it any wonder we need a good forty minutes to come down at the end of a day before we can hold a coherent conversation with the missus?

Writing about the thoughts that pass through my mind whilst I’m buttering the back of a large format tile is one of my few remaining pleasures. It allows me to visit friends and places long since past or vent my spleen on the economic shenanigans that have driven big companies and sole traders alike to the wall.

Maybe if I wasn’t such a thinker life would be a lot simpler.

Non-thinkers are unencumbered with reminiscences, flights of fancy or regrets. They answer questions readily enough but rarely ask them, keeping conversation and mental traffic to a minimum resulting in peace and contentment.

I know quite a few people thus blessed and I envy their black and white take on life. I admire their self-discipline and I’m convinced that if I could emulate them I would get a lot more work done.

But I digress. Someone asked about tiling issues. The only thing of any consequence that comes to mind is the ‘Warmup Loose Wire System’ I installed recently. In distant times of plenty I gave electrical under-floor heating a wide birth as a point of principal. Invariably the kit would have been supplied by someone else who pocketed the mark-up leaving me with a few measly hours day-work and all the responsibility if the installation failed. More often than not the system would have already been installed by an electrician who had forgotten to prime the floor or properly tape down the element.

Nowadays I don’t have that luxury which is why it was such a relief to come across the ‘Warmup System’. The clarity of the fitting instructions was hugely impressive and the kit simple to install. The spacing grid was particularly helpful considering the floor had more angles than a government spin doctor. I could go on but I don’t want to embarrass them. Suffice to say that, whilst I didn’t earn anything extra for installing the system, I did at least get the tiling job.”

Alan Reynolds is the proprietor of Wilmslow Ceramic Tiling.

01625 434093 alan.reynolds23@ntlworld.com.

TSJMar12p 4-16_News and comment 01/03/2012 09:35 Page 14

NEWS & COMMENT Ceramic roof image set to brand 30th Cersaie A 3D image of two red tiles leaning against each other to form a roof symbolising the world of architecture and interior design is the design concept that will be used for the 2012 edition of Cersaie, the international exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings which is scheduled for 25th to 29th September 2012. The image for the 30th edition of the show was created by Grazia Piccininno, a student attending the degree course in Event Design, Management and Communication at the University of Genoa’s architecture faculty.

A simple but powerful idea that underscores ceramic tile’s increasingly important ability to adapt to the most varied demands of the market, the poster design originates from the competition Beautiful Ideas. Based on the concept of Ceramic Evolution, it explores ceramic tile in terms of an increasingly rapid evolutionary process that nonetheless revisits the compositional languages of the past.

Cersaie 2011 covered 176,000 sq. metres, hosted 965 exhibitors (including 265 foreign companies from 31 different countries) and attracted 113,165 visitors, 0.8% up on 2010. These figures confirm Cersaie as the leading international exhibition for ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings. Visit www.cersaie.it for more information.

Movement joints benefit new medical facility

LISA BREAKSPEAR “Quarry tiles are a popular surface option both indoors and outside. Made from clay or shale, they’re available in a range of earthy tones, from beige to dark red. To protect the whole surface and promote easy maintenance, a series of simple steps should be taken: and always follow the product manufacturer’s recommendations carefully.

A pre-seal isn’t necessary on unglazed quarry tiles but pregrouting protectors provide added benefits. Waterrepellent protectors, like Fila’s PRW200, are designed to give protection between laying and grouting, and they make the removal of grout residues much easier. They also speed-up drying time after the initial wash - and other subsequent treatment stages too.

Acid cleaning products should be used for the initial clean.

Always look out for a ‘buffered’ acid formulation, like Fila Deterdek, as these products don’t give off harmful fumes and won’t damage aluminium or steel trims and profiles.

Detergents like Deterdek also remove grout residues whilst cleaning the surface. Remember to give products a few minutes to act, before using a green pad or sponge to remove residue, and then rinse with clean water.

A new medical facility which is set to make the North East of England a world leader in organ transplants has been built using market leading tiling protection products from Schlüter-Systems. The new Institute of Transplantation at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital is a £30 million premises which will substantially increase the number of life-saving transplants in the region. Whilst patients, family, friends and employees walking through the centre’s main reception and atrium area can expect the highest quality of organ transplants, what they won’t know is they will be walking on the highest quality of tiling protection products after movement joints from the Schlüter-Dilex range were installed by P Plunkett Tiling Contractors, based in Northumberland.

Geoff Williams, Managing Director at P Plunkett, comments: “This project saw us install movement joints from Schlüter-Systems over four months at this new medical facility and we’re very pleased to be involved in the construction of such an important building for the north-east. What we particularly like about Schlüter-Systems is that their products are so readily available. Such is their vast range that you can easily source any size of product you require and have bespoke packages tailored to your individual project requirements.”

Ian Knifton, Divisional Manager at Schlüter-Systems, comments: “The Institute of Transplantation is a state-of-theart medical premises that will provide hundreds of organ transplants for patients each year, as well as attracting the leading medical professionals from all over the world. Not only will the multi-million pound project see the use of cutting edge medical technology but it already features cutting edge tiling technology after the installation of movement joints from our Schlüter-Dilex range. These offer secure protection for surfaces subjected to high mechanical stresses caused by continuous use, making it particularly ideal for busy locations such as this atrium and reception.”

Movement joints from the Schlüter-Dilex range offer secure edge protection and maintenance free solutions for surfaces exposed to continuous pedestrian and vehicular traffic. All profiles are installed at the same time as the tile covering and a wide variety in various material combinations are available, depending on the mechanical or chemical stresses expected on the covering.

The new Institute of Transplantation at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle will incorporate cardiothoracic transplant surgery, general transplant surgery and renal transplant surgery all under one roof and will also include four large operating theatres, a 300-bed ward, an outpatient unit and a training lecture theatre.

P Plunkett Tiling Contractors 01661 836 960 www.plunketttiling.co.uk.

Schlüter-Systems 01530 813396 www.schluter.co.uk.

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TSJ MARCH 2012

The importance of this initial wash should never be underestimated. It removes residues of adhesive, grout and accumulated dirt. If it isn’t performed correctly, the application of subsequent protective treatments will be severely compromised.

In terms of sealing an unglazed quarry tiled floor, quality water-based products provide lots of benefits. They’re odourless, require a shorter drying time and have less of an environmental impact. Natural impregnators, like Fila W68, provide resistance to stains without compromising the natural look of the tile. Outdoors, I’d strongly recommend application of a water-repellent formulation; Fila options include water-based HP98, or Fila ES82 which can be applied prior to application of solvent-based Filafob for additional stain protection. Indoors, wax finishes can also be applied, to give a natural, satin, shiny or high-shine effect.

In terms of ongoing maintenance, pH-neutral cleaning products should always be used. They will lengthen the life of the impregnators and finishes and will ensure that the quarry remains protected, in terms of practicality, longevity and aesthetics. Normal household cleaners will breakdown the surface protection provided and cause surface staining. ” Lisa Breakspear is Sales & Technical Director of Fila UK. For more information on Fila’s range of surface care products, please contact Fila UK on 01584 877286 or visit www.filachim.com.

TSJMar12p 4-16_News and comment 01/03/2012 09:35 Page 16

NEWS & COMMENT NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS Builder’s merchant chain Jewson has offered to sell off 22 branches to ease competition concerns raised by its recent acquisition of rival merchants Build Center. Jewson, part of French multi-national Saint-Gobain, has 510 general builder's merchants in the UK operating under the Jewson and Gibbs & Dand' brands, against Build Center's 149 branches, trading primarily under the Build Center brand. The OFT concluded that the merger would not give rise to competition concerns nationally because sufficient competitors would remain in the market.

However, it did consider that the deal raised substantial competition concerns in 22 local areas in England, Wales and Scotland. This was because there were few remaining general builder’s merchants in these local areas and the OFT was concerned that builders and other tradesmen might see an increase in prices for building materials as a result. In order to address these concerns, Jewson has offered undertakings to divest at least one branch in each of the 22 affected local areas to restore pre-merger competition levels.

RAK Ceramics has expanded its sales team with Ian Cunningham and Alvin Biggs joining the Petersfield-based firm from within the bathroom sector, bringing a wealth of industry experience to their new sales roles. Business Sales Manager, Ian Cunningham (top left) joins with 20 years’ experience gained at national merchants, independents, distribution and manufacturing companies.

In his new role, Cunningham will work within the national merchant and key account sector. He will promote RAK’s extensive portfolio, with an emphasis on tiles, shower enclosures, mirrors and sanitaryware.

Alvin Biggs (left) joins RAK from Sloegrin and Dietsche UK, bringing 8 years’ experience gained in senior sales management and marketing positions. In his new role as Sales Development Manager – Merchant Sales, Biggs will establish a nationwide distribution and retail network for showers, mirrors and cabinets, as well as unbranded RAK sanitaryware, for Rob Jull Agencies.

Rob Jull, Managing Director commented: “Last year was a fabulous one for the RAK brand, with sales increasing by 30%. With the introduction of a myriad of new products, and the expansion of our dedicated sales team, we’re looking to exceed our customers’ expectations even further; in terms of both quality and design, as well as close sales support to our industry partners; the backbone of our business.”

The Tile Association has announce that it has been awarded funding of up to £75,000 by Construction Skills to further qualify the workforce within the industry. The ‘Qualifying the Workforce Funding’ is available from Construction Skills to Trade Associations and Unions that represent a directly employed workforce of over 5,000 people, or with an ability to influence a larger non-employed workforce. The funding is there to support TTA members in the tile fixing and retail sectors seeking a level 2 or higher NVQ in Wall & Floor Tiling or the new Tile Retail Diploma at a rate of £450 per employee.TTA is also offering £2,000 in funding to Tile Fixing members who successfully employ an apprentice who completes their apprenticeship and achieve an NVQ level 2. The £2,000 is paid over a two year period and is in addition to the funding the employer can receive from Construction Skills. www.tiles.org.uk Art on Tiles, the bespoke hand painted tile company, is planning a weekend tile painting course for 28th and 29th July at the Art on Tiles studio near Arundel in West Sussex.

Starting with blank, unglazed ceramic tiles, attendees will learn all the techniques needed to create single-décor tiles in the Delft tradition whilst taking in a brief history of this fascinating and enduringly fashionable craft.

Skills taught include, glazing, pricking out and transferring designs and the fairly exacting demands of painting onto raw glaze using the traditional natural pigments. A huge range of designs is available to choose from, many in the most recognisable blue created by cobalt on white tin-glaze, and some in a wider range of soft, natural colours which are also traditional.

Places are strictly limited and are available for £160 per person, including all materials, tools and refreshments. To find out more and to book readers should go to http://www.artontiles.co.uk/handmade-tiles-courses.

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TSJ MARCH 2012

SEAN MCPHEAT “If you had the chance to listen in to the sales people who make the least sales, and learn from them what not to do, would you take it? You bet your Granddad's last Werther's Original you would!

I've been gathering information that sums up what the worst sales people out there actually do, and it makes sad, depressing, hands-in-the-air, can't-believe-it reading.

Here are the first three of the seven of the biggest mistakes sales people make in trying to win business.

1. Fuzzy Preparation. It's amazing how many salespeople simply wing it and don't have the ability to state exactly what they are aiming for in the call. Imagine that the client says to you "In one minute, tell me what benefits you can uniquely bring to my business and how much better it will be if we partner up."

Could you do it? Yes, of course you could. Because you're wellprepared and your thinking is clear. You resist the temptation to simply fly by the seat of your pants, because you know what would happen if you did. You remember the saying ... "An amateur practices until he gets it right; a professional practices until he never gets it wrong."

2. The second big mistake is having a poor structure to the call. If you want the client to remember you, have some pearls of wisdom to discuss with your client at strategic points in the conversation.

Get some ideas to illustrate your points. Paint those pictures with words so the client knows exactly what you want them to remember afterwards. If you have a poor structure, they will get lost easily and have no inclination to take their interest further.

