tsj april 2012

April 2012Volume 9 Number 4

EditorJoe [email protected] M: 07885 294814

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

CONTENTSNEWS natural Stone Sustainability Award winners, Wedi’s training initiative, nando’s gets the tiling treatment, latest RIcS’ market survey, Milan showcase for Italian tiles, and more 4

TTA NEWSLETTER the shortlisted entries for the tile Association Awards 2012 18

ON INSTALLATION Martin cummins offers his top tips for conservatory tiling 34

REVIEW: CEVISAMA Matthijs & Renée Pronker explore design trends at Valencia 36

CASE STUDY original Style provides the props for tV’s tile Your Life 42

TILE AGENTS tSJ’s surveys those that connect the factory to the retailer 44

PORTFOLIO What’s new in tiles, tools, natural stone and fixing materials 48

CEVISAMA REVIEW: KERABEN P36

SubScRIPtIonSUnited Kingdom£40.00 per annum

Europe£70.00 per annum

Rest of the World£95.00 per annum

APRIL 2012 TSJ 3

NEWS & COMMENT

4 TSJ APRIL 2012

A new partnership looks set to open up new innovative opportunities forapprentices and experienced trades across tiling, plastering, site carpentryand brick laying.Rob Hutchinson, Centre Manager from East Durham College Technical

Academy explained: “Wedi, the recognised brand name synonymous withtiling preparation systems for wet areas, approached the college to delivera series of training modules aimed at apprentices as well as local builders,plumbers and contractors looking to develop their skills and practicalknowledge on new innovative methods within their trade. The collegealready delivers training for a wide range of construction trades but work-ing with Wedi will give learners the chance to discover an array of newopportunities to enhance their skills and discover practical new solutionsfor everyday projects.”Courses are split into two one-day modules and cover five core Wedi

products. Customers can choose to do just the one module of their choicewith the option to complete the second module at a later date, or if theywish they can do both modules back-to-back. A dedicated training room at the college has been fully equipped to allow

first quality hands-on practical workshop experience for all students.Courses will include both practical workshop and informal lecture basedsessions delivered by Wedi Applications Manager, Tim Brain.Courses run on a monthly basis and commenced in February 2012.

Commenting at the launch of the courses, Peter Kindness, ManagingDirector designate for Wedi Systems (UK) said: “We are delighted with thedemand for the course, which has already proved a big hit, attracting tilingcontractors from across the UK such as Clearwater Marine Technology(Basildon), A De Cecco (Glasgow), Tilecraft Services (Glasgow) and The TileGallery (Isle of Man).” In addition to the training modules Wedi is launching a dedicated Wedi

Approved Partner (WAP) training programme and certification course,open by invitation only, to larger contractors, developers and builders.Wedi has worked closely with the national awarding organization NCFE andhas been accredited with NCFE’s Investing in Quality Licence (IIQ). T: 01706 647333 W: www.wedi.co.uk E: [email protected]

EDITOR’S COMMENT Collaborative training initiative by Wedi

“In a recession, marketing tends to be one of the firstthings to be cut back. At TSJ, I have noticed that themagazine’s electronic postbag has dwindled of late.This is a great pity because PR still represents one ofthe most cost-effective ways for any businesses tocommunicate with both existing and potential newcustomers.

And PR can be a very low cost form of promotion. Allit really takes is a little planning and then finding thetime to sit down and write a few words.

At TSJ we are interested in all your company news,including appointments; plus information on any

new products and packaging, recent contracts and any other relevant news. Manywill choose to structure this PR around the magazine’s editorial programme. Withthis in mind, here are some details of forthcoming features in TSJ .

In May we will be looking at artisan tile manufacturers, tile studios and tiledesigners in the UK and Ireland. There will also be an in-depth feature on surfacepreparation that will cover tile removal, primers, self-levelling compounds,acoustic insulation and tile backer boards. We will need editorial submissions by20th April.

The June edition will have a survey of stone suppliers, including wholesalers anddistributors of calibrated natural stone, and selected UK quarries. This will becomplemented by a technical article on entrance and barrier matting systems andsuppliers. To be considered, please send in any editorial copy by 11th May.

In the July/August edition, our focus will be on adhesives and grouts. TSJ willinvestigate the latest installation and finishing formulations for natural stone,ceramic and porcelain tiles. This edition will also look at training opportunities forretail staff, tillers and warehouse operatives, with a survey of UK colleges, trainingschools and tiling courses. The editorial deadline is 29th June.

Our September issue will cover undertile heating system, both electric and water-based option, plus installation techniques and supplier profiles; as well as specialistIT options for tiling businesses. Please send any contributions by 17th August.

For features later in the year, please visit www.tileandstonejournal.com.

I look forward to receiving all your ideas and stories at [email protected].

Joe Simpson

NEWS IN BRIEFAmerican PR profession-al, Eric Carson, haslaunched a new publicrelations and marketingc omp a n y , B l u e p r i n tGlobal Media. This full-service agency is dedicat-ed to supporting manu-facturers of ceramic tilesand other architecturally

specified building products. Blueprint offers in-depthknowledge across several key areas including hospi-tality, healthcare, retail and leisure construction.Based in Lima, Peru, with a satellite office in Portland,Maine, USA, Blueprint offers bi-ligual services in bothEnglish and Spanish to allow South American manu-facturers to communicate with English-speakingarchitects, designers, distributors and dealers aroundthe globe. Eric Carson can be contacted at [email protected].

Building AdhesivesLimited has strengthenedits marketing team byappointing VanessaEdwards as BAL BrandManager. She takesresponsibility for the mar-keting communicationsof everything bearing theBAL name. David

Hackett, Building Adhesives Limited Sales andMarketing Director, said: “Nurturing the BAL brandand keeping it relevant to professional tilers is critical,so this represents a key strategic appointment.Vanessa Edwards brings exactly the right blend of awide-ranging skillset and in-depth relevant experi-ence to assure the future for their favourite brand.”Edwards joins the company following nearly fiveyears with Focus DIY, where she had brand manage-ment responsibility for a showroom category worth inexcess of £100 million. Edwards has both BSc (Hons)and MPhil degrees.

France's antitrust regulator has given constructiongiant Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA the green lightto acquire Wolseley PLC's French plumbing-heatingsubsidiary Brossette for $247 million, provided it sellsoff 22 stores. Without the divestitures, it was judgedthat the deal would create unfair market conditionsbordering on monopoly in western France, theAutorite de la Concurrence said in a statement. TheAutorite said that because both companies are activein the sector of specialized plumbing, heating and airconditioning products, rival retailers would be unableto exercise sufficient competitive strength, unless StGobain reduced it reach by the divestment of thesestores.

Natural Stone Sustainability Award winners announced

5APRIL 2012 TSJ

NEWS & COMMENT

Stone Federation Great Britain has announced the win-ners of their Natural Stone Sustainability Awards. Theawards, now in their third year, were created to high-light the sustainable qualities of natural stone and torecognise outstanding achievement, awareness andinnovation in sustainability within the industry.The awards were presented, at the Natural Stone

Awards Sustainability Day at EcoBuild on 22nd March.Chairing the judging panel was Ingval Maxwell OBE,

who qualified as an architect in 1969 and then spent hisprofessional career dealing with the conservation ofancient monuments and historic buildings until hisretirement from Historic Scotland in 2008. Also judgingwere David Richardson, Director of the BRE’s BuildingTechnology Group and John Bysouth, recipient of theDuke of Gloucester Gold Medal for Outstanding LifetimeAchievement in Stonemasonry.The award in the category for Workshops and

Premises went to Lovell Purbeck, which in the last yearhas been investing heavily in generating its own elec-tricity at Downs Quarry in Purbeck and Bowdens Quarryin Somerset. A photo voltaic generation system hasbeen installed on the roof of the company’s new tileprocessing factory at Downs Quarry and is able to gen-erate 20% of the company’s total electricity require-ments for the processing facility. When processing isnot taking place surplus electricity is fed back to thenational grid.A similar, but slightly smaller, system at its Bowdens

Quarry produces enough electricity to run all of the pro-cessing equipment. Lovell Purbeck has invested over£230,000 in the schemes and expects payback in lessthan ten years.Managing Director, Simon Hart said “Of course it is

really good news to have won this award. Sustainabilityis a key issue throughout our company. It is always veryhigh on the agenda, as it should be. We have beenmaking substantial investments and it makes sensethat these should be environmentally friendly.”An award for Landscaping went to Hardscape for a

project in Nelson, Lancashire (pictured above).Following a decline in retail trade Pendle BoroughCouncil was granted funding of £2.3 million to recreateThe High Street in an attempt to regenerate the towncentre. This included reintroducing slow moving trafficto a previously pedestrianised precinct. After changesin funding the council was asked to cut the cost of thescheme by £200,000 and complete the programme in

twelve months instead of the planned fifteen. This wasachieved through strong project management skills.A mixture of high quality locally sourced natural

stone and manmade materials have produced a visuallypleasing but robust scheme. Stone paving flags to thepedestrian movement zones, stone setts to crossingpoints and hot rolled asphalt coloured buff has provid-ed durability to the vehicle route.

Anthony Collins, North West Sales Manager forHardscape, said:L "Together with Pendle BoroughCouncil we are delighted the project received theaward. From providing locally sourced materials wherepossible to being leading members of the EthicalTrading Initiative, Hardscape continues to ensure sus-tainable inspiration, selection and supply of hard land-scaping materials to clients across the UK “

The award for Re-use of Materials went to Granite LePelley for a project at La Moinerie Hotel on Sark. Thisutilised material from derelict 18th century granitefarm buildings surrounding the hotel.

The owners wanted to sensitively renew and refur-bish the existing hotel and add new bedrooms and arestaurant. The method of construction was designed to suit the

skills of labour available on the island and in order tosupport the island’s economy a local building contrac-tor was appointed to oversee the works. The re-use ofmaterials included reclaimed random granite wallingfrom derelict buildings and reclaimed granite setts andcubes obtained from Brittany. Other sustainable features included a central oil fired

boiler with insulated pipe work, a water managementinfrastructure and additional boreholes to provide awater supply.Granite Le Pelley, Managing Director Phil Le Roy said:

“As well as building and refurbishing as sustainably aspossible, our clients (Sark Estate Management) have avision to grow, rear and catch from the sea as much ofthe produce they require as possible.”

TSJApr12p 4-16_News and comment 10/04/2012 16:11 Page 5

StoneCircle has sponsored the Newbury Rugby Club’s Under 10s team and helped provide them with anew training shirt. The shirts which will be used during training sessions encourage a much improvedtackle technique than the old style training bibs and feature stoneCIRCLE’s logo on the front.

Steve Vanhinsbergh, Director of StoneCircle commented that he was delighted to be able to help young-sters to play rugby in the local area.

The stone masons supplies architects, interior designers and kitchen and bathroom showrooms withstone products which are made to the customer’s specification. Products vary from granite and quartzworktops through bespoke marble and limestone bathroom items such as vanity tops and shower trays,to water features, ecclesiastical furniture etc in natural stone.

New York Stone has recently opened a marble and granite distri-bution showroom in the heart of Manhattan on West 21st Street.This location is just across the Hudson river from New YorkStone’s flagship location on 45 Howell Street in Jersey City. Itexpands New York Stone’s accessibility to potential customers inNew York City and also increases the space available to storelarge quantities of precious stone slabs.

New York Stone’s two locations are varied in size, design, andstock. The New Jersey showroom is 125,000 square feet, and it

showcases over 400 different varieties of stone. New York Stone’s Manhattan showroom is approximately15,000 square feet across three stories. The New York location has an innovative showroom concept thatallows visitors to see the stone arranged in their original sizes. Each floor contains its own collection fromspecific suppliers, such as Luccon, Hyperwave, and Marazzi.

Tile Depot, the UK’s largest independent tile, stone and wood retailer, is delighted toopen a brand new store in Reading, Berkshire. Tile Depot’s 19th branch sits in aprominent, convenient location at 31 Boulton Road, south of the town centre and1.5 miles from Junction 11 of the M4, between the A33 and the Basingstoke Road,opposite the Brunel Retail Park and near to Morrisons supermarket. The store is eas-ily identified by its brightly lit distinctive yellow and green signage.Tile Depot is a new type of tile store for Reading and the surrounding areas, featur-

ing inspirational room-like displays throughout and a massive choice of the latestwall and floor tiles to suit all tastes, from budget ranges to designer collections: withthe best trade prices guaranteed for holders of the Tile Depot Trade Card.

StoneCircle sponsorship supports local boy’s rugby

TSJ APRIL 20126

NEWS & COMMENT

J P KENNEDY

“Hello and welcome to my firstarticle for the TSJ. First off a thankyou to Joe Simpson for askingme, although in fairness he haswarned me that the huge feesinvolved may force me into earlyretirement!

A little introduction: My name isJP Kennedy, Managing Directorof TileStyle one of Ireland’s

leading tile companies, founded 30 years ago by theredoubtable Jim McNaughton. I have been working withinthe tile industry in Ireland and the UK for nearly 20 years,with most of this time spent working with BAL and Ardex.

