Tile sizes are getting bigger, large format panels are quickly becoming a popular choice in interior and exterior design. In recent years, large porcelain panels have seen the highest growth among ceramic tiles across the entire industry – demand for these enormous panels is at an all-time high and is forecast to continue growing into the future.
Large porcelain panels can be installed in almost any scenario, from the exterior accents of high rises to the walls of residential bathrooms, it is becoming more and more common to see large format panels anywhere that regular tiles could be installed. The advantages of using these panels in your next design include giving a more spacious and minimalistic appearance, allowing for more creative designs on the tile face, and showing a cleaner look with minimal grout lines.
Large porcelain panels are a greener choice for tilework. The production of these panels consumes up to 70% less raw materials, 45% less energy, produces 46% less CO2 emissions, and the lighter weight leads to a lower carbon footprint during transportation.
One key difference of large porcelain panels lies in the installation process. These large panels require an advanced set of skills as their size presents several unique challenges. Qualified and trained installers are a must. On top of that, specialised high-strength adhesives with a long open time are required to ensure these panels are secured in place. LATICRETE Australia presents premium solutions to both of these factors as the industry shifts in this new direction.
Our brand new ProFocus training course ensures that installers are fully equipped to install a large format porcelain panel from start to finish. We invite tilers to participate in joint training events hosted by LATICRETE and key industry partners such as panel manufacturers and tool suppliers. The ProFocus course guides participants through a full large format installation for both vertical and horizontal surfaces, granting hands-on experience with the tools and techniques needed for a job.
In addition to this, we offer premium installation solutions for installing a large format panel from the substrate right up through the grout. Our standout product for this is our 257 TITANIUM™ Adhesive, one of the strongest adhesives on the market. 257 TITANIUM is lightweight and sand-free, making it the ideal choice for installer health and safety. This thin-set adhesive boasts smooth workability, extended open time, and polymer-fortified adhesion, making it the perfect large format panel adhesive for big projects.
LATICRETE has got your next installation covered – contact them today to learn more about using a LATICRETE system on your projects!
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