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How to choose the faucet for your sink
The first thing we should take into account before buying a sink faucet is the type of furniture we have and whether the sink is built-in or over-counter. The furniture is one of the elements that mark the decoration of our bathroom, surely the most important after the bathroom tiles. That is why the sink faucet that we choose will be greatly influenced by the style of furniture.
What is the best kitchen floor?
Surely ceramic floors are ideal for installing in a kitchen. There are places where the characteristics of the material are very important and these places could well be the kitchen, the bathroom or the terrace. The kitchen is one of the places where we spend the most time in the The house and its floor are surely one of the most exposed to deterioration both due to water and stains and due to the fall of instruments that could damage it.To avoid all this, use porcelain stoneware It is one of the materials that will give us more security. But, there are many types of porcelain floors, which one to stay with and why?
Ceramic parquet vs synthetic parquet, what are the differences?
If we separate flooring sales by product type, floors that imitate wood have been the most sold for years. Although fashions are cyclical and in recent years new trends have appeared, such as polished porcelain or hydraulic design floors, wooden floors are still the ones most sought after by consumers.Let's see in this article what we understand by parquet and the main differences between porcelain that imitates wood and laminate flooring.
IMEX or TRES What is the best brand of faucets?
Imex and Tres are currently the two best faucet brands. Depending on the style of faucet you are looking for and the price you want to spend on the bathroom faucet, one will be more suitable than the other.Let's go through a bit of their catalogs and product characteristics.< /h5>IMEX tapsIMEX is a young brand with great growth in recent years. We met her in 2017, and although she had a much smaller catalog than the current one, she already presented very interesting ideas. They knew how to see the shortcomings that the market had at that time and they developed a very competitive product adjusted to what customers demanded.TRES TapsTRES is a brand with much more history and well positioned in the market for years. Until IMEX was created, Griferías TRES was one of the few brands with a really interesting catalogue, with a good variety of models and a carefully designed product.What aspects do they have? What do the two brands have in common?The main point in common between IMEX and TRES, which makes them stand out from their competition, is the variety of possibilities they offer. While other brands have been left with catalogs that only contain basic taps with hardly any design, both Grifería IMEX and Grifería TRES have understood that trends have changed and that customers want to compare designs and prices, want to buy colored taps, or perhaps they need a special faucet depending on the circumstances of each home.That is why they have become the best known faucet brands. THREE has been one for a long time, and IMEX has taken very little time to position itself with a large market share, with its catalog in most bathroom stores.Differences between TRES and IMEXThe two biggest differences are the price and the composition of the catalogue.PriceWhile TRES products have a high price, IMEX has positioned its taps at a medium price, affordable for practically anyone. I'm sure the price difference has a reason beyond the name of the brand itself. He almost always has it. However, we believe that in this type of product it is not so important to buy a more expensive faucet, if with half the price you have a design faucet that has the same functionality, and we don't know if even the same duration.You should know something important before buying a faucet....And is that most of the incidences that the faucet give are due to the chrome or the external paint. And there are few differences between brands of a certain prestige and that meet all quality guarantees.The deterioration of the paint or the chrome of the taps depends rather on their environment. For example, saltpeter from the sea is very aggressive for chrome baths, and oxidizes them in a short time. On the other hand, humidity also influences the state of the faucets, since a product that dries and remains relatively dry after use has much longer life than a faucet that always has drops of water and lime stains.< br>While the internal mechanisms, which is why most of the time the prices of the taps are distinguished, do not have such a high percentage of incidents. And if it does, it's usually in a long term in which the faucet is probably already more than amortized.But, if what you want is to buy a faucet of extreme quality and that has all the spare parts that you look for a few years later, the best thing is to buy a German faucet, such as Hansa or Hansgrohe.Catalogue< br>Their tap catalogs focus on them in two very different ways. Both with a wide variety of models to buy, but each with its own style.On the one hand, Imex has many different collections, each type of tap (basin, kitchen, shower) is available in 5 colors . With all this, he completes a catalog of about 700 pages.THREE, however, is not as extensive in modeling. The names of the series are not so different, but each one has countless variants: sizes, colors, built-in, with automatic drain, etc. Much more than IMEX and any other faucet manufacturer.For example, you can see the Study Exclusive bathroom faucet, which is available in our store in 16 different colours.Our last recommendation is that if you want to buy a bathroom or kitchen faucet, look in the TRES and IMEX faucet catalogs. You can always find something you like better, or that suits you better, somewhere else. But what is certain is that with these two brands you will already have at least 80% chances covered. And if you don't know where to start looking, either of these two brands is a good place to start.
