Archetech Issue 33 2017 | Page 58

the giAnt in the rOOm 2600 x 1200 MM ForMaT TILeS FIFTEEN yEARS AGO, everyone was using 300 x 300mm tiles and manufacturers brought out the bigger, more unwieldy 600 x 600mm tile sizes. Architects and fitters were worried. Would they look too big? Tilers didn’t have the experience or the machinery to cut them. There was a lag in adopting what has now become the norm. 600 x 600 mm has been in vogue for years and the giant in the room is the possibility of 2600 x 1200mm tiles. That’s a big sheet to cut, to move, with a greater risk of damage and difficulty. People are worried again. So why use them? Because the look is stunning. Large format tiles can make a small room look spacious and a large room look even larger. Whether it’s a rustic stone or sleek high-gloss finish, fewer grout lines are required during installation, resulting in a more streamlined look that is easier to clean. Channel Island Ceramics is the only supplier and fitter of large format tiles in the Channel Islands and have trained their staff to be able to handle the process. ‘Yes the larger tiles present a challenge,’ says managing director John Litchfield, ‘but that’s what we said about 600 x 600mm and now that look is extremely popular and widely adopted. We have trained our guys extensively to be able to expertly manoeuvre the materials. ‘We are always trying to push the boat out and be at the forefront of innovations in the market and we’re really excited to see about the take up of these tiles. They will be for people who want to be a little bit different and a cut above the rest,’ he added. With a comprehensive range of 2600 x 1200 mm or 1200 mm x 1200 mm size tiles, Channel Island Ceramics has the largest choice in materials and sizes of tiles in the Channel Islands and offers an expert fitting service.