3. Mistake three is having nothing memorable to say. Have you ever watched a film and the next day couldn't even remember the title? I have. Many times. I always say I won't make the same mistake again, and I'll read reviews before going. But I'm always driven by the trailer, grabbed by the highlights. Then I realise that the trailer had all the best bits and I have to sit through two other hours of drivel.

Many salespeople make the mistake of just delivering drivel, with no highlights, nothing that stands out and makes the customer think: "Wow, this is great, I have to know more about this!" Have something memorable in your delivery that stands out. Otherwise the client will have to work it out for themselves. And that might not be possible. When asked "Who was that salesperson you saw yesterday, Frank?", you don't want them to say, "You know what, I don't remember!"

Next issue I’ll cover major mistakes from Four though to Seven.

In the meantime, happy selling!”

Sean McPheat is Managing Director of MTD Training. For further information please contact: 0800 849 6732 www.mtdsalestraining.com

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TTA NEWSLETTER

Book your place for the TTA Awards

The Minoli Team being presented with the Award for Excellence in Distribution in 2011.

Judging is now underway on the entries for The Tile Association Awards 2012. The shortlist will be announced in the next few weeks.

There has been a record number of entries across the 22 categories which celebrates the people, businesses, products and projects in the tile industry.

In the meantime places at the Awards Dinner are selling fast. As always the event promises to be an exhilarating night of excitement. Whether you are an award winner or not, you’ll experience the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas!

Tickets to the 2012 TTA Awards Dinner are available at £125 each or just £995 for a table of ten.

Hotel rooms are available locally at specially negotiated rates for guests attending the TTA Awards Dinner.

Full details can be found in the Awards 2012 section of the TTA website www.tiles.org.uk.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

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TSJ MARCH 2012

Web exposure continues to benefit TTA members In a difficult economic climate membership of The Tile Association continues to provide support, benefits and work referrals for its members.

At the end of 2011 website statistics for www.tiles.org.uk highlighted the success of the ‘Directory’ and ‘Find a Member’ sections of the TTA website, with both continuing to benefit both consumers and TTA members.

In 2011 hits to The Tile Association website peaked at a staggering 831,905 per month, with over 304,374 visits to member’s pages.

Average usage of the ‘Find a member’ section of the website increased year-on-year by an incredible 541%.

In a recent TTA survey Steve Hughes of TTA member Toms Tile and Stone commented: “The prime benefit I get from the TTA is work referrals. In this day and age many are suspicious of traders they do not know and TTA listing gives a high degree of confidence that they will get a quality job done. More and more people are using the internet and the TTA website for this purpose.”

It is evident that consumers continue to benefit from the exceptional service provided

by TTA members, and view The Tile Association website as the first point of call when embarking on any tiling project.

The Tile Association website www.tiles.org.uk

In the 2011 survey, Nick Hackett of TTA member Arrow Tiling said: “The main benefit for Arrow Tiling being a member of TTA is the assurance customers have when they know you are an award winning member of a reputable governing body they can trust.”

For over a decade The Tile Association has represented the whole of the UK wall and floor tile industry under one organisation. It has more than doubled in size since originally formed and continues in Its mission is to promote professionalism and technical standards in the tiling industry, as well as provide technical support to both members and their customers.

CE Marking of wall and floor tiles to become mandatory under Construction Products Regulation In July 2013 CE Marking of all construction products, including wall and floor tiles, will become mandatory under the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation.

CE Marking will have an effect on all sectors of the tile industry and it is important to understand the obligations of this new regulation so that you can plan ahead.

To ensure its members understand the changes to product certification and the importance of slip testing, The Tile Association will be hosting a seminar in conjunction with SATRA Technology Centre on

TSJMar12p18-20_TTA newsletter 01/03/2012 09:39 Page 3

TTA NEWSLETTER the 30th May 2012 at SATRA Technology Centre, Kettering.

The seminar, entitled ‘Construction Products Regulation – Important changes to product certification and an introduction to slip testing’ will be invaluable in achieving greater understanding and awareness of the changes the industry will be facing.

Slip, in particular, is an important characteristic of flooring products and although included within the essential requirements of the CPR a broader understanding of the different methods available and how results are classified will allow those attending to market products more successfully.

There will be an opportunity for attendees to see demonstrations of both the pendulum and the ramp after the seminar close at 15.00.

The cost to attend the Seminar is £80 plus VAT per person to include refreshments.

Contact info@tiles.org.uk to receive a booking form to reserve your place at this important event, which is exclusively open to Tile Association Members only.

Tilezine reaches landmark 1,000th subscriber Tilezine, the e-news source published by TTA, has reached the milestone of 1,000 subscribers.

Since its launch less than two years ago, readership has grown from zero to 1005 readers with another 1500 visiting Tilezine's website every month to catch up on the latest industry news.

Tilezine was launched with the aim of being a free electronic newspaper for the tile industry and we are delighted that so many see Tilezine as THE place to find out latest news.

TTA exhibits at Ecobuild The Tile Association will be at Ecobuild, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built, which runs at London’s ExCeL exhibition Centre from 20 – 22 March 2012.

We look forward to welcoming you to our stand S752 20

TSJ MARCH 2012

Many benefits of TTA membership The Tile Association offers a number of membership benefits to all members. This is a listing of all the benefits on offer and how to make use of them.

Credit information: Regular credit information meetings are held in the north Midlands and Surrey; details of which are issued to all Manufacturer, Agent, FSO and Distributor members. Credit checks can be carried out for members FOC on request. The checking is carried out using an online facility and information will be supplied by email only. If you prefer to undertake your own online credit checks RiskDisk offer discounted credit checking facilities for members. Contact them on 01623 869 882.

Currency exchange: Competitive rates on currency exchange when purchasing product from outside the UK. Contact Currency Matters Ltd on 0800 458 6736 and provide your membership number.

Debit and credit card rates: Under an arrangement with Barclays Merchant Services the following rates are offered to TTA members on debit/credit card machines: Terminal Rental £15 + VAT per month; 1.2% for personal cards, 1.8% for company cards, and 20p per item.

Existing Barclay’s customers should contact their local BMS helpline. Other members should contact Barclays Merchant Services on 0800 616161 quoting their TTA membership number.

Directory and website listings: TTA member’s names and contact information are listed in the TTA Directory and on the website, together with tile ranges and services offered.

Member’s details are issued daily to potential customers. Jan 2012 Employment: TTA members can take advantage of free advice on employment law, industrial relations, wage awards for specialist contractors, by telephoning Croner Consulting on 0844 249 9873. Please say that you are a TTA member when calling. You may be asked for a password: contact the TTA office.

General information: The TTA can offer help and assistance with most matters relating to running your business. Contact the TTA for help.

Generic promotion: The Tile Association is actively promoting the use of wall and floor tile to all tile customers. PR cover includes national press, trade and consumer magazines, radio and TV programmes.

Health and safety: For advice, please call the health and safety helpline on 0844 249 9874.

Please say you are a TTA member when calling and provide the required monthly password, available from the TTA office.

Insurance: Under an arrangement with The Clear Group, members can take advantage of

discounts in the region of 10-15% on the following insurances: • Public Liability for the self employed Latent Defects Insurance Performance Bonds Property Public, Products & Employers Liability • Engineering Insurance for fork lift trucks, etc.

• Commercial Vehicle/Fleet insurance Marine Cargo Insurance • Commercial Legal Expenses For further information contact Peter Crouch or Katie Magri on 02076182920. Please say you are a TTA member when calling. Non VAT-registered fixers are eligible for £1m public liability cover. (This excludes members in N. Ireland).

Proposal forms are available from the TTA office.

Legal advice: Under an arrangement with NSCC TTA members can have access to free legal advice on any matters relating to their businesses. An initial telephone consultation will be free of charge, further advice or help may be chargeable. For further information contact Wedlake Bell on 08442499871. Ask for the NSCC helpline and provide the necessary monthly password, available from the TTA office.

Retention recovery: Under an arrangement with Stellar Recovery, TTA specialist contractors have discounted rates on recovering Retentions owed to them. For further information contact Darren Brook at Stellar Retention Recovery Ltd. Tel: 0844 335 8352 or email: darren@stellarretentionrecovery.co.uk Sector meeting: Meetings for all TTA sectors are held around the country on an ad hoc basis.

Details are issued as appropriate.

Technical matters: Members can contact the Tile Association for technical advice.

Independent Technical Inspections can also be offered at discounted rates by contacting the TTA office.

Tile & Stone Journal and Contract Flooring Journal Copies of Tile & Stone Journal and Contract Flooring Journal are issued free of charged to all TTA Members. TTA administers the scheme direct with the publishers on member’s behalf.

TTA publications: TTA members receive free copies of the Annual TTA Directory and technical publications that apply to their sector.

PoS: Point of Sale material is also available.

Please contact TTA for a publications order form.

The Tile Association T: 020 8663 0946 F: 020 8663 0949 E: info@tiles.org.uk W: www.tiles.org.uk

TSJMar12p22-24_feature 01/03/2012 09:40 Page 2

DESIGN TRENDS

Above: RAK Ceramics manufactured and supplied tiles and slabs for staircases, bathroom vanity units and staircases for Radisson Edwardian Hotels’ 4 star Mercer Street Hotel refurbishment in London’s Covent Garden.

Paradox porcelain floor tiles, with their highly contemporary semipolished metallic finish, where chosen by the designer to add ambience and give a luxury look to floors throughout the hotel.

Careful raw material selection is the key to product performance In the third in a series of exclusive articles for TSJ, Abdulla Mahmood, Head of Marketing & Communications at the world’s largest tile manufacturer, RAK Ceramics, looks at the impact of the raw materials used in the manufacturing process on the technical performance and aesthetic appeal of tiles. oday’s discerning tile buyers demand products of the highest quality. They also demand variety and product ranges that keep pace with consumer trends. In order to fulfill these demands, the ability to source quality raw materials is key to ensuring that the product performs to the level of excellence required – and that it fulfils aesthetic demands too.

One raw material that has a major influence on the quality of a tile is the pigment. Pigments are used to create aesthetic decorative effects in ceramic tile surface glazes. In unglazed porcelain tiles, often known as ‘through body’ tiles, colour pigments are used throughout the body of the tile.

T

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TSJ MARCH 2012

Insoluble and inorganic, pigments are black, white or coloured they are mixed with a base glaze to create the desired colouration. Premium quality materials exhibit a number of important characteristics, including thermal and chemical stability, which ensure that a tile is durable and that tones are consistent.

As well as achieving different aesthetics, different pigments are used for different application environments. They’re also selected according to their PH value, which defines their density, refractive index, hardness, colour and firing efficiency.

Selecting the best quality pigment available is a very challenging process, so quality-driven manufacturers must be committed to making significant

TSJMar12p22-24_feature 01/03/2012 09:40 Page 4

DESIGN TRENDS

Top right Radisson Edwardian Hotels, RAK Ceramics’ floor tiles were used in Radisson Edwardian Hotels Mercer Street Hotel refurbishment in London’s Covent Garden.

Above: Modern tile production is dependent on exacting raw material standards.

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investments in this area. If poor quality pigments are used, major variations in tone can occur. Colours may also fade, especially in direct sunlight. The quality of the other raw materials will also have a great bearing on the end product. For example, clays, feldspar, quartz, sand and carbonates.

Obtaining raw materials from suppliers who maintain their own mines and processing plants is the ideal scenario, as quality standards can be carefully controlled. Having access to locally-sourced materials, such as clay and limestone, can also create significant cost savings that can be passed on to the customer.

At RAK, we source our raw materials from Europe, the Far East, Asia and the UAE. Each supplier has to pass stringent quality standards to ensure that we’re able to maintain our global track record in terms of quality and performance.

TSJ MARCH 2012

All incoming raw materials must adhere to agreed and approved specifications. Before bulk orders are placed with any supplier, we follow a meticulous procedure that includes thoroughly studying the supplier’s profile and product specifications. The supplier is also required to submit a small sample for preliminary laboratory trials. If the material passes the rigorous lab tests, a larger quantity is requested for semiindustrial testing. If strict benchmarks are fulfilled, a full container is then ordered for final bulk commercial trials. It is only after this stage of negotiation that bulk orders are placed, in accordance with ISO 9001:2008 and in-house quality control and assurance standards.

