It might seem counterintuitive to talk about tile in the context of stone surfaces. However, there are a number of applications in which both stone tiles and Florim porcelain tiles are the material of choice. So it stands to reason then that some of the same professionals would be installing both materials. In this brief article, we are going to talk a little bit about what kinds of applications large format porcelain tiles are generally used in. As we do, we will talk a little bit about some of the necessary tools for working with large format porcelain tile like Florim Porcelain and products with which to care for it. So let's get into the article.
Introduction to Large Format Tile
What are large format porcelain tiles? As a general rule most people are familiar with porcelain tile. And many know that there are several sizes of porcelain tile. Large format porcelain tile is tile that is made in large sizes. There are a number of sizes of large format tile, so we won't go into a full, exhaustive list of each available size. But providers of this durable and versatile material such as Florim Porcelain will have a selection of sizes from which to choose.
Applications for Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is used for a number of applications. For many years this material has been used for floor covering in several sizes. However, larger sizes are available for use indoor and outdoor. These "large format" tiles (also called panels) allow more ground to be covered with fewer tiles. Porcelain is a material that is easily cleaned with proper cleaners. The material also is scratch resistant and holds up well when used as a floor covering. Because of its durability, products like Florim Porcelain large format porcelain tiles are used for wall covering, floor covering, building facades and even countertops.
Isn't Porcelain the Same as Ceramic?
It is not uncommon for people to conclude or even be told that porcelain tile is the same thing as ceramic tile. However, they are actually two different materials and they are distinct form one another. Note what the The Spruce website says about this topic:
According to the Tile Council of North America, the industry group that decides whether a tile is porcelain or ceramic, everything boils down to whether the tile can meet a set of highly controlled water absorption criteria.
Yes, porcelain tile is a different material than ceramic. In fact, additional requirements are necessary for a ceramic tile to qualify as porcelain.
The Look of Large Format Porcelain Tiles
It may be surprising for some to learn that there are many occasions where large format tile does not even appear to be a man-made material at all. That is because porcelain tile has advanced to the point where it can be made to look like any number of materials; including natural stone. Several brands of large format tile offer collections that are engineered to resemble natural stone surfaces.
Colors of Florim Porcelain Tile
As is the case with any popular product, there are a variety of colors in which Florim Porcelain is available. And although not all tile brands dealing in porcelain tile offer large format tiles, a number of brands do, including Florim. Since there so many options available, it is good to look through the colors available for the brand of large format porcelain tile you are considering.
In fact, here is a list of colors for the brand of tile we are currently discussing as they are shown on this website:
Cobalto
Empatia Nero
Azure
Moka
Casale
Sand Grey
Heritage Azure
Cenere
Broccato grigio
Plank 04
Grigio
Taupe Dust
Étoile symphonie
Cookie Mix
White Blend
San Marco Granata
Thunder Night
Marble Calacatta A
Plank 01
Base Blu
Happy Hour Giada
Goldfinger Acquamarina
Dorian Gray Glicine
White Gold
San Marco Avorio Antico
Maui Green
Alpi
Cotton
Heritage Brown
Heritage Flame
Bone CE
Funny Girl Turchese
Origines Argent
Gradiente grigio-verde
Ghiaia
Silver Porphyry
Sage
Sugar Mix
Rêve Rose
Stone Sahara Noir
Radici Grigio
White Sand
Limo
Bestegui Granata
Heritage Cloud
Origines Or
Golden Blend
Onyx Blanche
Masseria
Amani Grey
Old Lace
Arabescato White
Ivory Fossil
Plomb
Gold
Calacatta Altissimo Blanc
Stone Noir
Broccato bianco
Bianco Lasa
Nebbia
MOUNTAIN PEAK
Radici Beige
Coal CE
Base Azzurro
Marble Capraia
White Onyx
La Roche Blanc
Fuchsia
Breccia
Pure White
Taupe Lithos
Bianco
San Marco Blu di Prussia
Marble Breach A
Lady Hamilton Turchese
Goldfinger Granata
Ivory Sand
White Dust
Fragment
Marble Calacatta Gold B
Rosa
Golden Onyx
Vague Scarlatto
Marble Laurent
Raw-Dust
Gris
Cookie
Colore Grigio
Ceppo di Grè
Palazzo
Fossil Grey
Mud CE
Sand Ivory
Villa
Bestegui Ambra
Lino grigio
Empatia Bianco
Steel
Riverbed
