Year-round installations with MapePave
While most garden make-overs are embarked upon in early spring, the arrival of all-season products – like Mapei’s recently launched MapePave – has extended the landscaper’s calendar.

First debuted at FutureScape 2023, the MapePave range is designed to facilitate the fast installation of natural and engineered stone pavers year-round. It includes a pre-blended ready-to-use mortar system – MapePave Mortar and MapePave Slurry – which provides normal setting and controlled shrinkage for fast-drying bedding and installation, ideal for 20mm porcelain and natural stone. Installed pavers are foot-traffic ready after approx. 12 hours and patios can be fully used after approx. 4 days.

The range also includes MapePave Brush-in Grout – a ready-to-use polybutadiene-based drainage mortar for grouting pavers with joints of at least 5mm in width. Forming a strong bond and hardening quickly, MapePave joints are said to be resistant to jet washing and de-icing salts, allow fast penetration of rainwater and resist freeze/thaw cycles, as well as the formation of moss and weeds. Joints can be stepped on after 24 hours and are fully-hardened after 7 days, Mapei says.

Ensuring tile performance in all seasons
To ensure outdoor spaces can be used year-round, a good maintenance regime that retains a tile’s aesthetic and performance is essential. Designed for professional and end-user application, Mapei’s UltraCare range aims to provide a solution from tile installation right up to the protection and maintenance of surfaces in private and commercial settings. UltraCare treatments are formulated for all types of natural and engineered stone and tile finishes, from sandstone to external grade porcelain and for all patio settings. Many of the products are also part of Mapei’s Zero Line – a range of low environmental impact products with CO2 offset in the entire life cycle.

Protecting pavers before & after installation
To protect pavers, the range includes UltraCare Grout Release and UltraCare Stain Protector W Plus. UltraCare Grout Release is a water-based treatment designed to protect porous surfaces from grout ingress, picture framing and staining. It’s used as a sacrificial sealer for textured porcelain, to make cleaning after grouting quicker and easier. After installation, UltraCare Stain Protector W Plus – a natural-effect water-based impregnator – provides stain-resistant protection for all types of natural and engineered stone finishes.

Keeping surfaces clean & safe
To retain a tile’s performance throughout the year, Mapei recommends two products, both from the Zero Line. UltraCare Multicleaner is a concentrated pH-neutral solution designed for regular cleaning of all types of pavers. UltraCare HD Cleaner is an intensive alkaline treatment developed for deep cleaning and restoration of all types of natural and engineered stone, including external porcelain. This cleaner removes organic dirt and residue, so is suitable for renovating neglected spaces and tackling a build-up of slippery algae, as well as water-based wax from outdoor candles. After deep cleaning, pavers can be treated with UltraCare Stain Protector W Plus to protect them from water, oil and grease.

To tackle specific stains, other treatments include: UltraCare Rust Remover, which can be used on acid-sensitive natural stone and external porcelain; UltraCare Acid Cleaner for use on porcelain pavers and UltraCare Stain Remover, which removes oil and grease stains from porous tiles.
info@mapei.co.uk
www.mapei.co.uk

The white versions of all three powder-form gel-adhesives are extremely white in colour. This is achieved with a combination of cements and natural pure white materials which also reportedly contribute to the excellent flow properties of the products, says Kerakoll, while also increasing coverage and workability. These qualities are said to make the adhesives suitable for tiling with all types of natural stone and marble.

The products are reportedly very easy to work with as they are soft and easy to trowel but still support heavy stone tiles, keep their shape, and stop vertical slip on walls.

According to the company, the way the mix flows means it fully wets the back of the tile, filling voids and ensuring a full structural bond, while the fact that it does not dry out means it does not thicken or allow a film to form. All of this is of paramount importance when working with heavy, difficult to manoeuvre tiles such as large marble slabs.

The gel-adhesives also contain additives designed to increase flexibility, meaning that they can be used with deformable substrates such as wood and metal. The unbroken structural bond which they form with the substrate and tile absorbs and evens out the stresses caused by movement of the substrate.

Talk to your local sales representative or use the contact details below for more information on using these innovative new products with natural stone.
01772 456831
info@kerakoll.co.uk
www.kerakoll.com

Natural stone tiles require special care and attention to ensure they last for many years. This is where BAL says its tiling products come in. The company offers a range of products designed to make the installation of natural stone tiles easier and more efficient.