So how is the Irish market? Well overall the economy in theSouth has been battered hard but we are fighting a goodfight. Technically Ireland slipped into recession again at theend of 2011.

However Irish exports continue to perform strongly,agriculture is experiencing a renaissance and tourism is onthe up. Employment is at 85% and while we are still beinggiven a “dig out” by the IMF and ECB, multinationalcompanies continue to invest in new and existingbusinesses in Ireland.

In Northern Ireland the impact of the recession, whilechallenging, has perhaps not been so drastic in terms of thegeneral economy, with unemployment relatively stable.

So, for the tile industry in Ireland, North and South, it hasbeen an incredibly tough time. The Irish constructionindustry has collapsed from €36 billion in 2007 to littleunder €8 billion in 2011 and further modest declines areforecast in 2012.

House prices have fallen by 50% and have yet to stabilisealthough the bottom is very close. So, with demand flat,little signs of significant growth in the short term and theadded pressure of significant over supply, a hypercompetitive market has developed for tiles over the lastthree years.

So the good news! The recession will end when demandbegins to exceed supply and the challenge for the Irish tileindustry is when? With all these external forces forming aformidable obstacle to normal business, the Irish tileindustry must continue to work very hard, adapt and learnhow to do old things better and completely new things toperfection, not for the faint hearted!”

JP Kennedy is Managing Director of TileStyle, one ofIreland’s leading companies specialising in tiles, stone,bathrooms and wood for the retail and commercial sectors.Contact JP at [email protected].


JustEnough Software Corporation, a leading provider of demand managementsolutions for retailers, distributors and brand owners worldwide, has announcedthat Norcros South Africa has selected its best-in-class Demand Planning solution.Norcros South Africa manufactures and retails a large range of quality tiles, adhe-sives and construction chemical products. The company sought a supply chainplanning system that would ensure consumer demand in its retail environment isdriving production planning and raw-material ordering at its manufacturing facili-ties. JustEnough’s cloud-based Demand Planning solution, which incorporatesadvanced Demand Forecasting, Inventory Planning and Order Planning andReplenishment functionality, proved to be the best fit for the business, accordingto Shane McLeod, Norcros South Africa’s strategic planning executive.“We needed supply chain planning technology that could help us align our ITsystems with our business model,” McLeod said. “JustEnough was the only soft-ware provider that effectively demonstrated how its solutions could accomplishthis. Plus, JustEnough’s OnCloud offering will deliver a quick return on our invest-ment and lower total cost of ownership. Ultimately, we expect that leveragingJustEnough Demand Planning will result in improved fill rates and reduced stock-holding within our operations.”www.justenough.com

Norcros South Africa selects JustEnough Software

NEWS & COMMENT

8 TSJ APRIL 2012

The Great Northern Tiling Company was recently commissioned to complete a tiling installa-tion in the busy Meadowhall Nando’s, home of the legendary Portuguese flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken. Situated in Sheffield, Meadowhall shopping centre’s food court is a predominantattraction and includes a wide choice of restaurants from Giraffe to Yo! Sushi and Nando’s.The project involved fixing unpolished 600 by 300mm porcelain tiles to the restaurant’s floor.

Ultra Tile’s ProRapid RS cementitious adhesive was perfect for the job as it offers exceptionalbond strength, flexibility and fast setting capabilities. The product has a pot life of 40 minutesand grouting can be started after only two hours. To finish the all-round stylish look of the restaurant, leading Ultra Tile grout, FlexJoint in grey

was used. The grout’s composition is mould resistant and water repellent, making it an idealhygienic choice for hospitality areas. Suitable for wall or floor applications and joint widths ofup to 20mm, FlexJoint has been used on a variety of tiling projects including: sporting venues,hairdressers, supermarkets and showrooms.Overall the Nando’s experience was as enjoyable as the famous Peri-Peri sauce for The Great

Northern Tiling Company. They were yet again delighted with the performance and ease of useof Ultra Tile adhesives and grouts, creating a professional and stylish tiled floor.Ultra Tile W: www.ultratileadhesives.co.ukThe Great Northern Tiling Company W: www.gntc.co.uk

MADELEINE HARRINGTON“What would you do if you were in a jobinterview and you were asked to giveyour Facebook password to theinterviewer? I assume that most people’sreaction would be the same as mine: thatthis is private information and none oftheir business. And what’s more that Iwouldn’t want to work for an employerthat thought it could pry into mypersonal affairs to this extent.

This topic was the subject of a recentarticle in the Washington Post and has sparked controversy acrossthe US. Apparently it is not just the odd over zealous personnelmanager who is doing it either; it is actually more prevalent amonggovernment agencies, especially those that deal with lawenforcement.

Opinions differ as to the legality of these processes and some statesare changing the law to make it definitely illegal. After all peopledon’t ask to read your personal mail or for a list of your friends sothat they can ring them up and talk to them all before they hire you,so why should they be given access to your social media accounts?

The question is how far is a company entitled to know about yourlife outside work. Is it any business of your employer if you go outand get outrageously drunk or even attend orgies every weekend,as long as you turn up on time, do your job well and don’t slag themoff publicly?

If you are a policeman or judge it may matter more. In fact theWashington Post article refers to a sheriff’s department that used totalk to friends and neighbours but now checks on social mediasites, by insisting that potential employees “friend” the researcher.But even in other industries, a lot of American companies seem tohave decided that they are entitled to know everything about theiremployees.

The UK is a long way behind the USA in this, and let’s hope that itstays that way. Our fondness for alcohol as a form of social andbusiness lubrication could also act as a counter balance especiallyin the tile industry. When the Irish bar is a key networking point foran industry at trade shows, it is unlikely that employers are going toturn you down for a job because of some drunken pictures onFacebook.

The serious point though is that your private life is becoming morepublic with the advent of social networking. Facebook isdetermined to get you and your friends to map your life in itstimeline app and Google to find out all about your tastes andinterests from where you go on the net. Your actions are no longerknown just to immediate friends and family. You may be fine withthat, if not, make sure that you set Facebook’s privacy tools howyou want them and sign out of, or don’t create, any Googleaccounts. That way you are in charge of what is seen. Until ofcourse the Personnel Manager at your company insists that yougive him/her your Facebook password.”

Madeleine Harrington is a director of McMullin Harrington Limited,a marketing consultancy specialising in the tile and stone industry.She can be contacted on [email protected].

Nando’s receives Great Northern Tiling’s touch


Expectations for future house prices were more optimistic during February as trans-action levels continued to edge upwards, says the latest RICS UK Housing MarketSurvey published on 13th March 2012. Expectations for future prices saw a consid-erable turnaround in February with surveyors reporting a net balance of zero percent(compared with -14 in January). This is the first time since May 2010 that respon-dents have not been predicting further price declines. Given the recent upturn ininterest from first time buyers looking to beat the stamp duty exemption deadline, itwould appear that surveyors are slowly becoming less pessimistic over prices.Alongside this, transaction levels continued to edge up with the average amount ofsales per surveyor (by branch) moving up to 16, an increase of almost four percent onlast month’s figure of 15.7. Although still historically low, this is the most positivereading since September 2010 and suggests that the improvement in activity seen inrecent months is continuing. In spite of this more positive trend in sales, prices across the UK continued to dipduring February, albeit at the slowest rate for over a year and a half. 13% more char-tered surveyors reported price falls rather than rises in the last month. Regionally,London was again the only part of the country to see prices increase, while surveyorsin the West Midlands and Northern Ireland saw the least positive readings.Fresh interest from potential buyers was relatively flat during February with a net

balance of 3% more respondents reporting increases in demand. Surveyors reportthat problems accessing affordable mortgage finance continue to hinder many firsttime buyers who would otherwise be looking to get onto the property ladder.New instructions, which indicate supply levels to the market, saw a slight upturn

with nine percent more surveyors reporting instructions rose rather than fell. Newstock coming to the market has now risen, albeit relatively modestly, for five succes-sive months.Looking ahead, with a less pessimistic outlook surrounding future prices, surveyors

expect transaction levels to continue to rise. A net balance of 20% more surveyorspredict sales to increase over the coming three months.

Alan Collett, RICS housing spokesperson (left), com-mented: “With the recent upturn in activity brought onby the end of the stamp duty holiday, it seems that arenewed sense of optimism may be slowly returning tothe property market. Chartered surveyors’ price predic-tions were more optimistic in almost every area of thecountry in February.”“However, with affordable mortgage finance still outof reach for many potential first time buyers, it remainsto be seen whether the more optimistic outlook forfuture sales can be sustained beyond the expiry of thestamp duty holiday.”

NEWS & COMMENT

10 TSJ APRIL 2012

RICS survey reveals some house price optimism JOSS THOMAS

“I’m finding that we’regetting more and morerequests for stone forinstallation outside.One particular lookcustomers are wantingto achieve is a seamlesssurface indoors and out,separated only by bi-fold doors. This lookgives a great feeling ofspace and removes

visual barriers. There’s huge appetite for it and, asa trend, I see it becoming even more popular overthe next few years.

Like any new application method, the seamlesslook brings its own considerations. Both insideand out, substrates must be properly prepared,adhesive compatible and correct allowancesmade for expansion joints. But, there are otherspecific considerations in terms of the stoneexposed to the elements.

It’s imperative that the stone chosen is fit forpurpose, both internally and externally; not all tilesare but many can be supplied in a thicker format toallow application outdoors. The stone itself mustbe strong enough to withstand frost and thefreeze thaw action. Careful consideration alsoneeds to be given to the finish of the stone. If ahoned finish is used internally, the stone maybenefit from a light sandblasting or brushing foruse outside, to offer better slip resistance.

During installation, stone should be laid at asufficient angle to ensure that any surface waterdrains away, rather than collecting and pooling onthe tiles. Similarly, adhesives need to be checkedfor compatibility, as do finishing treatments. Inparticular, the application of the correct sealant isimportant, as this will help prevent waterpenetration and algae growth, etc.

As well as technical considerations, aesthetics andplain up keep should also be born in mind. Whilstmany customers like the idea of using a pale stone,there is a degree of maintenance involved. Aseamless look can very quickly becomecompromised if the tiles on either side of thethreshold aren’t cleaned correctly or to the samedegree. Sometimes opting for a slightly darker ormore rustic finish can make the look a lot easier toachieve in the long run!”

For more information, call 01993 824200 oremail [email protected].

A London branch of a nationwide builder’s merchants are celebrating a milestone anniversary after ten successfulyears in the capital. The Walthamstow branch of nationwide merchants Selco, which opened its doors for the firsttime on 19th March 2002, was the first builder’s warehouse Selco opened in London. The brand has since success-fully opened 14 more London branches, as well as a number of branches nationwide across Yorkshire, Manchester,East Midlands, Birmingham, Wales, the South West and Berkshire.

“Any reservations we may have had about opening our first branch of Selco in the capital quickly vanished oncewe opened the doors on the first day,” says Chris Cunliffe, Managing Director of Selco. “Nobody had really heard ofSelco in London before we opened the Walthamstow branch and, despite our most optimistic expectations, wewere stunned by the amount of customers that came through our doors that first morning. Now we’re on the brinkof opening up a further three branches in London this year, including in Hanworth, Old Kent Road and Tottenham,which will bring us up to 17 Selco branches across the capital. We are committed to continuing our expansion andproviding the complete service offer to all builders and tradesmen in the South East, and we’re looking forward toserving the London builders for many years to come.”

To mark Walthamstow’s tenth anniversary on Monday 19th March, the branch hosted a number of activities andcelebrations, including serving a free bacon buttie or sausage sandwich and a hot drink to all customers visiting thewarehouse between 6.30am and 12 noon. www.selcobw.com

Selco celebrates 10th anniversary of first London branch


NEWS & COMMENT

12 TSJ APRIL 2012

Between 17th and 22nd April 2012 the best of Italian ceramic design willbe on display in Milan during the Fuorisalone Milano Design Week.Ceramics of Italy is participating this year with an extra event: the CeramicDesign Tour Milan. Prestigious locations will form the backdrop for a vari-ety of initiatives by seven companies in the Italian tile industry showcasingthe best that ceramics bearing the Made in Italy label have to offer.

Ceramiche Coem is sponsoring a project by Sergio Bizzarro who will bepresenting the DayDreamSpa room by Axis (above), in which porcelainstoneware is transformed into parquet. The event will be held at the HomeSpa Design 2012 in via Tortona 15.

Ceramica del Conca will run two events. The first is Sense is Simple: TheSpa by Simone Micheli at the Spazio Impluvium. The second event, calledThe Fiction Hotel, will be set up at via Tortona 26. It will include various set-tings alternating between different film sets. As in a real hotel, at theentrance the public have to register and check in before following a routewhich reconstruct the atmospheres of famous films including CasinoRoyale, 'Il Gattopardo', Stargate, Pulp Fiction, Fitzcarraldo, Matrix and Ran.

Ceramica Sant'Agostino’s exhibition called Surfing The Future will beheld at the Magna Pars convention centre, in via Tortona 15. Surfing TheFuture proposes a new living solution, a cross between a home and a float-ing home that has been created with a mix of natural, synthetic and recy-cled materials.