How the gas crisis influences the tile
You cannot understand life without uncertainty. It is not bad, it is part of life and we have to learn to live with it. And the same goes for the economy.In recent years there have been many events that have kept us on our toes. Undoubtedly, the first months of Covid have been the most uncertain. At first we feared for our businesses and our economy. But luckily he got over it. And it is that life always continues no matter how difficult the circumstances are. And adapting to events and being agile in the face of changes undoubtedly helps us not only to continue, but also to grow.For the tile, renovation and construction sector, the following months to confinement were good. After all, many people had kept their jobs or received ERTEs. And families' ability to save increased due to the inability to go out and travel.In addition, the need to be at home for months made us want to improve it, increase our comfort in our home. That led us to change the sofa, paint the rooms, fix the appliances, change the tiles in the bathroom or the floor of the terrace. Many even changed their home, to a larger one, with a balcony. or with a garden.Once this first "post covid" phase was over, the raw materials began to fail and with that the stock problems began. In our activity, the tile sector, there were large stock breaks due to lack of land, but also due to a lack of pallets or plastic. Electricity went up....etcThis shortage caused prices to increase. Although nothing to do with what was to come.At the beginning of 2022 and especially since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, uncertainty and tile prices skyrocketed. On the one hand, most of the raw material to make the tile (clay) was imported from Ukraine. Although this seemed like it was going to be the main problem, it wasn't. The tile companies reached agreements with other countries, they even began to exploit quarries in Spain.It has been the gas cut and the rise in its price that have most affected tile prices. The main resource needed to fire ceramics is gas. Its price has multiplied by 10 and therefore the cost of manufacturing has skyrocketed, affecting the PVP of the tile.The first weeks the brands did not stop modifying their rates, which was a chaos for stores. Then a less bad option was chosen. The rate would remain fixed for each month, an energy rate canon would be charged, based on the gas price of the previous month.This translated means that without a tile it is worth 15 € base, the following month it can cost €15 + €3 /m2, for example.This energy increase, as we have said, is modified every month. In the month of September, for example, we have an increase in the energy rate of between €3 and €5 per m2, depending on the factory and the value of the product it manufactures.This represents an increase in price compared to to the previous year of 25% or 30%.It seems that this is not a good month to buy tiles, but the current uncertainty makes it perhaps better than the next. We don't know.This uncertainty is certainly holding the economy back, and it may do so even more if things don't improve soon. And it is that this, in our sector, has several consequences:1. Some factories are shutting down furnaces. The cost overruns are unaffordable for some suppliers, who do not find it worthwhile to continue manufacturing and prefer to "pull stock" waiting for an early solution.2. The end customer thinks more about it before buying, and if they don't have an imperial need, they prefer to wait a few months to see if they can make their purchase cheaper.3. Construction companies have stopped their projects. With the fluctuation of prices it is impossible to set a construction budget. And before encountering price increases that they can neither assume nor pass on to their clients, they prefer not to start new works.Despite the fact that today's news is not the best, remember that everything happens. Be cautious but don't be paralyzed by the bad news that bombards us. Life goes on, and better without fear.
