Finishes Explained
Many of the surface coverings we provide are offered in a choice of up to five finishes, with each one possessing its own particular aesthetic and practical qualities. From the contemporary softness of Honed, the authenticity of Natural, or the spectacular shine of Polished, each one displays a personality all of its own and provides fine control over the visual impact of each project. Below you will find an explanation of the surfaces that inspire our clients to explore the delicacies of Italian porcelain.
Polished
Featuring a high-gloss, perfectly smooth finish, the Polished surface exhibits a full range of tones, from bright highlights to dark shadows. With its beautiful lustre being part of the actual structure of the tile, the surface does not scratch, fade or show signs of wear, which makes it just as suitable for high-traffic areas such as office corridors and hotel lobbies as it is for bathroom vanity units and kitchen countertops.
With its high contrast, patterns appear stronger and more obvious with darker and lighter tones becoming bolder in appearance than they would be on the surface of a Natural version of the same tile.
Virtually maintenance free, Polished porcelain tiles are extremely hard wearing and do not require sealing or periodic re-sealing. Please note that due to their higher slip potential when wet, polished tiles are generally reserved for indoor areas, wall and surface coverings.
Natural
The surface of a Natural finished tile typically replicates the finish of the material on which it is based. For a stone and concrete effect tile, the surface will be very similar to the look and feel of the natural material, with its own distinctive markings, patterns and textures, providing a surface where you can literally feel the authenticity.
Within our marble collection, the difference with Natural is that the polished, high-reflected surface, typical of polished marble, is not present, leaving a less-reflective, softer finish. Like all porcelain tiles our Natural tiles do not require sealing and are suitable for use with underfloor heating. You can view our natural surfaced tiles here.
Honed
Honed, also known as Silk offers a cool, contemporary finish that sits beautifully alongside our Polished and Natural finishes, allowing clients to channel their creativity through subtle visual details. During the finishing process for Honed tiles, the surface is buffed to a satin-like feel that is supremely smooth and velvety to the touch. The colour of a honed tile may appear slightly richer than the same tile in a Natural surface, but less so than the Polished.
Within our stone collection, the Honed tile will appear smoother than stone with a slight reflection. But unlike quarried stone, the Honed surface of a porcelain tile remains non-porous and cannot be damaged by water. This means that maintenance is low, sealants are unnecessary, and chip and scratch resistance remains high. You can view our collection of honed surfaced porcelain tiles here.
Structured
Structured finish means that the face of the tile is changed during the forming process from a flat to a textured surface. This texture can take many forms, ranging from a rough random texture to protruding geometric shapes. These Structured tiles provide a degree of slip resistance, especially in the dry, although they do not have the anti-slip properties of Grip.
Grip
For use in wet areas such as bathrooms, pool surrounds and shower areas, Grip finish tiles offer a highly slip-resistant (R11 rated) surface. Featuring a superfine texture they have been designed specifically for wet surface conditions where an anti-slip resistance is required. Please note that while it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of slipping, our Grip surface tiles are particularly suitable for public use facilities, and far exceed the benchmarks for friction in flooring applications.
20mm Thickness
Ideal for external application our 20 mm thickness porcelain tiles are impervious to water and will never warp, stain permanently or crack.
With multiple laying options they are ideal for patios, balconies, paths and driveways as well as being suitable for interior spaces that need to withstand high traffic and large heavy loads. With their inherent strength our 20 mm thickness porcelain tiles also cater for pedestal and dry laying situations.