Florim will present itsinnovative productReverse from the FloorGres brand, together witha renovation of the exhibi-tion space inside theFlorim showroom ofMilan.

Laminam will present Qui serve un piano (We need a plan) at Laminam'sMilan showroom in via Mercato 3 which has been completely revamped byarchitect Nicola De Ponti. Here a Modena housewife will put the Assuntanew kitchen tops to the test by preparing hand-rolled pasta.

Lea Ceramiche and Kravitz Design Inc have collaborated on Goccia, anew wall tile collection that offers a new interpretation of 3D decoration. Finally, Tagina Contract is the name given to an exhibition specially cre-

ated for Milan by Tagina Ceramiche that will be located at the Temporarymuseum for new design 2012, in via Tortona 27. Emphasising continuitybetween outdoors and indoors, Tagina will be exhibiting its Compactrange in two formats: 12mm thick which is ideal for indoor use and 20mmthick which can be used outdoors, creating perfect harmony betweeninternal and external spaces.For information please visit: www.laceramicaitaliana.it/designtour

Italian ceramics displays its design potential

ALAN REYNOLDS

“When you have no employees tolay off, no premises to downsize orcash tied up in unnecessary stockand prices have been trimmed tothe proverbial bone there’s verylittle left for a self-employed fixer tomake further economies.

Actually that’s not entirely true.There is one area where savings canbe made but it involvescompromising long held traditionsand beliefs which I’ve beenstruggling to maintain by absorbing

the relentless increases in costs until I am practically giving thestuff away. I’m talking of course about fixing materials: theancillary products on which we hang our reputations.

When I first took up tiling, choice was rarely an option when itcame to adhesive and grout and tile showrooms weren’talways the trade friendly places they have to be today. Youliterally got what they stocked and that was it. Fortunately Iwas trained by a seasoned veteran during a time of plentywhen costs weren’t the issue they are today and as a result I’veremained faithful to the brand of adhesive with which Ilearned my craft.

Nowadays it’s not unusual for tile stockists to carry alternativeor own brands of fixing materials alongside their principalrange. For the most part these are aimed at the trade andwhen they were first introduced I wouldn’t give them the timeof day no matter what the savings. But pride, as they say, goesbefore a fall and in the current economic maelstrom I’ve beenforced into a major rethink.

As previously mentioned my prices have been squeezed to thepoint where I’m actually making a loss on fixing materials. Thiscannot go on. The choice is simple: remain loyal to the brandI’ve used for years and continue haemorrhaging money orswallow my pride and fully embrace the profits that are goingbegging with more competitively priced products.

Despite my declarations of fidelity I saw the writing on the wallsome time back and starting flirting with other brands such asGranfix and Topps Tiles ‘Toppfix range’ and I have to say I’mvery impressed. They offer outstanding value for money andmore than meet my requirements when it comes tospecifications and performance.

To date, my philandering has been restricted to cement basedadhesives as I’ve been unable to identify a suitably alternativeto the ready-mixed products I’ve used from day one. This islargely due to burgeoning fuel costs limiting the area in whichI operate and as a result my ability to access other stockists.True, once I had identified my product I could buy in bulk andhave it delivered but that would put even further pressure onmy fragile finances in the face of an uncertain economic future.

When it comes to the food chain, self-employed fixers are rightdown at the bottom. We have no way of combating spirallingmaterial prices other than questioning costly loyalties whenfaced with so many high quality, money saving alternatives.”

Alan Reynolds is the proprietor of Wilmslow Ceramic Tiling.01625 434093 [email protected].


NEWS & COMMENT

14 TSJ APRIL 2012

Topps Tiles has reported that muted consumer spending and a sluggish UKhousing market, has hurt revenue in the first half of the financial year. Thetiles and flooring retailer, which operates 319 stores, said revenue for the 26weeks to 31 March is expected to fall 2.5% to £86.9m, initially sending thecompany’s shares down 4%. Like-for-like sales in the first quarter of 2012 arepredicted to have decreased 4.5% compared with a 1.8% increase a year ago,while adjusted sales for the second quarter are expected to fall by 4%.

“It doesn’t seem to me housing transactions willfall below current levels,” stated Chief Executive,Matthew Williams (left). He said the companywas in the fourth year of all-time lows with800,000 housing transactions per year, comparedwith 2006 when transactions peaked at 1.7m.Despite the drop in sales, Topps said it contin-ued to boost its market share to 26% and expectsto end the financial year with 325 stores, in linewith previous guidance.Analysts at Peel Hunt said Topps remains one ofthe leading potential recovery stocks in the sec-

tor. However, other analysts are more wary, voicing concerns that other retail-ers improving their home offers could start to provide tougher competitionfor Topps.

Topps Tiles predicts 2.5% fall in half year revenue

Exhibiting for the first time at Ecobuild 2012, Filaunveiled its new Green Line product range. Partof Fila’s Green Action brand, Green Line includes17 surface care products, from pre-grouting pro-tectors and surface cleaners, to protection andstain removal solutions. Each eco-friendly formulation has been devel-oped to provide high performance whilst protect-ing the individual natural surface and ensuring

safe application. New LEED-compliant, water-based products include pre-grouting protector Fila PRW 200, stain-proofing Fila W68 and water-proofer,Fila HP98.Designed to protect absorbent surfaces before and during grout applica-tion, Fila PRW 200 is ideal for terracotta, quarry tiles, natural stone andagglomerates. The VOC-free formulation can be applied manually or using anairless spray pump and provides surface protection and easy cleaning, with-out altering appearance or affecting grout adhesion.For application on porous surfaces after installation, new Fila W68 is a stain-proofing protector designed for both internal and external surfaces. The nonfilm-forming, water-based product seals and protects without alteringappearance. It can be applied, using a brush, fleece or airless pump, to sur-faces with residual moisture and can also be used as a protective basecoatbefore the application of wax. Meanwhile, Fila HP98 provides protection against water both internally andexternally. Designed for spray or brush application, the clear water-prooferpenetrates natural stone and terracotta without forming a film or alteringappearance. Outdoors, Fila HP98 prevents efflorescence and wear caused by atmospher-ic agents and is suitable for use on frost-resistant tiles. Its water-based com-position is fast drying and it can be applied to damp surfaces. As well as pro-viding protection against moisture, Fila HP98 also prevents chewing gumadhesion.T: 01584 877286 E: [email protected] W: www.filachim.com

LISA BREAKSPEAR “Available in a spectrum ofpatterns and finishes,agglomerates can be resin orcement-based and cancontain various materials,including natural stone, glass,quartz and stone dust. Whilstquarried stone is chosen forits natural appearance,agglomerates give a moreuniform look, with little or novariation between tiles. Most

agglomerates will have characteristics of certain materials,but it can sometimes be difficult to determine which stoneshave been used. With this in mind, it’s always wise to test alltreatment products on a small surface area first – andmanufacturer’s recommendations should always becarefully followed. In particular, care should be taken toensure that products won’t damage the resin contentduring all treatment stages.

Across all surface types, the importance of a thorough‘initial clean’ is still so under-rated. More often than not, anewly laid surface is given a quick wash with water, and if animpregnator is required and an insufficient initial wash iscarried out, residues are effectively sealed beneath theimpregnator. This can cause the floor to look dull and willrender the impregnator ineffective, as the residues preventit from being able to enter the porosity.

Worse still, if a newly laid floor is cleaned with an unsuitabledetergent, it will not only fail to remove residues sufficientlybut could damage the untreated surface permanently.Cleaning thoroughly, with a correct solution, really isessential.

To thoroughly clean agglomerates, this initial wash shouldalways be carried out using a pH neutral cleaner, like FilaCleaner. This type of product can be safely used on allnatural surfaces.

In terms of sealing, this will depend upon the type ofagglomerate. Unlike other stone surfaces, the porosity ofstone resin agglomerates is very low, so water moleculesaren’t able to sufficiently penetrate the surface; solventmolecules are much smaller, so they’re able to penetrateand provide the protection needed. With regard to Fila’streatment range, specifically, marble cement and marbleresin should be treated with Fila MP90 and quartz cementwith Fila MP90 or Filafob. No protective treatment isrequired for glass or quartz resin.

As with the initial clean, pH neutral products should alwaysbe used to maintain agglomerates, to ensure that the resinisn’t damaged. The use of excessive water should also beavoided, as this could also compromise the surface.”

Lisa Breakspear is Sales & Technical Director of Fila UK.For more information on Fila’s range of surface careproducts, please contact Fila UK on 01584 877286 or visitwww.filachim.com.

Fila unveils Green Line surface care range at Ecobuild


NEWS & COMMENT

16 TSJ APRIL 2012

NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF NEWSKirkstone has ceased trading and entered into administration under accountants and financialadvisers Armstrong and Watson. Established in 1949, the family run business operates a mainquarry on Kirkstone Pass, has a head office and trade showroom located at Skelwith Bridge nearAmbleside, and a second quarry, large warehouse and despatch facility close by. The companyalso has a showroom in Fulham. The company had a workforce of around 40, ranging fromrockhands, sawyers, polishers and masons to technical, sales and administrative staff. Theseemployees, who it is understood were given no prior notice, were said to be in shock .Aspokesman for Carlisle-based administrators Armstrong Watson said: “The company ceasedtrading on Thursday, March 15th, and all 39 employees have been made redundant. We areassessing various options for the future of the company and its assets. Our investigations intothe company’s affairs and the events leading up to the administration appointment are at anearly stage. We are currently unable to comment on the likely outcome for the company or itscreditors.” The Joint Administrators are Daryl Warwick and Michael Christian Kienlen,Armstrong Watson, Fairview House, Victoria Place, Carlisle CA1 1HP.T: 01228 690200.

TSJ is sad to report that Marm Ali,well known to many in the tile industry, hasdied suddenly following a short illness. Marm, aged 57, had worked in the tileindustry for over 30 years beginning his working life in the sector as a van driverwith Pentagon Tile Distributors. He rose through the ranks to become a Directorand whilst there developed their Crowborough site. He went on to joinColchester Tile as Contract Sales Manager for the Thames South area. Marm'sfuneral was held on 16th March and donations should be made to British HeartFoundation.

Nicholls & Clarke has announced that it has acquired Tile Shapes trading activities. The compa-ny will continue to trade from its existing site in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Tile Shapesis a tile and bathroom retailer and distributor with a quality tile fixing service. All members ofstaff will be joining the Nicholls & Clarke Group in their existing posts and customers will benefitfrom access to the wider range of products within the Nicholls & Clarke Group.

Following the integration of the two businesses, British Ceramic Tile and Ceramic Prints have announcedthat Darryl Shaw, Philip Cefai and Adrian Dufton have left the company, while Neil Anderton and CarynClarke have been appointed to new roles. British Ceramic Tile’s Chief Executive, Tony Taylor, comment-ed: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank Darryl, Philip and Adrian for their hard work and sup-port and wish them well in the future. As part of the review process I am pleased to announce theappointment of Neil Anderton as UK Sales Director and Caryn Clarke as Marketing Manager of BritishCeramic Tile, both of whom have been with their respective businesses for some while."

Dune has signed a collaboration agreement with Architonic, whose website -www.architonic.com - the specialist search engine for architects and interior designers world-wide. The company has added a selection of its most striking products to the site with a viewto gradually expanding the portfolio of products featured on the website. Readers can accessthe website by clicking on the following link http://www.architonic.com/pmcol/dune-cermi-ca/3103461/1.

Laticrete has appointed Jason P. Smith as International Manager, Europe. Aseasoned professional with more than two decades of experience within theceramic tile adhesive industry in the UK, Smith will be working out of theLaticrete UK’s headquarters in London. Prior to joining Laticrete, Smith's rolesincluded Southern Regional Manager for BAL, National Brand DevelopmentManager for Dunlop Adhesives and National Business Development Managerfor Nicholls & Clarke Group. He will be reporting directly to Faisal Saleem,Laticrete’s Senior Director, International Business Development. According to

Smith, "Our European division has a strong agenda to address. In particular, we intend to increase mar-ket share in areas where we have ongoing work…and, create new business opportunities whereLaticrete has yet to have presence."

SEAN MCPHEAT

“The root word of 'decision' comesfrom the Latin, meaning 'to cut offfrom'. When we make a decision, weeffectively cut off from any otheralternative. No wonder it can be scary!

For a prospect, making a decision tobuy means that they run the risk of acompetitor coming by soon after witha better, neater proposal that is abetter fit to the prospect's situation.So how do we convince the prospectthey are making a good decision,

even if they are feeling indecisive?

Here are some ideas: Set deadlines. One of our clients only makesdecisions if we set a deadline. We recognised early on that theywere a very reactive organisation, with little planning going on. Wecame up with extra services, upgrades, more coaching ... but only ifthey made the decision by a certain date. And it works. Just the factthat you offer something that expires soon may well driveprospects to making a decision.

Make it simple for your prospect to buy by putting an easy systemin place. This takes the drama out of making a decision, and helpsthe prospect define a successful decision earlier and easier. All theyhave to do is sign the order and everything else is taken care of forthem. They can be indecisive for the rest of the day ... but now theyhave to make a decision that is right for them and their company.