Porcelain for swimming pool
The placement of porcelain materials inside the pool continues to increase year after year, gaining ground on the classic pool tile. But why is this happening? What are the advantages of porcelain tiles so that it is also increasingly being used for inside swimming pools? Before the arrival of porcelain tiles, tile was king in swimming pools. Although many also covered the interior of their pools with small colored tiles, most mainly use mosaic tiles. And the fact is that tile is really a very advisable material to place inside the pool: its low absorption, its price or its good adaptability are very favorable characteristics.However, Porcelain models also have their advantages:WATER ABSORPTION IS PRACTICALLY THE SAME AS TILE. ALMOST NONE. That is why it is an ideal material for the pool. We will not have deterioration due to humidity or water leaks.THE SIZE OF THE TILES Technological progress has led to the production of larger tiles and machinery for cutting and placement. On the other hand, the specialization of the construction sector has also increased, with much more training in the installation of ceramic products. That is why, after all, laying large tiles is more efficient, and we thereby achieve a reduction in joints.THE AESTHETICS. The consumption of the population has changed, and this sector is no different. Customers are not satisfied with the bricklayer bringing them the tile. The wide variety of tile catalog and models, as well as easy access through websites or stores, has helped customers to also be able and want to choose the look they want for their pool.With the porcelain we do not limit ourselves to having a pool of bright colors, as it happens with the tile. Rather, we can achieve almost any aspect and achieve our own, much more modern style.Another very important advantage from our point of view is that many models are already available in a normal finish and a non-slip finish. If we choose one of these models we can give visual continuity to our terrace and pool, which will be much more aesthetically impressive.In these cases we would have to buy porcelain tiles with a normal finish for inside the pool and with a non-slip finish for the exterior. Finally, it is important to take into account, and it is another point in favor, to know that porcelain models usually have special pieces such as steps that They can help us for a comprehensive reform of our outdoor area.
3 Important things to keep in mind when laying a porcelain floor
If you are looking for a tutorial that tells you the steps to lay a porcelain floor, this post is not what you are looking for. Nor will you learn new installation techniques here if you are an installer.This article is dedicated more to the individual, so that you have some basic notions about how to install a floor. And it is that we still find ourselves with some doubts, that the individual does not have to know, but that can lead to problems in his reform.And although it seems obvious to many, it continues to be the day to day of our sector.WOODEN FLOORS ARE PLACED INTERLOCKED TO A MAXIMUM OF 25%This rule is basic for all tiles that are elongated, which what happens is that imitations of wood are the ones that are usually placed interlocked, without respecting the lines of the joints.Formerly one of the techniques used by commercials to see if a tile was of good quality, was to see if it was bent. What happens is that in the past the longest size of the tiles was 40 or 50 cm.Now it is very common to put pieces of 90cm, 120cm or 150cm on the floor of the house. This has led to all these pieces being bent. The center of the tile is higher than the ends.Although this may seem like a manufacturing fault, it is more a characteristic of the ceramic. When the tiles are removed from the oven, during the drying process, the tips fall slightly due to their own weight.For this reason, it is not recommended, IT IS ESSENTIAL, that this type of floor is placed interlocked, at a maximum of 25% of the piece next to it. This way we will avoid what we call "eyebrows", which is that some pieces are a few millimeters higher or lower than others.Surely we have all seen them and we have suffered them when moving a piece of furniture from place.< /p>THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE TILE HAS TO BE COVERED WITH GLUE CEMENTWe have already commented on this in some post, but it is important to repeat it.The resistance of an installed floor depends on both the hardness of the floor and its placement. It is very important that the glue that sticks the porcelain stoneware tile to the floor acts as a support in its entire surface.We met a lot of people in the store who came with broken pieces, and right away we saw that the cement was sticky on the back. With uncovered sites.This rule is especially important on floors that are going to support high traffic, or that are going to support the weight of a car. In these cases, of course the resistance of the pavement is important, but it is impossible for it to resist the weight of the car for life if it does not have support to support it.DO NOT PLACE TILES TOGETHER IF NOT IT IS FROM THE SAME COLLECTION Sometimes we would like to combine tiles from two different brands. But this should not be done unless they go on different walls and the owner of the house understands and accepts what he is going to buy.Although the two tiles apparently have the same size, for example 30x90, each factory has its molds and they are never exact measurements. In fact it is rarely an exact measurement. One will be 29.9x89.9... another will be 30.1x90.1 cm... etc.If we don't follow this advice and place two different collections, it will be a disaster. We will see that the joints will not coincide in any case and it will give the impression that the tile is poorly placed.This can happen even with the same collection, even with the same tile. That's where the issue of caliber would come in... that's for another post.
