Slim Tiles

The future of porcelain tiles is already here:

The launch of 3mm thin porcelain tiles by Cotto D’Este back in 2005 was considered by many in the tile industry as to be akin to a car manufacturer putting a concept car into production ahead of its time. However not for the first time the premium Italian tile manufacturer was ahead of the curve in terms of both of both technology and design. The ability to imbue such a  technical product with a sense of style through its ability to replicate a wide variety of surface finishes such as natural stone, wood and even wall paper has meant that that most sincerest form of flattery has taken place and the industry has embraced the slimmed down future.

Although originally confined to full colorbody porcelain tiles the technology has now been applied to glazed wall tiles to stunning effect on series such as the Miss FAP range pictured below.

The advantages of Slim Tiles Include

• Energy Savings:  A reduction of 50% in the raw material being used is matched by the same reduction in C02 levels in the firing process. Tougher environmental standards will mean that in the future all tiles will be made like this
• The ability to tile over existing tiles is seen as a huge advantage in the current retrofit market. The use of thin tiles eliminates the mess and cost of removing existing tiles as well as the need to subsequently level  the surface for re-tiling
• Lightness results in a material that is cheaper to ship, store and handle
• Lightness also brings the ability for professionals to specify large format materials on load bearing internal walls
• With sheets available in sizes of up to 3000mmx1000mm huge potential exists for creative applications
• New Uses as a Cladding Material: The lightness of 3mm porcelain (typically 7kg/square metre) Makes it ideal for building facades  installed with either tile adhesive or mechanical fixing systems
• Easier to cut drill and install making for faster installation times  when tiling contractors become accustomed to working with the thinner material

As with all new technologies early adaptation can lead to competitive advantage and it is incumbent on professional Tile Suppliers to assist design professionals and tiling contractors in their use of these materials for the benefit of  both consumers and the environment alike.

For further details on the future of tiles contact us here or you can click to browse the largest range of thin tiles in Ireland