Download TSJ February 2012 - Tile and Stone Journal

February 2012
Volume 9 Number 2
Editor
Joe Simpson
tandsjournal@aol.com
M: 07885 294814
Advertisement Director
Stuart Bourne
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T: 01892 752400
Production Director
John Heath 01892 752400
Editorial Director
Alan Bakalor 01892 680816
Editorial Administration
Elaine Hudson 01892 752400
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Neil Owen 01892 752400
Production and Design
Janet Purchase 01892 752400
Print Management
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GEnERAl EnqUiRiES
Editorial
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E: tandsjournal@aol.com
CONTENTS
APAVISA XTREME COPPER
NEWS
Brazil tile giants portobello and Eliane set to merge,
American Marazzi cited for health and safety violations,
Joe pape appointed MD at Waxman ceramics, and more 4
INNOVATION
inax’s innovative new Dent cube concept explained 24
TTA NEWSLETTER
ttA Awards, new contractor benefit, don’t Dot & Dab! 26
EXCLUSIVE
British ceramic tile’s new MD, tony taylor, looks ahead 32
ON INSTALLATION
Ultra tile’s Martin cummins on problem tile backings 36
DESIGN TRENDS
RAK’s Abdulla Mahmood on the impact of digital printing 38
SUSTAINABILITY
tSJ outlines the green credentials of ceramic tile 40
TOOLS & WORKWEAR
Extensive survey of the latest in tiling tools and workwear 44
PORTFOLIO
What’s new in tiles, tools, natural stone and fixing materials 56
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FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ 3

NEWS & COMMENT
EDITOR’S COMMENT
“With predictions of no let up in the current
economic downturn it seems that more and more
businesses are in for a rough time, with some
disappearing completely. We’ve already seen a
depressing list of high street names, like Peacocks,
Woolworths and Adams, go bust.
Companies and businesses are being forced to cut
back in all areas, making people redundant, lowering
prices and freezing wages. As well as these cost
cutting measures, a lot of businesses are looking at
the possibility of joining forces in an attempt, not to
expand, but just to survive the next few years.
It certainly seems that the global tile industry may be set for a string of additional
mergers. Mohawk and Dal-Tile paved the way in 2002. More recently they have
been followed by CP Group and British Ceramic Tile in the UK and now Portobello
and Eliane in Brasil. Expect a number of similar mergers in Spain and Italy as the
weak economy exerts more and more pressure on struggling tile manufacturing
companies.
The main motivation behind mergers is expansion. It makes sense that rather than
lots of smaller companies fighting for the same market, a few larger companies
may be more successful. vAlthough it is usually the bigger company that drives
the merger procedure sometimes it can be the smaller company. vThey may
realise that they have gone as far as they can without getting extra help, which
often means capital, and the only way to move forward is through the cash
injection that can result from a merger.
When the motivation isn't expansion it's probably cost cutting. This is the trend
that the mergers market seems to heading for right now. The integration of
companies in the same area can save a small company thousands of pounds and a
larger, international, company many millions.
Mergers do not always achieve the desired goal, which is more to do with success,
growth and money for shareholders. However in the current climate these
concerns are likely to take a back seat as the overriding need to stay afloat takes
precedent.”
Joe Simpson
Brazil’s Eliane and Portobello
agree to merge early in 2012
Two of the leading Brazilian producers of ceramic tiles, Eliane and
Portobello, have entered into an agreement to merge. The agreement
was signed by the CEOs of the two companies, Edson Gaidzinski, Jr of
Eliane (left) and Cesar Gomes, Jr of Portobello (right) on Christmas Eve.
The ultimate transaction will result in a company with over 4,000
employees and US$650 million in sales, making it one of the top five
world-wide producers by revenue. Combined, the two companies currently
market their products globally in over 70 countries. The merger is
expected to be finalised during the first quarter of 2012.
While the merged company will have a new corporate name, both the
Portobello and Eliane brands will continue operating independently under
the new corporation. Early reports indicate that no major changes are anticipated
for the marketing, distribution or manufacturing of either brand.
Eliane, a family-run business, began operations in 1960 and is currently
under the command of the third generation of the Gaidzinski family.
Eliane was the first Brazilian ceramics manufacturer to produce porcelain
tiles. The company has five factories in southern Brazil; four in Cocal do
Sul, where the company's HQ is located, plus a porcelain unit in Criciúma.
The company also has a factory in northern Brazil in Camaçari.
Additionally, Eliane has an international office in São Paulo and two distribution
centres, one in the USA and another in Canada.
Founded in 1979, Portobello’s watchword has been technological innovation.
The company’s early production was aimed at the Brazilian market,
its chief product being so-called "verdão" flooring. The line consisted
of two glazes, with some variations.
The discovery of new raw materials coincided with research which highlighted
a new market segment: ceramic flooring capable of carrying heavy
loads, while also being easy to clean and aesthetically pleasing. This led
Portobello to develop the first range of drip glaze, high traffic flooring in
Brazil and one of the first in the world. The range’s name, Carga Pesada,
meaning heavy load, was inspired by a successful Brazilian television
series of the same name.
4 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

OSHA cites American Marazzi Tile for safety lapses
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), the federal agency
charged with the enforcement of safety and
health legislation in the USA, has cited
American Marazzi Tile with 25 safety and
health violations for exposing workers to
excessive noise levels, machine guarding hazards
and other dangerous conditions at its
facility in Sunnyvale, Texas. Proposed penalties
total $318,000.
OSHA's Dallas Area Office initiated an investigation
in July 2011 at the company's Clay
Road facility as part of a programme that
directs enforcement resources to workplaces
with higher-than-average injury and illness
rates.
"This company knowingly failed to implement
necessary safety and health programs
to protect employees from coming into contact
with moving parts of machinery and prevent
hearing loss," said John Hermanson,
OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "It's
the employer's responsibility to know the
hazards and safeguard workers from these
hazards in order to provide a working environment
free of injuries and illnesses."
Three willful violations involve failing to
establish and maintain a hearing conservation
programme for workers exposed to
noise levels exceeding 85 decibels; provide
the required machine guards for exposed
belts, pulleys, chains, and sprockets; and
establish a lockout/tagout programme for
energy sources to protect workers from the
unexpected start up of machinery.
21 serious violations involve failing to provide
personal protective equipment, provide
confined space training, provide machine
guarding to prevent workers from coming
into contact with rotating parts, develop
energy control procedures for machines with
more than one energy source, provide fire
extinguisher training, properly store oxygen
and acetylene cylinders, develop a bloodborne
pathogens programme, and train
employees on hazardous chemicals used in
the facility.
OSHA has placed American Marazzi Tile in
its Severe Violator Enforcement Program,
which mandates targeted follow-up inspections
to ensure compliance with the law.
American Marazzi Tile employs about 254
workers who produce ceramic wall and floor
tile products at the Sunnyvale location.
Instarmac, the company behind the Ultra Tile brand, has more than halved its waste to landfill as part of a
commitment to reducing the company’s environmental impact. Instarmac’s real enthusiasm for meeting
green targets has spawned a lengthy list of environmental programmes that have included transparent
waste stream development, investment in solar and wind powered energy, and even providing shredded
paper for use at local Twycross Zoo to keep the animals warm in winter.
Instarmac has received ongoing recognition for its environmental and sustainability schemes, as well as
the compoany’s projects to boost lean efficiency. The most recent accolade comes from UK’s FeRFA (Resin
Flooring Association) where Instarmac was shortlisted for an Environmental Initiative award. For two years
running the company won the same award from The Tile Association, for its waste stream processes, recycling
and green ethics which involve every member of staff, not just the business as a whole.
By utilising Kaizen techniques Instarmac’s employees have reviewed, defined, implemented, controlled
and reduced their landfill waste by this outstanding 51%. Kaizen stands for continuous improvement; it
derives from the Japanese words ‘Kai’ and ‘Zen’ meaning ‘change’ and ‘good’.
NEWS & COMMENT
NEWS IN BRIEF
Waxman Ceramics has
appointed Joe Pape to
the position of Managing
Director. Pape started at
Waxman some 28 years
ago in the Sample Room,
at the very onset of the
business. His position
changed many times
over the years as the
company grew and, in
1999, was promoted to
the position of Operations Director.
‘It is a privilege to be promoted to the position of
Managing Director of Waxman Ceramics Ltd,” says
Pape. “I look forward to the challenges that may lay
ahead during these difficult trading conditions.
Waxman offers a good service and an excellent range
of product which I believe provide us with a good
opportunity to grow our business.”
In the early part of Waxman’s expansion mosaics
were the primary product marketed, which led to
Waxman becoming the largest UK importer. Waxman
then expanded into larger format tiles and formed a
national distribution network encompassing bases at
the HQ in Elland, West Yorkshire, as well as in Bristol.
Topps Tiles has appointed experienced retailer Andy
King as a non-executive director. King has worked as
a director at several of the country's leading retailers
and is currently the CEO of Notcutts Garden Centre, a
position he has held since 2007. Before joining
Notcutts King held Global Marketing Director roles at
The Body Shop, Mothercare and W H Smith. Before
this King spent nine years with health & beauty trader
Boots.
Tile distributor and retailer,
Craven Dunnill, has
appointed David Talbot
as Technical Consultant,
to support its strategy to
offer a comprehensive
contract design service.
Talbot has over 25 years’
experience in the commercial
tile market. He
previously worked at
Johnson Tiles handling
numerous aspects of the contract tile market, including
commercial design, technical specification, in
addition to providing contract marketing experience
in products, support materials and sales for the UK
and export markets. David brings an in-depth knowledge
of UK Building Regulations, Slip Resistance and
Equality Act requirements. He will work closely with
Craven Dunnill’s Marketing and Sales Director Steve
Whitehurst.
FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ
5