Sky
Stone_01
Earl Grey
Rainforest
Stone Calacatta Black
Funny Girl Granata
Cielo
Celtic Grey
Brown Sand
Marble White A
Valtoce
OUTBACK GROUND
Rubber
Danish Smoke
Buttercream
Lady Hamilton Cipria
Taupe
Marble White B
Stone Calacatta
Gradiente bianco-rosa
Lino bianco
Étoile crème
Aqua
Ivory Lithos
White CE
Happy Hour Cipria
Cemento
Archeologie Bianco
Travertino
Sabbia
Urban Plomb
Funny Girl Vaniglia
Origines Blanc
Dark Gray
Monile bianco
White Fossil
Sable
Ecrù
Brown Lithos
Op Art Vaniglia
Op Art Tè Verde
Mou
Heritage Emerald
Sodalite Bleu
Ritmo Beige
Taupe Sand
Burgundy
Opale
Anelli bianco
Happy Hour Vaniglia
Base Grigio
CARBON GROUND
Plank 05
Milk
Yamuna
Plimawhite/01
Ritmo Azzurro
Sand Brown
White Fantasy
Eternal White A
Skyline
Wwhite
Black
Goldfinger Glicine
Grey Lithos
Urban Light
SAVANNAH GROUND
Stone Brown
Cream
Lido
Origines Ombre Dorée
Golden Porphyry
Base Corallo
White Porphyry
Raw-White
Dorian Gray Rugiada
Earl Grey Mix
Mustard
Anelli grigio
Lumière
Burnished
White Lithos
Alpine Grey
La Roche Grey
Les Quatre Saisons
FOG GROUND
Midnight
Vague Cipria
Dorian Gray Fiordaliso
La Roche Ecru
Silver Onyx
CHALK
Alpine Brown
Light Gray
Moss
San Marco Ambra
Grey Sand
Melange
Hazelnut
Concreate
Tundra
Étoile renoir
Russet
Étoile gris
Colore Bianco
Wave
Marble Statuario B
Marble Breach B
Sand
Blanc
Scarlet
Calacatta
BARK
Cloud
Marble Statuario A
Nuage
Eternal Gold A
Funny Girl Cipria
Gold Arabescato
Primrose
Archeologie Grigio
Aged Bronze
MIST
Marble Gray
Ombre
Dream Arabesque
Marquinia
Grey Fossil
Breach
Goldfinger Rugiada
Sahara Noir
Stone Gris
Marron Imperial
Monile grigio
Marble Marquinia
Rêve Perle
Metal Burnished
Verde
Marfil
Happy Hour Scarlatto
Brèche Capraia
Plank 02
Mountain peak
Cascina
CALACATTA GOLD
Verde Alpi
Brown Dust
Marble Calacatta Gold A
Taupe Fossil
Rêve Jade
STORM
Vague Giada
PUMICE GROUND
Bottle
DESERT GROUND
Silver Blend
Eternal Gold B
Rêve Choco
Jaspe Rouge
Terra
Crimson
Vague Vaniglia
Lichene
Essenza
Salvia
Sostanza
Glacier
DOVE
Rêve Noisette
Ivory
Bestegui Blu di Prussia
Rêve Bleu
Castello
Statuario
Bestegui Avorio Antico
Étoile tropical
Eternal White B
Étoile illusion
Cipria
Heritage Aqua
Marble Calacatta B
Charming Amber
Euridice Tela
Ivory Dust
Plank 06
Sugar
NOIR
Fossil Ivory
Cipollino
Lady Hamilton Amaranto
Brown Fossil
Op Art Cipria
Lady Hamilton Vaniglia
Grey Dust
Stone Marfil
Teal
Amani Bronze
Ombre de Caravage
Plank 03
Florim Porcelain Large Format Porcelain Tile Tools
One of the questions that might be asked is, "How does working with large format porcelain tile differ from working with stone?" Porcelain is like stone in some ways and in other ways it differs. For example, like some natural stone, porcelain, including Florim Porcelain is very hard and requires diamond blades for cutting it. On the other hand though, it is so hard that using diamond blades for cutting porcelain is better than opting for a diamond blade for cutting hard natural stone materials. Blades designed for cutting porcelain have features that give a chip-free cut.
Another variation in the way large format porcelain tile is installed has to do with the surface areas covered with this relatively lightweight material. Large spans of floors, walls, and interior or exterior surfaces are covered with materials like Florim Porcelain. Additionally, the use of multiple tiles for a surface combined with the size of the tiles being used necessitates a tile leveling system for the most accurate installation. A tool that is being popularized because of its efficiency is the vibrating suction cup tile leveling tool like the Tile Quake from Weha. This tool makes the work of leveling tile very efficient which improves profitability because the speed of work is increased while maintaining accurate leveling.
Porcelain Tile Care
One of the selling points for large format porcelain tile such as Florim Porcelain is that it's relatively easy to maintain. Being a non-porous material, porcelain does not require sealing. When cleaned with the proper cleaner, and cared for according to the guidelines from the material's manufacturer, porcelain offers many years of service. Using a cleaner designed for use on porcelain such as Florim will offer the greatest benefits.
As we have briefly considered in this article, Florim Porcelain large format porcelain tile is an interesting material choice that offers a range of applications and is fashioned to look like other materials in some cases. And we took a brief look at some of the tooling and care products used for porcelain. Choosing it as a material for a project offers diversity and many possibilities. It also offers benefits, but it will take a little specific attention to work with it and care for it.