One of the top reasons to use BAL tiling products for natural stone installation, the company says, is their quality. It has what it calls a proven reputation for producing high-quality products designed to last over its 60 years as the “UK market-leader” for tiling systems. The company’s products are said to be made from the best materials and undergo testing to ensure they meet the highest standards. This means that when you use BAL products, the company says, you can be confident your natural stone tiles will be installed correctly and will last for many years.

The company offers various products designed to meet the needs of different types of natural stone tiles. For example, it has a range of adhesives specifically designed to work with different types of stone tiles – including BAL XL Floor One. This means that no matter what type of natural stone tile you are installing, there is a BAL product for the job.

BAL XL Floor One is described by the company as an excellent choice for those looking to install natural stone tiles. It’s said to be a high-performance, flexible, and semi-rapid setting tile adhesive that offers exceptional bond strength. It’s also specially formulated to meet the needs of large format and heavy tiles, with key features including 25mm max bed depths (perfect for uncalibrated tiles) and longer open and working times (45 minutes and 90 minutes respectively). This provides more time to cut, handle and move large format natural stone tiles – without worrying the adhesive will go off in the bucket or skin over on the floor.

The company also offers a range of grouts suitable for natural stone – including BAL Micromax3 ECO. Rapid-drying in 2-3 hours, the grout is formulated with rapid-hardening chemistry, where the water is maintained within the grout, reportedly ensuring a more consistent finish and eliminating the risk of water staining on natural stone. Easier clean-off and less haze, even on textured tiles or stone, make for easier grouting.

If you need to protect your tiles from staining by pigmented grouts, the company also offers BAL Protective Sealer. This water-based temporary sealer protects surfaces against discolouration and can be removed by washing-off after grouting.

BAL products are also easy to use. They are designed with the user in mind, making them easy to apply and work with. This is particularly important when it comes to natural stone tiles, as they can be tricky to install.
www.bal-adhesives.com

Established in 1998, his company specialises in mosaic design, manufacturing and restoration in a multitude of locations from privately held Victorian or Edwardian properties that feature geometric hallways to the restoration of a serious pieces of mosaic artwork in public buildings.

With more than thirty years of experience of working with mosaics, a natural question to ask is how did Bricknell and the Mosaic Restoration Company start out?

An uncle teaches
Originally from London, he and the company are now based in Northamptonshire. But Bricknell’s interest and passion for mosaics began when as a child visited an uncle, Trevor Caley, at his workshop.

As Bricknell tells, “my uncle was quite a well-known mosaic artist and designer in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. I’m from South London and he lived in South London too. As a child I used to visit the workshop in Streatham. I’d to go there and just mess around with mosaics.”

Bricknell says that Trevor was like a typical uncle and would set up little projects for his sister and himself to complete. “I had an interest in it anyway and was always interested in the arts” – it was fun and not in the least bit laborious.

To cut very long story short, Bricknell says that he moved with his family for work around the UK. Trevor then asked him if 4 he would like to work with him: “I was in my late teens, around 18, when he got a large job to work at various underground stations – Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Finsbury Park and so on. I joined him staying for three years or so.”
Bricknell says that through plenty of hard work they built up the business to relatively large workshop in South London where they fabricated many big mosaic commissions – “and that’s how it all started – as a child to actually doing the work which were predominantly new commissions and other works – in a workshop.”

It’s important to recognise that Bricknell’s never had any formal training in the art of mosaics – he’s learned everything from being hands on and practical: “I never went to any university – I’ve just got a flair for it. I do have some O Levels, but I just had a genuine interest for mosaics and it went from there.”

But business being business, the work dried up and so Bricknell left to join the building industry where he became involved with project management and allied work. However, the interest in mosaics never left him and so used to do smaller commissions himself. By the start of the 1990’s he hooked up again with Trevor and progressed to eventually become a director, Trevor Caley Associates, and later his own business – the Mosaic Restoration Company – when Trevor retired in 1998.

In time, Bricknell moved his company from London to Northamptonshire in 1999 with his family. The reason being, as he says, “the central location for the business was better positioned to work on projects throughout the UK including Scotland and the north of England.”

In time, the company gradually expanded and has over the last 20 years or so has established itself with “an excellent reputation in all areas of mosaic design, restoration and conservation.”