Make the risks of the decision as low as possible. Give guarantees,warranties, money-back offers ... anything that provides a feeling ofsecurity. I ordered four shirts from a mail order company. They offera three-month returns policy. It's a risk-free offer. Not the cheapestshirts, but ones I can feel safe in trying out and returning if I want to.

Give the prospect a long lead-time to make the decision. If theynormally choose stock in the summer, start talking to them in thewinter, so they can build up their trust in you as a supplier.

Determine what their buying process is. If the decision-maker canorder up to a certain amount on their own, maybe you can convincethem to increase their order, which would mean getting otherpeople involved to help them make the decision.

Create such an offer that it's much more sensible for them to say yesthan no. Build the uniqueness of your company in their eyes so thatthey see the offer you are making, and the back-up you are giving,as too good to refuse.

Be aware of what the buyer may get from your competition. Youcan then go through what the needs of her organisation are andcompare your solution with what they would get if they wentsomewhere else. It makes it easier for them to make the decision,because you've done all the homework for them.

By identifying what would make the buying decision easier, safer,quicker, neater, or cheaper for the prospect, you remove all thebarriers to them making a decision, and make it easier to see thebest decision for them and their company.

Happy selling!”

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


TTA NEWSLETTER

18 TSJ APRIL 2012

“Welcome to the latest edition of The TileAssociation (TTA) Newsletter. Following therecent announcement of the finalist for theprestigious Tile Association Awards, this monthwe take a look at the shortlisted nominees whowill be hoping to take home the coveted TTAAward trophies at the Gala Dinner taking placeon 21st April 2012 at the Birmingham HiltonMetropole.To be amongst the first to find out all the win-

ners on the night, visit tiles.org.uk and bookyour tickets to ensure you don’t miss out on themost prestigious event in the tile industry calen-dar.”Les RoltPR & Marketing Co-ordinatorThe Tile Association

TTA Awards shortlist announced On 21st April, The Tile Association Awards willhonour the best of the wall and floor tile indus-try, and celebrate excellence throughout thepast year.The Las Vegas themed awards ceremony

promises to be an exhilarating night of enter-tainment and excitement, but the legacy of theAwards runs far deeper than that. Winning aTTA award is a statement of excellence unparal-leled in the wall and floor tiling industry. It is anachievement that provides a platform for fur-ther success, elevating the winners standingwithin the industry, providing not only mediacoverage and the opportunity to proudly dis-play the TTA award-winners logo, but alsorecognition from their own peers. To be named on the shortlist for the premier

night in the tile industry calendar is an accom-plishment to be proud of.Following an exceptional high standard of

TTA Awards: the event of the yearentries this year, the following shortlisted nom-inees await the announcement of the winningentry in each of the 22 categories at The TileAssociation Awards Gala Dinner, taking placeon Saturday 21st April 2012 at the BirminghamHilton Hotel, National Exhibition Centre,Birmingham. An evening not to be missed –you can book your tickets by visiting the‘Awards 2012’ section of The Tile Associationwebsite: www.tiles.org.uk

Wall Tile of the YearThe winner of the Wall Tile of the Year award isa manufactured tile that is original in designand will stand out in the crowded arena of a tileshowroom as the wall tile to buy.

Hinton range, Laura Ashley CollectionBritish Ceramic TileThe Hinton range adds a modern shine to thepopular Laura Ashley tile collection. The con-temporary mosaic effect tiles have sparklinghighlights which reflect the light and add inter-est to any scheme. Hinton is an innovative tile using the latest in

ceramic print effects combined on a glossy tilewithin a mosaic pattern.

Impact range, Cookhouse CollectionCP GroupThe new impact range from the CP Group’sCookhouse Collection is an inspiring collectionof glass wall tiles. Created to make a real stylestatement, these glass wall tiles bring some-thing completely new and fresh to the market,with on trend designs and borders sitting sideby side with an extensive colour palette and avariety of size formats for maximum choice andflexibility.

La Dolce Vita rangeElios Ceramica Inspired by the sober and delicate trends of thefifties, La Dolce Vita challenges assumptionsand revisits, in a contemporary key, some time-less designs. It is offered as a single field tile,alongside eight decorated shades. The rectifiededge and single thickness makes it clean cut,while the patterns are designed to fit into tradi-tional, as well as ultra-modern, design concepts.

Tones, Neutrals range Johnson TilesIn 2011 Johnson Tiles introduced the compa-ny’s first decal product decorated on one of themainline inkjet machines. The product, namedTones Forest, forms part of the Neutrals rangeand complements the field tiles and floor tilesin the range, forming a decorative interfacebetween two complementary field tiles andideally suiting living areas within the home.

WeeKend range by Marazzi ItalyCraven Dunnill & CoWeeKend, a new series from the Italian manu-facturer Marazzi, is a modern styled 300 by100mm wall tile with two surface finishes, bothavailable in seven contemporary colours. The WeeKend range is versatile and stunning

effects can be created by combining both tex-ture and colour.

Floor Tile of the YearWith the market for floor tiles continuing togrow in the UK, it has never been more impor-tant for manufacturers in this sector to producea tile that is cutting edge in design, yet with allthe practical characteristics required in today’smarket.

Above: La Dolce Vita by Elios Ceramics. Above: Hinton Range by British Ceramic Tile.

TTA NEWSLETTER

20 TSJ APRIL 2012

The Loft Collection Peronda CeramicasThe Loft Collection is designed to satisfy theneeds of a broad sector of the market for thosewith a penchant for simplicity and minimalism,a trend that is easy to understand. The collec-tion is produced in three formats and availablein three finishes, semi-polished, matt and struc-tured, making the collection viable for all areasresidential and commercial.

Nicobond SteelkerN&C NicobondNicobond Steelker is the sleek, ultra-thin porce-lain tile collection from N&C Nicobond. It can beused over existing floors using a dry fit, self-adhesive underlay system. This innovation usespatented technology with a tile that fuses steel,porcelain and resin fibre together to presentthe industry with the strongest, slimmest(5mm), lightweight porcelain tile with a highimpact resistance and great efficiency in instal-lation.

Slaty by EdimaxCraven Dunnill & CoThe Slaty range is inspired by the natural meta-morphic stone slate and is characterised byphoto realistic variation created by the Edimaxdesign team. Available in three colours themost striking is the Multicolor which has theappearance of an Indian Slate. The surface has agentle riven texture and there are several differ-ent structures which when combined with therandom ink jet patterning result in a highly var-ied and realistic slate effect.

Woodker by Edimax Craven Dunnill & CoWoodker by Edimax is an interpretation of anatural wood produced on a rectified 1,000 by144 by 10mm glazed porcelain tile. This stun-

ning design combines cross grain and endgrain patterning on a slightly textured surface.The surface has a realistic machined and sawntexture which when combined with the ran-dom patterning results in a series which is indis-tinguishable from the real thing.

Best InnovationThe winner of this award will be an innovativeproduct or service capable of making a lastingimpact on the tile industry.

Aluminator rangeGenesis APS InternationalIn addition to the function of step edge protec-tion the Aluminator range offers an easy, ener-gy efficient solution to illuminate steps. Thesystem require no electrical connection, is sim-ple to install, highly durable and slip-resistant –making it ideal for both commercial anddomestic application where public safety isparamount.

Mapelastic AquaDefenseMapei UKIn 2011 Mapei launched the innovative water-proofing product Mapelastic AquaDefense tothe UK market. Mapelastic AquaDefense is aone-component, ultra rapid drying, ready-to-use liquid membrane for waterproofing sub-strates prior to the installation of ceramic,porcelain and natural stone tiles and mosaics.

NicobondGypfixN&C NicobondNicobondGypfix is a rapid setting, white, gyp-sum based tile adhesive specially designed forfixing ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tilesto Anhydrite/Calcium Sulphate floors. Theproduct performs exceptionally well withunder-tile heating and other forms of UFH(under floor heating).

Taptile BathroomTaptileTaptile Bathroom is an innovative touch-sensi-tive bathroom lighting system that allows theuser to control three different lighting circuits,plus appliances such as extractor fans andsound systems. It is 100% waterproof – effec-tively allowing users to ‘ditch the switch’ and isunique within the bathroom sector; its technol-ogy having been patented.

Tile Fixer of the YearThe award for Tile Fixer of the Year recogniseseither a sole trader or employee within the tilefixing sector who has stood out as the best tilefixer in the business.

Ian HarrisonHarrisons of HullIan Harrison is known for his high standard ofwork and friendly, professional tiling service.The quality of his workmanship is acknowl-edged by customers and trade press alike.Receiving glowing customer testimonials andwinning TilerWorld ‘Tiler of the Month’ severaltimes is tribute to his skills, with existing cus-tomers returning time and again for his service.

Nick CarrierThe Natural TilerNick Carrier has been in the tiling industry forthe last 19 years, working hard to stay ahead ina competitive market and set up a successfulcompany in doing so. Passionate about hiswork, he prides himself on the experience hehas gained and the outstanding service he pro-vides to his customers.

Leon AllenTilings Finest!Since leaving school Leon Allen always knewhis future lay in the tiling industry. Having

Above: McLaren Production Centre by Avantgarde Tiling. Above: WoodKer by Edimax from Craven Dunnill.

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TTA NEWSLETTER

22 TSJ APRIL 2012

worked with his father for ten years he estab-lished a company of his own, dealing with bothcommercial and domestic contracts, and estab-lishing a reputation for reliability and hard work.

Employee of the YearThe Award for Employee of the Year recognisesan employee of a business, operating in anysector of the wall and floor tile industry, whohas made an outstanding contribution to theiremployers.

Ann MoultJohnson TilesAnn Moult is the Procurement andAdministration Director of Johnson Tiles, hav-ing joined the company in 1977. Ann has had asignificant influence on all sections of theindustry and additionally, under her guidance,Johnson Tiles has gained a positive and effec-tive training and development framework.

Paul SalmonColchester TilePaul Salmon has worked in the tile industry for10 years, nine of which were with PentagonTiles before moving to Colchester Tiles asContracts Manager in London and East Anglia.Paul is dedicated to excellence in the tilingindustry; he prides himself on an outstandinglevel of customer service and is always availableto help his customers.

Excellence in Independent RetailingThe Winner of the Award for Excellence inIndependent Retailing will have shown thattheir showroom is not only an ideal place tochoose tiles for customer’s projects, but alsohave ensured that the shopping experience is apleasure not a chore.

Creative Stone & Tile With design at the very heart of their business,and exquisite collections, both contemporaryand traditional; Creative Stone and Tile haveestablished a reputation for original designs,highly desirable tiles and excellent customerservice. Their hard work in sourcing and show-casing products never to be seen under oneroof anywhere in the world is an achievementof which they are proud.

East Midlands Ceramics East Midlands Ceramics has an outstandingrecord of delivering excellent retail service todomestic, trade and commercial customers formore than 30 years. The cornerstone of EMC‘sappeal is the way domestic customer show-rooms, trade facilities and warehousing aredesigned and integrated on the same site.

Tile MartTile Mart endeavoured to create somethingdynamic by designing a flowing ceiling with alife of its own across a space that spans , sq. m.The architectural finesses achieved with theinterior design at Tile mart opens the floodgates of inspiration with over 1000 tile displaysbeing exhibited through the largest tile show-room in the UK, drawing the attention of interi-or designers and architects.

TileStyleAt 52,0002 ft and located just off Dublin’s mainring road, TileStyle features Ireland’s largest col-lection of tiles & natural stone. With a stylishand elegant showroom offering a vast productrange at excellent value for money, combinedwith a highly trained sales team and an excel-lent customer service ethos, TileStyle offers cus-tomers a truly unique retail experience.

Excellence in Multiple RetailingThe Award for Excellence in Multiple Retailing isopen to a business with four or more retail out-lets. The winner will have demonstrated excel-lent customer service and showroom designacross all retail premises.

ArmatileFrom humble beginnings Armatile has becomethe one of the largest tile & natural stone retail-ers in Ireland. Their long established experiencein the tile industry, along with a focus on theprovision of innovative design and accuratetechnical information, has ensured that theyremain at the head of the tile industry in Ireland.

Tile ChoiceTile Choice prides itself on selling the highestquality products. With a hard earned and envi-able reputation for quality and diversity in itsproduct range along with the highest levels ofcustomer service, Tile Choice is convinced thatits stores and website will continue to meet therequirements of both the general public andlocal trade.

Excellence in Tile DistributionThe award for Excellence in Tile Distributionrecognises outstanding service to customers inthe area covered by the business, be it regionalor national.

Craven Dunnill & CoThe Craven Dunnill mission during 2011 hasbeen to stand out from its competitors by con-stantly exceeding their customer’s expectationsand ever changing needs. They continue toachieve this by maintaining high levels of stock,excellent levels of customer service and a longstanding team of highly experienced staff.

Above: Tile Choice. Above: Minoli.


