Do you lie awake at night longing for a flawless floor that’s free of gaps and spaces? Does the thought of a seamless surface leave you salivating like a hungry dog in a butcher’s window?

Well, wipe up that drool and dream no more! Those aspirations can become a reality with the perfect porcelain finish of rectified tiles.

What are Rectified Tiles?

In a nutshell, rectified tiles are essentially machine-finished tiles that have been refined to achieve faultless edges for a perfectly precise right-angle (also known as a “sharp edge” finish).

While regular tiles may have edges that are somewhat irregular and ununiformed, rectified tiles are specifically designed to feature a near identical finish in terms of dimensions.

Benefits of Rectified Tiles

The primary advantage of rectified tiles over standard tiles is that they offer a virtually seamless aesthetic appearance once laid.

The consistent design and exact proportions of each tile allow them to be laid tightly together with as little as 1.5mm grout width.

The result is an unwavering design that appears virtually uninterrupted from tile to tile, providing an overall pattern consistency that’s second to none.

Laying Rectified Tiles

While the uninterrupted design of the wafer-thin joins boasts a truly stunning finish, there are a few things that are worth bearing in mind to achieve the best results.

Perhaps most importantly of all, rectified tiles will still need to be laid upon a smooth and level substrate in order to offer that elusive “perfect finish”.

Placement of rectified tiles on an undulating surface that’s anything but level can result in an uneven lay and cause varying gaps as a result.

What’s more, laying rectified tiles on an uneven surface can cause lips and drops between tiles, effectively negating the “shoulder-to-shoulder” aspect of rectified tiling.

When laying rectified tiles externally, our Easy-Frame system and Pedestal Supports are ideal for providing a level surface outside with minimal effort and an option that’s well worth exploring.

Why Choose Rectified Tiles?

All of the tiles and pavers available at AlfrescoPlus are not only rectified but also vitrified for unparalleled durability, unrivalled water resistance and unfathomable design consistency.

With a showroom finish that’s impossibly uniform, backed by a material that’s strong enough to last, the range of hard-wearing rectified tiles at AlfrescoPlus is sure to tick all the boxes.

For more information on the rectified tiles available at AlfrescoPlus, why not get in touch today? Call our customer service team today on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line via email using the button below.

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For long-time residents of the UK, our dull and dismal climate will be a gripe that’s all too familiar.

The weather across the UK is characteristically wet throughout the year, predictably unpredictable and habitually putting a dampener on British summertime.

With such a high likelihood of rainfall, it’s important that you take this into consideration when planning out your garden design.

If you’re planning on revamping your outside space, slip-resistant tiles are a wise choice. Luckily, here at AlfrescoPlus, we’ve got you covered.

Get a Grip

At AlfrescoPlus, all of our outdoor tile ranges have been specifically designed to withstand the environmental demands of an outdoor setting – including the eventuality of heavy rain.

Each of our porcelain paving tiles are extremely robust, vitrified for extreme durability. The vitrification process not only ensures their ability to resist scratches, cracks and abrasions, but it also provides each tile with an impressively low porosity.

With a porosity level of less than 0.05%, our tiles retain virtually no moisture. Not only does this mean they dry out faster in wet weather but it also means that they are frost-resistant, providing further slip-protection in colder conditions.

Last Traction Hero

Our wide range of porcelain tiles boast a myriad of features for grip and slip-resistance, most notably their textured finish. This is a specific design choice made to enhance underfoot stability in all weather conditions, while also making it a top material for a poolside surround or base for a hot tub.

Additionally, each outdoor paving tile is 20mm thick and durable enough to withstand a heavy weight, which – when coupled with their slip-resisting qualities – also makes them perfect for driveways, as well as back gardens and patios.

Rate Expectations

For clarity purposes, all paving tiles on the AlfrescoPlus site have been graded with a “Grip Factor” of 1-5, with 1 being low and 5 being highly slip-resistant. The majority of our outdoor tiles are rate 4 or above, making porcelain paving from AlfrescoPlus a safe bet when it comes to slip-protection.

Additionally, all our outdoor tiles are also given a designated slip score, known as an “R Rating”; this ranking system has been designed and implemented by the government’s Health and Safety Executive. While this is helpful in determining performance, it’s important to note that scores are recorded between R9 and R13 and not beginning at R1 as you would logically believe.

What are you waiting for? Don’t slip up with your outdoor tile choice – call AlfrescoPlus today and give your outdoor design a tile it can rely on, whatever the weather!

For more information on our slip-resistant tiles and further details on outdoor paving attributes, why not drop us a line? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online using the button below.

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The beauty of the porcelain tiles we sell here at AlfrescoPlus is that they are extremely durable, fundamentally designed to weather the storm in terms of elemental abuse from the environment.

That being said, nothing is invincible and even the very best can have an off-day from time to time. As such, you may find that, in order to retain your just-laid shine, you may want to give your porcelain tiles a sporadic once-over when necessary.

However, blindly jumping in with both feet for a porcelain deep clean can be a recipe for disaster, particularly if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are a few guidelines you may want to stick to if you want to ensure the longevity of your shiny new slabs.

Read on for the ultimate guide to cleaning porcelain tiles.

