CERAMIC TILES
INTRODUCING NATURE TO
YOUR LIVING SPACE
Peter Vann, Director at Ceramique Internationale introduces printed patterns as a way to bring the outside in.
The trend for echoing the outdoors within the home, creating a feeling of continuous flow from indoors to outdoors, has grown apace in recent years, resulting in increased demand for natural flooring materials.
However for many homes, and many consumers, these natural materials such as wood, marble and limestone are not always practical, with the requirement for specialist cleaning and maintenance incurring both up- front and ongoing costs, which can be off-putting.
But, thanks to innovative new printing techniques, these natural finishes are no longer out of reach, with manufacturers now able to replicate wood, brick, terracotta, limestone, flagstone and polished marble effects in both ceramic and porcelain tiles.
“NATURAL EFFECT TILES
LOOK FANTASTIC IN ALMOST ANY ROOM; WOOD IN THE
DINING ROOM AND MARBLE IN BEDROOMS.”
Over the last five years, inkjet printers have rapidly grown in prominence in the global tile printing industry. Such is the speed of their uptake, mainstays such as screen presses are now nowhere to be seen.
twitter.com/TomorrowsTS
By adopting digital inkjet technology manufacturers have significantly reduced production costs, minimised waste, shortened lead times and ensured stocks of products can be kept at a low-level. The quality of the printing finish means that natural materials can now be accurately replicated, so that retailers – and their customers - get a high-quality, durable product at a significantly reduced cost when compared to the ‘real’ materials – and they require little or no maintenance.
The techniques bring complete randomness to the pattern or effect on the tile so repetition is not noticeable even across larger spaces such as conservatories, as well as surface design such as marble, texture can also be printed, creating effects such as wood grain and knotting.
So now almost any type of wood can be replicated; from the knotty, rustic, highly variated style of classic oak, through to aged/reclaimed effects; from washed, beach-comber and bleached wood to wine case planks with wine names on.
In terms of marble realism, there are products that echo the classical white stones which UK consumers are familiar with, along with stronger coloured marbles and Travertine with directional veining, for those looking for more dramatic styles.
In addition, because porcelain body tiles don’t deform during the kilning
— 19 —
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56