TTA NEWSLETTER

24 TSJ APRIL 2012

MinoliEstablished in 1960, as one of the UK’s originaltile distributors, Minoli remains steadfastlyfocussed on excelling in that field. Unlike manyother industry competitors, Minoli has resisteddiversifying into retailing, purposefully choos-ing to supply and support a network of resellersand corporate clients as their preferred route tomarket.

Excellence in Tile ContractingTiling contractors see themselves as the coalface of the industry, dealing with clients andcustomers and fixing a myriad of tile sizes andtypes to different backgrounds in their projectwork.

Arrow TilingArrow Tiling is a specialist tiling contractorsbased in London. A high turnover of success-fully completed jobs helps spread the nameand reputation for excellence in the installationof all tiling related materials. Offering commer-cial and residential, free expert advice; themotto of previous TTA award winners ArrowTiling is simple: 'Do it once, do it right'.

Avantgarde TilingAvantgarde Tiling was formed in 2005 by thecurrent Directors to consolidate their collectiveexperiences within the industry over manyyears, and in response to its clients who werelooking for a different approach to tiling andstone works. Their key objective is simple: pro-vide uncompromised quality with value formoney.

N&C ModernaN&C Moderna offer the complete tiling solutionfor all clients within all industries. With a strong

market presence, they are able to offer profes-sional, high quality workmanship, with the abil-ity to undertake any project from standarddomestic installations to carrying out the mostintricate and unique commercial applicationsand design.

P Plunkett Tiling ContractorsP Plunkett Tiling Contractors Ltd is a name syn-onymous with quality in our industry. By contin-uing to retain, resource and cultivate theirworkforce, P Plunkett Tiling Contractors Ltdintends to maintain its position at the forefrontof the wall and floor tile industry, providingexcellence to a long line of loyal and satisfiedclients.

Excellence in ManufacturingThis award recognises the manufacturing sec-tor, without which the industry could not oper-ate. The award is open to manufacturers of tiles,adhesives, grouts, tools, accessories and othertile related products, who are based in theUnited Kingdom or Ireland.

Craven Dunnill JackfieldDriven by their passion for the product, theCraven Dunnill Jackfield manufacturing teamare committed to the use of traditional crafts-man skills. No project is deemed too large ortoo small and if a project requires a particularmethod of production or an application to a tilehas not previously done by the Jackfield teamthey then research and develop a method toensure the product can be matched and theproject successfully restored.

Mapei UKMapei takes great pride in its manufacturingoperation. With continued improvement and

investment being made during 2011, produc-tion efficiency in combination with productquality & consistency has impressivelyimproved. Mapei has reached a level of excel-lence that is not only market leading in itsrespective sector but also comparably out-standing against some of the world’s mostprestigious and well known manufacturers.

N&C NicobondThe Nicholls & Clarke Group of Companies is abusiness dedicated to the manufacture andsupply of the finest building materials.Achieving best practice at every level of pro-duction is a fundamental and integral part oftheir operations. Having over 135 years’ experi-ence of creating policies, quality products comeas standard.

Ultra TileUltra Tile has the capability to produce a 20kgbag of cementitious adhesive every 3.6 secondsusing a fully automated process. Their facilitiesrepresent the cutting edge of cementitiousmanufacturing and their expertise spans over30 years. Overall they offer the tile industry theultimate package that of products manufac-tured to the highest standards, with a second-to-none performance, that are fully stocked atall times with guaranteed delivery.

Best use of Tile in the Public SectorThe award for Best use of Tile in the PublicSector demonstrates the choice of tile, qualityof fixing and excellence in design for a tilingproject in the public sector.

James Cook University Hospital, Oncology UnitP Plunkett Tiling ContractorsThe new Oncology Unit at James Cook

Above: James Cook University Hospital by P Plunkett Tiling Contractors. Above: Blackpool Winter Gardens by Mapei UK - Lancashire Tiling.


TTA NEWSLETTER

26 TSJ APRIL 2012

University Hospital is a perfect example of whatcan be achieved with outstanding planning,coordination and attention to design detail.Incorporating more tiled finishes than are usu-ally found in new buildings of this type andfunction, the design and installation demon-strates that tiling does indeed have a future inhealthcare environments.

Blackpool Winter GardensMapei UK - Lancashire TilingThe Winter Gardens complex in Blackpool isone of Britain’s oldest buildings. Steeped in his-tory the complex has seen many changes. Aspart of the Grade II Listed buildings latest refur-bishment Lancashire Tiling installed 1,500 sq. mof porcelain tiles to create its new floor, using acomplete system of Mapei products, restoringthe Gardens to their former glory.

St. Andrews CathedralMapei UK - Tilecraft PaisleyTilecraft Paisley undertook the challenge of cre-ating the new floor for St. Andrews Cathedral inGlasgow during its recent renovation. A profes-sional installation and use of a complete systemof Mapei products ensured Tilecraft were ableto create a high spec floor that the projectrequired.

St Rafael’s Church, Kingston, SurreyCastelnau Tiles.St Rafael’s Church, Kingston is a Grade II listedbuilding and one of the finest examples ofVictorian Italianate architecture in Britain today.Open throughout the entire works, CastelnauTiles successfully ensured that the installation ofover 50,000 individual tiles caused no disrup-tions to the Church’s daily operations.Subsequently Castelnau Tiles received glowing

reviews for their efficient, professional and first-class work.

Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon TyneCraven Dunnill Jackfield One of only seven Grade I listed theatres in thecountry, The Newcastle Theatre Royal hasrecently re-opened following a £4.5 million ren-ovation project, which has seen the theatrerestored to the original 1901 Frank Matchaminterior complete with rich burgundy andembossed decorative wall tiles and a geometricand encaustic tiled floor manufactured byCraven Dunnill Jackfield.

Best use of Tile in the Private SectorThe award for Best use of Tile in the PrivateSector demonstrates the choice of tile, qualityof fixing and excellence in design for a tilingproject in the private sector.

Gatwick South TerminalMapei UK - Dyson Briggs & SonsOn behalf of main contractors VinciConstruction, Dyson Briggs were responsiblefor installing over 5,000 sq. m of tiling within theSouth Terminal. The project included both newbuild and refurbishment elements. A system ofMapei products were used to install porcelainand conglomerate stone tiles throughout thenew facility.

Magheralin Parish ChurchTrainor ContractsThis job was carried out by Trainor Contractsworking closely with fellow TTA memberArmatile Ltd. The original cross, which is 169years old, was restored and great care wastaken to ensure its final resting place was thatoff Magheralin Parish Church. The main floor

was laid with Armatile’s Cathedral Range, per-fectly fitted by Trainor Contracts it is one of thehighlights of the church.

McLaren Production CentreAvantgarde TilingThe McLaren Production Centre is a quantumleap in car manufacturing facilities, custom-built to produce a quantifiably better kind ofcar: lean, efficient, dynamic and innovative –but above all, committed to excellence.Avantgarde shares McLarens belief that atten-tion to detail is vital to delivering a high qualityproduct.

St. Peter’s Church, LurganArmatileThe design, complexity and technical detailinvolved in all aspects of this renovation, meantArmatile had to use all aspects of the compa-ny’s manufacturing and contracting expertise.Throughout the process of this innovative tileinstallation Armatile brought together allaspects of their capabilities resulting in a floorcovering with character and technical excel-lence for future generations to enjoy.

Best use of Tile by a House DeveloperIn this category judges were looking at theamount of tiling used in a development of mul-tiple homes or apartments. Design, of course,was paramount and clever use of tile gainedextra marks.

Friary Road, AscotMinoliThe Style range of Italian porcelain tiles was offi-cially launched in the spring of 2011, havingbeen very well received when previewed atMinoli’s 50th Anniversary event at the

Above: St. Peter’s Church, Lurgan by Armatile. Above: London Syon Park Hotel by Stone & Ceramics.


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Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The rangeproved an immediate success with the devel-oper clients who recognised both its beautyand practicality. One of these was the leadingluxury developer Richard Finlay Homes, whohas specified the Minoli Style series in severalprestige developments but mostly notably atthe Friary Road site in Ascot.

7-5 Whitfield Street, London Stone & CeramicBuilt on the site of an old EDF electrical sub-sta-tion, this mixed-development of Penthousesand Social Housing units over Commercialspace has evolved into a fantastic project in ahighly desirable location. Stone & Ceramic Ltd undertook the installa-tion of natural stone throughout various areaswithin the flats and townhouses including thebathrooms, living space floors and balconies.The quality of the finished project is a testa-ment to both the original concept and to thosethat implemented it.

Best Technical use of Tile in a ContractThis Award recognises projects which demandspecialist tiles or tile fixing skills. The tiles usedmay not always be pretty; it is the functionalityand fixing technique that really matter.

The Beamish Fish and Chip ShopJohn Foley & Sons (Tilers)The Beamish Fish and Chip Shop tiled by JohnFoley & Sons, is an outstanding example of tilefixing at its finest. This traditional-style fish andchip shop, located on the grounds of TheBeamish Museum, was completed usingreclaimed tiles and modern building tech-niques to create a building that looked, at facevalue, like it was from the Edwardian era.

Gatwick South TerminalMapei UK - Dyson Briggs & SonsOn behalf of main contractors VinciConstruction, Dyson Briggs were responsiblefor installing over 5,000 sq. metres of tiling with-in the South Terminal. T he project includedboth new build and refurbishment elements toit. A system of Mapei products was used toinstall porcelain and conglomerate stone tilesthroughout the new facility.

Magheralin Parish ChurchTrainor ContractsThis job was carried out by Trainor Contractsworking closely with fellow TTA memberArmatile Ltd. The original cross, which is 169years old, was restored and great care wastaken to ensure its final resting place was thatoff Magheralin Parish Church. The main floorwas laid with Armatile’s Cathedral Range, per-fectly fitted by Trainor Contracts it is one of thehighlights of the church.

St. Peter’s Church, LurganArmatileThe design, complexity and technical detailinvolved in all aspects of this renovation, meantArmatile had to use all aspects of the compa-ny’s manufacturing and contracting expertise.Throughout the process of this innovative tileinstallation Armatile brought together allaspects of their capabilities resulting in a floorcovering with character and technical excel-lence for future generations to enjoy.

Best use of Tile within the Leisure or Hospitality IndustriesThis award recognises the use of wall and floortiles in the leisure or hospitality industries,including sporting and recreational areas such

as swimming pools and leisure centres, hotels,pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The Beamish Fish and Chip ShopJohn Foley & Sons (Tilers).The Beamish Fish and Chip Shop, tiled by JohnFoley & Sons, is an outstanding example of tilefixing at its finest. The traditional fish and chipshop on the grounds of The Beamish Museumwas completed using reclaimed tiles and mod-ern building techniques to create a buildingthat looked, at face value, like it was from theEdwardian era.

London Olympic Aquatic CentreArdex UK - W B Simpson & Sons.WB Simpson Specialist Contractors are a spe-cialist tiling contractor in the supply and instal-lation of hard wall and floor tiling on commer-cial, industrial, leisure, retail and residential proj-ects. They teamed up with Ardex UK, the man-ufacturer of premium quality specialist tilingproducts and construction materials, to providethe perfect finish to the 2012 Olympic AquaticCentre pools and surround.

London Syon Park HotelStone & CeramicThe brand new five-star Waldorf-Astoria Hotelin the grounds of Syon House, is designed in acontemporary style using natural stones sup-plied by Stone & Ceramic Ltd., who theninstalled them to a standard befitting such aprestige venue.

Nando’s RestaurantParkside TilesParkside Tiles were approached by Nando’s tosupply tiles for their flagship store at WestfieldRetail Park at Stratford City. The result was a

Above: Private House County Tyrone. Above: David Bowie - Pin Up (detail).


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stunning, eye-popping array of colour, shapeand texture that truly showcases the tilesthrough a design that challenges the breadthand depth of use of the humble ceramic, itsdesign and application.

St Pancras, LondonTrevor Caley AssociatesThe completion of the extensive Victorian geo-metric and encaustic tiles works at St. Pancras,which was completed in February 2012, took 30months to complete, and was carried out byTrevor Caley Associates Ltd for Galliford TryConstruction using hand-made geometric andencaustic tiles specially manufactured byCraven Dunnill Jackfield.

Best use of Tile in a Private HouseThe use of tile in the home can make the differ-ence between an average and an aspirationalhome. This award recognises the impact that awell-designed tiling project can have in a pri-vate house.

6 Old Pond PlaceIan HarrisonThe brief was to create and open plan multi-purpose living area which would give the feelof embracing the gardens through panoramicbi-folding glass doors. The floor was a key partof the design brief of creating a minimalist style,high-gloss kitchen with entertaining and relax-ation areas.

Private House, KeyworthEast Midlands CeramicsBeautiful polished porcelain tiles feature strong-ly in a home built for himself by a prominentEast Midlands building contractor. The proper-ty features hard-wearing, resilient and wonder-fully attractive ceramic tiles in all key areas cre-

ates a firm foundation for the ultra-moderndécor and is a showpiece of contemporarydesign.