The company now operates out of a purpose-built workshop in Daventry, in Northamptonshire, where staff are able to conserve and restore existing or fabricate new mosaics to order. “The large workshop and studio,” says Bricknell, “enables clients to see work in progress and view a comprehensive range of salvaged mosaics kept in stock including very rare marble mosaics, glass mosaics, and venetian glass mosaics.”

Finding work
Some companies come and go; however, the Mosaic Restoration Company is, says Bricknell, 25 years old this year. But remember, in terms of mosaic restoration Bricknell’s been working in the sector for nearly forty years.

Thirty odd years ago he was carrying out repairs to Victorian geometric floors found in old Victorian houses as well as undertaking artistic works – this gave him continuity of work. He recalls that he too had an old house and used to enjoy doing it up – “I just couldn’t really get away from it.” Work then – before the move to the Midlands – was mainly in South London around Fulham and locations close by. Notably, as he says, “once you start working, I found that every house has got that type of floor; it was handy for me.”

Those Victorian geometric floor subsequently fuelled Bricknell’s interest in mosaics because, and this should be obvious, they’re both very close in nature – it’s just that one is in a larger format. Then from there, Bricknell found himself receiving larger and larger contracts from churches, cathedrals and town halls. Since then, he says that he’s specialised in not just in geometric floors, but also marble and ceramic and more decorative works.

Incoming work is the life blood of a business and on this Bricknell details how, in his view, times have changed when it comes to generating interest.

He says that when in South London he “put an advert into the Yellow Pages – it cost around £780 or so – to target a specific area in London. It was useless.” He soon found as many others have elsewhere that the best form of advertising was word of mouth – “you do one job well and others will hear about you; I built up a good reputation and so that’s how it went.”

Later, thanks to the Internet, Bricknell found that work really snowballed. “I didn’t have to directly market; we were given write ups and had a relatively good website. Word then got out because we’re so niche; if you’ve got a good reputation and people like you work just comes in. It was relatively easy.”

The mid-late ‘90s may have been world’s away from where media is now, but work was still buoyant. Back then Bricknell’s firm had, as he describes, a minimum of three months’ work booked in. Now, it’s grown to be almost two years.

Even now Bricknell says that much of the work is generated by recommendation. However, the website has been very important in reaching potential new commercial and residential clients. It now features a new facility, “a quick and easy quote request system” where enquirers can describe what they want and upload sample images to illustrate what they have in mind. And for large commercial projects the company can provide detailed mosaic reports following a comprehensive survey carried out on site.

The company now undertakes mosaic restoration and new mosaic works throughout the UK and Europe with “many prestigious projects in Central London.”

Of course, it also helps that Bricknell’s company sits in what he describes is a “very niche market.” On top of that he says that he’s “got to meet a lot of people over the years” and is “lucky to be able to have a good reputation; people would know of me or know of the company.” To this he adds that he’s written reports and the like for both Historic England and Historic Scotland. He also gives talks and lecture at the London School of Mosaic – “I get quite involved as well as the hands-on things.”

Fundamentally, Bricknell says that “because we’re so unique you’ve only got to look for mosaic repairs and restoration on the internet and you’ll find us.”

Now to the use of social media to promote the business. On this Bricknell states that he has “younger people” that work with him to manage this part of the business: “We’ve got an Instagram page, a website, we post blogs, and we’re on Twitter. So, we are relatively active – but we could be better in all fairness.”

Even so, he does think that the website is most important thing in terms of publicity. He tries to have it updated on a monthly basis with blogs – “little news things” – if nothing else.

But even with the advent of the web and social media, Bricknell finds that “promotion just happens.” He adds: “We’re currently working at Manchester Town Hall. We did a big job in Rochdale church. We’ve been at Salisbury Cathedral, the V&A, and did a new commission at Westminster Cathedral. They are all quite noteworthy projects.” Using the work at Westminster Cathedral as an example, Bricknell says that it appeared the cathedral’s own magazine which then went live on the cathedral website. “Because we’ve completed a couple of projects in Roman Catholic churches it tends to get the word out… it happens like that, on websites, and then I get a phone call.”

