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Kerlite Easy dry laying installation system. Anthology porcelain tile. M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | 35 Hard Surface Flooring P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y A M E S T I L E & S TO N E; O LY M P I A T I L E Innovative technologies are revolutionizing the world of hard surface flooring by LAURIE JONES T he continuing appetite for high-end, easy-clean flooring products for both residential and commercial applications keeps manufacturers and suppliers busy, and 2022 is proving to have wide selections of flooring to keep everyone happy. American Biltrite is introducing three timeless stone designs for UltraCeramic Contract, a commercial-grade fully- grouted engineered stone flooring solution that features a four-millimetre (mm) rigid-core construction protected by a 20-mm wear layer. "It has a polyurethane surface treatment that is stain-resistant, non-porous, and maintains its lustre after cleaning and disinfection better than marble and other natural stones," says Catherine del Vecchio, VP of marketing. It provides the elegance of grouted ceramic tile or natural stone without inconveniences such as hardness, slip coefficient of friction, noise impact, maintenance, and long and expensive installation. UltraCeramic installs within 24 hours using a full spread adhesive, ceramic tile spacers, and premixed coloured grout. It's lighter and easier to cut than hard surface tiles, does not require heavy cutting machinery, and is mess-free. In fact, UltraCeramic Contract can be installed up to three times faster than ceramic "and does not require any downtime between steps," explains del Vecchio. She notes it is a smart, durable, and decorative solution for corporate, hospitality, multi-dwelling properties, and retail spaces, and it is 100 percent waterproof, good for entryways, break rooms, lobbies, restaurants, and beauty and hair salons. Available in 12 by 24 tiles, the new collections reflect the latest trends in the hard surface category: Urban Slate – rugged and classic – available in six natural colours with an unpolished matte finish; Finestone – chic and elegant – a contemporary collection that comes in five delicate shades interlaced with subtle cross-grain veins; Villa Stonewood – directional visual – a look-alike wood in a stone construction, and available in four different colourways. Oren Gal, sales manager in the commercial and builders division at Olympia Tile says their Kerlite Easy dry laying installation system will be available on a special order basis. "Using specially designed, large thin format porcelain stone- ware, the Kerlite Easy system will allow installers to simply roll a special sound Out On The Tiles proof mat over an existing floor and lay the Kerlite porcelain panels down over it without using an adhesive. The joints simply need to be filled with a special finish sealant to complete the work. With the combined use of Kerlite slabs and the Filler sealant, the floor is guaranteed to be entirely waterproof. This system is produced by Cotto D'Este, a leading Italian tile manufacturer," says Gal. The Kerlite fibreglass-reinforced slabs can be as thin as 5.5-mm and the entire assembly would be 7-mm. This durable porcelain stoneware works well for residential and light commercial floors. Because it can be laid on pre-existing floors, there is no need for demolition. Gal explains the product is easy to apply, light, cost-effective, practical, fast, and eco-friendly. This system eliminates the mess of demolition and cuts the time of work exponentially. "It's very exciting for people who are doing renovations," says Gal. Colour options range from wood-look to marble, metal, and cement, but are all porcelain and come with the advantages that porcelain tiles provide. The product also has a 10-year guarantee. The Anthology line from Ames Tile & Stone works well with the trending desire to have continuous flooring with today's indoor/outdoor lifestyle. "During the past two years, while we sheltered at home due to the pandemic, it was important to have an extension of our living space to feel like we weren't confined to four walls," says Nicole Goetz, business development leader. "The Anthology porcelain tile comes from Italy and can be used in any type of set- ting, whether it be residential or commercial because it meets all the technical requirements. We have a lot of options for indoor tiles with co-ordinating 20-mm thick exterior paver tiles." Goetz says the neutral colours of porcelain tile continue to be popular as access to natural stone is challenging in a world fraught by climate change and rising prices. "Natural stone is not a rapidly renewable source, but technology has come so far in porcelain tile that the look of natural products can be dupli- cated perfectly. Hard surface tiles are durable, low maintenance, and don't need harsh chemicals to clean it."

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