Private House, County TyroneCreative Tile & StoneCreative Tile & Stone’s nominated CountyTyrone private home is a spectacular stage oforiginal style with beautiful colours, shapes anddecorations. The daring combinations excite,delight and create a talking point; showing thatthis house is truly in a league of its own andreflecting the strong, bright and energetic per-sonality of its owners.

Private Pond Installation, SurreyThe Mosaic Restoration CoInstructed by Barry Holdsworth Design, EastSussex, to design, fabricate and install a hand-made bespoke Romanesque mosaic. The workincluded the hand-cutting of all un-glazedceramic tesserae to create a 4 square metrenew external pond feature for a private home inSurrey.

78 Hayburn AvenueIan HarrisonThe brief was to create a large, integrated, luxu-rious feeling, spacious wet room incorporatinga toilet, basin and double shower. The floor andwall coverings played a key part in the designbrief of creating a minimalist modern style wetroom using natural stone products where heat-ing, lighting and fittings compliment the wholedesign.

Most Innovative Tile InstallationThis award applauds innovation in the designor use of a tile in a tiling project of any size. Thisaward is judged particularly on the originalityand design of the project.

David Bowie Mosaic PortraitEd ChapmanDavid Bowie became a pensioner on January 8,2012. To mark this event, UK mosaic artist EdChapman created a mosaic portrait of Bowie fromstone floor tiles. The portrait is made from hun-dreds of pieces of hand-cut tile fragments andmeasures 920 by 620mm and took four weeks tomake. It garnered worldwide media attentionwhen it was unveiled on January 7, 2012.

McLaren Product ion CentreAvantgarde TilingThe McLaren Production Centre is a quantumleap in car manufacturing facilities, custom-built to produce a quantifiably better kind ofcar: lean, efficient, dynamic and innovative –but above all, committed to excellence. Thescale and the grandeur of the project sharesAvantgarde’s vision in achieving somethingtruly exceptional and inspiring.

The CoppaFeel! GardenMapei UKThe CoppaFeel! Garden featured in HamptonCourt Flower Show in July 2011. It saw the col-laboration of 2010 RHS Young Designer of theYear; Hugo Bugg with the breast cancer aware-ness charity; CoppaFeel! The garden was con-ceived to provoke thought, captivate, educate,unsettle visitors, change attitudes, and height-en awareness.

St. Peter’s Church, LurganArmatileThe design, complexity and technical detailinvolved in all aspects of this renovation, meantArmatile had to use all aspects of the compa-ny’s manufacturing and contracting expertise.Throughout the process of this innovative tileinstallation Armatile brought together allaspects of their capabilities resulting in a floor

Above: The CoppaFeel! Garden by Mapei UK. Above: Screen shot of the Love Weber campaign.


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I f you are in the t i le industry , you need to be in The T i le Associat ion.

The Tile AssociationForum Court83 Copers Cope RoadBeckenhamKent BR3 1NRT: 020 8663 0946 F: 020 8663 0949E: [email protected]: www.tiles.org.uk

covering with character and technical excel-lence for future generations to enjoy.

Excellence in MarketingMarketing is a key feature of any business andthis award recognises those that have gone theextra mile in their marketing initiatives.

The Enki CollectionCP GroupThe Enki Collection from the CP Group offersthe ultimate range of designer glass splash-backs. Thanks to a dedicated marketing cam-paign that covers the full remit from advertisingthrough to retailer support and PR, the CPGroup has created a cool and contemporarybrand for this product collection.

LoveWeber Marketing CampaignWeberThe Loveweber marketing campaign is the startof something special, and is already turningheads. The campaign is primarily aimed at tilefixers with the purpose being to promoteWeber’s leading tile fixing range and the long-term relationship they will build with fixersonce they have tried the Weber brand.

New-look Grout Range Launch CampaignUltra TileUltra Tile nominated the launch campaign fortheir new-look grout range and their improvedFlexJoint formula. A combination of innovativemarketing activities was used to promote the

range. The entire launch was developed withinbudget and generated an above target return.

Tile Choice Marketing StrategyTile ChoiceTile Choice is a privately owned company, withno outside investors, but still maintained itscommitment to advertising and marketingthroughout 2011, planning an advertising cam-paign, with a combination of television, radio,press, outdoor and in-store, plus online, toensure an excellent marketing strategy.

Best Environmental InitiativeOver the past few years the tile industry hasmade great strides in ensuring that materialsare recycled, that their procedures are pollu-tion-neutral, and many Tile Association mem-bers have implemented highly successful greeninitiatives. This award recognises the impor-tance of the environment and sustainabilitywithin the tile industry.

Saving the rainforestsBuilding Adhesives Ltd partnering Cool EarthBuilding Adhesives Limited is the first tilingindustry company to become a Partner of CoolEarth, which protects threatened rainforests byworking with indigenous communities to pre-vent deforestation. A donation for every packsold from the BAL ‘Go Greener’ range of envi-ronmentally responsible tile adhesives helps tofight climate change by preventing rainforestclearance.

Integrated Management SystemMapei UKMapei’s short and long term business plan hasplaced much emphasis on sustainable develop-ment. Mapei has set a high standard of objec-tives through an Integrated ManagementSystem (IMS) that encompasses a variety ofindustry Standards. The IMS strategy hasproved to be a methodical and proficientapproach towards sustainability – reflected inMapei’s performance in both meeting sustain-ability objectives whilst also being a commer-cial success.

Reducing waste to landfillUltra TileBy utilising Kaizen techniques Ultra Tile havereviewed, defined, implemented, controlledand reduced their landfill waste by a staggering51%. The Kaizen team comprised of employeesfrom various levels working together - a cleardemonstration of company-wide responsibility.Being shortlisted for this award recognises theirreal long-term commitment to the issue ofenvironmental responsibility and sustainability.

Company Recycling PoliciesJohnson TilesAfter establishing a formal EnvironmentalStrategy in 1994, Johnson Tiles developed afired ceramic waste recycling scheme whichincorporates fired waste from other NorthStaffordshire potteries and saves over 20,000tonnes of waste material from being sent tolandfill every year.

To Be AnnouncedFinalists in the following categories will beannounced at The Tile Association AwardsDinner in April.Outstanding AchievementBest Natural ProductTrainee of the Year

Above: 7-5 Whitfield Street, London by Stone & Ceramic.


Martin Cummins looks at tiling in conservatories.

It is that time of year again whenthose of us who have a conservatory

will no doubt be spending considerablymore time sitting in it than we didthroughout the winter. Surveying a well-manicured lawn,

watching the kids on the trampoline orgenerally enjoying the view, I can certain-ly vouch for the benefits having made thedecision many years ago to invest in one.Many of you may also be consideringwhether a conservatory is for you and, ifso, what will it look like, how will it beheated and what type of floor it will have.The options for a floor covering mayinclude laminate, carpet or in some casesvinyl, but by far the most practical and

widespread option seems to be tiled floors. Whether porcelain, natural stone or ceramicthere is such a wide array of tiles available that almost any effect can be achieved. Thebenefits of a cool floor in summer are obvious. Having a cold floor in winter can now beminimised if the tiling installation is used in conjunction with either underfloor heating(UFH) or under tile heating (UTH). Not only does this free up the limited wall space byremoving the need for radiators, it also utilises the energy far more effectively. The climate in conservatories generally mimics that of the outside to some degree.

Summer daytime temperatures can soar in a conservatory, giving a much higher inter-nal temperature than outside. It is in effect a ‘greenhouse’. Humidity levels will also varydramatically even throughout a single day giving very dry daytime heat and then veryhumid air as the temperature cools in the evening. Some floor coverings will be proneto problems if these conditions are not controlled properly, whereas tiled products gen-erally give no cause for concern. Vinyl for instance will try to expand as it is heated up,whilst timber may dry out and crack or warp. Condensation developed at night cancause dampness on textile materials and can cause wood to expand. The exposure todirect sunlight through the glass can also have an impact causing discolouration of tex-tile or timber flooring. Blinds can be used to minimise this issue but that seems todefeat the object of being in a brightly lit open room, which is why most of us want aconservatory in the first place. The use of tiles does eliminate these problems some-what.I am not for one minute suggesting that tiling is the only floor covering to be used in

a conservatory and am fully aware of engineered timber, vinyl flooring with high tem-perature adhesives and colour stable carpets all being a real option but this is after all atiling journal…The client has considered the options and finally selected a tiled floor as the finish.

What criteria needs to be met to ensure these tiles look good and perform well in thetesting conditions? On the assumption that UFH or UTH is being utilised then an important consideration

is that the design of the floor is correct prior to any tiling being carried out. Although youmay not have been involved in this, it is wise to have an understanding of what to expect.You can then ensure you carry out the project with full knowledge, and advise the cus-tomer of any additional considerations. If the conservatory is an isolated part of thehouse and has its own heating system (as should be the case under building regulations)then we need to ensure that the heating has been fully commissioned and tested. We also need to ensure that the subfloor itself is fit to bond to. A sand/cement or con-

crete floor laid onto a polythene (visqueen) DPM with or without insulation is an ideal

base. Similarly a calcium sulphate screed can be used, often this will be in conjunctionwith a UFH system. These screeds need to fully dry before appropriate priming is carriedout. A more common practice observed nowadays is a floating chipboard substrate over

an insulation board, which is not really an appropriate system to tile directly onto. Iwould advise you to consult with a supplier of uncoupling membranes in this situation.Sometimes a material such as asphalt may be used. This will not normally be

designed in conjunction with UFH or UTH as it tends to have a degree of softeningunder heat. If you can have input into tile selection on these substrates recommend thewhitest tiles possible to minimise heat transfer to the subfloor.The floor design with UFH should incorporate expansion/movement joints around all

edges, changes in substrates and also around any pillars or other interruptions to thefloor span. In larger conservatories there may be multiple heating zones; again eachone should be isolated from its neighbour with an expansion/movement joint. Allexpansion/movement and expansion joints must be followed through to the tile sur-face. Even when UFH is not incorporated the conservatory should be treated in thesame manner. UTH may be zoned so when tiling onto these it is necessary to separatethem with an expansion/movement joint - even if the client insists it is not needed.When the installation is being carried out all the advice that we, as manufacturers give

regarding product selection and use should be closely followed. Any shorts cuts thatmay have been taken on standard fit outs become far more risky in a conservatory. Thisis simply because conditions will be at the most severe with regard to movement in par-ticular. Always choose a flexible adhesive, if UTH is being used, as this will give suddenheat to a potentially very cold floor, select the highest specification with regard to flex-ibility that you can get. Flexibility in this instance equates to an improved bond. I wouldnever advise the use of a ready mixed adhesive on a conservatory floor and wouldalways go for a cementitious single part. What else will help improve the bond between tile and substrate? Don’t go too far ahead with the adhesive or mix too much up as often the actual site

conditions you will be working under are also very testing and the adhesive can begoing off a lot quicker than normal. Ensure tiles are being fixed to a wet adhesive to pro-vide maximum adhesion. Similarly when grouting, limit the area of grout applied andcleaned down to ensure full attention can be given. A flexible grout is also recommend-ed to ensure strong adhesion to the tile edges and minimise the potential for crackingof the grout line.The trend towards large format tiles and particularly for the ultra thin large format tiles

also creates a degree of concern when in such a testing environment as a conservatory.It will be very important for the fixer to get an even, level surface before trying to bedsuch tiles. Any hollows or dips or slight changes in subfloor angle will be much more ofa problem as larger tiles will try to bridge across and result in a see saw situation. Fullbed bonding here is extremely critical and we would also recommend getting the floorlevelled in the first instance.With regard to achieving a full bed fix between adhesive and substrate it is something

which manufacturers will always recommend on flooring installations primarily to avoidhollow spots and potential tile cracking. With the large heat fluctuations expected in aconservatory the need for a full bed is even more important. To help achieve this werecommend buttering the tile backs and also using a slightly larger trowel than usual togive a greater contact area. Remember voids underneath a tile will be more likely toresult in cracks in a conservatory. Finally, using paler coloured products has to be the best option as this will minimise

heat uptake and therefore any movement. A cooler subfloor in summer is one of thedelights of a conservatory and you can always put a rug down in winter if you want to.So crack open a beer, sit back and relax in the knowledge that your beautiful tiled flooris the perfect choice. .

Martin Cummins is Technical Sales Manager, Ultra TileT: 01827 871871 W: www.ultratileadhesives.co.uk

Here comes the summer!

Martin Cummins: ”The trend towardslarge format tiles and particularly for theultra thin large format tiles also creates adegree of concern when in such a testingenvironment as a conservatory. ”

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Matthijs and Renée Pronker, provide their personal views of the current state ofthe Spanish tile market, and present a carefully considered selection of ceramictile design highlights from Cevisama 2011.

The 30th annual Cevisama tile exhibition inValencia, which ran from the 7th to 10th February

2012, had fewer exhibitors than in recent years, duein no small part to the current financial climate.However, those who were there made up for any lackof quantity with some excellent high quality designsbeautifully presented.

The most obvious ‘missing persons’ were some of thebig players in the Spanish market such as Roca and theking of listellos and posh decors Dune. From Portugalonly Cinca and Pavigres took part, pinning their faith onthe quality of their products and looking to the future.Visitors could see the exhibition in less time than everbefore, but came home with plenty of new ideas.