NEWS & COMMENT
A new art mosaic has been installed at Dunkin Donuts, 1380 East Penn Street, Muncy Township, USA.
Local artists, Nella Godbey Storm and Selinda Kennedy designed and created the 10ft by 3ft terracotta
mosaic that depicts a period dating back to the Old Muncy Canal in the 1840s. It features two
mules pulling a Pennsylvania Canal Boat 502 into Muncy's Sprout Waldron.
"Each hand made tile has five or more layers of coloured slip, then coated with a clear glaze,"
explained Storm. "Tiles range in size comparable to a silver dollar to about the size of your hand."
The Muncy Historical Society provided photos of early canal days in Port Penn for the artists to work
with. "We added a squirrel and a bird to give it more charm," added Storm who also acknowledged
that the animals give it a story book quality appealing to younger audiences.
Storm also said that she and Kennedy were notified in mid December by James Bower, Jr., owner
of Dunkin Donuts, to do the mosaic project. Both artists were featured in Muncy's juried art show last
fall through the Muncy Historical Society.
Storm also furnished a 9 by 3 foot mosaic for Susquehanna Health's new Tower building in
Williamsport, and Kennedy did one for Muncy Valley Hospital. "Mosaics are good to use for restaurants,"
said Storm, “because, unlike paintings, they are easy to clean and maintain.”
Construction output grow slows, reports Markit
January data from Markit signalled a thirteenth successive monthly rise in UK construction sector
output. However, the rate of expansion eased and was modest. The weaker increase in
activity was led by a slowdown in new order growth, with some Markit panellists also noting
the completion of existing contracts. Furthermore, employment stagnated. Despite this, confidence
regarding future business activity strengthened to the second-greatest degree in the
survey history to reach an eight-month high.
The seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index posted 51.4 in
January, down from 53.2 in December. The latest reading pointed to growth of UK construction
sector output. However, the rate of expansion slowed to the weakest in four months and was
below the long-run trend. Two of the three broad construction categories monitored – housing
and civil engineering – registered decreases in output in January. The rates of decline were
marginal and broadly similar in both sectors. Commercial activity rose for a twenty-third consecutive
month. The expansion was solid and slightly faster than in December.
UK New business received by UK construction companies continued to rise at the start of
2012. However, the rate of growth eased to the weakest in the current four-month period of
increase.
January data signalled an unchanged level of employment in the UK construction sector. Job
cuts at some companies caused by lower output and new orders offset increased staffing levels
at others that were driven by higher workloads. Similarly, usage of sub-contractors was little
changed on the month.
Reflective of sustained growth of output, purchasing activity increased again in January.
Subsequently, suppliers’ delivery times lengthened. Anecdotal evidence attributed the deterioration
in vendor performance to shortages of stocks at suppliers.
Input costs faced by UK construction companies rose markedly during January, driven by
higher raw material and energy prices. However, the rate of cost inflation eased and was the
third-slowest in the current two-year period of monthly increases.
Sarah Bingham, Economist at Markit and author of the UK Construction PMI says: “2012 started
positively for the UK construction sector, with further output growth recorded. However, at
a four-month low, the expansion was modest, reflecting a weaker rise in the volume of new
business received compared with December. Furthermore, growth was focused on commercial
construction, with house building and civil engineering activity levels both falling slightly. The
resulting overall increase in output was insufficient to sustain job creation, with employment
stagnating. On a more positive note, construction firms grew more upbeat about their
prospects for 2012, with business confidence showing the second-greatest monthly jump in the
survey’s history. This suggests that growth may pick up again in the sector in coming moths,
raising hopes that a slide back into recession may yet be avoided.”
Ancora Group supplies new plant to Samarskoe Keramiki
Ancora Group has supplied Russian porcelain tile manufacturer
Samarskoe Keramiki with a squaring line as part of a programme to
expand and modernise the company's current machinery. This major
order further strengthens Ancora's longstanding business ties with the
ceramic manufacturer, a member of the Estima Group located in
Russia's central-eastern region of Samara.
When Samarskoe Keramiki joined Estima (Noginsk, Moscow) in 2010,
the group became the largest ceramic granite manufacturer in Russia
with a total production capacity of 14 million square metres of tiles a
year. Estima was recently chosen as a supplier to the Moscow federal
home refurbishment programme, in view of which the group implemented
a programme of modernising its manufacturing facilities at
Noginsk and in the Samara region.
"On the whole, the Russian market has shown good tenacity in recent
years, even during the most difficult times for the international economy,"
commented Ancora Group's Vice Chairman Fabio Corradini. "Our
Group has continued to achieve good results in this region, as this
order goes to show."
To meet the need for higher porcelain tile output, Samarskoe
Keramiki commissioned Ancora Group to supply a latest-generation
squaring line which would be capable of producing sizes up to 600 by
600 mm, thereby modernising and expanding the lines already present
in the factory.
UK suffers nearly 10,000 construction and
manufacturing insolvencies in two years
Nearly 10,000 construction and manufacturing businesses went into
administration since the start of 2010, reports
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). A breakdown of corporate insolvencies
for these two sectors also show London alone suffered 927
insolvencies since the start of 2010.
Under the ongoing cloud of economic and unemployment uncertainty,
PwC experts say that 2012 could see the sectors faced with the
same woes.
Jonathan Hook, head of engineering &
construction at PwC (left) says: “2011 was
another tough year for the construction
sector and there were 6% more insolvencies
in the sector in 2011 than 2010. Over
the last two years we have lost more than
5,000 companies and the trend shows no
sign of abating.”
There were 656 construction insolvencies
in Q4 of 2011 and 424 for manufacturing.
Across the year however from Q1 2010 to
Q4 2011 manufacturing fared slightly better than construction which
saw a rise of 6.4% in 2011. Q4 2011 was, however, slightly more positive
for both sectors in comparison to Q3 of the same year where construction
had 0.2% fewer insolvencies.
The UK regions that were most affected included London, West
Midlands, Yorkshire region and the North West for both sectors.
According to Hook: “The cuts to the Government's capital programme
and uncertainty around the economy and financing generally
means there is little chance that 2012 will see this trend reverse.
London reported a 5% decline in the number of insolvencies in the sector
last year, highlighting that it is increasingly tough elsewhere in the
regions, where we saw a 9% increase.”
6
TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
The Stone Gallery announces expansion plans
In contrast to gloomy retail news elsewhere, the Art of Living group which incorporates the
Ceramic Tile Warehouse, Park Street Interiors and The Stone Gallery in Camberley, has
announced plans to expand its dedicated natural stone section, The Stone Gallery.
For the last five years, The Stone Gallery’s tiny showroom has been squeezed between the
kitchen and bathroom showrooms of Park Street Interiors despite having been responsible for
a disproportionally large percentage of the ‘Art of Living’ group’s turnover.
But thanks to a strong year of trading in 2011, The Stone Gallery is to finally get the setting
it deserves, as work is well under way to transform an adjoining unit at the end of Bridge
Road, into a specialist showroom to showcase the timeless elegance of natural stone in all its
glory.
Specialist features of the expanded showroom are set to include much larger formats of
lesser know natural stone and slate.
With work well under way, it is anticipated the new showroom will be up and running by
the end of April.
Clive Blythe, Managing Director of the Ceramic Tile Warehouse, said: “People often underestimate
the beauty of natural stone so we hope to showcase its elegance and versatility with
our new showroom. The new showroom will be the ideal environment for customers to see
how natural stone can be used to enhance existing rooms or become the perfect addition to
a new project or venture.”
RAK and Domus create UK’s largest tiled façade
RAK Ceramics’ porcelain slabs
have been specified for the UK’s
biggest large-format ceramic
cladding installation.
Designed by Domus Facades,
and installed by Cladding UK for
main contractor Higgins
Construction PLC, the 7,654 sq
metre installation forms the
exterior of Streamlight Tower in
London’s docklands. A residential
scheme, for Swan New
Homes, the development was
designed by Barrett Lloyd Davis
Associates Ltd & Hunters
Architects.
Acclaimed by the Mayor’s office for its significant contribution to
the provision of affordable housing, Streamlight comprises 137
homes and features a three-block design. The tallest of the three
towers has a distinct lipstick-shaped crown. It reaches 82 metres
in height, affording stunning views over to the Olympic Stadium,
the Thames and Canary Wharf.
The sustainable design includes exterior monochromatic
cladding, using RAK’s large format Lounge porcelain slabs, on all
aspects. Chosen to provide a highly durable and distinctive background,
alongside accents of smoked glass throughout balconies,
the cladding includes a mix of black, beige and grey slabs. All tiles
have a mottled, unpolished surface and each measures 1,795mm
by 1,195mm.
Brian Mace, Managing Director of Domus Facades, commented:
“This is a prime example of where cutting edge building materials
are able to fuse with the design intent of the practice. The large
format tiles allow a far greater reach and work to fill in between
the floors without the odd off cut tile. The self-cleaning product is
a great plus on a building of this size and accessibility. The entire
process was immaculately managed by the team at CUK which
made the project a joy to work on.”
RAK Ceramics UK 01730 237850 www.rakceramics.co.uk.
MADELEINE HARRINGTON
“The relationship between sales and
marketing has always been fraught, at
least since marketing split from sales in the
middle of the last century. Before that
marketing was part of the sales discipline –
sales promotion as it was known.
The two disciplines evolved separately
over the final decades of the twentieth
century with marketing focused on getting
the brand known, creating demand and
identifying leads (especially in the B2B world), and sales on getting to
those leads and closing the sale.
To summarise conventional wisdom marketers tend to see the “big
picture”, salesmen concentrate on individual customers, and to
caricature marketers sit in their ivory towers thinking about pretty
fluffy stuff, and analysing product sales, and sales guys rarely see
beyond the customer that they have just been talking to, especially if
they represent a major source of commission.
I am one of those rare creatures that have spent time in both camps –
I was an international salesman for Denby for a few years, and I have
witnessed the divide first hand from both sides of the fence. However
increasingly the experts are arguing that we should learn to make
peace and work together in harmony.
With the advent of the internet as the first port of call for most of us
when we are thinking about making a purchase whether business or
personal on line or not, the whole picture is changing and the
difficult to measure touchy feely world of marketing is becoming
easier to quantify and evaluate especially for e-commerce.
Marketing is now more about “pulling” potential customers to your
site, allowing them to gather information and to make contact when
they are ready to engage in the sales process.
This means that the lines between sales and marketing are once
again coming closer and the two disciplines need to bury the hatchet
and find ways to work together as they really are two facets of the
same process and can benefit immensely from being part of the
same team rather than on opposing sides.
As a marketing director the relationship worked best when the sales
force and my team were working together to prepare for customer
meetings, tailoring products, marketing materials and presentations.
Frequent exposure to customers is also a must for any marketer to
properly understand the market in which they are working. Sales
teams also benefit from the opportunity to look at the bigger picture.
So I would join my voice to the many much more eminent ones
already stating that the war between the two needs to end and the
sooner the better.”
Madeleine Harrington is a director of McMullin Harrington Limited, a
marketing consultancy specialising in the tile and stone industry.
She can be contacted on madeleine@mcmh.co.uk.
8 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
Forest Pennant creates bespoke compass
as part of Ebbw Vale’s regeneration
Pennant sandstone specialist, Forest Pennant has designed and supplied Blaenau Gwent Council with a bespoke
six-metre diameter compass, as part of the continued regeneration of Ebbw Vale. In addition, the company has also
supplied 3,600sq. metres of assorted pennant stone paving and various masonry details, including 100 linear
metres of coping, six circular portholes and a dimensioned band course for the wall feature on Church Street.
Designed by Graham Jones, from Blaenau Gwent Council, the compass was created using a combination of materials.
Forest Pennant’s mixed colour and blue pennant sandstone formed the radial bands and central seating feature,
whilst contrasting black and white granite created the North and South points.
Chris Griffin, projects manager at Forest Pennant, finalised the initial design, creating a working scheme. The
individual elements were then cut using a water-jet cutting machine, with the finishing and final assembly of the
composite pieces carried out by the Forest Pennant works and masonry teams.
Blaenau Gwent Council, working in partnership with contractors Jim Davies Civil Engineering Ltd, specified
Pennant sandstone for the Church Street pedestrianised zones and features.
Commenting on the scheme, Blaenau Gwent Council said: “Having worked with Forest Pennant on the Ebbw Vale
linkages scheme we had no doubt that they would deliver a high quality, complementary paving product, but the
compass has exceeded our expectation, creating a real feature for the town.”
Nick Horton, Forest Pennant managing director, said: “Church Street has given us the opportunity to not only
once again prove our ability as a reliable and efficient natural stone supplier but also showcase our skill and expertise
as a masonry specialist. We are very pleased to continue our support of the regeneration of Ebbw Vale, while
also promoting green, British products.”
Plumb Center rolls out CornerTape’s SiliconePro
CornerTape has expanded its product range in Plumb Center branches with the introduction
of SiliconePro kitchen and bathroom silicone sealant. CornerTape SiliconePro,
with its clever Anti-Drip Valve and Pre-Cut Nozzle System, is now available to customers
of over 490 branches of the UK’s leading supplier of heating and plumbing
products. Plumb Center first stocked the CornerTape ‘professional’ range of products,
including its heavy duty Silicone & Grout Remover Tool, packs of Preparation Wipes,
Silicone Forming Kit and 15m rolls of CornerTape, just over a year ago.
Andy Toyne, Sales Director for CornerTape in the UK, said: “We’re extremely excited
about SiliconePro being introduced into Plumb Center branches, as Plumb Center is the
biggest name in the plumbing and heating trade. The branches have had the silicone
for a very short time and are already re-stocking the shelves as its going down very
well with the trade. Of course, SiliconePro has great shelf appeal with the valve and
nozzle but the quality of the contents are equally important - we have got that just
right and the trade love it. All these things add together, making SiliconePro an excellent
value product - for making silicone jobs easier and quicker, and the pricing is very
competitive too.”
JOSS THOMAS
“I put great value on
trustworthiness but
recently found myself in
a difficult situation. A
customer who’s
involved in a large
residential project
placed an order with
me. It included stone
flooring and all
associated fixing
products - adhesives,
grouts and sealants.
Some weeks after the goods had been delivered, I
received an email stating that the fixings had been
left on a pallet outside and were ruined. The email
went on to say that it was my responsibility.
As is generally the case, a third party delivered the
goods and they were signed for as having been
received in good condition. As I’m sure is the case
with most of us, our terms and conditions explain
that ‘we cannot accept responsibility for damages
not acknowledged on the paperwork.’ In an effort
to resolve the situation, I tried to establish how the
damage had occurred. Apparently, the customer’s
wife had asked the driver if the goods could be left
on the pallet outside and she was told that this
would be fine. Had we been consulted, we would
always inform the customer that perishable
products should be taken indoors, as clearly
highlighted on the product packaging.
I have no idea if the lady did, in fact, ask if the
goods should be stored inside or out. Nor do I
know how the driver responded. So much of what
we do is based on trust – but trust is a two-way
thing made more difficult when a third party is
involved – and when the delivery address is
hundreds of miles away, as was the case in this
instance. Common sense would suggest to me
that a third party is not the best source for
technical information.
I always try to be as helpful as possible. In fact, I
offered to supply new adhesives and grouts at
cost, but the tiler had already purchased products
from elsewhere. The situation is yet to be resolved
- hopefully we can do so without involving
another third party.
Having vented my frustration, I hope that this
might prove useful to you. It clearly highlights the
importance of covering yourself as best as
possible, especially in the current climate where
there’s not so much ‘cash for error’ available.
Situations like this remind me to reassess my terms
and conditions; like all things in business, they too
need to move with the times. ”
For more information, call 01993 824200 or
email enquiries@indigenousltd.com.
10 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
Venue sounds good with Cembrit acoustic panels
CH Building Board from Cembrit has
been used extensively throughout a
state-of-the-art wedding venue in
North London. Manufactured by
Sound Reduction Systems Ltd of
Bolton, Lancashire, the CH Board has
been used as part of a bespoke
acoustic composite panel at the wedding
and function venue.
Owned by Metro Wedding and Function Halls, the Little Princes and Little
Princesses Wedding Venue is capable of accommodating over 800 people.
Located close to a residential area planning could only be agreed with the
right acoustic specification. Richard Groborz of SRS Ltd’s stockist and
approved agent for the area, Trim Acoustics, visited site to advise on the
acoustic insulation.
“In order eliminate the risk of disruption to the neighbours, and to offer a
practical and cost effective solution to the client,” explains Groborz, “we
specified an acoustic panel featuring CH Building Board for the walls and
ceilings. The results have been fantastic leaving the venue owners, local
council and neighbours delighted.”
In total, over 2,000sq. metres of CH Building Board was installed by Gama
Construction to meet the stringent requirements of the council.
Somany signs agreement with Iris and FMG
Somany Ceramics, a leading Indian ceramic tile mnufacturer, has entered into a manufacturing and distribution
arrangement with Iris Ceramiche and FMG of GranitiFiandre Group. Following this deal, Somany will market
products manufactured under the Active technology across India.
According to this venture, Fiandre will look at a distribution arrangement with Somany Ceramics to sell
Active Clean Air and Antibacterial Ceramic products in India, riding on Somany Ceramics`1400 strong distribution
network and established brand equity.
International tests have confirmed that Active tiles are self cleaning as they are able to degrade nitrogen
oxides, thus allowing the improvement of air quality. On the reduction of Nitrogen Oxides, it is estimated that
1,000sq. metre surface area of Active, radiated by sunlight or any other electric source of light, has an effect
equal to that of 20 mature trees. Active tiles are also capable of reacting with the most common air pollutant
molecules and hence provide antibacterial properties to the material.
Speaking on the occasion, Abhishek Somany, JMD
Somany Ceramics (left) said, “This association with Iris
Ceramiche and GranitiFiandre Group further strengthens
our motto of innovation and leadership which
Somany Ceramics stands for. After VC 50, we bring to
you Active as a result of our commitment to bringing
world class products to the Indian customer. We look
forward to working with these Italian brands and
strengthening this alliance.”
He added: “Through this partnership, Somany looks at enhancing its commitment to building green technology
in the ceramic space. Active is not simply a product, but a real green innovation. If you install 1,000 sq.
metres of these tiles, it is equivalent to planting 20 trees.”
Valentino Capucci, R & D Head, Fiandre Group, said: “I am delighted to enter into a co- operation with
Somany Ceramics in India. As a company, we share the vision to cater the Indian market with the best. We
are bringing our international brands, expertise in ceramics, and innovation on products, while Somany
Ceramics is bringing their strengths of strong brand presence & robust distribution network in India. It is one
of the very few companies who has a perfect structure and balance of capabilities to introduce the Active range
in the Indian market.”
The creations are born by combining the latest technological innovation and knowledge of the craft tradition,
always in full compliance with the most stringent standards of sustainability, both for the process and for the
products. All products will be made available in Somany stores in cities like Delhi, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Kolkata,
Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Indore and Surat.
ALAN REYNOLDS
“All in all 2011 was a tough year and I
can’t say I’m unhappy to see the
back of it. I have always tried to mark
the passage of time, to find value
even in the grey days rather than
wishing them over as quickly as
possible: a doctrine I struggled to
maintain recently; moreover when I
spent most of the holidays laid up in
bed with ‘man flu’. One needs a
temperature of 40°C or more to
qualify for sympathy ‘chez nous’.
It’s been a while since I’ve been really poorly so I was
somewhat rusty as to the do’s and don’ts of sickbed protocol
when running a fever. The do’s are pretty obvious but the
don’ts rarely get a mention especially the one concerning
‘thinking about work’ in my case that would be setting out a
tiling job. Take my word once you get caught up in that loop
it’s a bugger to break free. I must have set out that virtual
bathroom every which way possible and each time I finished I
would be forced like ‘Sisyphus’ to start all over again.
I can see it in my mind’s eye even now: a composite of every
bathroom I have ever tiled; the room freshly plastered, devoid
of sanitary-ware save a bath and a low-line shower-base. The
walls are bang on the bubble; you get a sense of it as soon as
you walk in but I offer up my spirit level nonetheless. The
horizontal is equally impressive being absent of voids and
rocking. As plastering jobs go this is one of the best I have ever
come across and I catch myself thinking: if this is a portent of
things to come maybe I will invest in that new diamond drill
set after all.
The tiles are large format and this time around are to be fitted
brick-bond. I’ve already placed two back to back and there is
very little distortion, reducing the chance of belly shadow. I
start as always lifting a full tile off the bath, extending the line
around the room to highlight any variances in ceiling and floor
height. Then checking off the number of tiles to the ceiling I
establish the top-cut not forgetting the cuts to the window.
Finally I move to the floor and shower base. Result: no silly
pieces, next: check out the horizontal run.
I’m feeling better now and grateful that the virus was nothing
like the bout of influenza I caught one summer whilst working
in France: a strain so virulent that it laid me low for almost
three weeks with raging fevers that gave me hallucinations. I
remember one seemingly lucid moment watching a number
of pool balls dancing around the room. The doctor said that
such visions were not unusual as the brain produces a
powerful cocktail of hallucinogenic chemicals when the body
is under attack and that I shouldn’t worry. Had I known
beforehand I think I might have booked the chorus line from
‘Les Follies Bergères’.”
Alan Reynolds is the proprietor of Wilmslow Ceramic Tiling.
01625 434093 alan.reynolds23@ntlworld.com.
12 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
Makita marks 40 years in UK with new tools
2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the
UK sales office of power tool manufacturer Makita. In
three years time Makita Worldwide will celebrate a century
of growth since the company was formed in Japan.
Since 1972 Makita has produced power tools for the
professional tradesman, where innovative designs to
enable construction tasks to be carried out with greater
ease and accuracy are coupled with rugged reliability.
More than 450 different tools are now available from
Makita UK including mains powered machines, cordless
battery powered tools including the advanced Lithiumion
technology, air powered nailers and staplers, petrol
engine machines for construction and the outdoor equipment horticultural machines for
domestic gardeners and professional landscapers and horticulturists. An equally broad inventory
of high quality accessories, such as drill bits, blades, abrasives and diamond cutting wheels,
further enhances the ultimate performance of Makita tools.
Makita’s history is marked by exceptional product innovations, none more valuable than
Advanced Vibration Technology AVT, built into the highest powered hammer drills over the
past decade to dramatically reduce the hand arm vibration risks to operators.
Two further factors are the cornerstones of Makita’s market success. The establishment and
continuous development of the strongest national network of professional distributors, backed
by a skilled sales and demonstration force, and the total belief in training in all aspects of the
selection of tools for a particular job, and the correct and safe use of the tools in active conditions.
Makita’s substantial investment in the purpose-built training centre at Milton Keynes
reflects this philosophy.
Makita is the biggest power tool manufacturer in the UK where at Telford in Shropshire more
than 1.25 million tools are made annually with 80% being exported around the world. Telford
is one of 10 global manufacturing plants all working to the same exacting ISO standard.
To mark the 40th anniversary of sales in the UK Makita has launched a special edition selection
of power tools and accessories especially marked with the anniversary logo. The celebratory
version of the BHP456 18v Lithium-ion drill comes in a black and white body colourway as
does the 115mm mains angle grinder, complete with three flap discs, whilst the DK1854
anniversary kit includes the BHR202 3.5kg 3-mode hammer drill and the BDF456 2-speed LXT
combi drill. Four new anniversary-badged accessory sets feature a 40-piece masonry drill set, a
40-piece HSS drill set, a 40-piece flat bit set and a 40-piece ¼” drive socket set with ratchets and
extension drives.
Villeroy & Boch announces 2012 roadshow dates
Villeroy & Boch has announced the initial dates
and locations for its UK Tile Tour roadshow. For
2012, Villeroy & Boch presents a new tile collection
for private, semi-public or public areas. In
terms of its aesthetics, the new collection draws
on familiar and conventional themes and transforms
them into discerning, contemporary
designs. Modern technologies, functionality and quality are paired with traditional craftsmanship
in a collection of products that open up a broad array of interior possibilities.
13th to 24th February. London, 360° Projects Showroom
27-33 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
28th February to 1st March Bristol, Woodlands Golf & Country Club
Trench Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4JZ
6th March to 8th March. Birmingham, Sapphire
1 The Gardens, Coleshill Manor, Birmingham, West Midlands, B46 1DL
13th March to 15th March. Manchester, Didsbury Golf Club
Ford Lane, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4NQ
20th March to 22nd March. Doncaster, Owston Hall
Owston, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN6 9JF
Johnson Tiles shines in EEF Future Manufacturing Awards
Stoke-on-Trent's Johnson Tiles' has won a prestigious national business
award for its excellence in sustainable manufacturing. The
ceramic wall and floor tile manufacturer beat regional finalists from
across the UK to win the national EEF Environmental Efficiency Award,
presented by sponsor ENER-G at a gala dinner in London.
Johnson Tiles’ rigorous environmental efficiency programme has
paired massive savings in energy and water usage with a recycling
scheme that prevents more than 20,000 tonnes of waste being sent to
landfill each year. The company introduced continuous improvement
teams to assess and resolve environmental issues, helping to shrink
the manufacturing and operational carbon footprint of the company’s
Stoke premises from 37,824 tonnes in 2009 to 34,888 tonnes in 2010,
a reduction of 8% against a target reduction of 3%.
As a result of changes in operational procedures implemented by
the continuous improvement teams to reduce water usage, 43,000
cubic metres of water a year are re-used in other processes. Electricity
consumption has also been reduced by the increased use of proximity
switches and low energy and LED lighting. The overall flue gas emissions
to the atmosphere have been reduced by over 90% since the
installation of new kilns, resulting in improved air quality.
The annual awards are hosted by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation,
and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental
performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.
Richard Halstead, EEF Midlands Regional Director, said:
“Manufacturing is crucial to our region’s economic recovery.
Companies like Johnson Tiles are leading the way by deploying their
people to identify and resolve environmental issues in the production
process, to the benefit of business performance, community wellbeing
and the UK’s effort to build a low carbon economy.
Congratulations to them on this well deserved success.”
Cedric Rodrigues, Divisional Director for ENER-G, environmental
partner to the EEF, said: “We salute the achievements of Johnson Tiles
and the example they have set in demonstrating that excellence in
energy and environmental performance leads to commercial success.
Their success demonstrates the wisdom of involving employees in
finding new ways of improving sustainable manufacturing performance.”
Tony Cotton, Operations Director, Johnson Tiles, said: “With ever
changing commercial conditions the company continues to monitor
all energy usage and seek new ways of making environmental
improvements. This prestigious award is a huge boost to our continuous
improvement teams which have been relentless in their quest to
make Johnson Tiles a greener and more efficient manufacturing business."
14 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
LISA BREAKSPEAR
“Limestone is an acidsensitive,
porous
sedimentary rock
composed mainly of
the mineral calcite.
Over recent years, it
has become an
increasingly popular
material for domestic
floor application. Tiles
vary greatly in
appearance, colour
and texture – from the most uniform surface, to a
weather-beaten tile studded with fossils.
German native Stephan Wanger has completed the world’s largest mosaic ever made out of beads. The
8 feet tall by 30 feet wide creation - called Sanctuary of Alegria; Home of Happiness - showcases the
skyline of New Orleans and used over a million recycled Mardi Gras beads. Sanctuary of Alegria will be
on display at Wagner’s Galeria Alegria on 1924 Magazine St, in New Orleans until 9th March 2012. It
will then be auctioned off by the Make It Right Foundation to raise funds for the lower ninth ward, a
neighborhood in New Orleans that was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Sanctuary of Alegria showcases a view across the Mississippi River towards downtown New Orleans,
complete with the Natchez steamboat, the Carnival Triumph, the Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci
and the German tall ship Gorch Fock.
Wanger is a self-taught artist who channels his creative energy into assembling dazzling mosaics
using recycled Mardi Gras beads. In preparation for the formal construction of each piece, beads are
meticulously sorted by size down to the exact millimeter and perfect shade, creating a detailed and
varied palette much like a painter would for painting. The resulting play of light and colour recalls several
Post-Impressionistic artists' works while adding a new dimension of glitter and shine through the
use of metallic, plastic and luminescent beads.
CITB predicts seismic changes in the UK construction sector
The face of the construction industry is set to change, according to the latest CITB-ConstructionSkills 5 year forecast. The report
reveals that output in construction is expected to fall by 3% during 2012, with a further 45,000 skilled workers and tradesmen being
lost as economic uncertainty continues. The annual Construction Skills Network report outlines that growth is expected to be slow
and une ven over the next five years; with a 4% increase in output expected in 2013, followed by dips to 2% in 2014, 3% in 2015
and 2% in 2016, which is lower than previous long term trends.
Judy Lowe, Deputy Chairman CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: “The Construction Skills Network clearly shows that our industry is
in for a tough time. Infrastructure investment, the first nuclear power plants and the revival of private housing will help, but the
hard fact remains that despite an increase in growth from 2013 onwards, output and employment levels in construction will not
have reached their 2007-8 levels by the end of the forecast in 2016.”
Whilst increasing economic uncertainty has plagued the construction sector, changes to working practices have also contributed
to the gloomy forecasts, with the biggest falls in employment in the period arising from the loss of manual trades. By
2016, demand for painters and decorators is expected to be 6,300 below 2010 levels, manual labourers 3,000 below and bricklayers
2,500. The greatest growth in demand is predicted to be for Construction Managers, up 30,000 by 2016 on 2010 figures,
marking a real change in the operation and make-up of the industry.
“The sluggish return to growth means that we could be talking about a lost decade in construction and a loss of key trade skills.
But, the real shock is the impact that cuts to public sector spending has had,” adds Lowe. “The report shows that public housing
is set to fall by 25% this year, public sector non-housing by 24% and a further 10% fall is expected next year in both sectors. That’s
a big deficit for other sectors of the construction economy to make up. Construction is an economically important industry; contributing
8% to GDP and employing 3 million workers in its supply chain.”.
In the regions and nations, there are mixed forecasts. The picture is positive for London and the South East, which accounts for
60% of employment growth. After a dramatic period of decline, Northern Ireland is set to grow 2.1% over the 5 year period, well
above the UK 1.4%. In Scotland, growth remains second only to London, whilst Wales continues to deliver higher than average
growth results. In other English regions however, particularly in the North West (-0.9%) and West Midlands (-1.1%) forecasts
show a period of declining output, as major Building Schools for the Future projects come to a close.
The encouraging news is that beyond this year and the early part of 2013, overall construction starts to improve and grow
steadily. Despite this, perhaps the most striking figure of the report is that by 2016 output and employment will still be 5% below
their respective 2007/8 peaks.
To protect the whole surface and promote easy
maintenance, a series of simple steps should be
taken – and manufacturer’s recommendations
always carefully followed. Before fixing, limestone
must be pre-sealed with either a water or solventbased
product. This protects the surface from
being marked and also eliminates ‘picture-framing’
caused by grout bleeding into the stone. A
specialist water-based product, like Fila LEEDapproved
PRW200, is ideal; it provides a cost
effective alternative to an impregnator and allows
the edges of the tile to be sealed.
To remove grout residues, an initial wash should be
carried out with a neutral or alkaline product.
Acidic preparations should never be used as these
can etch the surface. Fila PS87 is very effective, as it
is able to remove the cementitious residue of the
grout, along with the polymers present in flexible
grout.
Once the surface is clean, either a water-based or
solvent impregnator can be applied to polished or
unpolished limestone. There are a variety of
options available, in both natural and colour
enhancing finishes. Finishing waxes can also be
applied to unpolished limestone; these can provide
different aesthetic finishes, including matt, satin
and gloss effects.
After installation, always ensure that correct PHneutral
cleaning products are used, like Fila Cleaner.
This will lengthen the life of the treatments and
clean without leaving a residue. Normal household
cleaners, which are often acid-based, will break
down the surface protection provided, cause
surface staining and can potentially damage the
finish of the surface. Likewise, scouring powders
and abrasives should never be used, as these too
can damage both the finish and scratch the stone.”
Lisa Breakspear is Sales & Technical Director of
Fila UK. For more information on Fila’s range of
surface care products, please contact Fila UK on
01584 877286 or visit www.filachim.com.
16 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS
Al-Murad, one of Britain’s largest independent ceramic tiles and natural stone importer and
retailers, opened its new store in Milton Keynes on 1st February, its 42nd UK branch. Al-Murad,
who joined The Tile Association in 2011, specialise in ceramic tiles and natural stone and have
been in business for over 25 years.
The Minton-tiled floor at St George's Hall, Liverpool, has been
unveiled for the public for the first time since 2009 when
25,000 people visited to see the grand design. The tiled floor,
which has been kept covered to ensure its preservation since
1860, is made up of 30,000 hand-crafted tiles. Visitors will be
given the chance to walk across the floor which features the
city's coat of arms, sea nymphs and boys on dolphins.
Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Councillor Frank Prendergast, said: "The Minton tiles are particularly special
as they aren't on permanent display, so it's a real treat to see the beautiful detail of the floor up close.
The hall is one of Liverpool's greatest cultural assets and we want to do as much as we can to encourage
people to come and visit this Grade I-listed building. Many people don't realise what a gem they have
on their doorstep, so we hope by unveiling the floor once again we'll attract thousands of new visitors
who will come and experience the fantastic culture and history the hall has to offer."
On the 15th February 2012 Mapei will celebrate their 75th anniversary.
From humble beginnings Mapei has grown from a small family business
into a multinational operation: one of the worlds’ leading manufacturers
of adhesives and construction chemicals.
Established in 1937 just outside of Milan, it was here that Mapei’s
foundations and values were created. These values encompass creativity,
competence, passion and flexibility and are still promoted within the
company today. It is these basic principles that continue to influence the company’s success
and accounts for their annual 1.9 billion euro turnover from across its 68 subsidiaries -with 58
plants, in 27 countries, across five continents.
The UK is home to Mapei's 47th manufacturing plant worldwide, based in Halesowen. Mapei
first entered the UK market in 1989 with the aim to maximise their proximity, fulfil the UK’s
local market needs and to reduce logistic costs. In this time Mapei has advanced in the UK to
have a major prominence in the ceramic and soft flooring markets. Mapei’s UK manufacturing
facilities in Halesowen are now capable of producing up to 103,000 tonnes of product annually.
And following in the Mapei Group’s standards of quality management have achieved ISO9001
and ISO14001 for the UK facility.
Mark Louch, Mapei’s UK Managing Director commented “Mapei have reached yet another
incredible milestone, and our intention is to expand our product lines in the UK and indeed
throughout the world.”
Rock icon David Bowie has been immortalised in tile to celebrate turning 65.
Artist Ed Chapman, one of Britain's top mosaic artists, took several weeks to
create the mosaic using hundreds of hand-cut pieces of stone tile at his
Castlefield studio.
"It took me a few weeks over Christmas to get it finished,” says Chapman. “
It really surprised me he was 65. Music is a passion of mine and I love Bowie's
early work in particular and I'm a fan of his abstract art, too."
The artwork, called Pin Up, measures 920 by 620mm.
Wickes has opened a store in the centre of Tunbridge Wells as part of a radical new multi-channel
programme. The store will enable the retailer to test the high street market. It has 5,000
products in store, which are all small enough to be carried out after purchase, with a further
4,000 products available to order. Multichannel development director Simon Holder commented:
"We are really excited to be trialling this new format high street store. With catalogue and
online sales up 20% year-on-year, we are leveraging this with an extended multichannel offering.
This high street store will allow us to target both the DIY market and our core trade customer,
providing them with a conveniently located store. “
SEAN MCPHEAT
“As you probably know by now, I’m all
for making your role a lot easier in
terms of saving you time so it frees
you up to sell more! Well, I don’t know
whether you are aware of this but
there is a neat little tool called
AutoText in Outlook that could save
you a shed load of time and at the
same time provide you with some
consistency in the way that you write
and respond to emails. It’s called
AutoText on older versions of Office.
For those of you who are bang up to date with their Office versions
it’s called Quick Parts.
Now if you find yourself typing the same old email messages when
responding to prospect and client enquiries then the AutoText
function could be your saviour. AutoText/Quick Parts is to your
opening or closing paragraph (or any piece of text come to that) as
your email signature file is to your company address, telephone
number. With the click of the mouse you can instantly insert some
pre-written text into your emails without opening any other emails
or copying and pasting from a word document or template.
Here’s how to use the tool. Now you might have different versions
of Outlook and the screens may look different but you’ll get the gist
of what I am about to cover. So you’ve got some text that you
would like to use at the beginning of each email when you respond
to an enquiry.
Here’s what you do to set it up and then I’ll tell you how to use it in
your emails. Firstly, highlight the text you would like to use. Now if
you are using an older version of Outlook you need to click on
AutoText and then select New. Then, enter a name that you would
like to call this piece of text so you know what it relates to.
If you’re using Quick Parts, open up a new email, click on Insert and
then Quick Parts and then it’s basically the same from hereon in.
When you go to write a reply in the future you can call up your
AutoText in two ways. Firstly, if you just start to type the name you
have just called it and a box will appear above the text. Just click
enter and whammo! all of the text will appear!
An alternative way is to select AutoText from the menu bar and then
click on AutoText and then select the name of the text you want to
insert. Job done!
Now if you’ve got a newer version of Outlook the function you need
is called Quick Parts and you get to that from the Insert tab on the
menu bar after having opened a new email to write.
It’s a really useful tool to use. Personally I’ve got about 20 different
messages set up and it saves me a ton of time and makes sure I send
an optimised email reply that will give me the best chance of
success.
Happy AutoTexting!”
Sean McPheat is Managing Director of MTD Training. For further information please
contact: 0800 849 6732 www.mtdsalestraining.com
18 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
FPB slams HMRC’s ‘harassment’ of small businesses
The Forum of Private Business is warning firms to pay their tax
bills on time or face large fines, amid criticisms that HMRC’s
paperwork spot checks regime is targeting them at the
expense of large companies.
The Forum has written to David Gauke, the Exchequer
Secretary to the Treasury, to complain about HMRC’s ‘harassment
and mistreatment’ of small businesses, including
imposing steep fines for even slight delays in tax bill payments
as well as records errors or omissions, while at the
same time agreeing ‘sweetheart deals’ with some of the UK’s
largest companies. Recently the Public Accounts Committee estimated that unpaid taxes from big
businesses could amount to more than £25 billion, prompting the Prime Minister, David Cameron,
to pledge action on tax avoidance. However, in September 2011, f ollowing a pilot exercise in
which just 12% of firms displayed ‘seriously inadequate’ paperwork, HMRC extended its small
business records checks project, meaning 20,000 firms are in line for visits in 2012-13.
The FPB’s latest ‘cost of compliance’ Referendum survey, carried out in July 2011, showed tax
administration is now the main regulatory burden for small business owners, leaving them with
a bill of £5.1 billion per year. While HMRC’s SME strategy covering 2012-13 and 2014-15 warns of
an increase in ‘potential rule breakers’ – estimating 28% of SMEs could be found to have poor
records – it recognises that 88% of business tax red tape falls on SMEs. The FPB argues HMRC’s
clampdown flies in the face of the Government’s plans to reform small business regulation in
order to free firms to act as a catalyst for economic growth.
The pilot record checks scheme showed 44% of small firms experience problems with record
keeping. The FPB believes these struggling businesses, which are facing up to extremely difficult
trading conditions yet are expected to create jobs and drive growth, should be offered better
advice, guidance and support rather than threatened with steep fines, which are also being
imposed on small firms forced to pay their tax bills late as a result of cash flow difficulties.
The FPB's Chief Executive, Phil Orford, (top left) said: “Small businesses want to keep proper
records but struggle with the significant administrative barriers that exist in the UK. They also
want to pay their tax bills on time but the reality is that many firms are struggling with cash flow
in extremely tough economic conditions - yet HMRC is being completely inflexible. Entrepreneurs
are crying out for a better tax regime that supports their ambitions and is conducive to growth,
not one that provides constant hurdles to overcome and punishes them disproportionately.
Operating such a strict, punitive small business records checks regime while effectively allowing
large companies to do as they pleas e is completely unfair.”
Many top house builders are in poor financial health
Research from Company Watch, the corporate health monitoring specialists, shows that almost half of
the UK’s largest house building groups are in poor financial health. Some house builders are performing
strongly, however. There has been a raft of positive announcements in the past few days from Taylor
Wimpey, Persimmon, Barratt Developments, Bovis Homes and Galliford Try, who are benefiing from
tough cost cutting, margin improvement and debt reduction strategies implemented in response to the
slowdown in the housing market.
But although some leading house builders doing well, the outlook for other major players in the sector
is less rosy. An analysis of the leading house builders’ previous five sets of published accounts and other
information shows seven out of the 15 (47%) of the largest house builders scoring fewer than 25 points
out of a maximum H-Score of 100. This puts them firmly in Company Watch’s Warning Zone. With many
households struggling to make ends meet and rising unemployment sapping consumer confidence, it’s
unsurprising that property experts expect a challenging year ahead for the house builders.
Company Watch analysis of 15 largest house builders.
Company Latest H-Score Previous H-Score Annual
(max 100) (max 100) turnover £m
Bellway 85 88 886
Bovis Homes 76 86 299
Taylor Wimpey 54 12 2,603
Persimmon 51 67 1,570
Bloor 51 57 655
Redrow 45 16 453
Stewart Milne 30 10 229
Cala 26 5 205
Countryside 25 3 222
McCarthy & Stone 19 50 203
Galliford Try 14 13 1,284
Barratt Developments 12 23 2,035
Berkeley Group 9 10 743
Crest Nicholson 7 4 284
Miller 5 4 761
Nick Hood, Head of External Affairs at Company Watch, commented: “With so many negative pressures
affecting confidence and no end in sight to gloomy economic news, 2012 is going to be another
tough year for house builders. While the recent good news from the sector is very welcome, our analysis
shows that some leading house builders have much to do to improve their financial health. Their management
will need to focus hard on basic business disciplines such as margin improvement and cash conservation,
rather than chasing volume, if they are to survive and prosper.Most house builder insolvencies
in 2012 will be SMEs, but it is clear that there’s no room for complacency for the larger players.”
Surprising fall in the number of construction administrations
“Today’s numbers show that administrations have fallen form 94
in Q3 to 71 Q4 2011 a reduction of nearly 25%,” says Mark
Wilson, Head of Construction at Baker Tilly Restructuring and
Recovery LLP, following publication of the insolvency statistics for
the construction sector for Q4 2011 by the Insolvency Service..
“Across all insolvencies, the sector saw a reduction of 30% in
failure over the previous quarter. The overall failure figure of 650
is the lowest experienced in the last four years which peaked at
almost double (1209) in Q1 2009. But is this a false dawn?” asks
Wilson.
There are concerns that Government cuts in new build projects have yet to fully bite whilst the industry
continues to complete projects already committed to. However, there may be opportunities for those
who refurbish properties as clients make do with their existing stock of buildings Wilson also believes
that there is likely to be a shift in the favour of civil engineering as Government spending increases in
road and rail building, although many recently announced projects will take some while before works
commence However, Wilson believes that the overall economic uncertainty and prospects for growth
and new jobs will continue to have a dampening effect on the sector.
“Overall, a cautious welcome for this good news. However, there is always a time lag in getting new
projects off the ground and therefore the full impact of the delayed economic recovery may yet still to
be seen.”
Construction decline adds to country’s economic woes
GDP figures, published by ONS on 25th January, show that the
UK economy has fallen by 0.2 per cent in the final quarter of
2011 following growth of just 0.6 per cent in the previous two
quarters. The main contributors to this fall were the manufacturing
and construction sectors, which fell 0.9% and 0.5%
respectively.
Commenting on these figures, Noble Francis, Economics
Director at the Construction Products Association, (left) said:
“The GDP figures released today show that the final quarter of
last year was extremely difficult for the economy, in which
both construction and manufacturing had a significant effect. Unfortunately the prospects looking
forward are even worse, as construction is expected to fall a further 5.2 per cent during 2012,
exacerbating the problems in an industry that has already lost 300,000 jobs, and severely hindering
growth for the economy as a whole.”
“Undoubtedly the problems in the euro zone have increased uncertainty in the private sector
making investors highly risk averse to investment. However, this does not tell the whole story as
Capital Investment from the public sector, which accounts for more than one-third of total construction
activity, will have fallen 30% by the end of 2013. As construction has been highlighted
by government as essential for recovery, the decline is severely harming prospects for the sector
as well as constraining overall economic growth.”
20
TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS & COMMENT
Natural Stone Awards 2012 invites entries
Entries are now being invited for the Natural Stone Awards 2012, the
pinnacle of recognition for those working in the industry and the sixteenth
time the awards have been held.
Organised by Stone Federation Great Britain the awards are
described as “a celebration of the use of this attractive, traditional, yet
vitally modern building material.” The presentations to winners will
take place in London on 30th November 2012 at Lord’s Cricket
Ground.
There are five different categories as follows: New Build (modern
style stone cladding and traditional style stone masonry); repair and
restoration; interiors; landscaping and also craftsmanship. The sustainability
aspects of all projects will also be considered.
The competition is open to both
members and non-members and entry
must be made by 27th April 2012.
Entry forms can be downloaded from
the Federation’s web site at
www.stonefed.org.uk.
The Federation’s Chief Executive
Jane Buxey explained “Judges will consider a number of factors,
including sympathy of scale to the project’s surroundings, an understanding
of stone weathering, innovative use of stone and the quality
of the work. The entry form gives fuller details of the criteria.”
“Although the winning companies will receive a trophy and certificates
the prestige of gaining one of these top awards is probably the
most important aspect of the competition and a major mark of credibility
when seeking new business in these difficult times.”
Saint-Gobain Weber to introduce new weber.app
At Ecobuild, Saint-Gobain Weber will introduce the
new weber.app, designed for iPhone and iPad
users to download free, and in seconds, from the
iTunes app store. A link to the store can also be
found at www.netweber.co.uk/weberapp
Targeting specifiers, main contractors, applicators
and fixers, the weber.app provides instant
access to comprehensive product information -
from BBA accredited external wall insulation to BRE
Green Guide approved renders, commercial floor
screeds, concrete repair systems and tile prep and
fix technologies.
With an easy-to-use intuitive interface the weber.app offers time saving functionality that includes technical
data, product features and benefits across the entire Saint-Gobain Weber product range as well as a
useful Consumption Calculator facility and Finding a Stockist (by map and postcode) using Google maps. A
helpful Problem Solving chapter provides practical and helpful solutions for busy professionals and tradesmen
while YouTube hosted How To videos illustrate the most practical application and best use of Saint-
Gobain Weber products and materials, technologies and systems. A calendar facility can also be used to
remind users of the latest trade shows, exhibitions and events throughout the year and a news feed of case
studies and projects.
Requesting a call-back on the Contacts Page for advice on any aspect of product selection or application,
can be made before placing an order direct with the distributor or stockist, helping customers to make purchasing
decisions quickly, efficiently and accurately.
“As iPhones are widely used the weber.app is one of the most practical and trouble free ways of making
product selections and placing an order,” says Mark Weaver, Marketing Manager, Saint-Gobain Weber.
“You can even visit the Colour Consultant function where you can choose a project image from our library
and apply an accurate and true-to-life colour representation across selected product ranges to help create
a truly inspirational finish.”
24% of British tradesmen have missed an
income tax deadline, reports Wickes.
Almost a quarter (24%) of British tradesmen
have missed an income tax deadline,
according to research findings revealed
today by Wickes. To coincide with the
recent online income tax return deadline,
Wickes updated its online trade business
advise site - www.wickestradebuilder.co.uk –
with new information to help tradesmen
complete their forms correctly and return
them to HMRC in time.
The high number of tradesmen who
admit to having missed an income tax return deadline brings to light the worrying
proportion who don’t know how to correctly fill in their self-assessment
forms - or do not realise the importance of doing so.
Wickes Board Director, Rob Murray (above), says: “The repercussions of missing
the income tax deadline can have a significant financial impact for tradesmen
who work for themselves or own their own companies, as they run the risk
of being fined. In this tough economic climate, it’s more important than ever
that those who work in this vital industry are given the help and guidance they
need to ensure this doesn’t happen to them.
Wickes Trade Builder has been created to provide self-employed tradesmen
with essential information on business topics such as tax and VAT in order to
help them avoid making mistakes of this kind.”
The highest proportion of tradesmen who admitted to missing an income
tax deadline are based in London, with nearly a third (32%) having been
penalised for getting their self-assessment forms in late.
The North East of England saw the second highest number (27%) of tradesmen
failing to meet the deadline whilst the lowest figures came from the
Midlands and Wales, with just 18% and 20% respectively claiming to have
made this mistake. 21% of tradesmen in both North and South West England
have also been late in returning their forms, and almost a quarter (24%) of
Scots have returned their forms after the deadline.
Of those respondents who said they’d missed a deadline for their income tax
forms, 32% said it was because they had forgotten the date, more than one in
10 (11%) said they didn’t know how to complete one and 36% said they had
been simply ‘too busy’. In addition, 35% of tradesmen who have never submitted
an income tax return online didn’t know that you could do so.
Wickes Trade Builder is an online resource designed in conjunction with
Business Link specifically to help tradesmen maintain and protect their businesses.
The site is easy to access and simple to use, meaning that tradesmen
can access the business information they need quickly and efficiently.
The site delivers advice and guidance on a wide range of business topics relevant
to tradesmen including information on completing income tax forms.
The homepage currently features a ‘live-time’ countdown clock to the final
date for online tax submissions in order to flag the impending deadline.
The website also contains information on getting and keeping customers,
managing finances, tracking and chasing debt, and negotiating self-employment
legalities. The refreshed site now includes more detailed information on
VAT and taxes, business licensing, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme
(CSCS) and disposing of building site waste management.
Rob Murray summarises: “For those in the construction industry in particular,
relevant business information is not readily available. As the trade experts, we
are fully aware that tradesmen have little time to search for business advice,
which is why Wickes Trade Builder provides the invaluable information and
advice needed to run a profitable business in one, easily-accessible place.”
Visit www.wickestradebuilder.co.uk for further information.
22
TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