With a long and storied history, Bricknell tells how the company has completed
projects of all sizes – from “tiny little commissions for people’s homes and a small one for Westminster Cathedral that was only 400mm by 1500mm… but which took nearly nine months to make” to the biggest of jobs where he’s worked at the Albert Hal “which took us two years”. He says that they’re currently at Manchester Town Hall for two years. But that’s not as long as a commission for Westminster Cathedral some seven years ago that took him three years to finish. All in all, he says, in the same breath as mentioning St. Paul’s Cathedral, that “some really massive projects can go on for years.”

But work needs managing which is why Bricknell aims to balance one big project – like that currently running at Manchester Town Hall which finishes in June 2024 – alongside smaller jobs such as those from churches and other commissions. But be it small private work, or a large public commission, each project – he says – receives the same attention to detail.

Staffing matters
Clearly with the volume of work that Bricknell has the company needs staff. And indeed, there are a number on the books. In more detail, he outlines that currently there are six people employed under PAYE – “the longest serving have been with me four, eight, twelve and fourteen years.”

As for how they’re recruited, they’re mainly stone masons. Bricknell says that one’s a qualified conservator with a degree in conservation and there are another four specialist subcontractors that the company uses who are all specialists in their own fields. In essence, though, he says that “what we tend to do is hire either mosaic artists, conservators or people from similar trades who are skilled in stained glass windows, stone masonry, or are letter carvers and so on.”

Not surprisingly when hiring Bricknell has to sort the wheat from the chaff because, as he says, “we get lots of enquiries from people who think that making mosaics would be a nice thing to do. But there’s a misconception about sitting in a workshop and making or creating arty things. Sometimes it’s like that, but many times you’re on your hands and knees on a building site with a hammer and chisel and it’s quite labour intensive.”

The struggle for Bricknell is to find someone that has an artistic flair, is good with their eyes, and understands how to fabricate and design. But because the work is quite physical it becomes a challenge to find both. And that’s why he says that “I’m lucky that my team are like me – they don’t mind getting their hands dirty while creating some amazing artwork as well.”

Apprentices feature in the business. Every year Bricknell participates in the Prince’s Foundation and has taken an apprentice on via the organisation in each of the last three years. “Currently,” says Bricknell, “we’ve got one girl that’s been with us for a year from Historic Scotland on a formal apprenticeship. And we’ve got a young lad, who’s 18, in Manchester that we’ve made a bespoke mosaic apprentice.”

Bricknell says that the aim is that at any one time he has one apprentice or more training with the company. He says that they don’t necessarily stay after training, but still thinks it good to pass his knowledge on. “What tends to happen,” he says, “is that they go and do their own thing… mosaics or tiling – an allied trade to ours. But what’s useful from my point of view is that with most of them I can pick up the phone to see if they fancy joining us for six months to help with a big job.”

Overall, Bricknell considers his company unique with “a fresh and friendly approach to running its business. And because staff are directly employed and trained to a high standard, they have pride in the work they carry out.”

Look out next month for the continuation of our interview with the Mosaic Restoration Company.
www.mosaicrestoration.co.uk

Already a well-known figure within the industry, Martin Pouncey has held many different roles with diverse responsibilities throughout his tiling career. Naturally, this began with several years as a tile fixer, before he was eventually offered a postion at New College Nottingham teaching wall and floor tiling. Although he enjoyed teaching, especially where he was able to pass on his knowledge and experience to new members of the industry, he became “fed up with the red tape bureaucracy that came with education,” and decided to go back on the tools.

Shortly after that however, Pouncey was offered another teaching role at South & City College Birmingham as a lecturer and an internal verifier, which he enjoyed more, staying for six years. During this time, based on his experience in education and as a tile expert, he was approached by City and Guilds to write its tiling qualifications, eventually becoming an external verifier for the organisation.

With his bona fides well and truly established at this point, Pouncey was approached by BAL to join the company as product support technician for the Midlands. Over the course of his five years in this role, he also became technical manager for BAL’s Dunlop brand. Following this, he was approached by Instarmac to become the company’s technical site support and training manager for the North. While with Instarmac, Pouncey led many training sessions, including several in collaboration with the Tilers Community Facebook group. (He also became a valued regular contributor to TSJ’s technical advice section!)

As much as he enjoyed the technical challenge of visiting customers and problem-solving during different inspections, his work with manufacturers had been intense. It involved a huge amount of travel (around 2000 miles a week!) and dealing with the occasionally competing priorities of both customers and company was “a lot of pressure”.