As well as taking great care to ensure that all raw materials are premium quality, customer education is also vital. Highlighting the importance of sourcing quality ingredients enables consumers to make the right purchasing decision. This, in turn, has a favourable impact on our industry as a whole increasing expectations and reinforcing the importance of quality throughout the supply chain.

Established in 1991, RAK Ceramics is the world's largest manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles. Its product portfolio also includes ceramic sinks, sanitary ware, brassware and acrylic baths, with products currently exported to more than 150 countries.

For more information, contact Kevin Jackson, UK National Tile Sales Manager, on 07891 475364 or email kevin.j@rakceramics.co.uk. Or RAK Ceramics UK: 01730 237850 www.rakceramics.co.uk

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SITE REPORT

Good all round performance at Edgbaston

Edgbaston cricket ground, where products from Schlüter-Systems have been installed.

Schlüter-Schiene and Schlüter-Reno finishing threshold profiles, and Schlüter-Dilex movement joints, were all recently installed in the entrance area at Egbaston cricket ground.

The entrance area at Edgbaston cricket ground, where products from Schlüter-Systems were installed.

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TSJ MARCH 2012

Products from the Schlüter-Schiene and Schlüter-Reno range of finishing threshold profiles along with movement joints from the Schlüter-Dilex series were recently installed around the stadium entrance, toilets and players changing rooms at Edgbaston cricket ground, offering the perfect protection and ensuring England players and fans should be able to enjoy this summer’s matches against the West Indies, Australia and South Africa without worrying that the tiling beneath their feet will disappoint.

Carl Stokes, Divisional Manager, says: “Thousands of cricket fans will be able to watch the England team at Edgbaston this summer but what they won’t know is that our products have ensured the perfect delivery when it comes to tile protection. Using our extensive range of movement joints, edging and transition profiles and decorative tile trims provides customers with a whole host of different options when it comes to creating the perfect, long-lasting tile installation and ensures there will be no sudden collapses.”

“Much like the greatest all-rounders in cricket can perform well in all aspects of the game,”continues Stokes, “the Schlüter-Systems portfolio is effective in a whole range of different installations, allowing our customers to edge ahead, rather than edge behind with their tiling project. No matter the size of the job, distributors and retailers can be on the front foot and offer tried and tested solutions to their customers.”

“Products from Schlüter-Systems are amongst the most regular we use in projects and we find them particularly straightforward to install and very effective, “ says Rob Meechan, from Birmingham Tile & Mosaic, which installed these products.

Schlüter-Schiene is the original finishing threshold profile and offers the perfect protection. It finishes tiled surfaces and protects the outer edges of ceramic and natural stone floor coverings from mechanical impact. The threshold strips of the Schlüter-Reno series create a smooth transition before adjoining floor coverings at different heights, protecting the exposed tile edge. All profiles are available in a range of heights and finishes such as brass, aluminium, anodised aluminium, stainless steel and brushed stainless steel and contribute to the aesthetic and lasting appearance of the floor covering.

Movement joints from the Schlüter-Dilex range offer secure edge protection and maintenance free solutions for surfaces exposed to continuous pedestrian and vehicular traffic. All profiles are installed at the same time as the tile covering and a wide variety in various material combinations are available, depending on the mechanical or chemical stresses expected on the covering.

Schlüter-Systems also supplies a range of tile trim profiles that are designed to provide a decorative finish and protect exposed tile edges for wall corners, skirting and tiled edges. The products in the Schlüter-Jolly, Schlüter-Rondec, and Schlüter-Quadec and Schlüter-ECK ranges create not just a decorative finish, but also a highly durable finish. With numerous material, heights, colour and finish options available, the sky really is the limit when it comes to creativity with these profiles.

Birmingham Tile & Mosaic Co 0121 707 4505 www.btandm.co.uk Schlüter-Systems 01530 813396 www.schluter.co.uk

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DESIGN RESOURCE

Johnson Tiles marks new product launch with three-part interactive display concept Stoke-based tile manufacturer Johnson Tiles has created a visually-engaging showcase of its past, present and future with the launch of three new interactive spaces at its Tunstall head offices.

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Above: The new tile library at Johnson Tiles.

Above: The Minton Two room focuses on trends.

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toke-on-Trent ceramics manufacturer Johnson Tiles may be over 100 years old but it’s set to showcase its past, present and future with the launch of three new interactive spaces at its Tunstall head offices, including one which will act as a hub to celebrate British design and creativity in the North West.

The new spaces – to mark the launch of the company’s new Vivid & Tones tile range for the high street are designed to take visitors on a journey demonstrating just how far the company has come, reflecting its modern, forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation in the tile industry.

The ‘Minton One’ meeting area – complete with state-of-the-art multimedia facilities and a centrepiece table topped with the company’s new Slim Porcelain tiles - tells the story of the history of Johnso n Tiles since its launch in 1901, under the ethos of ‘honouring the past by looking to the future’.

The ‘Minton Two’ room focuses on trend and it’s where Johnson Tiles is inviting designers in the region to display their products to demonstrate innovation, not just in the ceramics and tile industry but across any material.

The area already features sofas by bespoke design company James UK, which use fabrics sourced from another British design firm Camira, and Johnson Tiles is hoping the space will attract other small design companies.

‘Minton Two’ is also where Johnson Tiles’ Design and Development team will give its retail and contract clients an idea of what’s coming in the industry, including latest products and new trends to inspire their projects.

The third space is 'The Tile Library' displaying many of Johnson Tiles’ most popular ranges, including its new Vivid & Tones tile range, and has been created to make tile selection easy with workbenches and numbered board displays to match up Johnson Tiles’ extensive range.

As visitors travel around the spaces, they’ll also view some of Johnson Tiles’ recently completed projects and a heritage tile display, showing the historic work and modern techniques n ow applied by the company.

TSJMar12p28-30_feature 01/03/2012 09:42 Page 2

DESIGN RESOURCE

Above: James UK’s furnishings have been used in one of Johnson Tiles’ new spaces.

Above: Colourful samples abound in the new tile library.

Above: Some of the many samples in the tile library.

Above: The Minton Two space.

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Darren Clanford, Creative Director at Johnson Tiles, spearheaded the project. He says: “The ceramics and tile industry is hugely exciting in terms of design and innovation, and we wanted to reflect this at our headquarters by really showing people what we can do, what we have done and where we’re going in future years.

“We’ve been around a long time but we’re not an old-fashioned company. Many of the desi gns and solutions we offer are so contemporary and modern, you wouldn’t think they would be possible to achieve.”

“The new interactive spaces are truly inspiring.

We’re especially excited about Minton Two which will not only show off our own design capabilities but those by other local companies, helping to spread the message that the North West is at the forefront of innovation in design.”

Stephen Dixon, Managing Director of Johnson Tiles, adds: “We’re really shouting about what we can do through these new spaces, it’s an exciting time for us as a company as we launch our new range. The spaces give us the flexibility to adapt and change what we’re showcasing as the industry moves into the future.”

James Harrison, from James UK, says: “It’s a privilege for our furnishings to be used in one of Johnson Tiles ’ new spaces. Displaying our products in such a creative setting really shows them off, it’s great for us as a small design company that our sofas will be seen and actively used by the many retail and contract clients which Johnson Tiles has.” www.johnson-tiles.com

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SITE REPORT

Above: The light and lofty Grand Gallery, relieved of the burden of housing commercial facilities, has been returned to its original exhibiting function.

Photography: Paul-Riddle.com

Low dust restoration programme at National Museum of Scotland Plunkett Tiling was contracted to undertake 3,000 sq. metres of work to the entrance hall, Grand Gallery, and the show-piece staircases leading off the Gallery, fitting natural Jura Beige limestone tiles using Weber adhesives.

Saint-Gobain Weber’s innovative Low Dust and Mould Stop Technologies have been used by P. Plunkett Tiling Contractors Limited of Northumberland in the restoration programme of the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. This project has now achieved the Andrew Doolan award for The Best Building in Scotland 2011.

The £47 million, three year project by Gareth Hoskins Architects of Glasgow, has seen a complete reconfiguration of the internal space. The museum is now

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accessed at street level by a new vaulted entry hall rather than the original flight of stone steps leading from Chambers Street.

The floor of the new hall, which accommodates the shop, café and rest rooms, provides a wonderful new space which mirrors the floor plan of the Grand Gallery above. The vaults are compressed and dark while the Grand Gallery is light and lofty and now, relieved of the burden of housing commercial facilities, is returned to its original exhibiting function.

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SITE REPORT

Plunkett Tiling specified 40 tonnes of Saint-Gobain weber.set rapid SPF with Low Dust Technology to dramatically reduce airborne dust created during the project.

Plunkett also used weber.joint fine flex, a water-repellent, mould resistant, flexible tile grout in this application.

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In transforming the vaulted entrance hall, previously a mess of storage areas, the entire sandstone floor was reduced by over a metre, requiring extensive underpinning of the walls that take the load of the Grand Gallery.

Plunkett Tiling, one of the largest tiling contractors in the UK, was contracted to undertake 3,000 sq. metres of work to the entrance hall, Grand Gallery, and the showpiece staircases leading off the Gallery, using natural Jura Beige limestone tiles. This stone is one of the hardest limestones quarried today, offering ultimate durability at roughly 20mm thick, and can be used in any premium commercial project. It is unique in that the Jura mountains of Germany are in one of the few regions with a very high concentration of fossils and ammonites which can be seen in the cross section of the tile.

Steven Allsopp, Contracts Director of Plunkett Tiling, is delighted with the contribution his team has made in the restoration of Robert Matheson and Francis Fowke’s 1866 Victorian creation. “We had six of our most experienced and skilled fixers on this project working full time for nine months. We have laid 2,500 sq. metres of 20mm thick limestone slabs to the Galleries, fixed to a sand and cement screed, and 90mm thick limestone stair treads which were drilled and fixed to steel. There are radial features on six half landings which took very precise application,” says Allsopp.

Plunkett Tiling specified the use of 40 tonnes of SaintGobain Weber.Set Rapid SPF with Low Dust Technology (LDT). LDT dramatically reduces airborne dust created during the pouring and preparation of products and contributes to a more comfortable and cleaner environ-

TSJ MARCH 2012

ment for tile contractors and their customers. Plunkett also used Weber.Joint Fine Flex, a water-repellent, mould resistant, flexible tile grout for interior and exterior use, in this application. It is ideal in situations where some movement or vibration is expected. It is also enhanced with Saint-Gobain Weber’s Mould Stop Technology for lasting protection from mould growth.

Both products are manufactured in the UK at SaintGobain Weber’s three manufacturing locations in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland; Flitwick, Bedfordshire and Telford, Shropshire.

“Having capacity to manufacture locally is good on all counts,” says Rachel Appleyard, Product Manager at Saint-Gobain Weber. “We can maintain product quality and consistency while ensuring the shortest route to market, which is good for our environmental impact and competitive pricing policies.”

The alteration of the museum’s interior space is part of the plan to encourage discovery starting from the top of the building. Only 5% of visitors ever explored the top floor which is now accessed by new stairs, glass lifts and escalators which invite visitors to follow them upwards.

In addressing the overall brief and to increase public space by 50%, some 80% of the exhibits will now be displayed for the first time in the grand National Museum of Scotland.

P Plunkett Tiling Contractors 01661 836 960 www.plunketttiling.co.uk Saint-Gobain Weber 0870 333 0070 www.netweber.co.uk

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS Aberdeen Tile Distributors 01224 582332

Procurement by the pallet

ABS International 01704 550090

TSJ surveys an extensive selection of specialist tiling distributors serving retailers in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Bellahouse Ltd was established in February 2006. A family run company whose directors between them have over 35 years’ experience in the ceramic tile industry. Quality, price and service are the three essential elements in our business. In order to sell the best high end products at such low prices, a considerable amount of time and cost has been spent visiting and negotiating with many and varied suppliers from around the world. We believe our products offer exceptional value for money.

Engineered quartz, granite, travertine, porcelain, marble and glass represent the best and most fashionable materials for walls and floors.