Step by Step: How to Clean Porcelain Floor Tiles

1. Sweep the surface with a dry mop to rid the tiles of any visible dust and dirt.
2. Once swept clear, cover the area with warm, soapy water and leave briefly to soak.
3. Next, use a wet mop to clean the face of each tile to give your patio a renewed shine.
4. For stubborn dirt and stains, scrub the problem area with a soft nylon brush.
5. Wash away the surface water with clean water to reveal your gleaming tiles.

Top Tips for Cleaning Porcelain Tiles

So, now you’re clued up on the ABCs of cleaning porcelain tiles, it’s time to dot the Is and cross the Ts. Here’s a few more handy tips that are worth bearing in mind before you get polishing your porcelain.

Cleaning Inside Out

Naturally, depending on whether you’re cleaning indoor tiles or outdoor pavers will determine just how you treat your tiles and how you scrub your surface.

For indoor tiles, the steps remain largely unchanged from the guidelines above; however, you will need to be a little less liberal with your water coverage. You may also want to dry and buff the surface with a microfibre cloth once you are finished.

Conversely, outdoor tiles will likely feature a more textured finish and, as such, may require a more thorough scrub to clean. Use a broom or scrubbing brush instead of a mop to ensure you get a good clean within the surface grooves.

Chemical Warfare

To maintain their flawless aesthetic, porcelain tiles are vitrified for enhanced moisture-resistance that’s virtually impermeable. Great, right?

However, this is achieved through the vitrification process which essentially bakes the tile into a glass-like material to achieve this low-porosity.

When exposed to corrosive chemicals, the water-proof, vitrified surface can become damaged, resulting in an increase in water absorption and a natural dip in performance as a result.

In short, chemical cleaners can ruin your tiles and damage the aesthetic of the porcelain – so don’t use cleaners containing chemicals, particularly those containing ammonia, bleach or acids.

Stubborn Stains

Okay, despite what we just said in the previous section, desperate times cause for desperate measures. If you do happen to notice stubborn stains that simply won’t budge, even after a thorough clean, you may have to resort to Plan B.

Specialist floor cleaning products and those specifically designed for porcelain tile cleaning can be a handy fallback plan if your initial clean does nothing to shift a persistent stain. However, it’s still advisable to steer clear of those containing corrosive chemicals.

Similarly, some people swear by white vinegar when it comes to porcelain tile stain removal, commonly used at a ratio of roughly 0.25 litres of white vinegar to 3.75 litres of water.

Before using any specialist cleaning products or methods, be sure to read the instructions and always test them out on a small section of flooring first. That way, you can make sure they won’t damage your tiles without risking complete ruin.

For more information on how to clean porcelain tiles and general porcelain tile maintenance, call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line using the button below.

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The term “vitrified tiles” is one you may have seen in your quest for tiling perfection and is a phrase that has seen increasing regularity in recent years – but what does it actually mean?

Grab a Stanley knife and wonder no more, as we unbox this tiling enigma once and for all with this guide to vitrified tiles.

What are vitrified tiles?

In the case of tile making, the term actually refers to the vitrification process of the tile (which makes a lot of sense when you think about it).

During this vitrification process, extremely high temperatures are used to bake tiles into a glass-like material, providing the new substance with a high water-resistance that’s essentially impermeable.

The resulting product boasts an extremely low porosity, making them ideal for outdoor use and areas that see regular exposure to water, such as the surroundings of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzies.

Are vitrified tiles the same as porcelain tiles?

If that last paragraph sounded familiar, it’s probably because it very much is. Porcelain tiles fall under the vitrified tiles banner and are classed as “fully vitrified” with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%.

Due to this, porcelain tiles are often referred to simply as “vitrified tiles”, leaving their true identity to sometimes go under the radar. However, to add to the confusion, porcelain tiles are also considered to be a form of ceramic tile.

Nevertheless, the true label of “fully vitrified” is perhaps the best indicator to go by. While many tiles can fall under the banner of vitrified tiles and ceramic tiles, only porcelain tiles can be categorised as “fully vitrified”.

Vitrified tiles vs ceramic tiles

Ultimately, the benefits of vitrified tiles over traditional ceramic tiles are durability, porosity and traction. The low absorption rate increases grip, making them ideal for bathrooms and poolside, as well as outdoor use.

The dense durability makes them extremely hardwearing and resistant against the elements, keeping them protected from a variety of outdoor issues, from fading and staining to scratches and abrasions.

Meanwhile, in the unlikely event you do happen to chip a tile, you may not even be able to notice. Vitrified tiles contain a dye that is added to the tile mix prior to the vitrification process; this provides them with a consistent colouration all the way through, unlike ceramic tiles.

As such, vitrified tiles boast a consistent colour right the way through, making chips largely unnoticeable. Conversely, ceramic tiles are coated post-bake, making chips far more obvious and conspicuous.

Overall, vitrified tiles are a great choice for a long-term tiling solution, providing long-lasting aesthetic quality with little maintenance required. For a durable tile that won’t crack under the pressure, look no further!

For more information on vitrified tiles and the power of vitrified porcelain paving, why not get in touch? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us an email using the link below.

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