In June of last year, Pouncey suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, he’s since made a full recovery, but in the wake of this terrible experience, he realised he needed to slow down – if only a little.

A new start
At this time, Pouncey was already a part of TTA as vice chair of its Training Committee, and when the organisation developed the technical & training manager role, he was an obvious choice. It may seem slightly contradictory, slowing down by taking on a newly created technical role at the nation’s official association for tilers, especially when that role will still involve travelling for technical inspections and dealing with customer disputes. Speaking with Pouncey though, it’s obvious these practical situations are where he’s most comfortable and confident. “My passion always lies with actual tile fixing,” he says, and in this respect, a desk job or quiet retirement were simply out of the question.

“It is a weird position,” he says, “because obviously it’s a completely brand new role! So it’s getting to grips with what the board members want the role to be but obviously making the role work as it should do.” Fortunately, TTA has been considerate of Pouncey’s circumstances, giving him a lot of influence over the shape of the role as it develops. “Kay (Porter, CEO of TTA) has been really, really good. Creating this role has been a big investment for TTA, and they want it to work for the benefit of members, so I’m confident I will get the support that I need. I’m moulding the role to how I think it should work, with the guidance of the board obviously.”

With that influence then, what does Pouncey want to achieve in the position? “More fixer focus,” he says. I really want to maximise the benefit that members get from their membership. Critically I think we have the opportunity to do that. He has a number of ideas and initiatives already underway to achieve this aim: for example, he will hold Technical Masterclasses up and down the country in different venues, rather than purely at TTA’s head office in Stone. “More tile fixers will have the ability to get to a Masterclass, rather than taking a four or five hour journey.” Even with the amount of travel this will entail though (including running one class at an independent training centre in Scotland) Pouncey’s overall mileage will still be lower in his new role.

Importantly, thanks to his prior experience across all parts of the industry (but especially as a fixer himself) Pouncey says he’s well positioned to engage with independents and contractors. “I’m more approachable with respect to speaking to independent fixers and contractors because I’ve actually done the role,” he explains. “I’ve been there. I feel that the day-to-day running of a business is not as easy as some people might think.”

With that first-hand experience then, he also understands some of the negative perceptions fixers have had about TTA in the past, and wants to help shift those perceptions. “There’s been a stigma from a fixers’ point of view that it’s a boys’ club – but that was a number of years ago, well before Kay was appointed CEO. Things have changed massively. If I was back fixing again, I would be a member, definitely, because of the benefits for the tile fixers.” Of course, Pouncey’s appointment in itself is testament to that commitment from the organisation, and increasingly high member retention and the recent recruitment of a number of new members seem to demonstrate it’s a well-received one.

Working for the members
One of Pouncey’s hopes is that, in addition to the support he is now providing current members, he can encourage more tilers who currently don’t engage with TTA to consider the organisation and potentially join. As the organisation stated in its initial announcement, the appointment is in line with its first strategic pillar to “Raise tile and tiling standards and enhance installation expertise and craftsmanship” as well as the second pillar, which aims to “Improve the value of membership, attract, engage and retain more members”.

This is a challenge, and unlike many of his other responsibilities, it’s not one Pouncey is used to yet. “There is that little bit of apprehension there,” he says, “regarding speaking about money with contractors. Obviously, I’m more than comfortable with the actual delivery of the masterclasses and the technical inspections aren’t an issue because I dealt with complaints and issues when was with Instarmac and BAL.”

Surprisingly enough then, it’s only communicating all of the benefits he brings to TTA membership that Pouncey finds himself feeling somewhat anxious about. In fact, it’s evident in conversation with him that he’s most comfortable simply doing the job – whether that’s educating tilers, inspecting jobs or mediating disputes – rather than endlessly talking about it.

While that may be a cause of slight friction for the man himself, it’s undeniably better for members to have a true technical expert in the role, rather than a natural born salesman.
Fortunately for Pouncey, the independence and value of TTA is obvious, which makes advocating for it much easier. At site inspections, for example, there’s not even the slightest concern over his integrity now he’s no longer associated with any specific brands in the industry. “With The Tile Association, I’m taking everything in black and white. They’ve not done it to the standard, or they have done it to the standard.”

The deep knowledge and practical understanding of those standards is one of the main benefits Pouncey brings to the organisation, meaning he will be able to provide truly independent best-practice advice and guidance to members and non-members alike. “A lot of tile fixers don’t really understand what the standards are or why they’re there. There is a tendency to think they are written by bureaucrats who are detached from reality. But actually that is not the case. The standards are written by people like myself. People from industry to improve the industry.”