AG Ceramics 01438 315400 Albert & Michael Heath 0800 980 8453 Amazing Tiles 020 8838 4900

Established in 1991, Camglass imports glass, tiles and sanitaryware.

Our warehouse stocks an extensive range of natural stone, ceramic and porcelain, including also holding a substantial supply of glass. Due to the convenience of its location it enables the opportunity for immediate despatch. At Camglass we are passionate about working to the highest of standards, we meticulously select only the best from reputable suppliers. With the support from our exclusive suppliers we can offer sole distribution rights to a variety of products.

Capitol Tile Supplies 02476 633336

Apex Grange Ltd 14 Little Mundells, Mundells Industrial Centre Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1EW T: 01707 338800 F: 01707 338811 E: sales@apexgrange.com W: www.apexgrange.com Apex Grange are an established company who supply the tile and natural stone industry with all aspects of adhesives and tooling. They have become synonymous within the industry for supplying the professional contractor with all of their requisites except for the tiles themselves.

Apex Grange make daily deliveries to sites within the M25 with their own fleet of vehicles, ranging from 15 tonne lorries to Transit vans. The rest of the UK is catered for by a national courier service.

Apex Grange are main UK distributors for: Ardex; Mapei; Schluter; Wedi; HardieBacker; Sait, and many more.

Armatile 02837 527007 Atlas Ceramics (South) 01425 621173 Azurra Mosaics 0845 090 8110 BC Ceramics 01634 373939

Ceramexcel 01698 744044 Bellegrove Ceramics Bellegrove House, Salisbury Road Watling Street, Dartford, Kent DA2 6EF Tel: 01322 277877 Lawmoor Street, Glasgow G5 0TY Tel: 0141 429 0011 sales@bellegroveceramics.plc.uk www.bellegroveceramics.co.uk Bellegrove has been a national distributor of ceramic tiles and associated products for over 50 years. During this time the company has supplied products to most sectors of the ceramic tile market including retailers and distributors, architects and developers, designers and house builders, contractors and specifiers. As part of the Italian manufacturing group, Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti, Bellegrove offers the widest range of quality porcelain and ceramic tiles direct from its own factories: exceptional tiles combining the essential elements of quality and design with dynamic styling at affordable prices.

Ceramic Tile Warehouse (Camberley) 01276 678845

Bernard J Arnull 020 8965 6094

Dantotsu Ltd 01924 401189

Boyden & Co 020 8683 6000

Discount Tile Supplies 01474 351560

Ceramique Internationale 0113 231 0218 Colchester Tile Supplies 01206 844161 Cosmo Ceramics 0141 420 1122 Craven Dunnill 01746 761611 CTD Group 0191 276 1506

Bristol Tile Co Ltd Tel: 0117 965 8000

Bellahouse Ltd Registered Office, Upper Lanes Farm Bridle Stile Lane, off Carter Lane, Queensbury, Bradford West Yorkshire BD13 1NW Tel: +44 (0)1274 816708 Fax +44 (0)1274 816927 enquiries@bellahouse.co.uk www.bellahouse.co.uk

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Camglass Little Hallingbury Park, Bishops Stortford Hertfordshire CM22 7RR Tel: 01279 739256 info@camglass.co.uk www.camglass.co.uk

Distribution Supplies Ltd 30 - 36 Ivatt Way, Westwood Industrial Estate Peterborough PE3 7PN Tel: 01733 33033 www.distribution-supplies.co.uk Distribution Supplies Ltd. is a specialist importer of quality ceramic wall and floor tiles from key manufacturers located throughout the world.

Our speciality is China & we buy in huge quantity therefore achieving a

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS very low cost price, which enables us to offer a trade selling price that would be similar to buying from most factories direct! Our customers are able to buy from us at ex-factory prices on a single pallet basis delivered to their premises without concerns about importation costs.

We stock massive quantities at our Peterborough and Cambridge warehouses and can offer excellent continuity of supply with pallets delivered ‘next day’ if required. We have over 1,000,000 square feet of storage space and carry over 3,000 pallets of tiles.

Our product portfolio of first quality ceramic wall tiles covers virtually the entire spectrum from mosaic's through to 325 by 650mm with listellos and decors. We also stock a large range of ‘stand alone’ listellos and dados. Our floor tile range is equally impressive covering sizes from 150 by 150mm through to 600 by 600mm with ceramics, porcelains, terracottas, travertines and slates.

Distribution Supplies Ltd are able to supply a single pallet to a full trailer at just 24 hours notice with the benefit of an ex-factory price delivered to the customer from our warehouse. We currently have suppliers in Brazil,Spain,Turkey,Italy,China,India,Indonesia and France We have over 20 years’ experience in the bulk supply market with a particular expertise in direct container consignments.

Domus Tiles 020 8481 9500 Doramics 00 353 1 8429744

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DTW Ceramics 02392 799007 A & C Dunkley 01202 526206

East Midlands Ceramics Ltd Southglade Business Park, Hucknall Road Nottingham NG5 9RA Tel: 0115 977 0155 emc@emctiles.co.uk www.emctiles.co.uk East Midlands Ceramics, now in its 32nd year of business, has established an unrivalled reputation for servicing the needs of its trade, contract and commercial partners. Operating from central flagship premises in Nottingham, the company is ideally placed to service and distribute within the Nottingham, Leicester and Derby regions.

EMC Tiles has a dedicated Trade Service Centre to keep its tile fixers and commercial customers up to date - and organizes regular training sessions to keep professionals in touch with new products and standards.

EMC Tiles’ comprehensive portfolio of products meets the demands of all domestic and commercial sectors. The company works closely with architects and designers to source the right products for all applications and offers a wealth of experience and expertise associated with tile development and related materials.

Selected suppliers: AET, Arkim, Ascot, BASF, BCT, Blustyle Ceramica, Bright Ideas, Cinca, Co-Em, Co-Operative d'lmola, DeVi, Dolce Vita, Dom Ceramiche, Duro UK, Edimax, Faro, Fioranese, Gardenia Orchidea, Geocell, HG, Ibero, Impex, Johnson Tiles, La Faenza, Mapei, Marengo, Novogres, Original Style, Pavigres, PCI, Pilkington's Tiles, Rubi, Schluter, Self, Sichenia, Thermonet, Tomecanic, Versace, Waxman, Weber.

Euro Services Ltd (ESL) Head Office, Unit 2c, Twickenham Trading Estate Rugby Road, Twickenham TW1 1DG Tel: 020 8744 1122 Fax: 020 8744 0099 eslceramic@euroroserviceslimited.co.uk www.eurotilesandstone.com

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS ESL has been in business for over 30 years, and is the original bulk pallet distributor throughout the U.K. and Ireland. Our product portfolio is continually being updated to keep abreast of new trends and styles our products cover the complete spectrum, from basic whites to high quality Polished Porcelain, Natural Stone and Mosaics. The company is proud of its core strategy of sourcing value-added product at highly competitive prices from exclusive factory relationships.

ESL has over 60,000 sq. ft of warehousing based in Essex and can deliver next day to any mainland address. We have three showrooms based in Twickenham,Stevenage and Braintree where you can view our extensive portfolio.There are over 100 fully tiled display settings across the three sites. ESL employs eight of the most experienced sales managers in the country. Our own brands are Colour Tiles and Sunshine.

Euxton Tile Supplies 01257 273111 Factory Tiles 01825 768733 Focus Ceramics 01932 854881 HTW Hampshire Tile Warehouse 01252 333333

H & E Smith Ltd 01782 281617 International Tiles 01626 366600 KDP Tiles 02380 270775

With additional branches in Hertfordshire and Australia, the company has become truly global and uses its purchasing power to bring some amazing products at realistic prices to the marketplace.

M2 Direct Ltd 0113 273 2104 Mansell & Wells 01442 252560 Fax: 01442 254393 Marabase 01234 364002 (See Quality Tiles)

The London Tile and Mosaic Co. Saffron Wharf, 18, Shad Thames. London SE1 T: 0207 871 0003 F: 0207 118 0139.

E:- info@londontileandmosaic.com W: - www.londontileandmosaic.com The London Tile and Mosaic Co. is the showpiece for Mansell and Wells ltd and prides itself in having the most innovative range of tiles at the most competitive prices in the UK. Three floors of porcelain, ceramics and mosaics. The UK’s largest importer of glass tiles and mosaics. Specialising in Mosaic. Murals and special order commissions. The company carries over 2000 tons in stock

Middlesex Tile Centre Newport Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 8JX T: 020 8848 7391 F: 020 8569 1050 / 020 8561 5435 W: www.wilsonwylie.co.uk E: mtc@wilsonwylie.co.uk MTC is the retail arm of Wilson & Wylie Contracts Limited, a well established name in the tile industry with a history spanning over 85 years.

MTC really is a ‘one stop shop’ for the tile industry. We are stockists of

MARCH 2012 TSJ

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS BAL, Mapei and PCI adhesives, grouts and ancillary products, Schlüter accessories and Rubi tiling tools. We also have direct accounts with all of the UK’s manufacturers and European tile agents, ensuring that no product is out of our reach!

We are situated in Hayes, close to the M4, M25 and M40 motorways, making us easily accessible to customers from London and all the surrounding areas. We also have our own transport, meaning that direct delivery within the M25 can be offered to the customer.

Shackerley (Holdings) Group 01257 273114

Miles of Tiles 01926 312777

Solus Ceramics 0121 753 0777

Minoli 01865 77 82 25

Square Foot Ceramics 020 8397 6284

N&C Nicobond 0208 586 4600

Stokes Tiles 0114 2512670

National Tile 00 353 42 933 7678

Strata Tiles 0870 608 8878

Nationwide Ceramics 01773 745797

Studio Ceramics 01636 673527

Novatile 01384 270786

Surface Tiles 020 8481 9588

Olympus Tiles 020 7511 6210

Swedecor 01482 329691

Pacesetter 1981 01624 622045

Taylor Tiles 01792 797712

Parkside Tiles 01162 762532

The Ceramic & Stone Company 01564 773202

Prospec Tiles 0115 939 5903

The Natural Tile & Stone Company 01579 362264

Sidcup Tile King 020 8309 0482 Siramics 01706 351122

Pure Adhesion 01423 815416 QPC Ceramics 0118 959 4066 Quality Tiles 01234 217300.

Reed Harris 0207 736 7511

Tile Merchants Unit 39 Pony Road, Horspath Industrial Estate Cowley, Oxford OX4 2RD T: 01865 600098 F: 01865 711710 We pride ourselves with having one of the most comprehensive selections of the latest cutting edge designer ranges of porcelain and ceramic tiles, in addition to a range of well over 100 different specialist mosaic sheets in glass/stone and metallic combinations.

We have comprehensive mosaic brochure which we would be pleased to send you upon application, and we have a unique

Rogers Ceramics 01293 612057 Rovic Tiles 01732 763167 Rustica 01235 834192

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counter display unit that displays every single mosaic model which we would be happy to supply FOC to selected outlets. We have a comprehensive national salesforce and we would be happy to visit and client to introduce our ranges and to discuss pallet offers and better than ex factory prices in many instances. We are also happy to discuss regional exclusivity on a product by product bases and we can offer a full portfolio of white wall tiles in nearly all finishes and all size combinations. To arrange a visit or simply to make a product enquiry just contact us!

Tile North East 01670 716767 Tile Store 08452 606025 Tiles UK 0161 872 5155 Tilestyle + 353 1 855 5200

Trade Price Stone Ltd. Hilton Business Park, The Mease Hilton, Derbyshire DE65 5FJ T: 01283 734990 F: 01283 734744 W: www.tradepricestoneltd.co.uk E: sales@tradepricestoneltd.co.uk Trade Price Stone are the UK’s leading importers of Brazilian Slate and Portuguese Limestone. Stocking up to 30,000 sq. metres at any one time and averaging six containers of stock per week, we are well placed to deliver, ex-stock, a full range of products in a range of size and colour options including mosaics.