INNOVATION
Square but at the cutting edge of fashion
Dent Tile by Inax. Designers can
create their own patterns by
placing the flat and dented tiles
in specific places or use the
coloured glass inserts to
customise the surface.
24 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012
Designed by Teruo Yasuda for Japanese manufacturer,
Inax, Dent Cube is a three-dimensional
“mosaic” wall tiles that combine glass and porcelain at
different depths to create a truly unique effect.
These tiles create captivating reflections and shadows
which, when used indoors, offer very unusual interior
atmosphere. The coloured glass inserts are available in
many different hues allowing for almost infinite design
possibilities. Dent Cube can also be used outdoors as a
three-dimensional porcelain stoneware cladding.
The collection includes tiles with special voids into
which you can insert glass tiles of various colours can be
inserted. Designers can also create their own patterns by
placing the flat and dented tiles in specific places and use
the coloured glass inserts to customise the surface.
Dent Cube is part of Inax’s Nagomi concept. Nagomi
means tranquility, peace, a sense of inner calm and serenity.
It is a mental state that, once reached, means that one
spontaneously seeks the same well-being at the level of
the senses.
The yellow, pink, red, blue and green tiles convey this
sense of well-being. Supplied on a mesh backing in modules
of 300 by 30 0mm, the 47 by 47mm small tiles come
in two forms. One is just 10mm thick and smooth. The
other is deeper, at 18mm, and features a border that can
be left empty or enhanced by a glass tile insert. Dent
cube is manufactured using 50% recycled product.
www.inax-usa.com