Indeed, although he didn’t work on them directly, Pouncey has studied the upcoming changes to BS-5385, the British Standard for wall and floor tiling, which makes him an invaluable resource for any tilers who aren’t able to purchase or fully study the official document in the short term. Just prior to our interview, for example, Pouncey had spoken to a contractor who needed to know the standard for lipping. “I got him out of a sticky situation where a customer wasn’t going to pay him. I gave him all the information required over the phone – the customer was listening and he’d done everything within the standards.”

When it can mean the difference between getting paid or not, Pouncey’s advocacy is a powerful tool for TTA members to take advantage of. Of course, he admits, not every dispute will be as straightforward or unambiguous as the above example, but the goal is to ensure tilers aren’t ever penalised when they’ve followed standards correctly. “A lot of my job is fighting fires for people,” he says. Even in less dramatic situations though, his encyclopaedic knowledge of best practices will be an enormous asset for TTA members moving forward. As the organisation’s CEO, Kay Porter says: “We would struggle to think of a better qualified candidate.”

Characteristically, Pouncey himself puts it a bit more humbly. “I’m still finding my feet with the role. There’s nothing so far I’d say that’s stumped me, but don’t get me wrong, I don’t know absolutely everything about the industry. That’s what I say to contractors though: every day’s a school day!” And it’s that constant desire to maintain and update his knowledge that most inspires confidence when speaking to Pouncey. It remains to be seen exactly how he’ll work with the organisation in the coming months and years, but judging by our conversation, he’s gotten off to a flying start.
www.tiles.org.uk

Following on from our previous story in January, the event’s organisers have stated the fair has now reached 95% floor space occupancy. According to event director Carmen Álvarez: “These data reflect the interest in participating in Cevisama in its 40th edition, both in the more traditional exhibition space and in the new formats that we present.” These additional formats include Cevisama Build, described as the fair’s most eco-friendly and sustainable bet, Cevisama Tech, whose technological pavilion is said to include the most innovative offerings and Cevisama Trends, the fair’s trends gallery, among others.

The structure of the fair itself has changed for this milestone occasion, with the exhibition space undergoing a renovation designed to prioritise visitor experience along with visibility for exhibitors. “The objective is to create new routes prioritising circulation within the pavilions and reducing the flow in the central gallery,” says Daniel Marco, deputy director of the fair.

Feria Valencia (where Cevisama takes place) will be decked out especially for the 40th anniversary celebration, with what organisers describe as a spectacular Institutional Hall located within the fair. “We want the Cevisama image to be unforgettable in 2024,” says Álvarez.

While the fair itself promises to innovate and surprise, TSJ anticipates the products on show to be a little bit more grounded, following suit from last year’s Cersaie. Many high-profile manufacturers are set to attend, from Apavisa and Ape Grupo to Peronda and Vives, and among the several hundred strong exhibitor list there will invariably be some unusual and out-there ideas. The majority however, we expect, will focus more on natural, subtle designs. Not only are these effects increasingly realistic thanks to advances in both digital printing and glaze technology, but they are also safer bets from a commercial perspective, a vital consideration for manufacturers suffering massively inflated production costs owing to the energy crisis.

Recognising that commercial imperative, Cevisama has once again invested in a “powerful” buyer campaign for its 2024 edition, which has been enabled with the collaboration of IVACE Internacional and ICEX.

The investment of one million euros will be divided between international and national buyers. Álvarez and Marco explain: “80% of the invitations are international, from buyers mainly from North America, Europe, and the Middle East, the remaining 20% will be for national guests from all autonomous communities.” According to the organisers, this investment is also made in consultation with the exhibitors, who propose profiles, customers, and origin of provenance of the guests.

While the primary focus of the show is on buyers, organisers are also making an effort to cater to and bring in more installers, introducing a “unique space where the best professionals will perform live demonstrations on how to apply different products”. It’s described as a didactic area where tile fixers can learn and share experiences and knowledge, as well as learn about new products and technical solutions.

Similarly, there will be an immersive experience at the show designed for distributors. The area will simulate a store or point of sale, and is aimed to help visitors understand the needs and current consumption habits of customers. Marco explains: “We will materialise the future of the sector in this space, so that visitors can get an idea of where we are headed.” He added that other novelties will include the installation of a product gallery whose objective is to pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the event.