Situated in the heart of England we are perfectly placed to deliver outstanding products, at amazing prices, often on a Next Day basis. We also offer a range of free services to support our trade only customers including: • The best trade prices • Monthly offers by Newsletter • Free samples of all products (100 by 100mm) • Full product and after sales support • Samples direct to you or your client with your logo on all documentation, so it looks like you sent it • Full catalogue of valuable Point of Sale products without our branding.

• The same with deliveries; all branded with your logo and contact details • Timed delivery roll out, reducing the risk of theft from site for larger projects.

• Free sample pallet with full sized sample of every product.

• Samples beautifully packaged. All we charge is the P&P. Trademark Tiles Ltd 01487 825300

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS Travertine Direct 0845 604 45 34

Tyne Tees Ceramics Ltd Office & Warehouse Address: Unit F20, The Avenues, 11th Avenue North, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead NE11 0NJ Tel:-0191 491 0555 Fax: 0191 482 6298 sales@tyneteesceramics.co.uk http://www.tyneteesceramics.t83.net/ New Showroom Address: Unit 14, Perth Court 11th Avenue North, Heam Valley Trading Estate Gateshead NE11 0JY Tel: 0191 491 0555 Fax: 0191 482 6298 With over 28 years in business; family run firm Tyne Tees Ceramics pride themselves on an unrivalled product portfolio and a friendly professional service.

They are the largest independent distributor on the north east and service the North East, Scotland, Yorkshire & Cumbria from their depot on the Team Valley.

Sourcing and importing ceramics, porcelain, mosaics and glass from some of the most prestigious factories in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Supplying developments such as Lumley Castle & Coombe Abbey; Tyne Tees Ceramics and firmly secured their place as one of the North’s leading firms.

There new showroom is now located at Perth Court on the Team Valley, with rages to suit all.

Selected suppliers; Aurellia, C.I.R, CE.VI.CA, Colorker, Del Conca, El Barco, Gambarelli, Keraben, Metropol, Mosavit, Pastorelli, Serenissima, Tau Ceramica, Zirconio

Verona Stone 10 Armley Road, Leeds West Yorkshire LS12 2DR T: 0113 244 4984 Fax: 0113 244 4787 E: sales@veronastonecompany.com W: www.veronastonecompany.com Verona are leading distributors of natural stone tiles and mosaics, glass mosaics, porcelain and sealants. For over 10 years Verona has consistently supplied 1st select and commercial quality stone, glass and porcelain at fantastic prices.

Although Verona’s pricing is extremely competitive on room-lot size orders they offer significant further discounting on pallet deals and bulk-stock mosaic orders, for example, Honed and Filled travertine in pallet lots delivered for £9.95 per square meter, or ’10 box’ deals on contemporary glass mosaics from £2.95 per sheet, delivered. In fact, all orders over £75 are delivered free of charge, with a premium next day

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service available for last minute orders.

Verona supports their retailers with high quality merchandising and branding including several bespoke stands and a modular glass and stone mosaic stand, supported with quality POS merchandising and a high quality brochure. Verona’s area managers work closely with their customers in order to ensure that every square foot of shop floor space displaying Verona’s catalogue is optimised to maximise sales potential.

In 2012 Verona Stone Company have improved their infrastructure by acquiring additional warehousing and are significantly expanded their catalogue; bringing in over 75 new lines including a comprehensive collection of porcelain in various sizes and finishes and an expanded glass mosaic catalogue, all at incredible prices.

can provide the most competitive prices on products from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, India and the Far East. We also supply all the leading UK manufacturers’ tiling products, from our main distribution centre in Northamptonshire, with our fast and efficient nationwide delivery service. Our customer portfolio extends from national DIY stores to independent tile merchants, from house builders to architectural practices.

This is all underpinned by our excellent management and support staff to maintain our service to all our customers.

Selected Suppliers : BCT, Johnson Tiles, Rubi, BAL, Bostik, Genesis, Mapei, Norcross Adhesives, Ceramica Vilar Albaro, Settecento, Tau Ceramica, Gambarelli Group, Marrazi, STN Ceramica, Porcelanosa Group, Pamesa Ceramica, Pavigres Grupa, Halcon Ceramicas, Versace, Villeroy & Boch Waxman Ceramics Ltd 01422 311331

Walls and Floors Henson Way, Kettering NN16 8PX 01536 410484 www.wallsandfloors.co.uk salesoffice@wallsandfloors.uk.com Walls and Floors Limited, is the leading UK independent national tile distributor. We import and stock the widest range of tiles for both domestic and commercial applications. Products include ceramic, natural stone, porcelain, mosaics, and quarry tiles. We source globally and

World’s End Tiles 0207 819 2100 Yorkshire Tile Company 0113 279 4611

Not listed?

Send your details by e-mail to the editorial department. tandsjournal@aol.com

Villeroy & Boch is distributed by Walls & Floors. The range shown above is Classic Glam.

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TILE DISTRIBUTORS

PROFILE: Craven Dunnill TSJ shines the spotlight on Bridgnorth-based distributor Craven Dunnill.

Craven Dunnill is a distributor of ceramic wall and floor tiles plus relevant ancillary products. It has its headquarters at Bridgnorth, which includes a 760 sq. metre, showroom and 2,600 sq. metre warehouse and distribution centre.

Prime manufacturers represented and stocked by Craven Dunnill include Colorker, Edimax, Imola Ceramic, Johnsons including Minton Hollins, Mapisa, Marazzi, Tagina, Venus Ceramica, Vitra plus ancillary products from BAL, Bostik, Dunlop, Profix, HG Systems, DEVI underfloor heating, Schlüter Systems, Genesis and PTC. Craven Dunnill also works closely with its sister company Craven Dunnill Jackfield, which manufactures bespoke tiles and is well known in the restoration sector.

Key sectors Craven Dunnill distributes to Retailers is in the west of England and Wales. It also offers a comprehensive, national service to the commercial/contract sector including new home developers, architects, designers, building and flooring contractors. Services available include a full CAD design service for architects and designers, exclusive product, stock holding, daily on-site delivery, extensive showroom with a trade sales counter.

The company has recently announced a new service, in association with its sister company Craven Dunnill Jackfield, which provides the technical expertise and project management skills for the making and installation of bespoke murals and decorative panels.

New products The company offers a wide selection of over 10,000 wall and floor tiles in its Renaissance Collection, which are regularly updated and all of which are held in stock. In 2011 alone the company introduced over 60 new series of tiles across the spectrum of glazed and unglazed porcelain, decorative wall tiles and mosaics, the latter proving particularly strong for sales during 2011. The most recent new product introductions include: Weekend is the new lifestyle range of ceramic wall tiles; the range combines the latest fashionable brick shaped tiles 300 by 100mm with undulating, plaster effect texturing, soft neutral palette and innovative micro mosaic effect (Struttura), in an understated satin finish.

The Delft range of wall tiles from Craven Dunnill has a refreshing, natural appeal with delicate, overlapping leaves strewn across the 600 by 300mm tiles. Creating a subtle, decorative element to either a bathroom or kitchen, the Davinci tiles come in either beige or white and are complemented by the Delft field tiles (600 by 300mm) or Vermer ribbed tiles (600 by 200mm); there is also a matching floor tile 450 by 450mm in glazed porcelain called Rodin.

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The Lefka range of wall and floor tiles from Craven Dunnill combines the practicality of porcelain with the popular appeal of delicately veined, cross-cut stone, which has the appearance of fine sand drifting across the surface. It is available in five different sizes from 600 by 600mm to a narrow 600 by 50mm and comes in three tones: white, gold and walnut.

The Sands porcelain tile collection has the exact appearance of natural English volcanic slate, similar to that quarried in the hills of the Lake District, and is available as 758 by 453mm floor tiles in four versatile colours: Dark sand, Ivory Sand, Brown Sand and Grey Sand.

Wood-Ker is another new addition to the extensive Craven Dunnill tile collection and is the latest, prestige, wood-effect ceramic tile. The delicate detail of the surface pattern and shading achieve a highly realistic sawn wood-grain effect. Available in 1,000 by 144mm ‘planks’, Wood-Ker is made from glazed porcelain and comes in four colour options: Brown, Nut, Cream and a warm Grey.

Recent developments The Craven Dunnill showroom has undergone a major refurbishment with a dedicated mosaic area on two floors, which features over 350 different ranges and lifestyle room settings; the company has also introduced small sample cards for its mosaic collections, which are available to its retailers. The Showroom opening hours have also been extended to include Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

In January 2012 David Talbot was appointed Technical Consultant, to support Craven Dunnill’s strategy to offer a comprehensive contract design service.

David has over 25 years’ experience in the commercial tile market; he previously worked at Johnson Tiles Ltd handling numerous aspects of the contract tile market, including commercial design, technical specification, in addition to providing contract marketing experience in products, support materials and sales for the UK and export markets.

He will work closely with Marketing and Sales Director Steve Whitehurst and Craven Dunnill’s sales team, to deliver a complete technical tile service for specifiers and architects in all sectors of the contract market, including house developers, social housing, leisure and specialist projects such as murals.

The company introduced an online blog in 2011 www.cravendunnill.co.uk/blog which provides additional and current technical information to its retailers and customers.

Craven Dunnill Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 6AS T: 01746 761611 E: sales@cravendunnill.co.uk W: www.cravendunnill.co.uk

Wood Ker in Nut from Craven Dunnill's Renaissance Collection

Sands in brown from Craven Dunnill's Renaissance Collection.

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DESIGN TRENDS

Stone cladding with a twist for iconic new tower The Al Hamra Tower is not only Kuwait’s tallest building at 412.5 metres but also the world’s tallest sculpted building with an exterior façade of 258,000 sq. metres clad in mechanically-adhered limestone, reports Ron Treister.

Above: With an exterior façade covered with 258,000 sq. metres of limestone, the Al Hamra tower is said to be the world’s tallest direct-adhered stone-clad structure.

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he recently completed Al Hamra Tower is not only Kuwait’s tallest building at 412.5 metres; it is also the world’s tallest sculpted building. Offering a massive construction area consisting of 180,000 sq. metres, the integrated, mixed-use development has been built at a cost of US$950 million in the centre of Kuwait City.

The building has 75 state-of-the-art storeys dedicated for offices, in addition to a mammoth mixed-use complex featuring a mall with three basements, three shopping floors and a cinema floor containing nine IMAX theaters.

Having an exterior facade covered with 258,000 sq. metres of limestone - enough to tile all of New York City’s Central Park - Al Hamra is the tallest direct-adhered stone-clad structure on the planet. During the lengthy planning of the building's construction, there was understandable concern over the structural integrity of the spiral cantilevered concrete shear walls if clad with thick, mechanically-attached stone panels.

Rather than changing the design aesthetic, engineers and architects developed a creative solution; installing limestone

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tiles on the exterior walls of the lower floors and a meshmounted trencadis-style limestone tile system on the exterior walls of the higher floors, achieving the same “look” at a fraction of the weight. The Laticrete System was ultimately selected to make this design solution come to fruition.

Richard Goldberg, AIA, CSI, a consulting architect with Professional Consultants International, and one of the world’s foremost experts regarding direct-adhered exterior tile and stone wall cladding, was contracted to provide technical consulting services to both Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company, Kuwait and SOM Architects, New York City.

“Our engineers conducted cutting-edge computer modeling of the tile cladding assembly using finite element analysis.

We utilised Abaqus FEA commercial computer software, commonly used in the aerospace industry, now economically feasible in architectural building design,” states Goldberg.

“This software provided accurate, robust simulations of the behaviour of the proposed direct-adhered composite stone cladding assembly under extreme thermal expansion, concrete shrinkage, and wind loading typical of the unique geographic location. Most important, this technique allowed us to confidently specify the adhesive mortar and grout products with the necessary physical properties.

“We were also asked to analyse and review a number of direct-adhered stone façade installation systems,” Goldberg continues. “After a highly detailed evaluation process, we

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DESIGN TRENDS

Above: Rather than change the design, engineers and architects developed a creative solution; installing limestone tiles on the lower floors and a mesh-mounted trencadis-style limestone tile system on the higher floors. The Laticrete System was ultimately selected to make this radical design solution a reality.

