Who are the top 5 companies to buy porcelain tiles from in the UK and why?
Designers are looking for increasingly natural effects, new looks and designs. Equally project managers are looking to balance the quality of materials with the cost to get within budget. Along with the fact there has been an enormous growth of new porcelain companies pushing the price of tiles down.
It can be difficult to separate quality tiles from cheap ones.
Here are the top companies where you will find tiles in the UK.
1. Porcelanosa
Porcelanosa is a Spanish company, they have been manufacturing tiles in their own factories since 1973. They are known for quality and innovation in tile production. Porcelanosa have 21 retail stores in the UK for viewing the tiles. When buying through the Porcelanosa trade account you are limited to a set trade range.
2. Mandarin Stone
Mandarin Stone have a wide range of tiles in stock around the UK, with15 showrooms to visit in many big cities. They have great reviews and are a good option for purchasing tiles.
3. Domus
Domus has a large porcelain tile range with showrooms around the UK.
4. Solus
Solus have a good range of ceramic and porcelain tiles manufactured with good technologies with limited stocks in the UK. More of a commercial showroom style which you can visit to see tile samples.
5. Clay & Rock
Clay & Rock have 10 showrooms across the UK with access to quality factories around Europe. Quality porcelain tiles and bathroom furniture with small patterns as well as larger tiles.
Things to consider when choosing a tile supplier:
1. Quality – quality varies from different manufacturers in the way that tiles are produced, the material it is made from and other factors. Cheaper porcelains can stain and require sealing, due to not being manufactured to top standards. Another example where care has been needed to be taken: since the war in the Ukraine clay is not available from the Donbas region which is where manufacturers for ceramic tiles have been purchasing for many years, clay is now being purchased from Germany and other European regions bringing a new set of challenges (rectification) to mention one of them.
2. Size – Some suppliers don’t sell all sizes so if you want a quality large format (anything above 600 x 600) you will definitely need to use a supplier selling Italian Porcelain .
3. Delivery Service – Getting the delivery right for your needs is important with tiles as they are a heavy high value item and more delicate to transport. So ensuring you get your tiles delivered in the correct way, eg. a forklift/timed delivery.
4. Time – You will need to go for something that is in stock, or if you can afford to wait you can choose something bespoke and get it ordered in. But find out before placing an order.
5. Samples – Getting a sample of the tile before choosing is important to make sure you are going to be happy with the finished result. So you are best to go with a supplier that offers a quick sample delivery service. However, be aware that samples only show a small part of the whole tile, so if there is veining or other details it may be best to request a larger tile/visit a showroom before making your decision.
6. Aftercare - The advice and support to ensure your project is completed to the best result. And on going maintenance, getting the best advice for your floor.
It is imperative you choose your right supplier for the supply of ceramic / porcelain tiles, to give you full backup for your projects and to deliver every time with no hidden surprises.
Who are the top 5 companies to buy porcelain tiles from in the UK and why?