TTA NEWSLETTER
TTA Awards Dinner, new contractor
benefit, Don’t Dot & Dab campaign
“Welcome to the latest edition of The Tile
Association (TTA) Newsletter. This month we
focus on the eagerly anticipated TTA Awards
taking place in April at the Birmingham Hilton
Metropole, with nominations now closed it’s
time to get those tickets booked and ensure you
don’t miss out on the most prestigious event in
the tile industry calendar.”
“Also in this month’s newsletter we focus on
the benefits TTA brings to its members, including
a newly announced benefit for TTA contractors,
and the wealth of information available at
your fingertips on our website. With monthly
visits peaking at just under a million in 2011,
www.tiles.org.uk continues to prove an essential
resource for both consumers and industry
practitioners alike.”
Les Rolt, PR & Marketing Co-ordinator
The Tile Association
The 2012 TTA Awards will honour the very best of the
UK’s wall and floor tile industry on 21st April.
Viva Las Vegas
Nominations are now closed for the 2012 TTA
Awards, however tickets for the Gala Dinner
are still available and selling fast.
The Annual TTA Awards Gala Dinner, considered
to be the premier event in the tile industry
calendar, will take place on 21st April 2012
at The Birmingham Hilton Metropole.
The prestigious event will honour the best
of the wall and floor tile industry, and celebrate
excellence throughout the past year.
26 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012
The dinner will feature the presentation of
the 2012 Tile Association Awards, and is a
chance to rub shoulders with the best in the
industry. As always the event promises to be
an exhilarating night of excitement you won’t
forget. Whether you win big or not, you’ll
experience the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas
and leave feeling like a millionaire!
Tickets to the 2012 TTA Awards Gala Dinner
are selling fast, but remain available priced at
£125 each or just £995 for a table of ten. Hotel
rooms are available at a reduced rate for people
attending the Awards Dinner, but please
note that the hotel gets very busy with this
event. Don’t delay; book today!
Full details can be found in the 'Awards
2012' section of The Tile Association website:
www.tiles.org.uk.
Important new benefit
for TTA contractors
A recent survey concluded that 1 in 8 specialist
contractors are owed over 5% of their
turnover at any one time because main contractors
hold back retention moneys.
All too often tiling contractors are far too
busy ensuring that you get paid on an interim
basis for working properly done, as a result of
which chasing retentions is at the back of
your mind. Main contractors know and
exploit this. There is information available
which suggests that over 50% of retentions
are paid over six months late, if at all.
The Tile Association recognises that in the
current financial climate it is important for us
to do everything we can to help our specialist
contractors. As a result, TTA is delighted to
announce a new member benefit to help our
contractors improve retention collection.
From now on, TTA specialist contractors will
be able to instruct Stellar Retention Recovery
Limited to:
• Advise you about your rights with respect to
retention funds and payment timing
• Collect overdue retention
• Monitor ongoing retention funds
• Negotiate the use of retention bonds instead
of retention
• Negotiate, where possible, a maximum limit
to the retention fund held.
This will help TTA contractors improve cashflow,
reduce overdrafts and improve credit control.
Stellar Retention Recovery Ltd offer different
levels of service and these are discounted
by 15% for TTA specialist contractors.
We are also in the process of developing our
TTA 2012 Retention Initiative so please look
out for this new and innovative development
in the near future
To take advantage of this new benefit,
please call Darren Brook at Stellar Retention
Recovery Ltd on 0844 335 8352 or email
Darren@stellarretentionrecovery.co.uk.
Aparici’s Sincro Summer range is available from TTA
member Parkside Tiles
Tiles.org.uk: A wealth of information
at your fingertips
When it comes to bathroom and kitchen
design, there are a large variety of tiling
options to consider. Whether you’re making
the most of the benefits of flooring with
under-tile heating or simply looking for a
vibrant wall tile to give you a bathroom or
kitchen to be proud of – tiles will always be a
major component of any bathroom or kitchen
project. So it is always best to take advice
from the experts – and where better to start
than the tile industry’s trade association?
For over a decade The Tile Association has
represented the whole of the UK wall and
floor tile industry, promoting professionalism
and technical standards as well as providing
technical support to both members and their
customers.
So when considering any tiling project,
large or small, your first point of call should be
our website: www.tiles.org.uk.

TTA NEWSLETTER
With over 50 years' experience in supplying finishing
materials to the UK Architectural market TTA member
Bernard J Arnull & Co has developed an impressive portfolio
of ceramic tiles and associated products.
The ‘Help’ section of The Tile Association
website provides answers to a variety of questions
on tiles, tiling products and fixing. It also
offers information on technical publications
and the opportunity to download Tile it Right
(an easy step-by-step guide to tiling) and Your
Complete Guide to Tiles (an illustrated guide
to choosing tiles) instantly and completely
free of charge.
The ‘Inspirations’ sections provides a wide
range of ideas, with images displaying the latest
trends in everything from commercial and
hotel & leisure to home kitchens and bathrooms.
What’s more if you find something
that catches your eye finding the exact tile
range and contact details for a supplier is just
a click away in the ‘Directory’ section, which
offers an easy way to find a fixer, showroom,
product, service or even specific tile range.
You can find contact details for your nearest
TTA member either by searching directly, or
by putting your postcode into our search
engine to bring up a list of fixers and showrooms
in your area.
Not only does this service make it easy to
find a fixer or showroom, using a TTA member
also gives you the peace of mind of knowing
that the company, contractor or tiling fixer
you are contacting has been carefully
checked for financial, technical and service
standards – so you can rest assured in the
confidence that the people taking on the job
are skilled professionals.
And with our dedicated ‘News’ section and
twitter feed (@tileassociation) keeping you
up-to-date on the latest industry developments,
tiles.org.uk is an essential site to bookmark
for all those with an interest in tiling.
So before you begin your next tiling project,
visit The Tile Association website and make
the most of a wealth of information at your
fingertips.
28 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012
TTA members are benefiting
from website exposure
The ‘Directory’ and ‘Find a Member’ sections of
the TTA website continue to provide benefits
for both consumers and TTA members.
In 2011 hits to The Tile Association website
peaked at a staggering 831,905 per month,
with over 304,374 visits to member’s pages.
Average usage of the ‘Find a member’ section
of the website increased year-on-year by an
incredible 541%.
Consumers continue to benefit from the
exceptional service provided by TTA members,
and view The Tile Association website as the
first point of call when embarking on any tiling
project.
In a recent TTA survey Steve Hughes of TTA
member Toms Tile and Stone commented:
“The prime benefit I get from the TTA is work
referrals. In this day and age many are suspicious
of traders they do not know and TTA listing
gives a high degree of confidence that they
will get a quality job done. More and more
people are using the internet and the TTA web
site for this purpose.”
Don’t Dot & Dab!
The Tile Association represents the whole of
the UK wall and floor tile industry under one
organisation. Its mission is to promote professionalism
and technical standards in the tiling
industry, as such The Tile Association finds
cowboy practices like ‘dot & dab’ fixing to be
completely unacceptable.
The British Standard for tiling, BS5385, the
code of practice for fixing wall and floor tiles
offers guidance on how tiles should be fixed.
The guidance below is taken from The Tile
Association guide to DIY fixing, Tile it Right,
and encompasses the guidance in the British
Standard.
Tiling to Walls: Spread the wall tile adhesive
A typical failure of a floor tile installation caused by use
of the incorrect ‘dot and dab” fixing method.
using a tile adhesive trowel onto the wall. Work
in small areas a metre at a time, so that tiles are
fixed before the surface of the adhesive forms
a skin. Press and twist the wall tiles into the
adhesive starting at the bottom and working
upwards, one row of whole tiles at a time,
using spacers (if required) to ensure a uniform
joint. Check the horizontal and vertical lines
with the spirit level every few rows.
Tiling to Floors: Mix floor adhesive as per
manufacturers’ instructions and spread with
the recommended notched trowel to give a
ribbed adhesive bed on the surface to be tiled.
Butter the back of each tile with a thin layer of
adhesive immediately before bedding it firmly
into the fresh ribbed adhesive bed with a slight
twisting motion to ensure a solid bed and prevent
voids under the tile.
Some “solid bedding” trowels and pourable
adhesives are available that allow the floor tile
to be solidly bedded without the need to butter
the back of the tiles.
If you want to be sure of a good quality tiling
job, use the services of a Tile Association fixer
member. To find a TTA fixer member or to
download your free copy of Tile it Right visit
The Tile Association website www.tiles.org.uk.
TTA Welcomes New Members
The Tile Association offers a warm welcome to
our newest members: Jupiter Heating
Systems Ltd and Natural Stone Revival.
TTA Tweets
With a twitter following that has increased by
almost 50% in the last four months @tileassociation
is the best place to keep up-to-date on
the latest developments in the tile industry.
Visit www.twitter.com/tileassociation to follow.
The Tile Association
T: 020 8663 0946
F: 020 8663 0949
E: info@tiles.org.uk
W: www.tiles.org.uk

EXCLUSIVE
British Ceramic Tile sees a bright future ahead
A
Above: Four views of British fter a busy few months following the purchase of coupled with CP’s extensive outsourced range and creative
design ethos, and the first rate warehousing and
Ceramic Tile’s state-of-the-art
Ceramic Prints, British Ceramic Tile has
production facility near
Newton Abbot, Devon. announced plans for its future direction in this exclusive
interview for Tile & Stone Journal.
with a fantastic foundation on which to build.
logistics set up at both sites, provides the company
The acquisition and integration of CP is now in full “The past weeks have been difficult for our employees
force and while there is much to do, the future looks across both sites, as well as our customers, but, we have
bright for one of the largest tile suppliers in the UK. learned from these experiences and we’re moving forward.
Our vision is for the long-term success of the
British Ceramic Tile’s long-term vision is ambitious,
offering a nationwide unique one-stop shop for all tile, business so there will be no quick fixes. The full integration
of the two companies will take time and is compli-
stone and glass products. While traditionally British
Ceramic Tile has been known for its ceramic wall tiles cated by the 400-mile distance between us, but we now
and licensed products, the newly enlarged company have the right team in place to make it all happen. IT
will now be able to offer high quality ceramic wall and systems, production, warehousing and product portfolio
all need to be integrated, without impacting on day-
floor tiles, alongside natural stone, porcelain, glass and
decorative products across all market sectors from the to-day business.”
UK independent and national retailers, to the specification
and export markets.
Tony Taylor was appointed as Chief Executive of British
One of the most familiar faces within the tile industry,
British Ceramic Tile’s new Chief Executive, Tony Ceramic Tile in December 2011 to drive forward the
Taylor, said: “The collective strengths of both companies
makes for a formidable combination and sets us Finance Director and Dave Banton as
business. Joining him on the board is James Clarkson as
Manufacturing
32 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012
apart from other tile
manufacturers and distributors.
Our evermore
flexible manufacturing
facility in Devon
“Market demand and innovation will drive the core portfolio
of in-house branded products, enhanced by the introduction
of design-led decorative ranges and collaborations
with well-known brands.
Director, together with
a new senior management
team from both
British Ceramic Tile and
CP Group.