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selected the Laticrete System. There were many reasons for this which included the quality of the products to be used, the strong warranty programme that Laticrete offers, and most important, the fact that the Laticrete materials offered certified product test data of key physical characteristics which enabled us to conduct computer modeling simulations.

“This was a very challenging project for us due to the fact that it was going to be the tallest structure on the globe with direct-adhered stone exterior cladding,” says Sujit Singh, General Manager of Laticrete RAK. “We had many meetings with the architects, contractors and façade specialists. The finite element analysis was conducted before a final decision on the Laticrete products was announced ... there were many other competitive product manufacturers vying to get this unique project. One key to Laticrete being awarded the contract was our commitment in assuring the quality by training and inspection during installation. There were many challenges on this project including the building’s extraordinary

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height and also, having installation occur during hot weather where the mercury reached as high as 500C!” The Trencadis Gaudi limestone was bonded to the exterior concrete walls of Al Hamra Tower with Laticrete 254 Platinum (white), a one-step, polymer fortified, thin-set mortar. “We selected this product for many reasons, one being its high shear-bond strength and balanced shear modulus properties,” added Goldberg.

Once the thin-set cured, the subsequent grouting process on the Al Hamra Tower’s exterior was implemented with Laticrete 1500 Sanded Grout, a premium, factory-prepared product designed to be mixed with water. Formulated from a blend of high-strength Portland cement, graded aggregates, polymers and colour-fast pigments, Laticrete 1500 Sanded Grout provided The Tower’s outside walls with grout joints that were dense, hard and highly durable… made from a product that could withstand the incredibly high heat index existing in Kuwait City.

Singh commented that Laticrete 1776 Grout Enhancer was used in this project, as well. “Laticrete 1776 Grout Enhancer is used in place of water to provide a dense, colourfast grout joint that inhibits stain causing bacteria, mould and mildew growth with Microban®. This was necessary for the Al Hamra Tower’s limestone cladding, as it works perfectly with Laticrete 1500 Sanded Grout.”

The Al Hamra Tower is without question, a world-class, signature architectural project. When it is completed and can be seen from miles outside of Kuwait City either inland or from the Arabian Gulf, people will comment on how its initial appearance seemingly curves to its highest point like a “curled newspaper”.

Visitors and tenants will be welcomed by a soaring, 20-plus meter high lobby, which frankly, will have to be seen firsthand for one to experience its awesome, futuristic designs. Very soon, The Tower’s facilities will be open, which will include six levels of retail; a rooftop garden positioned atop the retail sector; the largest business center in Kuwait; the very posh, Sky Lounge restaurant; 40 rapid elevators to reach those very high floors; two “refuge floors” designed to be used in case of an emergency… and, a multi-story parking facility, as well. All of this, housed within a building that has an exterior professionally covered via the largest and quite possibly the most spectacular direct-adhered limestone cladding project found to date on this earth.

“We at Laticrete are proud to be able to contribute to a project as ambitious as the Al Hamra Tower,” stated Erno de Bruijn, President, Laticrete International. “Some of the world’s premier architects, engineers, consultants and contractors were called upon to make this construction dream a reality. We know it will stand tall as a major architectural statement for decades to come. Because of that, we are very confident that the Laticrete products which were specified for The Al Hamra Tower will perform at optimal levels as long as the building is in use.”

Laticrete T: 0871 284 5959 E ahedley@laticrete.com W: www.laticrete.com

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MOSAICS & GLASS

The decorative drama is in the detail Mosaic tiles are an enduring and versatile element in an interior designer’s toolkit, able to accommodate curved shapes, act as a decorative border, pixilate images or patterns to create a feature wall, or set against natural stone or ceramic tiles as a striking splashback. TSJ profiles the leading suppliers and analyses the techniques used to get the best from glass tiles and mosaics.

Right: Venetian Glass Mix from Craven Dunnill's Renaissance Collection.

Craven Dunnill has more than doubled its mosaic collection in the last 12 months to over 350 different designs, as homeowners become more adventurous and embrace the creative opportunities mosaics provide.

A few strips of distinctive mosaics can transform the plainest of field tiles into a chic, accent wall, mosaics can turn a practical basin splash-back or bath surround into an exotic feature, create a bijoux decorative element, in what otherwise would be a mundane bathroom, and introduce the attractive option of curvaceous shower walls – the possibilities are endless and many are featured as lifestyle room-sets in the Craven Dunnill showroom at Bridgnorth.

New mosaic ranges from Craven Dunnill’s Renaissance Collection include Buttons Lustre Glass and Emprador Mix: a combination of glass with a lustre glaze and polished marble available in three colourways: Cream/Moss/Hazel, Lustre glass and Emprador Stone, Lustre Glass and Crema Stone in 300 by 300mm sheets.

Other new arrivals include Venetian Glass: multi toned Murano glass available in three colourways: Amber, Dark 50

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Fusion (blue) and Earth Mix. Venetian glass has individual tesserae 25 by 25 by 5mm mesh mounted on a 327 by 327mm sheet.

ESL also reports the growing popularity of mosaics over the last few years and highlights the fact that there are now many different versions on the market: from ceramic through stone to glass and metal, plus mixed materials.

ESL Ceramics & Stone range includes Kenya polished marble and glass mosaic sheets in a variety of different sizes bin square and rectangular brick and bar formats.

Dimensions are 15 by 15, 25 by 25, 15 by 48 and 10 by 40mm.

In 2012 The Mosaic Company celebrates 21 years of supplying the UK tile industry with the finest ceramic and glass mosaic tiles sourced from leading manufacturers around the world.

Despite the economic downturn, the company has continued to invest in new ranges and points of sale, as well

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MOSAICS & GLASS as maintaining high levels of stock from which they aim to supply over 95% of orders with next day delivery.

With the company’s core range of ceramic and glass mosaics firmly established, the new additions strongly feature glass mosaics with iridescent and metallic glazes in the size 23.5 by 23.5mm under the Aqua Luxe heading.

They claim to stock one of the largest ranges of anti-slip mosaics currently available in the UK and have recently added six new 45 by 45mm full body porcelain mosaics with riven surface which attain and exceed DIN 51097 category C, making them eminently suitable for showers and wetrooms and retailing from a highly competitive £40 per sq. metre, plus VAT. The company is also able to undertake bespoke tile murals, the most spectacular of which adorn the walls of the prestigious Emirates Stadium in London in the form of the Arsenal Logo, as well as providing mosaic tiles for the award winning Monaco Garden at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show and to the gold medal winner for Best Show Garden at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show 2011.

The full range of products are available to view on the company’s easy to navigate website www.mosaiccompany.co.uk and, for customers unsure of their purchase, the company was one of the first in the UK to offer a free sample service.

Mapei on installing glass mosaics When installing glass mosaics it is important to carefully consider the conditions under which the mosaic finish will be subjected, the type of substrate to which they will be fixed and also the type of backing to the glass mosaic.

Glass mosaic can be either pure coloured glass or clear glass with a coloured backing visible through the glass body thus achieving the desired colour of the final mosaic installation.

The type of coloured backing will influence the type of adhesive necessary to bond the mosaic. For example, if the backing coat is sensitive to alkaline conditions then a cementbased adhesive will need to be avoided. Equally if the backing coat is moisture sensitive then a water-based adhesive should not be used, this would exclude the use of both paste adhesives and cement-based adhesives. In these cases a reaction resin adhesive such an epoxy or polyurethane (or epoxypolyurethane) adhesive should be selected.

It is also important to note that where mesh is used to produce mosaic sheets, the mesh and the adhesive used to bond the mesh to each tesserae should not cover more than 25% of the rear of each tesserae. The adhesive must also be compatible with the service conditions envisaged.

It is essential to check with the manufacturer of the glass mosaic that they will be suitable for their final intended use. The service conditions to which the mosaic will be subjected to once in full use can vitally alter the type of mosaic chosen. This is particularly important in wet environments and can be critical in under water situations such as swimming pools, spas and fountains.

The substrate type should be chosen carefully when a mosaic finish is part of the design. Naturally the substrate must be appropriate for the service conditions. It must also be extremely flat as the mosaic will tend to follow every contour, consequently highlighting and exaggerating every imperfection in the substrate. Where boards are used then particular attention must be paid to the joints within these boards which must remain stable and rigid.

A glass mosaic finish is aesthetically very pleasing to the eye and also to the touch. With modern adhesive and grout technology they can be fixed in a variety of styles.

For example the visual attractiveness of coloured pure glass mosaics can be further enhanced by bonding and grouting in a coloured material. Mapei Kerapoxy Design

Above: Glass has the ability to reflect and refract light giving a 3D effect throughout the depth of the tile or mosaic. This desirable effect can be enhanced by bonding glass mosaics with a highly colourful and decorative adhesive such as Mapei’s Kerapoxy Design. It is available in eight striking shades. These base colours can be used alone or blended with either silver or light gold Mapeglitter to create a sparkling finish.

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MOSAICS & GLASS Left from top left: Five stages in the grouting of glass mosaic tiles using Ardex EG8.

Ardex EG 8 is a cement/epoxy hybrid grout and adhesive that combines the chemical resistance of an epoxy-based grout with the ease of application associated with cement based grouts.

Ardex EG 8 has excellent resistance to most chemicals but, unlike traditional epoxy grouts, Ardex EG 8 is easy to apply, requires no special tools, and can be cleaned off the tile surface up to 45 minutes after application.

Ardex EG 8 has been formulated to resist chemical attack and to provide a durable, abrasion resistant waterproof finish that is hygienic and impervious, making it ideal for use in: • Swimming Pools • Hydrotherapy and spa baths • Domestic and commercial food preparation areas where chemical resistance and hygienic joints are required • Hospitals • Bathrooms & showers Once hardened, Ardex EG 8 is resistant to aqueous salt solutions, chlorine water, commercial cleaning agents, alkalis and a wide range of dilute mineral acids. Ardex EG 8 can also be used as a floor tile adhesive or a mosaic wall tile adhesive in areas where a chemically resistant adhesive bed is required.

Available in grey and white, Ardex EG 8 can fill joint widths from 2 to 12mm, and can also be used externally and with underfloor heating systems.

will permit the installation of glass mosaics in wet rooms, swimming pools and many other features. And to further glamorise the design Mapeglitter can be added to Kerapoxy Design to provide an eye-catching sparkle.

Kerapoxy Design can also be used to fix mosaics to GRP substrates.

Of course glass mosaics can also be fitted using traditional adhesives such as Mapei Adesilex P10. Where the coloured backing is based on a resin or the mosaic is used in underwater situations, then it is recommended that Mapei Isolastic is added to the adhesive. This will increase the strength of the bond and ensure many years of service.

To complete the installation it will be necessary to grout the joints between the tesserae. As mentioned earlier, an epoxy grout may be used not only to create aesthetic effects but also where a hygienic finish or greater chemical resistance is required. For general grouting a cementbased material is usually adequate such as Mapei Keracolor FF. 52

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To ensure a successful glass mosaic installation will stand the test of time, the appropriate measures should be made, as briefly outlined above. In order to get the best possible result, technical assistance such as Mapei representatives can offer, can ensure the correct and best quality products are utilised. Mapei can also offer a site visit when required. For further details of product information, literature and samples please contact Mapei on 0121 508 6970 or info@mapei.co.uk. Technical data sheets can be found at www.mapei.co.uk.

Original Style’s opulent Mosaics Collection offers a variety of striking shades and innovative textures guaranteed to transform a wide variety of interiors. Original Style has worked with interior designers from around the world in order to produce the collection, meaning that an Original Style design will not only look visually stunning, but will also mirror current design trends. All tastes and styles have been catered for, and as a result there is a mosaic to suit every type of interior.

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MOSAICS & GLASS

Above: The Mosaic Company provided mosaic tiles for the award winning Monaco Garden at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show. Designed by Sarah Eberle and built by Peter Dowle Plants & Gardens, the garden illustrates the interaction between architecture and landscape that characterises Monaco's spectacular scenery. The garden shows how landscape and architecture can interact to provide sustainable solutions to support high density living, including the use of vertical green walls and planted roofs. The rear portion of the garden contains a structure of varying heights that represents a section of a high rise building. This area leads to a courtyard with access to a small balcony above a cantilevered planted roof, providing an area that is protected from the sun’s rays.