Certain parts of the Spanish tile market are still doingwell. These are the forward-looking companies whoinvested in new tooling and machinery at the right timeand within their means; backed by marketing expertise,loyal staff and good international contacts. If you addin the courage to bring in new, large ranges, or at leastpresent what you have in an eye catching manner, thencustomers are attracted like bees round a honey pot.For instance, the Aparici, Marazzi Spain, Apavisa,Colorker, Grespania, Keraben, Peronda, Saloni, Tau andAzteca stands were all busy throughout the fair.

The urge to make tiles look like anything but tiles car-ries on unabated, with ceramics this year looking likePersian carpet in new and colourful designs. In thepast, Spain was famous for its wall tiles, while theItalians were the floor specialists, but the pressure ofthe minimalism movement saw interest in decor tilesdecline as demand moved towards plain walls, plaster-work or concrete finishes.

As the market for rich ceramic walls slowed down, anumber of Spanish factories changed their focustowards floor tiles with the advantage that, in manycases, the same range can be used on both walls andfloors, such as the wood collections or the cement look.Variety is stimulated by cutting large tiles into differentsizes and the introduction of décor tiles in long strips,often shown laid horizontally.

Reduced stockholding and improved manufacturingefficiency have helped to increase profitability andmake Spanish tiles more competitive in the market-place. This is the bread and butter business of the moresuccessful companies but, at the same time, we noticeda completely different development; a return to thecosy look with tiles in strong floral designs, romanticcolours, elegant stripes and borders, all aimed at theemerging export markets.

Quality rather than quantityLeft: The entrance toCevisama.

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Above: Chesterfield and flowers English style - The Alheri range from Cifre.

Above: Floral forms - Mapisa’s Josephine and Romance ranges.

Above: The details of design - The Tailor range from Aparici.

ReliefTen years ago the industry tried to introduce bas reliefin wall tiles, but the move was unsuccessful as theywere perceived to be unhygienic and difficult to keepclean. For 2012, with improved manufacturing tech-niques and with natural stone in irregular strips forwalls, the market seems to be taking off. Why thisshould be no one seems to know, but at least it offerstimeless, beautiful settings; maybe influenced by theincreasing interest in natural materials and the back tonature feel of the green movement. In private homes relief tiles find their place mainly for

fire surrounds or outdoors. With the new products, itcan even be laid in irregular designs to emphasise themiracle of nature and stone. In the same way the peb-ble formats of yesteryear are getting a new airing, evenfor flooring. They are used to create interesting pat-terns in concrete, which requires skilled installation oras decors between brick or tile. The move seems to beto bring the outdoor world inside; even using pebblesas slip-resistant surfaces for shower bases that mustprovide a most unusual sensation for the bather’s feet. Tiles laid over one another also becomes an option, as

Porcelanicos showed with a form of small horse saddlesput together in 200 by 800mm with floral and silverdecorations. We have also seen the development ofexotic tile finishes like snakeskin. Those who demandsmooth finishes can still get these effects with inkjetprinted pressed tiles in any 3D effect desired.

Form and decorWith the increasing popularity of river stone, round tilesget a new opportunity in a wide range of colours andsettings. Circular designs on plain or square tiles havebeen quite common since the 1970s. Today, ceramicrounds in fine aggregate lead to new thinking andgreater freedom in tile design. In the same movement,octagon, hexagon or honeycomb tiles bring new life tothe ever neutral cream and beige - now called cappuc-cino - that is still a firm favourite over here, to thedespair of many in our industry. But with nature back on the agenda, flowers and but-

terflies get a chance to grow on ceramic walls. This hasbeen a minor trend for some years, but the urge tomake real paintings has been stimulated by the possi-bilities now available with inkjet printing - a sea viewthrough a sunny window can brighten up our lives,despite the British weather. For the kitchen there is stilla wide choice of coffee cups or food impressions. Itseems that designers and manufactories are fed upwith minimalism and the option of white or white. The gold finishes proposed five years ago for the lux-

ury markets of the Far East and the Russia were not ourcup of tea. But it seems now that traditional Englishtaste has been upgraded to become the tops in decora-tive interior design. Victorian patterns, with maybe lipservice to William Morris, plus Arts & Crafts designs inwallpaper and cloth are now offered in tiles. Mapisarefers to the Laura Ashley style, including a wainscoting

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Above: Drawing on tile’slong traditions - Today’sencaustic floor tiles fromVives.

with a golden belt listello. The linen wallpaper finishedwith a border of ceramic leather is called Tailor atAparici. Cifre combined floral walls with a Chesterfieldsofa, to underpin the English roots. For the hallway hand-made encaustic floor elements

are transformed by good imitations from Vives whoknows how to promote them in different designs andprices, so almost everyone can afford to live in a‘British’ style. A British sense of humour was also pos-sible to acquire at Undefasa with tiles showing sixamusing cartoons.

Formats and sizesAs architects prefer to have the horizon as a fixedpoint, so the tile world thinks tiles should be laid hori-zontally on walls. It emphasises the width of a roomand gives harmony to the eye, with lines parallel to theceiling and floor. The booming ceramic wood possibil-ities are also set in long lines. The format of long planksseems to be favoured by many producers, combinedwith different sized elements as illustrated by theLivewood range from Azulev. Mosaics remain in both small and larger sizes as the

ideal option to introduce a decorative element. Aparicibrings it all together with wooden strips laid in mosaicbraid with relief. There are mosaics from a variety ofmaterials, prices and sizes, with pre-cut large ‘mosaic’as a fast lay option. One of the best bargains is offeredby Magna, in honeycomb mosaics or small flowers inblack and grey in a series called Star that is priced tosucceed. Stone often demands a more traditional square or

rectangular format. Ceramic imitations of bluestone orlimestone often look dull across a big area. The morewe open up living spaces, the more we see the sametile being used on every floor. To give a more livelytouch the customer can play with different sized tilesfrom the same range, such as the Palace range fromGrespania. Every factory seems to be introducing specific sizes

for their brand, so you need to buy the whole range forfloor and wall from one manufacturer, a sly way of get-ting customers hooked. On the other hand these clients produce very special

aesthetic effects, with exact measurements for a classicor very modern ambiance. Some producers have rein-vented the floor size of 333 by 333mm, while othersoffer huge 1,200 by 1,200mm. The fear that very nar-row and long tiles will break easily seems to be dis-counted, at least on the show stands; tile layers mayhave a different opinion.

Back to basicsCevisama showed the start of a new trend for goingback to basic clay. Refin suggested this with tiles thatlooked to have the back on both sides and there was avery raw version with pits in the surface at Mutina. TheSpanish factories also have versions of this. Inalcooffered this idea with Handcraft designed by Sara de la


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Above: Ceramic wood cargo crates - Fragile range by Peronda.

Above: Ceramic wood - Lander by Marazzi.

Mata; big 1,000 by 1,300mm ceramic tiles in claycolours; with small surface pits called Betton that looksa little like soft chipboard. This development opens a new direction for exterior

works with paving that looks as if it has been there forever, ceramic wood platforms, plank bridges or sand-stone, fitting naturally into any garden or swimmingarea. This evolution of bringing outside in and viceversa, gives a hand to help the revival of Cotto. Eliashas the latest colours in this field, with new handformed wall tiles in pink, white, cream and stone.

Pallets and barrelsThere appears to be a lot of competition to producethe most natural ceramic wood resulting in incredibleparquets made by Aparici and Porcelanosa; roughplanks at Marazzi and beech bridges designed forVives. In addition to this, what you might call a palletculture has started. There are ceramics like the ends ofold wine barrels as décor items. In tandem with thisretro move has come ceramic wood with industrialwriting as if these are parts of pallets from romanticdestinations across the world. The latest one is calledVoyage in the Nature collection from Colorker.Peronda goes for it with Fragile, also a marvellous wallfinish for youngsters. The same company showed themost peculiar imitation of the fair. This is calledMuseum, with tiles like old books behind glass in alibrary. Beautifully made, these come in six combina-tions and perfect for a bar, hallway or even a reallibrary. It makes one want to find the time to take anovel out of the 'cupboard'. This ‘novelty’ was so welldone that it was impossible to photograph due to thereflection in the 'glass'!

NostalgiaAs in other markets, the tile world clings to the old daysjust before or after the war, when life seemed simpler.Together with all the options of inkjet printing, theseimages of a yesteryear that maybe never was are hereto stay. Some factories, like Venus, use this emotionalmanipulation of the past simply for decoration. Thisbrand loves to explore a boudoir atmosphere with a lotof fluff and shine. The beautifully dressed children onthe posters raise the image of the products giving aquality feel.The skyline of New York, as well as stars of the silver

screen like Monroe and Hepburn, featured onKeraben’s stand. A reflection of the glory days of cine-ma, they add glamour to even the dullest tile with justone panel of these decors. Even London Bridgebecomes a worldwide icon, as Tau showed in its newseries Mayfair, which offers six different ways of pre-senting their new colours, shapes and decors from allover the world. This move ties in well with trends forboth the kitchen & bathroom markets where a numberof manufacturers have introduced retro ranges with anemphasis on luxury, so a touch of Hollywood in thebathroom may not come amiss in 2012.


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Above: Old labels on ceramic wood by Colorker (serie Nature, decor Voyage).

Above: Hollywood glamour - Marilyn Monroe seen through the eyes of Keraben.

Above: Unreal Madrid - Spanish footballers as featured on tiles from Azteca.

StagnationOn the other hand, there were exhibitors with nothingnew to show and customers only visited through habit.Rumour about companies that are here for the lasttime, did not do the show’s reputation any good.Stands like Mayor with the same ceramic bamboo wesaw last year; Vilar Albaro showing the same colourrange. Gres d'Aragon, usually a trend setter for out-door tiles and swimming pools, had nothing to presentbut a different size of 590 by 333mm. Zirconio man-aged to disguise its modest rerun of wood and marbleceramics with a mini golf course which helped to keeppeople on the stand, trying to get a good score.Some producers have turned the economic situation

in their favour. The kilns had to be filled with some-thing, so Cevica started to produce simple 100 by100mm and later 75 by 150mm tiles in white toneswith decors of tea, coffee and sugar. For the UK, thishas become their top series and soon it will be offeredin 75 by 300mm. In flooring Pamesa has chosen aneconomic version of their cement and sandstone look-alikes in a new 250 by 850mm format. It seems to be acommercial success, but doesn't really offer anythingnew. Stagnation may be the logical consequence after

years of technical innovation which has seen manynew advances in ceramics. After promoting tiles withproperties that are anti-bacterial, take CO2 out of theair, are self cleaning, absorb light for emergency sig-nage or store heat, even Ceracasa had nothing new tooffer. It leads us to the sad conclusion that after yearsof major investment, survival has to be the name of thegame for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion Cevisama may have lost some of its excitement, butnot having been there is no good either. Those thatmade the effort experienced a cross over of differentthemes and ideas. Originally the Spanish manufactur-ers produced solely for their own market and tastes.Later, the demands of North European marketsbecame paramount, together with flirting with the oldeastern block states and other big spenders in theworld. This Cevisama showed a mix in all thoseflavours, with tapestry, cement, marble and wood inclassic or modern designs. The manufacturers who canoffer product across those different markets are theones who will succeed.. The fair itself remains a niceand peaceful intermezzo but maybe it would be betterto give all manufactures and the organisation a breakand make the event biennial. The next Cevisama will run from 5th to the 8th

February 2013.

http://cevisama.feriavalencia.com

You can contact the authors at:[email protected]@gmail.com


Is this a dream come true? A tile retailer featuring on TV. It had to happen! ITV1’sSpring schedule included a new show, Love Life, staring comedy hero AlexanderArmstrong, located around an up-market fictional tile shop in Knutsford.Original Style’s tiles, display stands and marketing material were chosen as theback drop to this high-end tile retail store , with glass pieces from Morpheus.