EXCLUSIVE
British Ceramic Tile has recently announced that it will be selling
selected wall and floor tile ranges through Next. The company’s
products will feature on the Next website and in Next’s new
Spring/Summer Home Directory.
Nero Black floor tile can be used with Dorchester
Carrara in a classical chequered combination,
Brighton White complements the corresponding
wall tiles and features an attractive gloss finish.
Elgin Cappuccino cream matches the current wall products and will
also complement the beige mosaic as shown above.
Co-ordinating with the Dorchester range are
Travertine, Onyx white, Calacatta and Carrara.
Salisbury co-ordinates with all five colourways
of the existing Salisbury wall tile collection.
With the demand for fully co-ordinated wall and floor combinations increasing and
following the successful launches of a number of wall tile ranges during 2010, British
Ceramic Tile has announced that a selection of in-house manufactured floor tiles are also
now in production The new floor tiles offer a collection of versatile, hard-wearing, designled
options and are available in 333 by 333mm. They can be used in a range of both
contract and retail environments from kitchens, reception areas, bathrooms and
conservatories.
Sheila Elliott, Creative Director, comments: “The new floor tiles provide total coordination
with some of our most popular wall tile ranges and also work well as
standalone solutions. Floor tiles are being widely used throughout the home and this
latest collection has been designed with that in mind. They provide a selection of practical
and stylish design options for use in a variety of environments.”
The latest additions have a stronger body, improved glazes and increased PEI ratings
compared to the previous in-house manufactured products. To co-ordinate with the
recently launched Dorchester collection there will be a new Travertine, Onyx white,
Calacatta and Carrara in a gloss finish.
The new Nero Black floor tile can be combined with Dorchester Carrara in a classical
chequered combination, showing there is clearly no need to limit their use into simply
kitchen and bathroom areas. The Elgin Cappuccino cream matches the current wall
products and also complements the beige mosaic.
The Brighton White and Willow Light floors both have linear effects complementing
their corresponding wall tiles, and offering two new popular white options, one on gloss
and one with a matt finish. The light colour palette and commercial designs provide a
versatile collection which will work across a wide range of products.
The Terracotta floor has the finished look of authentic aged terracotta. The natural tones
will provide a warm ambience to any kitchen or conservatory.
The Salisbury floor has been designed as part of a range which is now available to all
markets, and co-ordinates with all five colourways of the Salisbury wall tile collection.
The new floor tiles have been produced under the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management
systems, reaching international quality and environmental standards respectively.
Durable, stain and chemical resistant, the tiles have been rated between 3 and 4 by the
Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI), measuring the wear and resistance of glazed tile surfaces.
For now, it’s very much business as usual. Both the
British Ceramic Tile and CP product ranges are now
available to all customers, and improvements will be
made to enhance the offer even further. Market
demand and innovation will drive the core portfolio of
in-house branded products, enhanced by the introduction
of design-led decorative ranges and collaborations
with well-known brands.
The name may well change at some point to reflect
the company’s vision but the ethos of quality and innovation
will very much remain, as will the environmental
commitment, which has become synonymous with the
British Ceramic Tile brand.
The consultation process at both sites is still underway,
with less than 100 job losses expected.
Manufacturing capacity will all move to Devon, with the
George Street site in West Yorkshire expected to close
in the next few months. Warehousing will be across
both locations, driven by the capacity in Yorkshire.
Most other business functions will operate from Devon,
with satellite facilities being created in Yorkshire.
Tony Taylor concludes: “We appreciate that our customers
and staff have gone through a great period of
uncertainty and times have been difficult. We are
grateful for all those who have stood by us through the
thick and thin of it, and can assure them that things are
on the way up.”
01626 834774
enquiry@britishceramictile.com
www.britishceramictile.com
34 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

ON INSTALLATION
When is a tile not a tile?
Martin Cummins on troublesome tile backing materials.
Martin Cummins:
”Tile backings may include
polyester (often incorporating
a rigid mesh), polyurethane or
epoxy resins. The common
factor between all three is that
they are extremely difficult to
bond to.”
Part of the process of design and manufacturer of
adhesives and grouts involves testing them to
ensure suitability for the job, a relatively obvious statement
to make.
Historically it has always been the manufacturer who has
assessed the products, determined where they may, or may
not, be used and how to ensure their performance. All this
comes together on the products’ technical datasheets.
A further advance on this is testing to European standards
(EN12004 and EN13888), which provides the methods of
test, substrates to be used and, where appropriate, minimum
performance achievements. This then enables the
products to be classified as, for example a C2F adhesive or a
CG1 grout. A level of comparison between products themselves
can then be made, which is all well and good. With
this information and the details on the technical datasheet,
as manufacturers we can offer confidence in guiding to the
correct selection of adhesives and grouts for the end use.
Why is it then that I have recently received calls from contractors
detailing that the adhesives have failed to hold the
specific tiles in place? The correct adhesives were chosen
for the tiles each time (in one case a marble, in another a natural
stone) and had supposedly been applied in the correct
way, but the tile adhesives’ bond was very poor.
Immediately the blame was pointed directly at the adhesives
but further investigation showed this to categorically
not be the case. What did the investigations prove?
A visit to the site for the first of the projects confirmed that
the tile being fixed had a mesh-type backing on it. Ignoring
the fact that the tile weight far exceeded the maximum
allowed for plastered walls, as this was not what was failing.
The adhesive was remaining bonded to the walls and the
tiles where coming away cleanly from the adhesive.
A sample tile was sent back from the second project and
testing in the laboratory confirmed that the marble tile had
in fact a clear/white coating on the back. This was not
immediately apparent visually but the ease from which it
released from the adhesive was evident to see.
An adhesive’s performance is always tested against fully
vitrified tiles, which have little absorbency. Currently this is
considered the most difficult tile type for adhesives, as they
need to have an extremely good bond (hence the polymer
levels) to hold the tiles in place. When bonding biscuit
backed ceramics, the background absorbency allows for an
easier bond to be made (hence lower polymer content
adhesives are used).
The tiles that caused the issues mentioned above are generally
considered ‘normal’ marble or stone which should not
pose any major bonding difficulties. In reality the backing is
something completely different. The backings may include
polyester (often incorporating a rigid mesh), polyurethane
or epoxy resins. The common factor between all three is
that they are extremely difficult to bond to. The backing
materials are not tested under normal procedures, simply for
the reason that the backings can vary so much. Why are
they present, I hear you ask? The backings are used to add
stability and rigidity to the tiles either during manufacture or
when being transported. The use of a backing can enable
thinner stone to be cut without the concern of the tiles
breaking. Therefore, backings are very important to tile
manufacturers.
To test every backing would be impractical. As far as I am
aware there are no apparent standards as to what backings
are allowed to be used; what level of adhesion the backing
to the tile itself must achieve, and how the backing should
be ‘keyed’ or finished to enable for easier bonding.
Therefore, we can expect a variety of backings to be present
in the market. Some of these are easily identified due to
meshes incorporated, or obvious shine or colour, but in
some instances it will be very difficult for the fixer to identify
a tile as having a problematic backing.
I believe responsibility should be with the tile manufacturers
to declare and state that the tiles have a backing and
what its nature is. This information would then help adhesive
manufacturers to offer the best advice on how to fix the
tiles complete with a backing. There’s no doubt that this will
always result in extra work for the fixer - an epoxy adhesive
may have to be used, or abrading the backing off may be
required, or by lightly ‘roughing up’ and priming the reverse
of the tile with a bonding primer prior to fixing.
To avoid repercussions it will, for now, be the responsibility
of the fixer to carry out sample areas to assure confidence in
the level of adhesion. This will be the case until some uniformity
or standardisation of backing types is agreed upon.
A better option however, may be to encourage clients to
utilise tiles that you are familiar with and pose no adhesion
difficulties – allowing you to use the recommended adhesive
with confidence.
In answer to the question posed in the title of this article,
please always remember that the tile’s back is what is being
bonded. Therefore, you cannot guarantee that a marble tile
is always a marble tile - it could in fact be an epoxy resin!
Martin Cummins
Ultra Tile Technical Sales Manager
T: 01827 871871
W: www.ultratileadhesives.co.uk
36 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

DESIGN TRENDS
Right: One of the new
generation of digital printing
stations that have
revolutionised ceramic tile
design in recent years.
38 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012
A higher level of excellence
through digital printing technology
In the second in a series of exclusive articles for TSJ, Abdulla Mahmood, Head of
Marketing & Communications at the world’s largest tile manufacturer, RAK
Ceramics, looks at the design impact of the latest digital printing techniques.
Ink jet printing has revolutionised ceramic tile decoration,
taking our industry to a whole new level
of competitiveness and excellence. By enabling
unlimited flexibility and intricacy of design, it has
allowed the development of cutting edge trends.
These designs, in turn, have become an integral element
in contemporary interior design.
As well as creating a surge of new contemporary
styles, technology has helped create demand for natural
effects, like marble, stone and wood. Authentic
replicas can now be printed on any surface and highdefinition
print quality, combined with print consistency
and a combination of glazes, is creating results
that can sometimes appear more authentic than the
real thing.
Creating individual designs is an intricate process.
Fine droplets of different coloured inks are released
onto the tile surface, with some machines transmitting
up to 4,000 drops per second and 1,000 drops
per inch (dpi).
To create more complex patterns, different
coloured inks are applied in multiple layers and
throughout the process the individual droplet size
and transmission rate is controlled by computer. As
well as producing honed tiles, textured and
embossed surfaces can also be created by layering
ink. Unlike traditional methods which leave a narrow
frame around the edge of the tile, designs can also be
printed right to the border, providing uniformity.
There is also no limit on the number of pattern
repeats.
At the very forefront of this technology, new highdefinition
Nanopix Digital print technology is giving
designs even greater distinction. The advanced technique
uses ‘tri-dimensional’ nanometer photographic
technology to create multi-layer, high definition
decorative tiles. Printing in three dimensions, in fine
nanometer-grade, sharpens quality and gives greater
depth; the resulting fresh colour and vivid effect is
incomparable.
This new technology is becoming a key industry
tool that allows companies to assert leadership in
design and quality. It has the unique ability to cater
to the distinct aesthetic demands of customers

DESIGN TRENDS
RLeft: Nano Pix Onyx. This
range features ceramic
wall and porcelain floor
tiles. Wall tiles are available
in 300 by 600 by
10.8mm and 300 by 1,000
by 12mm formats. Floor
tiles come in 447 by 447 by
9.5mm. Dado rails and
skirtings are also available.
Below left: Nano Pix Slim
Only 4.5mm thick!
RAK’s Slim is a porcelain
wall and floor tile range for
internal and external use
in a 300 by 600 by 4.5mm
format; unpolished and
rectified. The colour range
is Ivory, Beige, Light Grey
and Black
worldwide, as it makes it a lot easier to conceptualize,
develop and implement creative ideas and schemes.
There are now a stunning array of digitally printing
tiles being introducing, drawing inspiration from
architectural structure, natural materials, fashion and
art. At the forefront of the digital printing revolution,
RAK Ceramics has introduced a number of natural
Nanopix effects. They include Stone Art, a stone-effect
series; the marble-effect Orion Collection and wood
finishes, including the 450 by 450mm Wood Series.
“Adopting these technologies has opened up limitless
opportunities for our sector and, at RAK, has
allowed us to accelerate our global growth plans.
Nanopix digital printing, in particular, has been crucial
in strengthening our competitive edge in both
high-growth and emerging markets. We’re fully
committed to continue to strongly invest in modern
printing technologies to help us unlock more exciting
growth opportunities - and reaffirm our reputation as
a world-class technology innovator in the tile industry,”
says Abdallah Massaad, Deputy CEO RAK
Ceramics.
Established in 1991, RAK Ceramics is the world's largest
manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles. Its product
portfolio also includes ceramic sinks, sanitary ware, brassware
and acrylic baths, with products currently exported
to more than 150 countries.
For more information, contact Kevin Jackson, UK National Tile Sales
Manager, on 07891 475364 or email kevin.j@rakceramics.co.uk. Or
RAK Ceramics UK: 01730 237850 www.rakceramics.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ
39

SUSTAINABILITY
Above: Research conducted by Graniti Fiandre has transformed ceramic tiles for floors and walls into
an innovative ecological and eco-active photocatalytic material: Active Clean Air & Antibacterial
Ceramic. According to the results of recent tests carried out at the University of Milan, Active can bring
pollution levels down below the threshold of 40 micron per cubic metre in three hours.
The photocatalytic action carried out by Active is completely natural. In fact, due to the titanium
dioxide (TiO2) contained in the slabs in micrometric particles, in the presence of light (natural or
artificial) and the humidity contained in the air, a strong oxidation process is spontaneously activated.
As well as excluding all risks for the health of humans and the environment, it leads to the
decomposition and transformation of many toxic and polluting substances, like nitrogen oxides,
particulates and VOCs into harmless compounds like nitrates, sulphates and carbonates.
The final result is a substantial reduction in toxic pollutants produced by cars, factories, domestic
heating and many other sources. The titanium dioxide contained in Active slabs acts along with light as
a trigger to activate the photocatalytic action but without losing any of its properties in the process,
hence maintaining its action and effectiveness over time.
Due to the strong oxidising power of the photocatalytic action, Active allows 100% elimination of
different strains of bacteria, including some which are particularly dangerous for human health (the
main ones being: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae).
Active materials are suitable for paving and tiling small and large surfaces subject to light and
intense foot traffic, in public and private areas. They are also particularly suitable for environments
where hygiene is a primary requirement, such as schools, nursery schools, houses, clinics, hospitals,
laboratories and hotels.
www.active-ceramic.it
How green are your tiles?
There is no doubt that sustainability is now centre stage in both infrastructure
planning and building design. However, while many generic
materials have been able to project a clear set of eco-credentials to policy
makers, architects and designers, ceramic tile has struggled to establish
similar green credentials. This is, in part, due to the strong commercial
rivalry that exists between producer nations, notably Italy and Spain, which
has limited co-operation on global sustainability studies. Tile has also suffered
from a scattergun approach, with a large number of companies forging
ahead with individual sustainability initiatives that have little impact
because there is no common framework against which decision makers can
judge and compare results..
Perhaps the best attempt to present a consistent argument is the study by the
Tile Council of North America titled Tile Is The Natural Choice. While this may
be a little short of hard data, it does at least lay out most of the arguments for
ceramic tile as an environmentally-sustainable material. This article summarises
these arguments.
Life cycle: Ceramic and porcelain tile are some of the longest lasting flooring
products on the market today. Unlike carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring which
have to be replaced periodically, properly installed tile will last a lifetime.
Indoor air quality: Indoor air quality is a hot topic and for good reason. Volatile
Eco-friendly tiling products from Kerakoll
The progressive replacement of the chemical products
used in building with next-generation products that have
low environmental impact is destined to transform the
construction market, including the tiling industry and
have a profound effect on the design of new buildings and
renovations of existing real estate, making room for new
partners and superior standards in terms of environmental
impact and new benefits for users.
Kerakoll UK’s ranges of tile adhesives, grout and surface
preparation products have benefited from the company’s
commitment to continual research and development into
eco-friendly products, which are formulated to use fewer
natural resources and reduce the impact of building on the
environment, whilst maintaining performance.
The mineral products in the range significantly reduce
CO 2 emissions (to less than 250g/kg) because they feature
the latest generation solutions containing less
cementitious binders, and are made with singlecomponent
technology that excludes the use of plastic
containers. They contain at least 30% recycled materials
and can themselves be recycled at the end of their life as
inert materials. At least 60% of their contents are minerals
which are harmless to health and the environment and do
not emit VOCs, thus lessening the likelihood of Sick
Building Syndrome occurring.
Caption: H40 Eco Rapid fix adhesive being used to lay large size porcelain floor tiles.
T: 01527 578000 E: info@kerakoll.co.uk W: www. kerakoll.co.uk
organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to a wide variety of health problems and
are a significant cause of “sick building syndrome.” Since tile is fired in kilns to
extremely high temperatures, there are no VOCs in the finished product that can
be released into the air we breathe. In addition, there are adhesives and grouts
available that contain zero, or very low, VOCs.
Recycling: Tile factories today are “closed loop,” reusing water and materials.
They send only negligible amounts of scrap to landfills and waste water to treatment
facilities.
Regional availability: With tile manufacturers located in most regions of the
world, tile and installation products made with local raw materials are widely
available, unlike some other flooring choices. This regional availability reduces the
amount of energy consumption and air emissions associated with shipping products
from the factory to site.
Hypoallergenic: Tile is inhospitable to dust mites, mould, germs, and bacteria
and often used to replace carpet for people with allergies or asthma.
40 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