Materials on offer in the Elite range include shimmering Mother of Pearl and Eastern Light, a dazzling mosaic created using 24 carat gold leaf.

The lustrous Glass range of mosaics offers a sophisticated colour palette, which includes the glistening White Lady and the dark and intense Pacha.

Further materials available in the Collection include Natural Stone, Wood, Metal and the ever practical Porcelain.

Original Style is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of mosaics and the company offers innovative and attractive display options. Original Style has opportunities to become a stockist in selected areas.

The safety of customers in hotels is a constant concern and involves the development of specific products to minimise the risk of accidents. At the same time, in order to improve their offer, hotels are building wellness spaces on their premises, creating specific needs.

Water is key player in its various applications in these areas, requiring high hygiene and, hence, effective cleaning. Also, according to leading manufacturer Reviglass, the floors have to comply with Class C of the new Technical Building standards on the slipperiness.

Reviglass has been manufacturing glass mosaics in Spain since 1985 and claims to have the widest range of products on the market in different sizes and with new original mounting systems. Reviglass also manufactures what it claims is the only soft anti-slip mosaic on the market (patented) that meets the C standard of slipperiness, as well as being easy to install and maintain.

The company offers the possibility of customising the decorations and applying the anti-slip treatment on the product of customer's choice even on 12 by 12mm mosaics; a format in which Reviglass has become a specialist manufacturer.

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Above: The Chromatic range from Waxman Ceramics is an ultra modern glass mosaic with a vibrant glitter effect. This mosaic range is perfect for adding modern decoration to any tile or for creating a feature wall.

All Reviglass products are made with 100% transparent recycled glass, without water consumption and polluting discharges, thus making the products highly environmentally-friendly.

There are three key factors influencing today’s interior design trends: sustainability, economics and glamour.

Mosaic and glass can play to all three.

Mosaics made using recycled glass, or from ceramic tiles with a significant recycled content, are an ideal way to satisfy the green building lobby. Mosaic is also a sensible way to maximise the design impact of precious and rare natural resources such as marble.

Due to the state of the economy, home owners are seeking out value-for-money décor options. Mosaic can provide one solution by providing a little of the wow factor when used to provide an accent against low cost plain tiles. Mosaic can also be used to frame architectural features such as alcoves and niches, or provide high impact splashbacks behind kitchen worktops, vanity units or basins.

Finally, in terms of ceramic tiles, Glamour manifests itself in high gloss marbles, burnished metallic glazes, rich lustres and strong deep colourways such as crimson, purple and umber. Mosaic plays to this trend via high value metallic glazes. They can either be used on their own to create opulent wetrooms and striking kitchen features, or as decorative stripes and borders to accent ceramic tiles, stone and other decorative finishes. Slip-resistant glass mosaic floors are also popular in this market sector.

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MOSAICS & GLASS

During the past 52 years, self-taught mosaic artist Phil Evanoff has quietly amassed a staggering body of work in the basement of his home in Ohio, USA. Evanoff, a 96-year-old retired chemist, has made more than 600 mosaics, each with thousands of intricately placed fragments of tile, glass or seashells. The mosaics reflect his wide-ranging interest in art and nature from throughout the world.

He has re-created Bulgarian Christmas cards, African cliff drawings, an Aztec calendar stone and even the Vincent van Gogh painting Starry Night. His first mosaic re-created a famous cave drawing of bulls from Lascaux cave in southwestern France. For the past 52 years, Evanoff has averaged one mosaic a month, although his output ebbs and flows. He has finished as many as 25 in a year and gone as long as two years without creating a work.

Above: Buttons mosaics from Craven Dunnill's Renaissance Collection.

Left: New Mosaic at Cedern Rd, Elborough Village, Somerset.

The artwork, installed at the stone circle in Cedern Avenue, was designed by children from the village, and put together during workshops at Hutton Village Hall.

Quita Allender, who worked on the project through North Somerset Play Forum, said: “Some log hops for children to balance on have recently been installed at the top of the hill as well, plus some large wooden mushrooms in the little copse there.”

“The idea is to give children a place to play and to imagine in, without spoiling the appearance of the hill by putting in conventional play equipment.”

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Taking a 35-year-old ceramic wall sculpture apart tile by tile is not Amy Green's idea of art restoration. But that's exactly what she's been doing to Frank Matranga's 1977 art work, a curvilinear mosaic made of glazed clay tiles and glass that's been removed from the entrance of the Diamond Bar Library on Grand Avenue, Diamond Bar near Los Angeles, USA, in order to re-create it at the town’s new library on Copley Drive.

Green, co-owner of Silverlake Conservation, has been cleaning, restoring and sometimes touching up Matranga's work piece by piece. The 9ft by 8.5ft art wall was taken down piece by piece, each tile given a number that corresponds to a computerised grid for orderly reapplication. "There's a little bit of sacrifice but it is far better than destroying the mural," Green said. For instance, some of the work had to be slightly trimmed to fit the new wall space in the future children's reading garden, she said. Matranga agrees with the process and has been helping every step of the way.

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MOSAICS & GLASS SELECTED MOSAIC & GLASS SUPPLIERS

Above: Gnosis, a US design firm specialising in the creation of hand-made mosaics, has introduced the Stretch collection, in ten different patterns. The Stretch mosaic patterns, which date to ancient Rome, are adaptable to either classic or contemporary styles. “We are very excited about these patterns because they have become the most classic exemplars of mosaic surfaces,” said Sandra Ghaoui, President at Gnosis. “These mosaic floor tiles have made their way through classical architecture and yet today, in my view, they make the most elegant mosaic floors known to man.”

The Stretch mosaic surfaces are crafted in a single piece regardless of the surface size, making a truly organic pattern with the imperfections expected in mosaic made by the hand of artisans. The mosaics, mesh mounted for an easy installation, are available in hand-polished finishes. www.gnosis-mosaics.com

Alloy Design

+61 2 9565 2422

www.alloydesign.co.au

Alttoglass

+34 964 577878

www.alttoglass.com

Appiani

+39 0422 502617

www.appiani.it

Ardex

01440 714939

www.ardex.co.uk

Azzura

0845 090 8110

www.mosaics.co.uk

Bisazza

20 8253 9200

www.bisazza.co.uk

British Ceramic Tile

0845 055 1258

www.britishceramictile.com

Ceramgres

+39 0422 396366

www.ceramgres.com

CP Group

0845 519 7039

www.cpgroupuk.com

Classical Flagstones

01422 307930

www.classical-flagstones.co.uk

Craven Dunnill

01746 761611

www.cravendunnill.co.uk

ESL

020 8744 1122

www.euroserviceslimited.co.uk

Ezarri

+34 943 164140

www.ezarri.com

Genesis

01642 713000

www.genesis-aps.com

Gnosis

+1 (877) 221-1517

www.gnosis-mosaics.com

Grespania

0121 457 6900

www.grespania.com

Halcon

07983 714261

www.halconceramicas.com

House of Mosaics

0845 423 8720

www.houseofmosaics.co.uk

Jasba

01480 474717

www.mosaiccompany.co.uk

Lucedentro

+39 059 550 617

www.lucedentro.com

Mapei UK

0121 508 6970

www.mapei.co.uk

Morpheus Glass

01695 624182

www.morpheusglass.co.uk

Mosaic Tile Shop

01536 314738

www.mosaictileshop.co.uk

Mosaic Company, The

01480 474717

www.mosaiccompany.co.uk

Mosaic Miro

+31 (0)73 612 7454

www.mosaicmiro.com

Mosavit

+34 964 380000

www.mosavit.com

Mridul

+91 11 232 19957

www.mridul.com

N&C LiveTile

020 8586 4600

www.livetile.com

Onix

+34 964 776287

www.onixmosiaco.com

Opiocolor

+33 492 603222

www.opiocolor.com

Original Style

01392 473000

www.originalstyle.com

Reviglass

+34 94 368 1118

www.reviglass.es

Sicis

+39 544 469711

www.sicis.com

Stoneset

01884 820029

www.stone-set.co.uk

Trend

+39 0444 338711

www.trend-vi.com

Vetro Mosaics

+11 323 585 6368

www.vetromosaico.com

Vetrocolor

+39 0577 920229

www.vetrocolor.it

Villiglas

+43 4237 23033111

www.villiglas.at

Vitrogres

01480 474717

www.mosaiccompany.co.uk

Waxman

01472 371723

www.waxmanceramics.co.uk

Above: Egypt by Alttoglass

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PROFILE

Stone stockholding proves a success story “Trade Price Stone’s specialises in Brazilian slate and Portuguese limestone, holding thousands of sq.metres in stock. TSJ reports on a business that is booming in the face of the economic downturn.

Above: Trade Price Stone’s website includes a section specifically dedicated to retailers.

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healthy order book during 2011 and into 2012 has seen a respected supplier of natural stone materials to the building and construction sectors almost treble its warehousing capabilities with the move to a new 25,000 ft2 facility at Hilton Business Park in Derbyshire from its 10,000 ft2 warehouse in Burton, Staffordshire to help manage demand.

Speaking of his order book for 12,500 sq. metres of Brazilian slate to supply to tilers and retailers, Simon Lloyd Jones, Director of Trade Price Stone Ltd, explains: “The unit in Hilton Business Park offered easy transport links to national arterial roads and the motorway network and a significantly improved working environment for my staff.”

“Trade Price Stone’s success flies in the face of the recessionary storms that have been buffeting many organisations operating in the building and construction sectors, but there are some factors behind it. We specialise in the import and retail of Brazilian slate and Portuguese limestone, holding many thgousand sq. metres in stock at any one time. We have developed a niche and a reputation for quality and cost-effective, timely, delivery and product that can enhance any environment, from a large shopping centre or office block to a kitchen, bedroom, lounge or bathroom.”

Trade Price Tile’s success goes beyond offering a variety of slate finishes, including Antiqued, Honed, Chipped Edge and uniquely designed mosaics.

Customers can see stock holding of products dynamically, in real time, via the www.tradepricestoneltd.co.uk website and also click through to see when shipments are due to support planning of developments.

Lloyd Jones also engages in proactive marketing campaigns – mail and internet-based – to keep the Trade Price Stone brand at the forefront of existing and prospective customers’ minds.

“Routes and channels to markets have changed significantly since I set up the company in November 2007, building upon 15 years’ experience in the natural stone trade,” explains Lloyd Jones. “Our customers include contrac-

TSJ MARCH 2012

tors, architects, specifiers, interior designers, retailers and so on, and they are fluent in the use of websites, emails, social media like Facebook and Twitter and so on. Staying on top of our game has meant that we have to be equally adept so we have developed strategies for social media and direct mail campaigns.”

Trade Price Stone believes in letting the beauty of its products, such as the Brazilian slate it offers, speak for itself. One of the strands of its marketing activity therefore includes sending tailored samples of tiles to targeted individuals and organisations.

Lloyd Jones adds: “We are able to show our customers what we are offering as well as telling them. Don’t get me wrong, face-to-face is still a significant element of our communication program, but it can prove challenging to meet up as our customers are so busy. This way they have the chance to see and appreciate the features and benefits of our products at their leisure and also take the samples on site or to show their end customers for discussion.”

Point-of-sale material is also proving to be an effective marketing tool for Trade Price Stone. “For us, PoS means the options of a suite of posters, sample boxes and, product sheets that can be delivered to or downloaded and displayed in retailers’/merchants’/tilers’ facilities and hopefully support sales for them as well as us,” comments Lloyd Jones.

“One strategy which is proving particularly successful is our ability to ship samples direct to our customers’ end customers either in a plain brown box with no branding of any sort, including reference to Trade Price Stone or with only the trade customer branding on it. In fact, we have the facility to extend that further and, if they wish, we add the trade branding and address details to delivery notes and manifests, with no mention of Trade Price Stone, thus protecting our customers’ interests, margins, etc.”