Last year’s show saw a total attendance of 74,000 visitors, 25% of whom travelled internationally, up from 22% at the previous edition. Just over 60% of the exhibiting companies were ceramic tile suppliers, with 13% offering bathroom equipment and the remaining exhibitors showcasing machinery, raw materials and more. As we continue to leave the lockdown era behind, we can expect these visitor numbers to increase as more people make the journey to Valencia for this exciting 40th anniversary celebration. We here at TSJ certainly look forward to running into anyone from the UK tile industry who will be making the trip!

Customers continue to praise for its overall performance and saleability, supporting them with innovative Point of Sale and display stands for the highly successful range of grouts, silicone and expansion joints.

Colourfast 360 tile grout from Larsen. This advanced formulation uses Larsen’s proprietary Colourfast Technology to ensure uniform joint colour, free from efflorescence. It is also non-shrink, allowing the use in wide joints without the need for sand, meaning it is safe for use with most types of tiles.
The use of advanced polymers completes the binder system to give a dense, waterproof grout that is stain-resistant and flexible enough to cope with the minor movement on most common substrates.

Colourfast 360 tile grout is available in a range of 12 colours all produced in both 3kg and 10kg packs, with co-ordinating silicones to ensure problem-free tiling. As with the Grout, the silicone is feature packed too offering 100% silicone without solvents providing a non-shrink high bond benefit, a truly high performance acetoxy silicone.

These products have also been complemented by leading manufacturer, Dural, to offer a complete colour-matched system of grout, silicone, and expansion joints. Having the silicone branded in the same prominent way as the grout offers a simple but effective cross sale enabling the end user to have peace of mind for the colour match. Both products are feature packed and focused on leading edge quality.

The highly branded display unit takes up a very small footprint in store so maximises on sales space and encourages increased sales to customers as an add-on to orders. The latest addition has been colour swatches designed for the fixer and trade customer of the retailer offering a pocket size colour indication.

The stands have been used to promote various products including Colourfast 360 100% non-shrink silicone, Larsen’s simple but versatile offering of priming solutions, and also the highly regarded range of maintenance products.

In line with the growth of external tiling, Larsen is also pleased to add Brush-Joint 360 – a premium external grout – to the 360 family.
T:02890 535409
W: www.larsenbuildingproducts.com

They follow on from the success of the widely utilised natural stone mosaics which were also introduced to the UK by Marmox, the company says, offering bathroom installers significant speed advantages when compared to traditional tiling techniques: savings being made on the costs of fixings, grout and glue – as well as with the labour costs through quicker installation.

Now designers as well as tilers are said to be acclaiming the ultra-slim lightweight sandstone sheets that are available in two sizes – these being 1220x610mm and 2100×1050 mm, weighing between 2.5-3kg per square metre as they are 4 ± 1.5mm thick, additionally they deliver a moisture absorption rate of less than 2.5%.

Supplied on a specially formulated decoupling layer, the product can be applied to curved surfaces both indoors and out, while the lightweight product is backed with a 100% waterproof decoupling membrane, allowing it to be secured with a tile adhesive.

Incorporating the latest technology, Marmox says, Slicedstone Sheets are simply peeled from the surface of Indian sedimentary rock and then re-engineered with the stabilised backing.

The natural stone blend substrate is treated with a clear polycarbonate solution to create a flexible surface that is both durable and waterproof, the company says, as well as stain resistant, which allows for the easy removal of grout and adhesive residue. While being natural, the installed sheets are said to appear monolithic, and are also UV resistant and will not fade over time.

Marketing manager for Marmox, Grant Terry, comments: “Although Slicedstone is fully suitable for exterior use, as has been demonstrated by some of the very striking properties such as Rio Gardens we have seen constructed in Egypt, the main interest so far here in the UK has come from interior designers, particularly those involved in high end residential developments.

“One of the first properties where Slicedstone is being featured is nearing completion now with half a dozen of the full-sized sheets having been supplied for use in the main bathroom/spa room where the interior designer, Revolve Interior Design, is very pleased with the effect.”