SUSTAINABILITY
Mapei: committed to a more sustainable future for construction in the UK
We all recognise the importance of living in harmony with our surroundings and that we need to prevent unnecessary wastage of
natural resources. It is quite logical to conclude that one way we can prevent natural resources from being wasted is to consume
much lower quantities or to not actually use them at all. These goals can be achieved by re-using materials - whether they are byproducts
of other processes or through recycling of items that have reached the end of their life. We can all play our part in the
chain of events by the choices we make when discarding or purchasing materials.
Mapei is an environmentally conscious and caring manufacturer and was granted ISO 14001 status last year. Having set and
demolished many “green” targets relating to waste disposal, focussing in particular on the amount it sends to landfill, Mapei now
recycles an incredible 96% of its waste and of even greater significance; this material is recycled locally.
Given the company’s philosophy, it should come as no surprise to learn that the major drive in the Research & Development
laboratory is the development of products with lower environmental impact. Naturally, recycled content within these products is of
paramount importance as well as the use of raw materials which result in high yields. High yield may not initially be perceived as
helping with environmental issues but when consideration is given to the fact that less material is required to cover the same
surface area then there are definite “green” and efficiency benefits.
Mapei has recently launched Ultralite Rapid Flex S1, a truly remarkable adhesive for the installation of ceramic, porcelain and
natural stone tiles and mosaics. See page 56 for details.
0121 508 6970 www.mapei.co.uk
Low maintenance: Ceramic tile is easily cleaned, often only with warm water,
eliminating the need for chemicals and cleanerss.
The Tile Council of North America commissioned an independent construction
cost consulting firm, Scharf-Godfrey (a Division of Phoenix Engineering, Inc.), to
conduct a Life Cycle Cost study comparing various types of ceramic tile, including
porcelain, mosaic, and quarry tile, to 12 other floor finishes such as hardwood,
laminate, concrete, stone, carpet, terrazzo, vinyl, and poured epoxy (for specifics
see chart).
Life Cycle Cost Analysis is a method of project evaluation in which all costs arising
from owning, operating, maintaining, and disposing of a project are considered
important to the decision.
The definition of Life Cycle Cost used in the 2005 study was the initial cost to
install, which includes labour, materials, normal contractor’s overhead and profit,
plus periodic maintenance costs to preserve and maintain the appearance of the
product, and the final costs to remove the floor covering at the end of its useful life.
Future expected costs were discounted to today’s dollars using the Present Value
(PV) of a future payment calculated as a function of interest rate and an assumed
inflation rate. It was assumed that there is no salvage value to any of the products
at the end of their useful life, but there are disposal fees associated with removal
of the floor covering.
The report found that ceramic tile costs less per year than all other floor finishes
over the life of a building. In fact, all tile is less than $0.40 per square foot per year.
Carpet and vinyl are significantly more expensive due to their shorter expected life.
Why specify ceramic tile?
Ceramic tile creates dramatic first impressions. Even a modest area, indoors or out,
can come to life with the colours and textures of tile – making ceramic tile one of
the savviest design investments.
Ceramic tile is not just for kitchens or bathrooms. It is a luxurious option for creating
a beautiful living or work environment. :
Best Value: Ceramic tile adds value to any building, needs almost no maintenance,
and costs less per square foot than other permanent and long-use flooring
options.
Design capability: Today’s selection of tile offers a limitless palette of textures,
colours, shapes, and styles to create custom expressions.
Rich artistic heritage: Conveying elegance, tranquility, and spirituality, tile has
adorned our great buildings through the ages. You can connect to that cultural
heritage through the richness of tile.
Durability: Ceramic tile, properly selected and installed, maintains its original
qualities and lasts longer than other flooring options.
Water resistance: Not only can installations of ceramic tile be waterproof, some
tiles are designed to provide better traction, making ceramic tile a perfect choice
for swimming pools, showers, patios, and other wet areas.
Fila Green Action brand underlines eco-credentials
At this year’s Surface Design Show, Fila showcased its
extensive range of surface care products. Designed to
provide high performance, whilst protecting the natural
surface, Fila’s range spans pre-grouting protectors and
surface cleaners, to protection and stain removal solutions.
New products on show for 2012 included Fila CR10, a high
performance epoxy remover, and FilaRefresh, a ready-touse,
water-based cleaning and protection product, for
internal stone surfaces.
Designed for use after tile installation, Fila CR10 is a
concentrated ready-to-use cleaner that removes epoxy
grout residues, stains and streaks. It’s suitable for nonabsorbent
surfaces, including glazed ceramic tiles, porcelain
stoneware and glass mosaics, and can be applied to both
walls and floors, inside and out. Fila CR10 is also effective in
the removal of old, stubborn epoxy residues.
The second new product, 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-action
formulation both cleans and protects, giving a streak-free
finish. It is suitable for marble, granite, treated stone, resin
and quartz resin.
In addition to new products, Fila will also be launching its
new green brand – Fila Green Action – to the UK market. The
new brand will encompass all environmental developments,
including processes, industry initiatives and the company’s
Green Line range, which currently includes 17 products.
T: 01584 877286 W: www.filachim.com
Clean and healthy: Ceramic tile is easy to clean and inhospitable to dust mites,
mould, and bacteria.
Sustainable: Tile is inherently green and an important part of sustainable construction.
It’s use can contribute to LEED points and credits in other green building
certification programs.
Low maintenance: Ceramic tile is practically maintenance-free, as it resists dirt
and stains and requires little effort to maintain.
Fade resistant: The colour of ceramic tile does not fade in sunlight like the dyes
used in other floor finishes.
Fire resistant: Ceramic tile is non-combustible and does not give off toxic fumes
when exposed to fire.
Outdoor use: Fade resistance, frost resistance, durability, enhanced traction and
cleanability are all attributes that make ceramic tile the perfect choice for exterior
applications.
Copies of the report can be found at www.tileusa.com.
42 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
Tools of the trade
In this extensive feature, TSJ surveys a wide
selection of the latest products from the
extensive band of specialist tiling tool suppliers.
plus a flexible non-slip guide plate critical for accurate drilling. Known as the
BFKMX or Bathroom Fitters Kit, it consists of two 6mm, two 8mm, a 16mm, a
30mm and a 40mm drill. The 365 Drills website offers an accessible and userfriendly
guide.to the company’s range and drilling techniques in general.
Marcrist International has launched the TDM1, billed as the ultimate tile
drilling system. The customised 1100W variable speed impact drill with a
metal bodied Jacobs keyless chuck has been specially developed for tile
drilling applications. These machines are supplied in system kits which
offer a complete tile drilling solution including the specially developed
drilling machine, guide mechanism, wet or dry tile drills and masonry drills
to match the tile drills, all in a tough Marcrist carrying case. Being available
as either 220V with RCD or 110V versions means the machines are suitable
for safe use in wet environments.
The TDM1 kits are offered in either Marcrist PG850 (wet) or PG750X (dry)
tile drill derivatives. Including masonry drills in the dry kit avoids having to
use a tile drill for the wall behind, which significantly affects its life.
All TDM1 kits include a compact precision tile drilling guidance
mechanism that results in accurate placement of the tile drill every time.
This innovative new design overcomes the limitations associated with
conventional suction cup guides such as adhesion to mosaic and textured
tiles, and the suction cups slipping during drilling.
The guidance mechanism has a central gas strut that sits on the tile and
allows drilling with a high degree of accuracy. The rubber foot on the strut
ensures that no tile damage or chipping can be caused by slipping.
All components of the guidance mechanism are fixed to the front of the
machine, which creates a much smaller footprint than a traditional tile
drilling guide, enabling the machine to be used in various drilling positions,
including awkward spaces and access restricted locations.
Traditionally most tile drilling, especially wet tile drilling has been
undertaken with cordless drills due to the safety risks associated with water
on the machine, most cordless machines only operate at 50% of the speed
required for maximum life and speed with Marcrist tile drills. By developing
a corded drill with an RCD, Marcrist has ensured that the required speed to
bring out the best in its tile drills can be achieved safely.
Each TDM1 has a drilling speed chart attached to the machine that
indicates the correct speed settings for each tile drill type and diameter.
This ensures the machine runs at the right speed - at the flick of a switch.
Selecting the correct speed setting from the eight available ensures
prolonged tile drill life and the fastest possible drilling speed.
The TDM1 PG850 wet drilling kit includes the TDM1 machine, Tile Drilling
Guide, PG850 6mm, 8mm tile drills, water swivel and connector and I litre
water bottle. The TDM1 PG750X kit includes the TDM1 machine, Tile Drilling
Attachment, PG750X 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 14mm tile drills.
The PG850 drills even the hardest types of tile, and can achieve up to 700
holes in Grade 5 porcelain, customers have the option to add additional
diameters for their kit up to 112mm. The PG750X with a self contained
lubrication mechanism is designed specifically for the dry drilling of tiles
and is available in diameters up to 72mm.
01302 890888 www.marcrist.co.uk
365 Drills produce diamond drilling kits for the construction industry, supplying
tilers, plumbers, builders, electricians and commercial shop fitters. The
developmental breakthrough came when 365 Drills replaced the pilot drill
with an inexpensive guide plate which holds a diamond crown steady and
prevents it from slipping on any type of tile. Removing the pilot eliminates
cost and also the need for a water feed. The company now offers a range of
well over 30 kits to drill every size hole from standard to bespoke. The best
seller is the all-in-one solution containing seven tile drills in five popular sizes
AEG Powertools has launched the new compact BE 705 R Rotary drill. The
AEG BE 705 R rotary drill is equipped with a powerful 705 W motor for the
highest drilling performance. The BE 705 R's most striking feature is its size
and compact design whilst maintaining the performance levels of drills far
larger in size.
The drill itself comes with a belt clip located on the top of the unit for easy
storage. For ultimate control during application drilling the AEG BE 750 R
rotary drill comes with an ergonomic two finger switch with variable speed
control. The trigger also has a lock on function for continuous drilling and
specially designed soft-grip over moulds on the tool increase user comfort
during prolonged use.
The AEG BE 705 R Rotary Drill is available as standard with a durable 10mm
keyless chuck which will take a wide range of drilling bits and accessories.
Weighing only 1.6kg the unit is ideal for a multitude of confined repetitive
drilling applications including over head installations..
As well as its well established PTC Porcelain Tile Drill Range, Armeg offers Soft
Tile Drill Bits as a solution to softer tile drilling. Designed for less dense tile
materials than porcelain, Armeg's softer tile range is the solution for small
diameter fixing holes. The tile bits are 'point ground' for added grip on start
up to reduce slippage and wander. PTC Soft Tile bits are available in 3mm,
4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm and 13mm, as well as a fivepiece
Soft Tile Drill & Masonry Drill Set.
Astra is one of the foremost distributors of professional power tool accessories,
professional hand tools and workwear to the UK, Republic of Ireland
and Europe.
Since 1993, Astra have been based in the South East of England and have
been selected to be the exclusive UK distributors for Ironclad Performance
Wear, McGuire Nicholas Workgear and Cutting Edge power tool accessories.
Founded in 1998 and now the USA’s clear No. 1 brand of work gloves,
Ironclad Performance Wear offers a range of workwear that uniquely combines
protection and performance. Ironclad now offer the consumer a
proven range of over forty task-specific gloves, all of which combine materials
and techniques of the highest technology to give unsurpassed strength,
comfort and durability. Alongside this, Ironclad presents industry-leading
clothing which incorporates the best in performance fabrics.
McGuire-Nicholas is probably the worlds leading brand of quality leather
and synthetic tool belts, pouches, holders, bags and kneepads. With a long
heritage of classic styles that are still hugely popular today, McGuire Nicholas’
current products use the most advanced materials to give optimal performance.
They have become essential to many carpenters, framers, electricians,
dryliners and maintenance workers with their versatile, functional features
designed to suit every trade.
44 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
Bright Ideas’ Diamond Hole Saw
Bosch’s GSR 14-4 Professional drill.
Astra’s own brand of professional quality power tool accessories and
workgear, Cutting Edge offers products of stunning quality at affordable
prices. Astra’s power tool accessories include diamond cutting blades and
dry-core drills, saw blades, worktop jigs, auger drilling bits, and a comprehensive
range of bit holders and chucks. The workwear range comprises tool
aprons, pouches and belts.
Established in Italy in 1970, GT Line has become the leading European producer
of technical tool cases, tool bags and waterproof cases. GT Line’s tool
cases are suitable for travelling engineers, electricians, technicians and maintenance
professionals, with selected models built to withstand the pressure in
aircraft holds and the rigors of airport conveyor belts. Made from materials
including aluminium, ABS, HIT, HDPE, PP and carbon fibre, their technologically
innovative designs are robust, lightweight and practical.
All Astra’s products are available online from toolventure.co.uk.
Black & Decker’s 18V High Performance Hammer Drill features a faster motor
for more efficient drilling. A new ratchet mechanism (from 11 to 15 teeth)
allows more beats per minute (0-6750/0-21750) for faster hammer drilling.
The drill offers hammer action and second mechanical speed for drilling into
masonry. It uses metal components for more durability and higher torque for
tougher applications, and benefits from an extra-powerful motor and heavyduty
planetary gearbox for durability and high torque delivery to the job. The
high output fan cooled motor increases performance and extends the life,
while the drill has variable speed for gentle start, full control and reverse
switch for added versatility. The mid handle design optimizes balance and
reduces hand fatigue, while an electronic brake ensures safety and prevents
overtightening of screws. The infinite clutch allows 32 micro torque settings
for driving various size of screws or materials. A keyless metal single sleeve
chuck makes bit changing quick and simple.
Bosch‘s GSR 14,4 VE-2-LI Professional drill is a robust, compact unit offering
extremely powerful: 75 Nm for the toughest screwdriving and drilling applications
in wood and metal. It has a very short head length (only 213 mm) for
perfect handling. It remains fully functional even after being dropped
2,000mm onto concrete, due to its flexible Dura Shield housing. Electronic
Motor Protection protects the motor against overload and ensures a long lifetime.
Other features include a 13-mm metal Auto-Lock drill chuck. The battery
offers Bosch Premium lithium-ion technology for a claimed 400% longer
lifetime and unbeatable battery runtime, while Electronic Cell Protection protects
the battery against overload, overheating and deep discharge. A battery
charge level indicator constantly shows how much energy is left in the battery.
The drill has an integrated LED light for illuminating the work area, even in
dark places; while a motor brake makes for precise working when driving
rows of screws.
The Bright Ideas Company has been trading since 1993, and has evolved
from manufacturing a range of tile spacers and PVC tile trims into a company
dedicated to professional tiling tools and accessories. The company’s easy-tonavigate
website features a wide range of new products and showcases the
complete range of tools and accessories. Bright Idea’s corporate focus is to
continually develop new products and constantly seek out new ideas that
make tiling practical and easy for both the professional tile fixer and DIYers.
Delivery is provided generally on a one/two day service, with a fast delivery
service to Ireland as well.
Typical of the range is the 18mm Diamond Hole Saw: an electroplated diamond
hole saw with gritted edges that is designer for cutting holes into hard
materials such as stone, marble and granite. It c.an also be used for cutting
through porcelain, ceramic, quarry tiles, glass, etc. The hole saw should be
used in conjunction with the Bright Ideas Universal Drill Guide for precise
drilling and the Water Cooling System to keep the drill bit cool.. Intended for
use at a low drilling speed, the hole saw is best when partnered with a. hand
drill or variable speed power drill.
DeWalt‘s DW518K two-speed Percussion Drill/ Dry Diamond Drill features a
heavy-duty metal gear box for added durability and a mechanical clutch for
added user protection. The high quality 16mm keyed chuck is designed to
ensure accuracy and reliability. The drill has a soft grip surface on switch to
reduce vibration and enhance user comfort, plus a multi-position side handle,
depth stop and heavy duty carrying case
The Dremel 4000 is the most powerful and precise multitool from Dremel.
Thanks to it's electronic feedback, the tool always delivers maximum force. A
soft grip and precise speed setting allows users to be in perfect control of
every situation. The collet lock out function prevents users from accidentally
blocking the output shaft of the tool. It has a high power 175W motor for
high performance and full variable speed control (5.000-35.000 RPM) for maximum
precision.
The high performance 4000 multitool comes in a practical carrying case
which contains the Flex Shaft attachment, the Line & Circle Cutter attachment
and 65 original Dremel accessories including SpeedClic starter set. The kit
also includes two new attachments: the Detailer's Grip for optimal tool control
and the Shaping Platform allowing you to sand or grind perfectly at 90°
and 45°. With this supreme kit even the most demanding craftsman will be
satisfied. Dremel tools are available from B&Q stores nationwide and online at
www.diy.com.
Everbuild Building Products‘ Seal Rite Wizard is a new invention that is
billed as the “Swiss Army Knife” of sealant tools. This handy sealant tool has
two points/edges to cut away old sealant, and a blade to cut the sealant cartridge
thread and nozzle, and a flexible rubber head to smooth down new
sealant. Supplied with three different rubber heads to cover different joint
sizes, the Seal Rite Wizard is part of a range that also features the Seal Rite
Dispenser; winner of the Gold Award for Best New DIY Product.
Everbuild’s Marketing Manager Helen Kirby says: “The Seal Rite Wizard is a
great little tool that I am sure will become a staple for anyone wanting to
apply sealant as professionally as possible.”
Genesis has expanded its range of tools and accessories to cater for contractors,
merchants and builders who require reliable and high-performance solutions.
It has a complete range of tools designed to make grouting as simple as
possible. This includes a 850W Mixer, 120 by 240mm cleaning pads in white,
brown and green, 1 150mm squeegees, sponges and jumbo sponges, grout
46 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
Makita’s 10.8V 85mm glass/ceramic tile cutter features a Li-ion battery and
has a blade diameter of 85mm and a bore diameter of 15mm. It has a capacity
at 0º of 25.5 mm, or 16.5mm at 45º. Operating at a maximum of 1,, the cutter
has a net weight of 1.7 kg. The cutter has a compact design with an overall
length of 300mm, and features a water supply tank with large cap for easy
opening and refilling of water. Other features include a rubberised soft grip
with non-slip elastomer grip for more control and comfort. The Lithium-ion
battery, is lighter in weight, yet offers quicker charging and more run time
than an equal voltage Ni-Cad or Ni-MH battery.
The light but robust Husqvarna’s TS 230 F tile saw is designed for professional use.
rakes and blades, epoxy grout floats, Marshalltown grout floats and wash boy
sets; among other grout-related items.
Best known for its tiling trims. Homelux also offers a range of tiling tools. This
includes a 350mm Flat Bed Tile Cutter and a 450W Diamond Wheel Cutter.
and a 900W Diamond Wheel Cutter.
A light but robust tile saw for professional use, Husqvarna’s TS 230 F has a
powerful electric motor and patented water recovery system for long shifts. It
is supplied with wrench and guide, and a removable water tank. The cutting
edge is provided by a continuous rim diamond blade with a 25.4mm spindle
and a 230mm blade. It offers high precision as the material stays flat even
when a 45° cut is made. The saw is claimed to be easy to clean, with a very
large cutting table. The large removable table is made of polyoxymethylene.
Karl Dahm’s dry-drilling core bit-set offers professional a range of dry-drilling
diamond core bits designed for use with angle grinders. Quick and easy to
use, they allow contractors to drill holes into ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles,
marble, granite, etc. No water cooling is required, even for drilling material up
to 35mm thick. 35mm, 45mm and 65mm dry-drilling diamond core bits are
all available.
Dural’s Tileminator is designed for economic and time-saving laying of adhesive
and ensures an even spread with grooves for adhesion produced in the
same procedure. It is ideal for applications where tiles need to be laid safely
on a bed covering the full surface, such as when fixing large-format floor tiles
or floor tiles in commercial spaces, such as garages, workshops and exhibition
halls. The Tileminator is made of stainless steel and offers interchangeable
combs for grooves in widths from 400mm up to 720mm.
Kwik Split is the official UK authorised distributor of Brevetti Montolit and
Raimondi Products. A superb range of electric diamond blade wet saws is
available from Montolit. All saws are available in either 230 or 110V and come
complete with a high quality long life Montolit diamond blade. The Mini
Electric Wet Saw is suited for working in tight environments and will cope
with the toughest of tiles. The Brooklyn Rail Saw range is a tiler’s dream offering
ease of use and up to 1.2 metre cutting length. The Master range of Sliding
Table Saws are free-standing and come in a variety of sliding bed sizes complemented
by self-levelling water tank cooling system for the blade.
Leica‘s Disto DXT is said to be the only laser distance meter that is totally protected
against jet water and dust, according to IP 65. This ensures, that it
operates accurately, even in harsh conditions.
Marcrist International‘s CC750 Tile Blade is a high performance diamond
blade designed for cutting curves in ceramic and porcelain tiles. The 115mm
dish-shaped blade, which is both easy to use and very quick to master, is
capable of rapidly cutting complex curves in ceramic and porcelain tiles with
a radius as small as 100mm, with no limit to the maximum radius. It can be
used on all grades of tiles including the hardest porcelain.
The 115mm blade fits all 4 ½’’ and 5’’ angle grinders, and provides customers
with a rapid method of cutting accurate clean curves in tiles, previously very
difficult to achieve without the purchase of expensive custom-designed
equipment.
The diamond blade is self cooling and self sharpening, and has been manufactured
utilising Marcrist’s V-UHP Fusion technology, which involves forming
the segments under a vacuum at high pressure to eliminate impurities.
This results in extremely strong bond homogeneity and segment adhesion
that provides outstanding performance and safety.
The blade is also available in a kit that includes a diamond edge grinding
tool which allows the tile edge to be softened after the blade has been used
to cut the curve. The edge grinder comprises an electroplated diamond band
and a mandrel that fits into any three-jaw chuck
Lumber shirts have found their way onto store shelves amongst workwear. A
shirt with a long history and attitude. The shirt forms part of Mascot’s new
series, Mascot Rocks, which has a rough and ready, casual style with a twist of
current fashion. The characteristic square pattern of the shirts are several hundred
years old, and are particularly identified with the lumberjack industry in
America. The shirt, a symbol of hard work, nature and masculinity, has
become a recurring fad and has been part of various movements within society
and culture.
The shirts are made of pure cotton and, therefore, are both comfortable to
wear and suitable for many situations. Users cab use Mascot Kingsman as an
alternative to long-sleeved T-shirts, polo shirts or sweatshirts. During the winter
months contractors can use it indoors or as a middle layer for outdoor
clothing. In spring and summer it is ideal as outer wear on cool days.
My Toolbox UK (www.mytoolboxuk.com) is a trade counter based in
Oldbury in the West Midlands stocking a wide range of branded tools and
accessories for all types of trades. Available brands include Bright Ideas,
Mapei, Dewalt, Bosch, Makita, Hitachi, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Stanley, Paslode,
Everbuild, Marshalltown, JD Speedfit, ULTRA, Knipex and Black & Decker.
Said to be the largest internet suppliers of Bright Ideas Professional Tiling
Tools, My Toolbox UK offers a high quality delivery service straight to the customer’s
door or on-site. Delivery is usually next working day on small items if
ordered before 4pm but customers should allow up to three days on larger
products.
My Toolbox UK has over 60,000 different products available, all at what are
said to be very competitive prices.
Norton Clipper, part of the St Gobain Group, recently introduced the TR201E
48 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
range spans tile cutters, diamond blades, trowels, grouting tools, lasers, hammers,
chisels and files.
The Raimondi 40 litre Rambo Wash Bucket, designed for cleaning sponge
floats, comes with twin rollers. Said to be of the finest Italian quality, this new
Wash Bucket is a very sturdy product. The 40 litre water capacity reduces the
need for frequent water changing and the high absorption Sweepex sponge
floats supplied contain nylon that promote long life. The Rambo has 4in
wheels and the separation grate is made of powder coated steel. Included
with the Rambo wash bucket is a pole Sweepex sponge float with a two piece
aluminium handle that allows the user to work in an upright position during
use both on both floors and walls, plus a Sweepex sponge float with handle
suitable for smaller floor and wall areas.
The Rexon TC1150Al-Ac7 tile cutter features multi-preset table angles for
bevel cutting and a laser guide for prealigning cutting. A dual rail guided sliding
extension table doubles the table size. Another useful feature is a mitre
gauge with accurate preset mitre angles for 15°, 30°, 45° and 70°. The cutter
is supplied with diamond blade and powered by 720W motor, running at
6,500rpm. The unit measures 500 by 500 by 120mm.
The Mascot Rocks range has a rough and ready, casual style with a twist of fashion.
240 volt rail tile saw. This features a high precision rail that aids the cutting
heads to provide a smooth, straight and accurate cut. The rail tile saw has an
extra large cutting bed of 650mm allowing cuts to be made on tiles up to
600mm long. The cutting head can be adjusted and locked to cut tiles at a
45° angle and provides a maximum cutting depth of 35mm at 90° and 25mm
at 45°.
The TR201E can take a diamond blade up to 200 by 25.4mm. A detachable
water tray allows for easy cleaning and emptying, whilst the water pump is
protected from the sludge and slurry generated when cutting by its unique
positioning within the water tray. The TR201E comes complete with a powerful
900 watt electric motor and is equipped with folding legs with wheels for
easy transportation.
To get the best results when cutting tiles, the company recommends the
use of Norton Super Gres diamond blades. The continuous rim of these
blades has been designed to provide fast cutting and a high quality finish to
the edge of the tile, while the 10mm rim height provides longer product life.
The diamond blade which has been specifically designed to cut porcelain
also cuts a variety of harder tiles including general ceramic, hard quarry, natural
stone and reconstituted tiles. The additional flanges on both sides of the
bore reduce overheating of the blade when in use, hence retaining the shape
of the blade. This blade is manufactured to, and complies with, EN 13236.
Plasplugs flatbed tile cutters feature single action score and snap for speed
and performance. Features include a self-locking handle for easy storage, precision
ground tungsten carbide cutting wheel and a strong steel bar for precise
cutting.
Capable of straight and angled cuts, the Pro-Series Heavy Duty Tile Cutter
has a 13mm precision ground titanium coated tungsten carbide scoring
wheel and can cut tiles up to 300mm diagonal, up to 14mm thick and up to
400mm square.
Pro Tiler Tools is a family-run business that aims to provide an excellent
essential service to all tilers. The website offers a simple way to buy essential
tiling tools, linked to a next day delivery service. Pro Tiler offers a wide selection
of ceramic tiling tools, tiling consumables, tiling clothing and safety gear,
plus expert advice on all tools and equipment listed on the website. The
The Rodia MS60 Lite is a new patented mosaic tile cutting system. The MS60
Lite cuts both ceramic and glass mosaics. This portable stainless steel cutter
is equipped with a special tile clamping system with an integrated cutting
guide for fast, accurate and chip-free cutting. The Rodia MS60 Lite is supplied
with an angle grinder and a special dry cutting blade for ceramic mosaic tiles.
By connecting a vacuum cleaner to the MS60 Lite, the entire cutting process
is virtually dust free. To ensure precise and chip free cutting of glass mosaic
tiles, a special wet glass blade, a water supply tank and a PRCD switch for safe
operation are included with the MS60 Lite.
2011 proved to be another good year for Rubi UK with our sales figures coming
out on target and an overall growth on the previous year of 5%. To make
sure that the trend continues for 2012 Rubi has looked at ways of keeping its
price increases to a minimum and, through streamlining and rationalisation,
have been able to achieve a reduction in the price of Rubi’s Electric machines,
Diamond blades and Drilling tools without cutting down on the quality and
reliability expected by Rubi customers. Rubi has also extended its Warranty
on a variety of products from six months to two years which, alongside Rubi’s
five-year warranty on its Professional Manual cutters is further proof, the company
believes, that its products are second to none in the tiling industry.
In 2011 Rubi UK made the decision to invest in the tilers of tomorrow by getting
involved with colleges offering tiling courses. “We spoke to the lecturers
and they all said that they have a shortage of tools for the students to use so
with this in mind we decided that we would donate a range of Rubi tools,
manual cutters, and electric machines . In phase one we have we have supplied
South Birmingham College, East Durham College, Highbury College
Portsmouth, and New College Nottingham. Our sales reps for the areas are
also keeping involved with the colleges by giving training sessions on products
and advice on new products coming onto the market,” stated the company
“As we embark on another new year our R&D dept have been very busy and
have developed many new products for 2012,” the statement continues. “The
first of which is our 9BL Mixer, our Rubi Club members feedback on the mixer
was very positive and sales went way beyond our expectations when we
launched it in 2011 the only adverse comment was the lack of a carry case for
the mixer. We have responded and the mixer now comes with it’s own
impact resistant case. ref 24964.”
50 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
“Customers are also impressed with the DU-200-L-BL Electric machine
which we launched in 2011. The machine will cut up to 60cm of tile weighs
just 20.5kg and has proven to be a hit with both Professional and occasional
users . ref 25973 230v ref 25989 110V.”
“Other new products to look forward to are a new range of Electric
Machines, Drilling Tools, and Blades. Rubi Club Members will as always be
notified as soon as the new products are available so if you want to be the first
to know sign up now by calling 01708 559 609 and ask for a Club Membership
form.”
Sigma of Italy has been specialising, since 1969, in the production of professional
equipment for tilers, specifically designed to satisfy the changing needs
of professionals. Over the years the company has built a solid reputation for
the creation of quality products which has given it constant growth in all
domestic and international markets.
Sigma can be found the world over with many of the leading tile suppliers
promoting the Sigma brand. All design work is carried out internally by the
company’s skilled technicians using sophisticated CAD programmes.
Production is implemented with codified manufacturing processes, with
checks at all stages of the process. The checks and tests performed first on
prototypes and then on standard production articles give a guarantee of finished
products that satisfy the highest standards of safety and strength, in
compliance with current European legislation.
Sigma has always had a loyal following of professional tillers across the
world and is recognised as best in its class.
The company is represented in the UK by Derek Griffin, UK Sales Manager.
He can be contacted on 07828 969935 or at derek@sigmatools.co.uk.
Workplace equipment supplier Slingsby has launched a new edition of its
catalogue to showcase the company’s 35,000 products. The catalogue covers
1,374 pages and includes 2,000 brand new products across a wide range of
categories including handling and lifting, premises, health & safety, signage,
environmental and waste, janitorial and safety and security.
Lee Wright, Marketing Director of Slingsby, says: “Slingsby has produced its
famous catalogue for more than 100 years and even though a lot of customers
now prefer to view and buy our product range online, a large proportion
still like to flick through a hard copy of the catalogue and then consult
our sales advisors before placing an order.”
“For this reason we continue to place as much emphasis as ever on our catalogue
and this year is no different. It contains quality photography and
detailed descriptions of our entire product range and appeals to all industries
including retail, manufacturing, education, healthcare and the public sector.
Refina supplies what is claims to be the largest range of professional quality, power
tools and equipment for mixing and spraying, diamond drilling, surface preparation
and flooring. The best quality hand tools are stocked in depth for the refurbishment,
trowel and wet trades. Refina markets Megamixers, Rotamixers and Powerprep
Eibencor equipment. Additionally, the full range of Eibenstock Power Tools which
are made in Germany, are stocked and distributed in the UK. Hand tool brands
include Plastercraft and Marshalltown. Refina carries some of the largest stocks of
specialist application power tools and accessories, plaster and floor trade tools and
trowels in the UK: with many difficult to find tools are available off the shelf.
“We’ve also increased the number of products that are available with free
next day delivery and have held or even reduced thousands of prices which
makes this catalogue an invaluable tool for all businesses and organisations.”
Cutting porcelain and very hard materials is now a breeze thanks to Tileasy,
a leading supplier of tiling tools and accessories to the trade. Tileasy is now
the sole UK agent for the world-renowned Ishii brand of Japanese tile cutters
designed specifically for the professional market.
Tileasy is initially bringing two innovative, high quality and precision-made
Ishii tile cutters to market which are part of a larger range that will also be
available later this year.
The Ishii IPC620 is ideal for popular-sized tiles such as 600 by 300mm and
600 by 600mm. The top section of the base is sprung loaded to ensure quality
and precision and every IPC620 is supplied with a solid case on wheels
which acts as a table.
The Ishii IPC1040 is a premium product which is 1,040mm long and the base
is split into six, individual spring-loaded sections. The single bar provides
FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ 51