“All these initiatives are designed with the objective of helping to drive the ‘decision to buy’ process. And, let’s not forget, the products we sell are first class. Natural stone is a cost-effective, low maintenance, easy-down option that accommodates huge footfall, is easy to maintain and looks stunningly beautiful. Our customers benefit from being able to offer their clients an opulent finish which they have specified at trade price. This is supported by our perfect locations from where we can provide a ‘roll out’ service to suit any given project.”

Trade Price Stone has its quality accreditations on the website so that trade customers can reassure themselves that the products will perform well. The firm’s customers, who order thousands of tonnes of stone, regard Trade Price Stone as a silent partner, shipping product - from one unique piece of material, such as a hand-split slate tile measuring almost any size the project demands, to a few tiles or a few crates – directly to site to speed up delivery. It is against this background, however, that the firm has only increased haulage prices once since last year.

“We work hard and consider all avenues to make trading with us as straightforward as possible,” concludes Lloyd Jones. “This, I believe, combined with our knowledge of natural stone and reputable supply chain, goes a long way towards explaining our success to date. The firm is also optimistic about the future because we have many more exciting plans to unveil over the next 12 months that will support our ambitions and those of our trade customers too.”

01283 734990 www.tradepricestoneltd.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO RAK launches Listello decorative tile borders

3D shapes boost Rako’s Concept range Concept Plus is a development of Rako’s successful and highly versatile Concept range. Suitable for both bathroom and kitchen applications, the range has an adaptable and modern appearance. With the addition of new vivid tiles in all seven colour combinations, the range has been given new design impetus. Soft concave tiles in 200 by 60mm, and facetted geometric decors in 250 by 100mm create new scope for design. Mosaics have also been added to the offer, cut so that they can also be used as borders. 200 by 400mm large decor tiles with scored joints are also now part of the Concept Plus range , creating the appearance of a striped decor once laid.

Concept Plus basic wall tiles are available in 250 by 333mm and 200 by 400mm. Curved decor tiles are 200 by 60mm. Facetted decor tiles are 250 by 100mm. The paper-mounted mosaic tiles are 300 by 300mm. Matching floor tiles are available in 333 by 333mm. www.rako.eu

RAK Ceramics has launched its new range of Listello decorative glass and porcelain tile borders. Designed to co-ordinate with RAK’s popular Lounge tile and slab collection, the borders can be used to create stylish, decorative features on both walls and floors.

Six designs are included as part of the new Listello range. Each border measures 300 by 49mm with options including polished black or beige with rectangular glass stud inset; polished ivory or dark grey with two square glass stud insets and polished black or dark grey, with continuous square glass stud insets.

The complementary Lounge tile range includes square and rectangle designs, with both polished and matt finishes. Colour options include ivory, beige, light grey, dark grey, brown and black in 300 by 300, 400 by 400, 900 by 450, 300 by 600 and 600 by 600mm formats. A mixed-tone black, grey and ivory mosaic is also included within the range. Lounge slabs are also available in ivory, beige, dark grey and black.

01730 237850 www.rakceramics.co.uk

The Classic Collection of decorative wall tiles: quintessentially British

All the charm and elegance of natural stone All the charm and elegance of natural stones are captured in Peninsula, a new porcelain stoneware range from Century that is designed to create classic and sophisticated environments. The modular formats, with natural finishes and edges, and four colours distinguished by strong shading, make Peninsula an elegant design solution in both residential and commercial environments.

The mass-coloured fine porcelain stoneware range represents the most advanced quality in ceramic products for flooring. In fact, the slabs obtained from this manufacturing procedure are billed as exceptionally resistant and compact. The body used to make Peninsula contains 40% recycled material, as certified by Bureau Veritas, and is, therefore, compliant with LEED standards. It also holds ANAB-ICEA certification for green building.

The range comes in four colours: Perusia, Heraclia, Antium and Agrigentum. The modular formats are 500 by 1,000, 500 by 500, 250 by 500, 250 by 250 and 333 by 333mm: all with a natural finish and natural edges. Special pieces and decors include sheeted mosaic, sheeted tozzetti and skirtings. www.century-ceramica.it 60

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The Winchester Tile Company has unveiled its latest Classic Collection of decorative wall tiles; a quintessentially British range that also offers a host of complementary field tiles and mouldings.

The Farmyard Animals range offers a host of hand-crafted panels (like Chicken Coop as shown here), which can either be installed in their entirety (40 tile sets) or customers can opt for their preferred individual elements from each design.

The range of creatures includes chickens, hares, geese and goslings. A stunning Hedgerow decorative panel (22 tile set) completes this collection. The designs are also available in full colour or sepia

on off white or grey on pure white backgrounds, resulting in a number of design permutations.

Nature lovers will be delighted with the beautiful swooping and soaring swallow decorative tiles - destined to be classics!

Alternatively, for an authentic garden scene, opt for the popular bugs range, with new designs including bees and dragonflies; and partner these eyecatching hand painted flying insects with the popular Designer Flowers range. The Classic Collection offers wall tiles in both 105 by 105 by 10mm and 127 by 127 by 10mm sizes.

01392 473005 www.winchestertiles.com

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PORTFOLIO New porcelain range captures the density of cement

Wheels will achieve precise cuts in all types of tile

Nextra from Monocibec is a fine porcelain range that captures the density of cement, expressing all its strength with unprecedented smoothness. The five colours (Bianco, Avorio, Grigio, Piombo and Nero) are available with natural or polished surface finishes and can be used in both residential and commercial environments. Nextra is available in four formats: 450 by 450, 300 by 600, 600 by 600 and 800 by 800mm. The range is Bureau Veritas-certified for the presence of 40% of recycled materials and ANAB-ICEA-certified. www.monocibec.it

The DSM20 is the latest tool in Dremel's range of Versatile Tool Systems.

This compact saw has a powerful 710W motor and makes cuts up to 20mm deep in the most common materials from tile to plastic, metal and wood.

The Dremel DSM20 will make short work of any maintenance or repair projects with its excellent line of sight and abrasive cutting wheels helping to achieve precise cuts in all types of tile.

The Dremel DSM20 makes a beautifully clean cut compared with toothed wheels, thanks to its abrasive wheel technology. Extremely precise, it requires no lower guard mechanism - according to EN norms all tools equipped with tooth-bladed wheels require this, but not when using abrasive wheels.

A very versatile tool, the Dremel DSM20 is capable of performing precise straight cuts, flush cuts close to the surface and plunge cuts with no kickback. In particular, its plunge cutting ability is second to none with the lack of teeth on the blades easily plunge cutting into different materials.

It is easy to operate using just one hand for most cuts and its abrasive wheels allow for both push and pull action, whichever is more convenient.

Additionally, it is extremely easy to change accessories using the shaft lock button. The 710W worm gear driven motor runs at 17,000 RPM, ensuring there is sufficient power for any task the DSM20 is required to perform, including tough applications. It also has a depth guide adjustment, making it possible to cut through most materials up to 20mm.

The tool is suitable for installing cabinets, cutting drywall and wood, plus a wide variety of repair and maintenance work. It will make short work of tiling and plumbing, kitchen and bathroom installation, and flooring.

The Dremel DSM20 comes with a range of accessories and attachments supplied as standard in the tool-kit: • A 77mm Multi-Purpose Carbide Wheel, for soft and hard wood, plywood, composites, laminate flooring, drywall, PVC and plastic • Three 77mm Metal Cut-Off Wheels, for cutting copper pipe, coated wire shelving, metal, sheet aluminium and other materials • A vacuum cleaner attachment to keep the workplace clean and line of sight clear • A Straight Edge Guide, which aids in ripping materials up to 17cm wide • A 2 by 4 Cutting Guide, which fits over 37mm x 86mm timber helping to double the DSM20's cutting depth The kit also comes with a welcome DVD and a sturdy, spacious storage case. The Dremel DSM20 will be available at B&Q priced £119.98. www.dremel.co.uk

Everbuild and Feb ranges in new A4 catalogue Moving away from the previous A5 style publication, Everbuild Building Product’s new World Class catalogue is A4 in size and reflects a change in direction for Everbuild.

The company felt that their size and presence in the market was not accurately reflected in the old catalogue. So, in its place, Everbuild has produced a glossy, 188 page catalogue packed full of products, including brand staples such as PinkGrip, Forever White, Wonder Wipes and Geo-Fix; as well as some exciting new products such as Everbuild’s brand new range of premium wood stains and varnishes.

With a cleaner design, the World Class catalogue is neat, simple to navigate and ideally set out so as to make the experience of browsing through it as pleasant for the customer as possible. In another new move, all product codes, bar codes and vital statistics are now listed underneath each individual product.

The catalogue also includes the full Feb range for the first time.

Everbuild acquired Feb, the concrete and mortar admix specialists, in 2009. Everbuild feels that the time has come to bring the two brands together, making this catalogue a one-stop shop for users’ building and DIY needs.

To request your copy of the new Biggest Ever Everbuild Catalogue call 0113 240 3456 or email your request through to: reception@everbuild.co.uk.

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PORTFOLIO Super-strength wax-removing cleaner Surface care specialist, Fila has introduced a super-strength wax-removing cleaner FilaMax. A water and solvent mix formulation, FilaMax is a non-flammable product designed to remove existing and unidentified protective coatings, grease, wax and accumulated dirt. It can safely be used on terracotta, quarry tiles, porcelain, glazed ceramics, concrete, polished and unpolished marble and agglomerates, providing a thorough clean without compromising the natural surface.

Available in five litre cans, FilaMax is cost effective and easy to use, providing 20 sq. metre coverage per litre with a 1:5 dilution. Once applied, the product should be left to act for a few minutes before cleaning the surface with a brush or single green-disc. Residues should then be swept or vacuumed before rinsing the surface.

01584 877286 www.filachim.com.en

Lapicida’s new Antique English collection brings together the UK’s most charismatic traditional stones

Santa Margherita, the Italian manufacturer of marble and quartz sand and resin agglomerates, has introduced Second Life: a new material with up to 90% recycled content. The Second Life range is available in eight colours: Carbone, Argilla, Cenere, Sabbia, Gesso, Corteccia, Basalto and Lava in two standard slab sizes: 3,050 by 1,400 by 12mm, 20mm and 30mm. It also comes in various tile formats including 300 by 300 by 12mm, 400 by 400 by 12mm and 600 by 600 by 12mm; as well as 500 by 70 by 10mm skirtings. Four finish options are available: polished, honed, brushed and antique. With Second Life, Santa Margherita offers the market an engineered stonerange that is capable of meeting several criteria of the LEED building system. www.santamargherita.net

EvolutionStone by Marazzi is the original interpretation of seven valuable natural stones characterized by the perfection of ceramic technology. Produced in large size, Serena, Piasentina, Ardesia, Malaga, Luserna, Quarzite and Pierre Bleue are obtained by means of an innovative cutting-edge industrial process with an ecological approach.

Made in porcelain stoneware with double loading, and can be used for both interior and exterior environments in home or high-traffic commercial contexts. The different surface structures allow for installation solutions with indoor-outdoor continuity. www.marazzi.it 62

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Lapicida has reinforced its reputation for antique floors with a new Antique English collection that brings together some of the most charismatic of the UK’s traditional native stones. The selected stones come with their own provenance and many are extremely rare, such as the 19th Century Limestone floor recovered from the Bishop’s Palace in Ripon. Composed of square tiles, it has an unusual ecclesiastical design that is also found in Durham Cathedral. The collection also includes a distinctive herringbone floor, shown bottom right.

Lapicida’s services extend far beyond the stone. Reclaimed stone comes in irregular sizes and thicknesses: not ideal for today’s homes. However, Lapicida’s customcut service can transform random flags into regularly-dimensioned pieces without affecting their beauty. If required, stone can be hand-selected to achieve a specific spectrum of colour. Another element of this bespoke service sees Lapicida combining different native stones into highly decorative patterned floors to order.

Lapicida’s hi-tech workshops also have a sustainability factor; extending the use of old stone by transforming it into a range of different products. The First Face (bottom left, floor) retains all the patina of the antique stone but has a uniform thickness.

The Second Face (bottom left, left wall) produces a wholly uniform tile for walls or floors; while the Reverse Face (bottom left, right wall) creates an excitingly irregular wall tile.

01423 400 500 www.lapicida.com