5
for instance), (118X39”) which makes them
very versatile. Lamination pressing tech-
nology has made it possible to produce
large-size porcelain stoneware tiles up to
1000x3000mm (12X4”) that are also ultra-
thin– as little as 3.5mm (.14”) thick – yet that
retain all the mechanical and aesthetic pro-
perties that are characteristic of porcelain.
These thin sheets of ceramic mean that we
can now design totally integrated rooms.
Not only are they used to cover walls and
floors but also doors and wardrobes, which
then merge seamlessly into their surroun-
dings, becoming almost invisible. Kitchens
and bathrooms clad and furnished with
a single material that is also hygienic, un-
changing and extremely strong.
3mm-thick (.12”) sheets can be used on
furniture or for interior cladding, while for
interior flooring and exterior paving and
cladding (e.g. ventilated facades) it is advi-
sable to use 6mm-thick (.24”) tiles.
As for surface treatments, all sorts of finishes
are available, from block color to ultra-glossy
and even digital decorations. Being made of
porcelain stoneware, these tiles also offer the
benefits that are intrinsic to the material: they
are highly resistant to staining and scratching,
are easy to clean and maintain and highly re-
sistant to changes in temperature.
The sustainability of this type of ceramic tile
is obvious: smaller quantities of raw mate-
rials are used to make them, less energy
is required to fire them, they weigh less so
cost less to transport – the list goes on…
Running counter to this, however, are the
double thickness tiles currently being seen
which, at 20mm thick, (.78”) offer high resis-
tance to breakage in addition to the tech-
nical properties of porcelain, making them
ideal for exterior use.
The very thinness of the
tiles (just 5mm) (.2”) means
they can be laid directly
on top of existing ceramic
floors with no need for
the old material to be
removed.
GRESPANIA, Nexo series, Coverlam collection (3.5 y 5.6 mm thick). (.13”and .22”).
ROCA, Pigment series (10 mm thick). (.40”).
COLORKER, Memory familia ‘ThinCK’ series (6.5 mm thick). (.25”).