TILING TOOLS
stock levels and the status of orders; ensuring speed, efficiency and accuracy.
“We place the utmost importance on customer care which is why we have a
team of experienced sales managers operating throughout the UK in addition
to sales support staff available to answer questions, take orders and assist with
general enquiries,” says Murphy.
The Fein Multimaster saves time with the user-friendly lever for fast, tool-free accessory
changes. The SoftGrip insert is designed for safe, fatigue-free working. The
machine and the accessories are stored securely in a robust plastic case for optimum
protection. A host of innovative accessories create a wider application spectrum for
the Fein Multimaster.
exceptional precision and its sturdy wheeled case is also designed to be used
as a table.
Ishii products feature a universal titanium cutting wheel. Replacement
wheels are also available from Tileasy.
Tileasy has radically improved the process of drilling into hard tiles thanks to
the launch of an innovative Water Cooling Drill Guide. Designed in-house,
this new product prevents the drill bit from overheating whilst allowing accurate
drilling into floor and wall tiles of hard construction.
Ideal for both the DIY market and professionals, Tileasy’s Water Cooling Drill
Guide features a precision drill guide for four sizes, fixing pads and water reservoir
and is available individually for drill bit sizes 6, 8, 10 and 12mm in addition
to a kit featuring all four sizes. This unique product ensures the water feed
hole delivers the right flow and speed of water to keep the drill bit at a cool
and safe temperature. The Drill Guide can also be purchased individually
along with additional fixing pads..
Tim Murphy, Managing Director, said: “Feedback from our clients highlighted
how difficult it can be to get an accurate positioning when drilling into
hard surfaces and also how much the drill bit heats up when working with
surfaces like glass, granite and porcelain. This Water Cooling Drill Guide
ensures accuracy, precision and positioning and works on both floors and
walls.”
To use the Water Cooling Drill Guide simply mark the position where the
hole is to be drilled, attach the pad to guide, attach the guide to the wall or
floor, load and fill reservoir with water and then drill with confidence
Tileasy also has a new Website. It contains a better-than-ever range of products
which are either new, improved, exclusive to Tileasy, or have been expertly
designed and developed with our customers needs in mind.
Tileasy has also introduced a paperless stock control and order system, driven
by barcode. The company’s team has up-to-the-minute information on
TileRite’s Established in 1989 by Managing Director, Rob Harbidge, Tile Rite is
a family run business based on a philosophy of supplying high quality products
at competitive prices, coupled with reliable service and full availability,
Tile Rite offers a range of over 350 products and a portfolio of over 1,500 customers..
“We have a totally committed workforce who pride themselves and the jobs
they undertake, from the warehouse and office staff to the sales personnel,
who strive to meet both customer demand and company targets. As
Managing Director I am very proud to head a devoted and professional team
and a company that is continually developing to stay at the forefront of this
specialist market,” says Harbidge.
Typical of the range is the Compact Tile Cutter, which is ideal for cutting and
mitring tiles. It features a 110mm Diamond Wheel powered by a 450W
geared motor. It provides an extension table for larger tile support from 360
to 440mm, as well as an integral measuring guide and quick release lateral
rule for perfect straight cuts. The angle guide adjustable from 0 to 90 0 . Other
features include a carry handle for easy transportation; a self-contained water
reservoir for cooling the blade and a Perspex splash guard with variable
height adjustment for safety.
TilerShop.co.uk is a specialist tile shop for tile supplies, tiling tools, tiling
equipment and tiling supplies. TilerShop.co.uk provides a range of tile supplies
tiling tools, tiling equipment and tiling supplies; everything from wall
and floor adhesives, tile cutters, underfloor heating to bathroom accessories.
The range is made by a wide range of manufacturers including BAL, Nuova
Battipav, Rubi and Sigma. The company also supplies everything tilers need
to be safe on site from safety helmets, DeWalt protective boots, Fristads
tradesman trousers and vests to fluorescent light stands and generators. The
company also sells specialist tiling supplies such as tiling tools and tiling
equipment including Schluter Ditra Matting. HG and Lithofin tiling supplies
are also available including protectors, polishers and stain removers for marble,
granite and other stones.
Trade Tiler offers the DeWalt D24000 Wet Saw. Its stainless steel rail system
is integrated into the tile saw frame, ensuring super accurate cuts, yet its relatively
low weight allows one person to transport and set up the saw. Other
features include an integrated 45/22.5° feature for quick angle cuts and a
plunge feature that allows the user to make quick plunge cuts. The dual water
nozzles can be adjusted on the blade in order to minimise over-spray and
mist; while rear and water trays can be placed on the tile saw to catch overspray
- keeping the water in the pan. A removeable cutting cart makes for
easy cleaning of tile saw. An integrated portable residual current device
(PRCD) circuit breaker is fitted for increased user protection. The1600 W
(240V) or 1500 W (110V) motors power the 250mm cutting wheel at 4,200
rpm. The maximum cut length is 760mm (plunge and cut), but this can be
increased to over 1,000mm by plunging and turning the tile.
Trimline offers an extensive range of tile cutters from Sigma and Rubi. The
Nuova Battipav SuperPro Tile Cutters are high quality with 2,000kg breaking
pressure. Excellent for cutting very hard, large format porcelain and ceramic
tiles, they feature a nine-bearing carriage for very smooth action. Both the
22mm carbide tipped wheel and guide are replaceable.
52 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

TILING TOOLS
SELECTED TOOL SUPPLIERS
Tileasy is now the sole UK agent for the world-renowned Ishii brand of Japanese tile
cutters designed specifically for the professional market. The Ishii IPC620 is ideal for
popular-sized tiles such as 600 by 300mm and 600 by 600mm. The top section of the
base is sprung loaded to ensure quality and precision. The Ishii IPC1040 is a premium
product providing exceptional precision.
Tylows is a new product for the tiling industry that was invented and
designed by trade tiler’s to meet the demands of modern day tiling. It is
claimed to offer numerous advantages over any other tile spacer on the market,
as it can be used in various applications.
The product itself is a clear strip of acrylic measuring 900mm long by 20mm
wide by 2mm thick that can be broken down into 50mm sections.
“Although we are only producing the 2mm version at present, we have the
patent to produce it in various thicknesses,” explains Craig Goodwin, Sales &
Marketing Manager. “Our product is ideal for the heavier tiles that are now
very popular in the tiling market as it does not compress. So tiling jobs that
include tiles such as travertine, granite, quartz, large ceramic or porcelain tiles,
no longer have to be a problem to accurately space for the tiler. It can be
used when creating the brick setting effect, where until now only a peg could
have been used but even then it would not produce the high level accuracy
as Tylows would. It can be used to space larger tiles to a dado and then back
to the larger tile. It is ideal for keeping an accurate grouting line around corners,
which no other spacer can do at present. Tylows can be used in their
entirety or as individual spacers, so again maximising on where they can be
used. A length of Tylows can also be used to check lippage, again increasing
the overall result of a job. Also if needs be the individual pieces can be used
to scrape the grout lines, making it a very versatile product.”
Each pack has six lengths of Tylows which can be broken down into 108
individual pieces. The trade cost of each pack is £2.00 + VAT but is usually
retailed at £4.99, thus offering an excellent profit margin. The product is sold
in boxes, which holds 25 packs.
“As we all know tradesmen like to use what they are used to, but once they
have used this product they will use it again” continues Goodwin. “Of all of the
independent outlets that are currently stocking this product, the ones that
have been pro-active in selling the product have increased their sales to ten
boxes per month from nothing, proving that it can be successful and profitable.”
“We have already run an incentive with the stockists that we currently have,
where the shop with the most sales over a four month period won an Apple
I-Pad, which we hope to do more of in the future for new stockists that come
on board. On our website you will find more pictures demonstrating Tylows
in use. We also have a demonstration video of Tylows being used in different
ways,” concludes Goodwin.
365 Drills www.365drills.com 01992 410636
AEG Power Tools www.aeg-pt.co.uk 01442 222378
Armeg www.armeg.com 01246 411081
Astra www.astratools.co.uk 01707 255100
Black & Decker www.blackanddecker.co.uk 01753 574277
Boa UK www.boa-uk.com 01959 540404
Bosch www.boschpowertools.co.uk 01895 838743
Bright Ideas www.thebrightideas.co.uk 0121 520 9200
DeWalt www.dewalt.co.uk (dealers on website)
Dremel www.dremel.co.uk 0844 736 0107
Everbuild www.everbuild.co.uk 0112 240 2424
Fein www.fein-uk.co.uk 01327 308730
Forge Fix www.forgefix.co.uk 01663 719460
Genesis www.genesis-aps.com 01642 713000
Hitachi www.hitachi-powertools.co.uk 01908 354700
Homelux www.homelux.co.uk 01335 347300
Husqvarna www.husqvarna.co.uk 01453 820300
Karl Dahm www.karldahm.com +49 8667 878120
Kwik Split www.kwiksplit.co.uk 01509 843235
Leica www.disto.com 01908 256500
Makita www.makitauk.com 01908 211678
Marcrist www.marcrist.co.uk 01302 890888
Mascot www.mascot.dk +45 87244798
Montolit www.montolit.com 01509 843235
My ToolboxUK www.mytoolboxuk.com 0121 520 9333
NATTCO www.nattco.com +1 859 525 8891
Norton Clipper www.construction.norton.eu 01785 279553
Plasplugs www.plasplugs.co.uk 0800 840 6820
ProTiler Tools www.protilertools.com 01604 859800
Refina www.refina.co.uk 01202 632270
Rodia www.rodiatools.com uk@rodiatools.com
Rollins Group www.rollins.co.uk 01279 401570
Rotozip www.rotozip.com 0844 736 0107
Rubi UK www.rubi.com 01708 559609
Screwfix www.screwfix.com 0500 414141
Sigma www.sigmauk.co.uk 02393 113978
Slingsby www.slingsby.com 01274 535030
Sola www.sola.at +43 5523 533800
Suretile www.suretile.co.uk 01484 608272
Tile Depot www.thetiledepot.co.uk 08000 740720
Tileasy www.tileasy.co.uk 02392 455050
Tile Rite www.tilerite.co.uk 01543 500893
Tiler Shop www.tilershop.co.uk 01993 358044
Trade Tiler www.tradetiler.com 0870 745 6361
Trimline www.trimlineinnovation.co.uk 020 8778 9000
Tylows www.tylows.co.uk 07814 898009
54 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

