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We have found these spectacularly large Porcelain wood planks manufactured by a small Italian company, they are 1.8m long and come in 200 or 300mm widths. We have 4 colours available and are an absolute must see, they dwarf any other faux wood effect tile we have found. We know we are the only stockists of this tile in Surrey so make sure you come and have a look at these fantastic tiles.

 

 

Halloween Special — We had an amazing day here on Halloween with over 1000 little monsters flying through our doors in some truly incredible costumes. It was lovely getting to meet more of the Reigate family on days like this. Thank you Reigate Hallowmas – Pillage the Village.

Halloween Special — We had an amazing day here on Halloween with over 1000 little monsters flying through our doors in some truly incredible costumes. It was lovely getting to meet more of the Reigate family on days like this. Thank you Reigate Hallowmas – Pillage the Village.

01737 223922

En caustic tiles, in which the pattern on the surface is created by using different colours of clay, first appeared in Europe in the late 19th century.

This is Ca’ Pietra’s first ever collection of hand-made decorative tiles made using the ‘encaustic’ technique with cement in which the pattern is inlaid into the body of the tile, so that the design and colour remain over a longer period of time even with extensive wear.

These are different from ceramic tiles in the way that they are created. Ceramic tiles are made such that surface pattern is the product of the finishing glaze printed on the surface and not the actual tile itself. Whereas with these, the pattern continues throughout the depth of the tile and as a result wears much better. Contact us today for more information.

Natural stone is used in kitchens, floors, walls, bathrooms, dining rooms, around swimming pools, building foyers, public areas and façades. Since ancient times, stone has been popular for building and decorative purposes.

The reason you want to seal your natural stone floor is to prevent the following things from occurring and ruining your tiles’ finish and look.

Staining: 

This is the most common form of damage. It is the result of oils or other liquids penetrate deeply into the channels within the stone and deposit material that is effectively impossible to remove without destroying the stone.

Salt Attack:

This occurs when salts dissolved in water are carried into the stone. The two most common effects are efflorescence and spalling. Salts that expand on crystallization in capillary gaps can cause surface spalling and can exert considerable expansive forces as its crystals grow.

Acid Attack:

Acid-soluble stone materials such as the calcite (veins) in marble, limestone and travertine, as well as the internal cement that binds the resistant grains in sandstone, react with acidic solutions on contact. Acid erodes the stone, leaving dull marks on polished surfaces. In time it may cause deep pitting, eventually totally obliterating the form. Even mild household acids, including cola, wine, vinegar, lemon juice and milk, can damage vulnerable types of stone. The milder the acid, the longer it takes to etch calcite-based stone; stronger acids can cause irreparable damage in seconds.

Picture Framing:

This occurs when water or grout moves into the edges of the stone to create an unsightly darkening or “frame” affect. Such harm is usually irreversible.

Freeze-thaw Spalling:

This occurs when water freezes in the surface pores. The general term is Frost weathering. The water expands on freezing, causing the stone to spall, crumble, or even to crack through.

There are 3 main types of sealant that can be used for natural stone floors, these are:

Topical sealers
Generally made from polyurethanes or acrylics. These sealers may be effective at stopping stains but, being exposed on the surface of the material, they tend to wear out relatively quickly, especially on high-traffic areas of flooring. This type of sealer will significantly change the look and slip resistance of the surface, especially when it is wet. These sealers are not breathable i.e. do not allow the escape of water vapour and other gases, and are not effective against salt attack, such as efflorescence and spalling

Penetrating sealers

The most penetrating sealers use siliconates, fluoro-polymers and siloxanes, which repel liquids. These sealers penetrate the surface of the stone enough to anchor the material to the surface. They are generally longer lasting than topical sealers and often do not substantially alter the look of the stone, but still can change the slip characteristics of the surface and do wear relatively quickly. Penetrating sealers often require the use of special cleaners which both clean and top up the repellent ingredient left on the stone surface. These sealers are often breathable to a certain degree, but do not penetrate deeply enough (generally less than 1mm) to be effective against salt attack, such as efflorescence and spalling.

Impregnating sealers

Uses silanes or modified silanes. These are a type of penetrating sealer, which penetrate deeply into the material, impregnating it with molecules which bond to the capillary pores and repels water and / or oils from within the material. Some modified silane sealers impregnate deeply enough to protect against salt attack, such as efflorescence, spalling, picture framing and freeze-thaw spalling. Some silane stone sealers based on nanotechnology claim to be resistant to UV light and higher pH levels found in new masonry and pointing.^[2] A good depth of penetration is also essential for protection from weathering and traffic.