“Not only are the sheets lightweight and easy to cut with a fine-toothed saw, but they can be curved down to quite a tight radius. One of the things we’ve done to demonstrate Slicedstone’s adaptability was to have a company cut a series of interlocking jigsaw pieces for us and we also now have sample packs for designers to take away from our stand or to be available at our stockists.”

Those familiar with the Marmox range will also understand the potential to combine Slicedstone with the company’s Multiboard range, which is available in several thicknesses, to create insulated wall linings or for forming features within wetrooms. The two products could also be combined around swimming pools or on balconies and roof terraces.

Terry concludes: “There is certainly a lot of interest from specifiers who are also showing how the product is triggering their imagination, with some enquiring about the possibility of using Slicedstone for fire surrounds. But as the lighthouse project in Port Said showed, the possibilities for Slicedstone are huge.”

The Surface Design Show is the UK’s only event dedicated to surface material innovation, so is the perfect place for Marmox to showcase its Slicedstone offering, the company says. The 2024 show will provide exhibitors like Marmox the perfect platform to reconnect with existing customers and generate new business, both from the UK and Europe.
www.marmox.co.uk

Cellecta says its stand has become a focal point for architects, designers, and industry professionals seeking state-of-the-art solutions for their projects. From acoustic treatments that “redefine sound insulation standards” to thermal insulation solutions that prioritise energy efficiency, the company says it’s consistently demonstrated its dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. “Our high-performance underfloor heating systems represent a marriage of innovation and functionality,” Cellecta says, “providing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for modern construction challenges.”

The Surface Design Show is a pivotal event that brings together architects, designers, and industry professionals to explore the latest trends and innovations in surface materials and design. Cellecta says its consistent participation since 2016 underscores its commitment to staying ahead of industry developments. “This dedication allows us to provide solutions aligned with the evolving needs of the construction sector.”

Cellecta’s representatives will be available for discussions and advice on live projects. Whether it’s architects grappling with acoustic challenges, designers exploring innovative surface materials, or industry professionals seeking the most efficient insulation solutions, Cellecta says its team is poised to offer insights and solutions.

The company’s presence at the Surface Design Show 2024 is said to be more than a showcase. Cellecta concludes: “As we unveil our latest cutting-edge solutions, we invite architects, designers, and industry professionals to engage with us, explore the possibilities, and join us on the journey of shaping a future where sustainable building practices are at the forefront of design and construction.

“Cellecta continues to be a driving force in the evolution of surface design, and the Surface Design Show 2024 is the stage where our commitment takes centre stage. Don’t miss the chance to engage with our experts, experience live demonstrations, and discover how Cellecta is shaping the future of heating technology.”
www.cellecta.co.uk

A. Andrews was founded in 1886 by Arthur Andrews, a journeyman who was appointed agent for the tile manufacturers Craven Dunnill & Co in 1895. He had five sons, Arthur, Cecil, Sidney, Allan and Ernest, all of whom came into the business. With the influx of Italian immigrants into Leeds at the turn of the 19th century, the company says, an expansion into terrazzo flooring took place and Andrews extended its activities into marble, granite and stonework in the early 1930s. By the mid 1930s, Andrews was reportedly one of the largest companies of its kind in Britain. Founded in a period considered a high point of the ceramic trade in the United Kingdom, the company says it has been adding to its vast store of skill and expertise continuously, and this, together with the in-house technical facilities it can make available to its clients, makes it “one of the leading companies in its field”.

With over 100 years of experience and knowledge, Andrews says it understands the importance of using local British manufactured products from sustainable sources. All customers have the full support of the company’s technical and design team to help in selecting the right products for any given project. The company doesn’t just supply terrazzo, it provides backup from design at specification stages through to fixing and installation.

“To this day, terrazzo remains one of the most versatile and durable hard flooring options available. Andrea Palladio used terrazzo in his Venice villas in the 1560s and it has been a natural choice for top quality design ever since,” the company says. “Over 450 years later, terrazzo is still bringing innovative and creative building design to life.” Andrews also offers a selection of their European-sourced porcelain and natural stone ranges, so whatever your design requirements, the company says its experienced team will be on hand to guide you through the process and help you to select and design your project using the most suitable products to match your design brief.

The company concludes: “Come and visit us at stand 614 to find out more and we can discuss our sustainability journey and how our sustainable British-manufactured terrazzo and European porcelain and granites can help you on your project.”
01132 624751
sales@andrews-tiles.co.uk