PORTFOLIO
Discreet new drainage adaptor from Wedi
With the Fundo Riolito Discreto, Wedi has moved water drainage from
the floor to the wall: purely in visual terms, of course. On the basis of
the tried and tested Riolito channel drainage system, Wedi has developed
a special drainage adaptor that makes the channel simply disappear.
The new product presents itself as a perfected new visual interpretation
in a timeless design. Furthermore, the application possibilities
of the drainage adaptor can extend to include use for a seating
area, a storage area or a complete front wall.
Matching the Riolito floor element, Wedi has developed the Fundo
Riolito Discreto drainage adaptor as a visually attractive wall drainage
system. The drainage adaptor can be prepared by the installer in
advance at a convenient height, for example on a workbench, and
then mounted onto the Riolito. The design can be further enhanced
with Wedi building boards, enabling the drainage adaptor to be made
into a storage area for shower accessories, a seating area or a complete
front wall, depending on the individual requirements.
The design of the wall drainage system with the Wedi Riolito system
saves the installer a number of processing steps and the waterproof
system also gives peace of mind. The predefined slope of the Fundo
Riolito is already built in to all elements before they are delivered. This
means that time-consuming work setting up the fall doesn't have to
be carried out. Furthermore, the system, consisting of a Fundo Riolito
floor element, Fundo Discreto drainage adaptor and Wedi 610 adhesive
sealant, is completely waterproof. The result is a timesaving
assembly and effective surface drainage.
The high-quality stainless steel cover is a further bonus. Whether
brushed stainless steel or the possibility of matching tiling, the external
design of the wall drainage system can be adjusted to suit.
01706 647333 www.wedi.co.uk
New brochure from wetroom specialists
Impey Showers intends to capitalise on its reputation as a high quality,
technically advanced manufacturer by maximising its opportunities in
the showers sector, providing high quality and superbly designed
ranges of exciting showering products for the UK market. Known as
the wetroom specialists for their below the floor solutions, Impey
Showers is taking things a step further by including innovative new
ranges of showering products above the floor. Impey Showers now
offers solutions for every luxury wetroom together with a whole host
of other showering products.
To support the extended ranges, a new brochure is available for
retailers and consumers which includes stunning photography of the
new products in inspirational room settings. The photography creates
a light and airy feel for the bathroom and a steamy tropical theme was
adopted as the creative theme, with the feeling of bringing the outside
indoors. The literature is seductive and stylish, showing all the
options from the underfloor wetroom products through to the beautiful
screens above the floor. www.impeyshowers.com
BAL Grip acrylic-based adhesive is ready for walls
BAL Grip is the perfect answer for tiling
most interior walls.c It can be used with
most types of tile, including ceramics up
to 300 by 300mm, mosaics and some natural
stone. It suits both commercial and
domestic applications, in dry and wet
areas. This includes heavy-duty wet areas
such as shower rooms, including communal
showers, and commercial kitchens, as
it is highly water resistant. Tilers appreciate
BAL Grip for its ease of application
and its excellent non-slip properties,
which facilitate ease of fixing and the
extended open time. It is ready for grouting
after a minimum of 24 hours for most applications and, once dry gives a strong,
durable bond.
BAL Grip is an acrylic-basic organic dispersion adhesive, classified D2TE in accordance
with BS EN12004. It is available ready-mixed in three sizes of tub to suit any
application: 3.75 kg, 7.5 kg and 15 kg. BAL Grip is available from authorised stockists
nationwide and, as with all products bearing the BAL name, carries what is said to be
the industry’s only full 25-year guarantee.
01782 591100 www.bal-adhesives.co.uk
Mapei Ultralite Rapid Flex S1: lean, clean, flexible and green
Mapei has introduced Ultralite Rapid
Flex S1; a lightweight, flexible (S1), low
dust and high yield adhesive that is ideal
for the installation of ‘thin’ porcelain
tiles. Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 is suitable to
fix ceramic, vitrified and porcelain tiles
and mosaics in addition to natural stone
tiles.
The versatile adhesive offers significant
installation advantages being easy to
mix and apply, allowing a bed depth up
to 15 mm as well as high grab and non -
slip properties. It offers a powerful adhesive
bond and excellent ‘wetting out’
capabilities. Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 is also
rapid setting, being ready for grout after
only 3 hours.
Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 offers significant
environmental credentials; containing
30% of recycled materials as well as possessing
Low Dust technology – ideal
where dust levels must be kept to a minimum.
It is also lightweight, reducing
transport costs and the strain of manual
lifting and is classified BS EN 12004 by
Ceram as C2FT S1. The adhesive offers
great value, its high yield allows up to
60% greater coverage than conventional
Mapei powder adhesives.
The adhesive can be utilised for dry or
wet duty installations including showers
and swimming pools and is suitable in
interior and exterior areas including balconies
and terraces. It is ideal in both
domestic and commercial settings and
can be used in conjunction with underfloor
heating.
Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 can be used on a
variety of substrates including concrete,
sand:cement and calcium sulphate
based screeds, plywood, existing tile or
stone finishes, sand:cement render, gypsum
plaster, plasterboard and tilebacker
boards. It is also suitable for application
over Mapei’s self-levelling compounds
or waterproof membranes, for example
Mapegum WPS, Mapelastic
AquaDefense, Mapelastic Smart and
Mapelastic.
0121 508 6970
www.mapei.co.uk
56 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

Mosaic melange in matt and gloss metallics from Refin
Italian ceramic tile manufacturer, Refin, is launching its latest range in the UK. Metal is a 30cm x 30cm
(12in by 12in") tile made up of a mosaic of shapes with a combination of matt and gloss metal
coloured finishes. Metal plays with geometry to mix square and rectangles randomly, thereby, creating
a tapestry of different tile patterns. According to Metal's designer Massimiliano Adami
"Inspiration usually comes from the material; I like challenging materials and trying to tap into what
emerges from them to fine tune new projects." Metal uses platinum, gold and copper in this latest
tile range to create a look like no other. Refin also use a metallic finish in another new collection
Beside - a reverse mosaic in dark pewter.
www.refin-ceramic-tiles.com
Tile panel features a selection of British birds
A hand-painted tile
panel featuring a
selection of British
birds is the latest
design from bespoke
hand-painted tile
company Art on
Tiles.
The tile panel was
inspired by leading
UK mural painter
Graham Rust. Tile
artist Jonathan
Waights comments:
“There are huge
archives of tile
designs which tile
painters use but I frequently
turn to other sources and find many designs originally
intended for murals work well on tiles and are a practical solution
where a wipe-clean and moisture resistant solution is needed.”
The design is available as 30 tile panel measuring 25ft by 30ft. It
is painted, with a cream glaze (white also available) on the Art on
Tiles standard 5 inch tile. Matching hand-glazed plain tiles are available
to order.
All hand painted work is bespoke so different dimensions and
design alterations can be accommodated, if required.
01243 552346 www.artontiles.co.uk
PORTFOLIO
Bespoke pre-formed shower trays from Tile Redi
Tile Redi, one of the world’s leading manufacturers
of pre-formed, one-piece shower pans and
related accessories, offers end-users the autonomy
to have the design of their choice on the floor
of their showers.
“By now, most of the key buyers and decisionmakers
within hospitality and healthcare realize
the benefits our shower pans offer,” states Farrell
Gerber, Tile Redi’s Executive Vice President of
Sales. “They’re leak-proof, reduce labor costs
because their ease of installation saves so much
time… and, are pre-pitched to optimize
drainage.
“Whereas some interior plans indicate continuing
the tile design motif found on the walls and
floor adjacent to the base of the shower, others
may call for a totally different look. With Tile Redi
Shower Pans, which can be tiled right over using
typical installation methods, it is totally up to the customer,” Gerber explains. “For example, some
people may want a contrasting, lighter-coloured shower floor than what is installed elsewhere. With
Tile-Redi shower pans, limitless design possibilities are now possible.”
Tile Redi patented and UL-listed shower pans are manufactured as pre-formed, one-piece shower
modules. Complete with fully integrated drains, curbs and splash walls, each leak-proof unit is prepitched
for easy drainage.
www.tileredi.com
Botament unveils new packaging designs
As part of its continuous investment programme,
Botament - the construction chemical company
that operates from six different production locations
and sells its products all over Europe - has
unveiled its revamp;ed packaging.
The company’s aim was to achieve a contemporary
brand presentation, combined with clear
product information and clearly structured application
instructions to ensure durable and reliable
application. The company is pleased with the
result which shall be launched with the first conversion
of Botament M 21.
Naturally, the tried-and-tested quality of
Botament products stays the same, while the
Multifamily products keep their existing look.
As from now the newly designed packaging
will be introduced into successive productions,
with a large proportion of the packaging conversion
is expected to be completed by the end of
2012.
The new packaging offers a clear and modern
look. It conveys that this is a high-end superior
product; grabbing customer attention when on
display in retail outlets.
The new packaging design has a much clearer
appearance in terms of structure, readability,
symbolism, and language variety.
One major aims was for customers to be able
to recognise what kind of product they are looking
at, even when they are placed on the third or
fourth tier of a shelf,
The striking new logo makes the name
Botament clearly stand out on the packaging. At
the same time, product names have been simplified
and harmonised. The product category
names - Botact, Botazit, Botacem or Boton - will
become obsolete and will be replaced by the
brand name Botament. The individual product
code,s such as M 21, remain as they are.
The new packaging design helps users to
determine, via a clear colour coding system, what
product category they are looking at.
Botament says that the new packaging concept
will be implemented across all European production
sites as soon as possible.
+353 42 / 9 75 15 20
www.botament.com
FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ
57

PORTFOLIO
CP Group launches extensive coloured glass tile range
BASF promotes the lifecycle cost benefits
of virtually self-cleaning grout joints
Operators of busy buildings always need to keep an eye on cost. When
it comes to well-used tiled rooms such as washrooms and bathrooms,
a hygienic, attractive appearance is essential.
Until now, grout joints have been the potential aesthetic weak spot
in tiling installations, often becoming stained in appearance and
requiring refurbishment long before the tiles themselves show the
effects of age. This process can often be costly.
To avoid this scenario, PCI Geofug is the ideal solution for making
gains on whole-life costs. This new, high-convenience geopolymer
joint has been developed to deliver the Peciclean effect, which makes
it almost self-cleaning, giving an attractive appearance combined
with a high level of hygiene.
According to Michelle Costigan of PCI Technical Services: “Using PCI
Geofug to joint grouts prolongs the intervals between refurbishment
work as the low-pore, sealed surface is especially hard and durable. Its
formulation means that it resists strong acidic household cleaning
products, extreme temperatures and high mechanical loads. From the
perspective of the building owner, the benefits are reduced maintenance,
restoration and cleaning expenses.” www.pci.basf.co.uk
Zen by Rako (above) offers a very soft combination of beige and white
shades complemented by the accentuated curves of the bamboo
decor, which can be laid vertically as well as horizontally. Created
using digital printing, the range offers a very authentic look that
emphasises the Asian character of the series. Zen offers decor tiles in
300 by 600mm with large leaf motifs and subtle metallic effects.
Borders (600 by 55mm) with floral ornaments and a matt surface complete
the range.
The large beige and white field tiles (300 by 60 0mm) have a gloss
surface to form an elegant contrast to the matt decor tiles. Zen complements
the white, embossed floor tile of Wax range, which comes
in 450 by 450mm. www.rako.eu
With consumers wanting a wide choice of colours when it comes to updating their
wall coverings, and glass continuing to be a perennial favourite especially in the
kitchen as its so easy to clean, the CP Group has taken inspiration from the latest
colour trends in interior design to launch Cookhouse Impact.
Impact offers consumers the ultimate in flexibility when it comes to making a style
statement in the home. With a choice of 18 different colours, this is the CP Group’s
most extensive range of glass tiles to date.
“Well suited to a contemporary setting, Impact offers a kaleidoscope of colours that
are very much of the moment,” says Katy Black, CP’s Product Manager. “From bold
brights and statement stripes, to on trend shades of teal and cobalt and shimmering,
luxe metallics, along with a number of coordinating décors, customers can create a
truly personalised wall covering.”
“Highlights of the range include the striking Hot Pink Stripe tiles, Pacific’s eye catching
teal tiles, Aubergine’s gorgeous berry tiles, and Word décors in four punchy
shades of red, orange, lime and black. With five different sizes that can be used horizontally
or vertically, from classic 100 by 100mm and 75 by 150mm tiles to the larger
100 by 300mm and 150 by 450mm formats, not forgetting the 100 by 200mm metro
tile, the creative possibilities are endless,” concludes Black.
Colours in the Impact range include: Whisper, Pacific, Cobalt, Cappuccino,
Aubergine, Hot Pink, Lime, Tangerine, Lemon, Lipstick, Storm, Crystal, Liquorice,
Galaxy (Glitter), Snowflake (Glitter), Sensual (Metallic), Mink (Metallic) and Gold
(Metallic).
The new Cookhouse Impact collection is supported by a lifestyle brochure, dedicated
media relations campaign and point of sale material. A striking new clapper stand
which features inspirational photography has been developed to showcase the
entire Cookhouse collection. Designed specifically to ensure consumers can get a
feel for the collection and identify the tiles that are perfect for their home, the stand
illustrates the wide colour palette, different tile formats and décors on offer.
0845 519 7039 sales@cpgroupuk.com www.cpgroupuk.com
58 TSJ FEBRUARY 2012

PORTFOLIO
BAL Single Part Flexible is perfect for walls and floors
BAL Single Part Flexible is a flexible, non-slip adhesive, ideal for a
wide range for tile types to both walls and floors. It is suitable for
use with ceramics, mosaics and some natural stone including terrazzo.
A highly polymer-modified cementitious adhesive, it incorporates
BAL PorcelBond technology, making it perfect for use with
porcelain and fully vitrified tiles.
BAL Single Part Flexible can be used indoors and outside, but is
particularly recommended for use with large format wall tiles. Its
strong water resistance allows it to be used in such wet areas as
showers and in total immersion applications, including swimming pools. It is suitable for
installations which may be subject to limited vibration, shrinkage or deflection, which includes
use with underfloor heating for many applications.
The product is available in grey, in 20 kg bags, and white, in 10 kg and 20 kg bags, from hundreds
of authorised BAL stockists nationwide. As with all products carrying the BAL name, it has
a full 25-year guarantee.
01782 591100 www.bal-adhesives.co.uk
Tanking systems for wet rooms from Kerakoll
Classic white statuario marble effect from RAK
RAK Ceramics is launching four new tile designs at KBB 2012. The new collections include elegant
White Smoke, the Classic Series, an on-trend concrete-look tile range, Earthstone, and
Lounge Listellos - a series of new glass and porcelain decorative borders.
Combining exquisite design with durability, RAK’s new White Smoke tile features a classic
white statuario marble effect achieved using the latest ink-jet technology. The large format
600 by 600mm design shows the fine grey marble veining to full effect, creating an authentic
surface that can be used across floors and walls. Also featuring a traditional tile format, but
available in a spectrum of contemporary shades, RAK’s new Classic Series plain colour range is
available with a matt and gloss finish. Classic is offered in a 100 by 300mm format and is suitable
for both domestic and commercial applications.
The new Earthstone porcelain tile range includes four colour options, each offered with
matching mosaics. The refined concrete-effect porcelain tile is available in both 600 by 600mm
and 600 by 300mm formats and has a matt finish. The final new collection, Lounge Listellos,
includes a series of glass and porcelain decorative borders. Designed to co-ordinate with RAK’s
popular Lounge tile and slab collection, the borders can be used to create stylish, decorative
features for walls and floors.
01730 237850 www.rakceramics.co.uk
The main concern for anybody installing a wet room is to ensure
complete water tightness, the tiled surface should not be considered
as water tight especially when the room is on an upper
floor. Kerakoll’s Idrobuild Eco creates a water resistant layer and
is used on the floors before tiling. It has a high degree of adhesion
even on non absorbent substrates and is compatible with
cement based tile adhesives.
The FX version for walls can be used on any absorbent substrate
and is coloured so that you can see where it has been
applied. It has very low VOC emissions, is solvent free and develops
total water resistance so that it guarantees water tightness
even in a wet room environment.
Once the waterproofing layer has been applied, Idrobuild
Giuntoflex should be applied to all joints including perimeter
and fracture joints. Giuntoflex seals even expansion joints. It
bonds directly on application and is available in various sizes for
different types of joints, such as a tape for wall and floor joins,
internal and external corners and flanges for larger areas. It is
designed for use under ceramic and porcelain tiles and natural
stone.
After the room has been waterproofed the room can be tiled.
In most wet room situations H40 Tenaflex which is a flexible
adhesive will work well in case there is any movement in the
floor.
It can be used for all types of tiles including most natural
stones but for delicate natural stone tiles and terrazzo H40
Marmorex is ideal as it helps to stop staining and curling; both
phenomena that can occur with these sorts of tiles.
The final stages of the process are the application of grout and
then sealing with an appropriate silicone sealant. A fungicidal
grout is the best choice and Kerakoll’s Fugabella Eco range is an
eco friendly alternative that uses natural hydraulic lime to give it
its antibacterial and fungicidal properties rather than relying on
the biocides such as pesticides which are a more normal ingredient
of this sort of product.
Finally seal the joins between the wall and floor with a suitable
silicone sealant such as Fugabella Eco Silicone and you will have
a wet room that should delight your customers and provide safe
leak free use for as long as it is in service.
01527 578000 info@kerakoll.co.uk www.kerakoll.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2012 TSJ
59