A floor so resistant that you will not be afraid to put the car in the garage
In a floor, resistance is one of the most important characteristics.Design and price are also important, but the hardness of the product is undoubtedly more important.Many people come into our store asking for a floor that is resistant for the terrace, resistant for the kitchen, resistant for the garage...And a porcelain floor will have other disadvantages, but it is resistant, and a lot.Resistant to frost, high traffic, shocks, friction.LookThere are people who come to the store with tiles broken. Tiles that are part of the garage and that have ended up breaking due to the weight of the car.This is the reason why it happens.In the old days the size of the tiles was small, and the way to lay a pavement, different from now. The size of the pieces has grown very fast, and this may have caught some professionals off guard.The fact is that the way to lay the tiles a few decades ago was using cement "in lumps". This saved a lot of time on placement, and was often enough. Those 4 or 5 sticks that were placed covered most of the surface and protected the tile.Although this way of laying the floor has always had risks, these have increased with the increase in the size of the tiles. tiles.Well, the more surface there is, the more likely it is that the weight of the car will break the pieces.Cement glue is used to glue, but also to protect. That is why it is ESSENTIAL that the back of the tile is completely covered with a suitable adhesive mortar.No matter how resistant the floor is, if the installation is not good, no material will be a guarantee of sufficient hardness. Well, lie... For a few years there have been 20mm porcelain tiles, which can be installed without gluing, thanks to their extraordinary thickness. However, these models are usually used for landscaping and not for paving large surfaces.Following the recommended installation instructions, any porcelain floor will be advisable to place in the garage.Another recommendation Do not buy a non-slip floor for the garage. The dirt from the tires would remain very attached to the floor and it will be difficult to keep it clean.That is why, in addition to the hardness, it is important to take into account the cleaning and maintenance of the floor.
How does the purchase of Pamesa from Azuliber influence the tile sector?
At the end of 2021, Pamesa acquired all of Grupo Azuliber. It was neither the first nor the last. And many more to come.Gupo Pamesa is the second largest ceramic product in the world. In a sector with a lot of competition and with emerging countries tightening with very aggressive prices.The monopoly is the business model par excellence. It has been so for a long time in many sectors, and it is becoming clear that it will also be so in the tile market.To give a few examples; in the home decoration sector there is Ikea, in sports, Decathlon. In food, there are already few retail markets, absorbed by brands such as Carrefour, Lidel, Mercadona. In electronics... Mediamarkt.And in ceramics, Grupo Pamesa.At a macro level, this is surely good news for Spain. A brand with power in the sector worldwide.Although for the consumer we believe that it is not so positive.The difference between the acquisition of Azuliber and that of other factories of tiles, is that Azuliber was a group with a lot of potential, which has been growing in recent years with the acquisition of small tile factories.How could the purchase of Azuliber by Pamesa influence?On the one hand, few companies were as reliable as Azuliber in the availability of materials and delivery times. It was a factory that ran like clockwork. Unlike Pamesa, which with the volume of production and the number of sub-brands and customers to supply, its reliability leaves much to be desired in this regard.Azuliber had a type of product, of high quality by the way, very different from what we find in most tile catalogues. With a wide variety of outdoor rustic porcelain tiles. A type of product that still retains its market.Although Pamesa has relocated some of its porcelain models to a new brand, it is not unreasonable to think that in the future they will use these resources to supply their strongest brands and having a greater volume of stock in the most commercial models.From our point of view, the fact that a single company takes over a sector is almost never positive.A few years ago it was interesting to be part of the group, telling at least with one of its brands. They have always been competitive brands in price.However, now it is essential, and no longer interesting. And the fact is that if you don't work with at least one of the group's brands, you will have a lack of models in your store.It is no longer easy to maintain a varied portfolio of products without going through Pamesa, and more difficult it will be in the very, very near future.When someone has almost the entire domain, they have the power to impose their conditions, with little room for maneuver for others.The Group It is present in more than 150 countries, and its brands are: Pamesa, Navarti, Prissmacer, Geotiles, Ecoceramic and Tau.Recently, with the purchase of the former Azuliber, the Mythage brand has been created.< /p>
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