Original Style was delighted to be selected by Red Productions,the company behind the ITV1 prime time, three part series ‘Love

Life’ to be the sole supplier of all of the tiling products featured in theseries, which aired in three consecutive weekly slots in March 2012.The series, positioned as one of the highlight’s of ITV1’s Spring schedule,focused on the trials and tribulations of the lives of the main charactersplayed by Alexander Armstrong and Sophie Thompson.Original Style’s tiles, display stands and marketing material were chosenas the back drop to the Knutsford-based tile retailer ‘Tile Your Life’, whichwas featured in all three episodes. The premises used for the filming wasan actual kitchen and bathroom retailer that was transformed into an inte-rior designer’s paradise specifically for this series.The collection that commanded the most attention from the show’s pro-duction team was the Odyssey range of 151 by 151mm decorative tiles. Anumber of different patterns were chosen and supplied for installationwithin specially created bathroom displays in ‘Tile Your Life’, and also forbespoke wall panels installed within the bathroom in the main character’sresidence.Other Original Style products chosen to make an appearance on the bigscreen included mosaics, field tiles and mouldings from the Artworksrange.Also seen were natural stone from the Earthworks collection andstriking glass tiles from the Glassworks range.David Butterworth, Production Designer at Red Productions commented:"We undertook considerable research into the style of tiles which would be

best suited to the characters and their upmarket surroundings and OriginalStyle was the ideal match for us. The Odyssey collection, with its blend ofMoorish inspired designs enabled us to seamlessly create the Artisan envi-ronment we looked to achieve".Miles Jennings, Director of Original Style explains: "We were thrilled tobe the tiling manufacturer specifically chosen for this project, as we prideourselves on the quality and uniqueness of our tiles".Love Life follows the faltering relationship of Joe and Lucy. Once an aver-age couple, Lucy’s decision to come off the pill triggers Joe’s fear of settlingdown and sends him packing to the nearest airport to travel the world. 12months later, Joe returns from his adventures and is ready to rekindle hislove for Lucy, but there’s one problem. Lucy is having another man’s baby.Joe faces his biggest test yet. Is he finally prepared to grow up, stop runningaway, and confront his feelings? Staring Rob James-Collier, Andrea Lowe,and Alexander Armstrong. Love Life is billed as a tender and funny storyabout grown-ups who refuse to grow up.During the show Joe and Lucy realise the errors they’d made, and half inflashback, as we see them making these errors. Her child’s father turnedout to be her boss, Dominic (Alexander Armstrong), a man with a tile shop- Tile Your Life - and an unhappily infertile wife.For the tiling afficionado, Love Life also features Morpheus glass panelsand specially commissioned pieces for the show.www.originalstyle.com www.morpheusglass.co.uk

TV tunes in to ceramic tile artThis page: Original Style’s tiles,display stands and marketingmaterial were chosen as theback drop for the fictional

Knutsford-based tile retailerTile Your Life in ITV’s recent

drama series.

CASE STUDY

42 TSJ APRIL 2012

PORTFOLIO

48 TSJ APRIL 2012

Clean, protect and refresh with FilaAt the recent Surface Design Show, Fila showcased Fila CR10; a highperformance epoxy remover and FilaRefresh; a ready-to-use, water-based cleaning and protection product, for internal stone surfaces.Designed for use after tile installation, Fila CR10 is a concentratedready-to-use cleaner that removes epoxy grout residues, stains andstreaks. It’s suitable for non-absorbent surfaces, including glazedceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware and glass mosaics, and can beapplied to both walls and floors, inside and out. Fila CR10 is also effec-tive in the removal of old, stubborn epoxy residues.FilaRefresh is a ready-to-use, water-based spray cleaner developed

for treated, natural stone surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. Citrus-scented and certified for contact with food stuffs, the double-actionformulation both cleans and protects, giving a streak-free finish. It issuitable for marble, granite, treated stone, resin and quartz resin.In addition to new products, Fila also launched its new green brand

– Fila Green Action – to the UK market. The brand will encompass allenvironmental developments, including processes, industry initiativesand the company’s Green Line range, which currently includes 17products. T: 01584 877286 E: [email protected] W: www.filachim.com

New radio and torch combo from MakitaThe super-conve-nient, robust andmul t i -purposeBMR050 radioand torch combofrom Makitaaffords bothsound and visionon site: one tool,two functions.The 1.4V tripleLED flashlight ispowered by

either a 14.4 or 18V Lithium-ion battery to provide wide and brightillumination of 1,600 lx or more. The six-position light head providespositive stops at -60, -30, 0, +30, +60 and +90°.The push-button operated AM/FM digital tuner has an LCD digital

display and includes a three-stage battery indicator. Positionedbeneath the flashlight, a large single speaker is forward facing andprovides clear sound transmission, even at full volume.The BMR050 has a rubberised, ergonomic soft grip handle and

comes complete with shoulder strap for comfort, convenience andeasy carrying to site.W: www.makitauk.com

The latest addition to Lapicida’s exclusive stone collection is New Montpellier; acharacterful grey limestone full of subtle colour variations and fossils. This is anewly quarried stone that Lapicida puts through a gentle antiquing process; flam-ing, tumbling and brushing the surface to create an aged patina. These antique-effect flagstones are large (500mm wide) and supplied in random lengths to pro-vide an authentic laying pattern. Just 20mm thick, this stone is ideal for refurbish-ing existing spaces and also works well with underfloor heating.01423 400 500 www.lapicida.com

Saint-Gobain Weber has introducedWeber.Joint Pro to its extensive range oftile preparation, fixing and finishingproducts. This water-repellent, flexibletile grout benefits from Mould StopTechnology which offers lasting protec-tion from unsightly and unhygienicmould growth. Designed for groutingjoints up to 10mm between floor andwall tiles, it is suitable for interior andexterior use and performs well in bothdry and wet conditions.Weber.Joint Pro is flexible enough for

use with most substrates where somemovement or vibration is expected andis particularly recommended for woodenfloors and floors with underfloor or

undertile heating. This high perform-ance, professional grade grout has ascratch-resistant formulation ideal forsoft-faced stone, such as marble, and canbe safely used when grouting ceramic,porcelain, mosaic, quarry, natural stone,terrazzo and terracotta tiles. The grout is available in 11 colours,

including Jasmine, Ivory, Silver Grey,Charcoal and Black, and supplied in 5kgbags. The complementary range ofweber.joint silicone, available in thesame colour range, provides a sealantdesigned for use in showers, domestickitchens and bathrooms and is resistantto fungus and mildew. T: 08703 330 070 W: www.netweber.co.uk

Weber’s new mould-resistant, water-repellent, flexible tile grout

PORTFOLIO

50 TSJ APRIL 2012

New floor tile offer introduced by ESLESL Ceramics & Stone has launched a range of new floor tiles includingboth ceramic and porcelain tiles. In polished porcelain, new coloursand sizes have been added to some of the most popular existingranges: Brilliant Grey in both 600 by 600 and 300 by 600mm; plus 300by 600mm Granito Bone and Delta Super White. A new monochromestone effect range with a sparkle effect, St Moritz, is being introducedin white, grey and black in both 300 by 600 and 600 by 600mm. Santorini, an entry level polished porcelain launched at the end of

2011, is already proving to be a hit.A new range has also been included in the through-body porcelain

collection. Kuala is a beautiful rustic slate effect tile on a structuredbody. It is available in three colours in 300 by 600mm.A new size modular collection is also being launched: Geo Tech Gold,

a frost-proof, anti-slip porcelain and Geo Chrome, a slate effect porce-lain are available in 250 by 250, 250 by 500 and 500 by 500mm.250 by 400mm is now probably the most popular size in the UK, and

ESL Ceramics & Stone has just introduced four new ranges in this size:Parthenon and Tramonto are both produced using the latest inkjettechnology making them both very realistic representations of pol-ished stone: Parthenon is a travertine look alike and Tramonto a mar-ble. Iris is a smart black and white combination range with a stripydetail for added interest and Adesa is another gloss stone effectceramic tile in a beige colour.Add to these a 200 by 250mm gloss marble with matching floor

called Universal and Nova, a 250 by 333mm beige marble effect also ingloss and ESL can also provide an affordable collection for the moreconservative customer. Matching floor tiles are available.The kitchen offering has also been strengthened with Provence, an

attractive bumpy gloss range in the popular 100 by 200mm size. T: 020 8744 1122 E: [email protected]: www.euroserviceslimited.co.uk

New 600 by 600mm value range from QPCIn response to continued pressure on retailers to meet the low priceexpectations of their clients, QPC Ceramics has launched a new 600 by600mm format tile.The new tile enables retailers to meet the demand for low price and

still make a healthy profit, without compromising on quality.Ivory Marble is an ivory/grey polished porcelain, with a light vein

pattern and rectified edges. As well as being free from wax or oil coat-ings, it is also pre-sealed.At a pallet price of £10.70 plus vat per sq. metre, the new tile can be

retailed at £29.99 including vat and still give a 57% return. Stocks arehigh and delivery of pallet quantities is FOC.T 0118 959 4066 E: [email protected]

Sky Line by Naxos was inspired by precious marbles, and manufactured using the lat-est digital decoration. Its is available in seven different colours, each inspired by anatural marble: Museum, King, Venus, Marble Arch, Cult, Rider, Escape and Land.Each colour version truly reproduces the depth of large and clear veins, as well as thethin and unexpected crosses that offer decorative complexity. Sky Line is availablefor floors and walls and is matched with several decorative options, such as bands,mosaics, strips and frames. This single fired, white body, porcelain tile is offered in325 by 325, 325 by 650 and 325 by 977mm, complemented by an unusually widerange of decorative pieces in many different sizes. www.naxos-ceramica.it [email protected]

Seven colour Sky Line is inspired by natural marble

Urban Concrete from Flaviker-Pi.sa is a reinterpretation of concrete. A product withoutstanding technical and aesthetic qualities, Urban Concrete comes in four sizes, allrectified (400 by 800, 600 by 600, 300 by 600 and 150 by 600mm), and in two surfacefinishes: Natural and Frame - the latter being the formwork effect shown above inwhite.www.flavikerpisa.it

Concrete effect comes in two distinct surface finishes

TSJApr12p48-51_News and comment 10/04/2012 16:26 Page 3

51APRIL 2012 TSJ

PORTFOLIO

Offering a beam that is said to be up to five times more visible than standardred line lasers, the new LAR120G Green Line Rotational Laser from Stabila, isperfect for working at long distances and in bright conditions.

With a green beam that enables internal measurements of up to 40metres, this innovative laser from the market leading brand is ideal forapplications such as suspended ceiling installation, layout, levelling andalignment of interior walls, and all kinds of finishing work including tiling,levelling sockets and cabinets.

As well as a whole range of internal applications, the LAR120G is also thelaser of choice for external work, thanks to a new REC100G receiver whichextends the working range by as much as 300 metres.

Ideal for construction workers, tilers, carpenters, window installers, electri-cians, plumbers and fitters, Stabila’s LAR120G enables fast, precise workthrough an electronic self-levelling feature that offers guaranteed accuracyto within 0.1mm/m. Simple to operate via remote control, the LAR120Gensures comfortable working at the reference plane due to its integratedheight adjustment. The LAR120G offers eight laser functions includingpoint, right angle, plumb, horizontal and vertical scan or rotation and incli-nation on two axes.

Perfect for use on the busy building site, the LAR120G is fitted with a heightof tool alert function and automatic re-levelling to enable the vibrations andshaking typical of building sites to be automatically counterbalanced.

The LAR120G Laser from Stabila is available from Brian Hyde in a handy setproviding everything needed to get started and comprises the LAR120Gitself, a remote control, the new REC100G receiver and bracket for externalwork, a target plate and the NK100 wall mounting bracket for ceiling sus-pensions.0121 705 7987 www.brianhyde.co.uk

Accurate rotating laser has a range of features

ABK’s new Docks range is an architectural and decorative collection of tiles in which colour andmaterial merge to create a highly contemporary range of surfaces. Docks, including Bone shownabove, is inspired by concrete. It is a versatile design with a distinctive texture, consisting ofinterior and exterior floor tiles and wall tiles ideal for both residential and retail applications.Also from ABK, the Love Me wall tile collection is a new and original bathroom range.

Available in two different versions, Chic and Lux, the Love Me collection combines original,sophisticated colours with neutral and elegant field tiles, with decorations inspired by floraldesigns, the art of calligraphy and traditional goldsmith's techniques.Another new collection from ABK is Fossil Stone, a range of large-format porcelain tiles

inspired by natural fossil wood.www.abk.it/en

Colour and material merge in ABK’s Docks range Virtual Worlds has introduced its latest 5.8 version of Virtual Worlds Professional; the widelyused design software for the KBB sector. Well known for photo-realistic renders, real-timeinteractive fly-through and a comprehensive library of manufacturer catalogues, the new 5.8version now supports enhanced control over the production and display of dimensioned 2Dplans and elevations, plus integration with other design software.The latest version of Virtual Worlds Professional also provides improved hard copy reports for

2D plans and elevations and a handy automated update system for licence users, to ensuredesigners always have access to the latest supplier product catalogues and design innovations.Users can now download plans and drawings developed in AutoCAD or Google Sketch Up intoVirtual Worlds Professional, such as architects’ or builders’ plans, create their own KBB designsand then export the final plans back, in a compatible file format. The latest new product cata-logues include Symphony Kitchens, Crosswater and Hansgrohe, with more in the pipeline.T: 01908 663848 E:[email protected] W: www.virtualworlds.co.uk

Virtual Worlds 5.8 supports AutoCAD and Sketch

Aimed squarely at the topend of the tiling market,Canakkale Seramic’s newMillennium range isoffered in Lux White,Cream, Brown and Black.This 300 by 600mm mosa-ic-textured wall tile rangeis designed for use inmodern homes, hotels,offices and restaurantsThe Millennium Series

perfectly adapts to retrospaces with its 3D mosaic-textured tiles. Providingease of application with a300 by 600mm format,Millennium providesspaces with a sophisticat-ed atmosphere, with bothmatt and gloss options.www.kale.com.tr

3D texture gives Millennium a timeless versatility

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