Help and advice
How to lay large format floor tiles
Large format tiles have become increasingly popular over recent years and as tiling manufacturing and...
Winter is Coming
With the last of the summer sunshine firmly behind us, it’s time to turn our...
Go large with large format tiling
Large format tiles have changed the way tilers go about tiling walls and floors, but...
Sustainability – remember that it starts with the products
In the first of a series of columns for TSJ, Jim Percival, technical director at...
Learning from our 190 years
There aren’t many companies in this industry that can claim a history stretching back nearly...
Ensuring your floors are structurally stable and properly prepared prior to tiling
If you are looking to specify a tiled floor, it is crucial to understand what...
Stepping ahead: antimicrobial flooring solutions for a cleaner future
The floor is usually the largest horizontal surface in any building, so it naturally accumulates...
Grouting tips
The finished look of a tiling installation is down to the design and the tiles...
Moisture controland waterproofing
Many of the problems that occur with tiling are a result of moisture in the...
Patio maintenance – staying one step ahead
Mark Atkins, technical director at LTP, gives some key tips for maintaining outdoor surfaces as...
7 top tips for effective installation of electric underfloor heating
Steven Rooney, director of Amber Underfloor Heating, shares his top tips for pairing electric underfloor...
Tiling to anhydrite screeds
Calcium Sulfate or anhydrite screeds have grown in popularity over the last decade as they...
The drive for sustainability – contractors can play their part
In this month’s column, Billy Valler, managing director of W.B. Simpson & Sons, considers the...
Tiling with natural stone
Natural stone varies in both appearance and application method compared with ceramic or porcelain tiles....
The importance of movement joints in a tiling installation
Alan Collins and Martin Pouncey, technical training managers at Instarmac, explain why movement joints are...
Why a night on the tiles can lead to hospitality success
Hospitality venues are getting creative in order to create post-pandemic stand-out. Here Cameron Fraser, director...
Understanding tile adhesive classifications and what they mean
Everyone knows what tile adhesive classifications mean don’t they? Or do they? Here, David Rowley,...
How to protect a wet room from leaks
Jack Bottesch, product marketing manager for tile fixing from Saint-Gobain Weber, shares his top tips...
Is technology our friend?
Billy Valler, managing director of W.B. Simpson & Sons Ltd, has just won the Lifetime...
Nationwide support for tiling projects
As a tiler, contractor, designer, architect, or distributor you don’t just need quality, easy-to-use products,...
Adapting antimicrobial solutions to meet application needs
Jonathan Clapp, international senior technical manager at Microban International, discusses the different ways antimicrobial technologies...
How to protect & maintain polished concrete or ‘colourful concrete toppings’
Mark Atkins, technical director at LTP
Polished concrete floors and concrete toppings provide great strength and...
Does size matter?
As tile dimensions continue to expand, director of Ceramique Internationale, Peter Vann, asks: “Does size...
We need new entrants to our trade – for the future’s sake!
In the second of his special columns to mark the 190th anniversary of W.B. Simpson...
There is no need to get into hot water when tiling a swimming pool
Martin Pouncey and Alan Collins, technical training managers at Instarmac, provide a simple guide to...
Why tile flooring is ideal for underfloor heating
Amber Underfloor explains why tiled floors are a great choice for rooms that utilise underfloor...
Natural Stone Flooring Movement Joints – The Questions to Ask
Stone Federation GB highlights the questions to ask that will help installers achieve a durable,...
Redefining bathroom ceramics with built-in antimicrobial technology
Kimberley Cherrington, global brand & marketing communications manager at Microban, explains how we can mitigate...
What’s the difference between a porcelain barrier and a sealer?
Mark Atkins, technical director at LTP, demystifies the treatments on offer to protect porcelain tiles
With...
A “standard” tiling job
Craig Powell of Kelmore discusses the increasing expectations placed on tilers over time
There’s no doubt...
Tiling over retrofit underfloor heating systems
Alan Collins and Martin Pouncey, technical training managers at Instarmac, address some of the commonly...
How independents bounced back after lockdown
Independent tile retailers have bounced back strongly post-lockdown and continue to give bigger brands a...
A strong market but with some tough challenges
This year marks the 190th anniversary of W.B. Simpson & Sons as a leading London-based...
Renovation for Blue Lias limestone
Original flagstones are a beautiful feature in a period property – but renovation can be...
The simple guide to external tiling
Martin Pouncey and Alan Collins, technical training managers at Instarmac, discuss the basics of external...
Sustainable construction trends to look out for in 2023
Sarah Kauter, managing director of Construction PR, provides an insight into what look to be...
Bouncing back better
Matt Barker, managing director at CSB Logistics, explains how construction logistics can improve construction efficiency
It...
Preparation made easy with Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD
A key part of tile and stone installation is preparing the substrate for the covering...
Redefining ceramic surfaces
Kimberley Cherrington, international marketing manager at Microban, explains the benefits of built-in antimicrobial technology in...
Porcelain pavers & the two common gremlins
Mark Atkins, technical director at LTP discusses the best ways to maintain outdoor porcelain
Last year...
No more slip-sliding, tile technology has us stylishly gripped
The days of anti-slip tiles equating to utilitarian beige tiles in the local leisure centre...
To prime or not to prime? That is the question
Craig Powell, technical manager at Kelmore, explains why priming is so often a necessity, despite...
Taking the collaborative approach
Brexit radically altered the buying landscape for tile retailers and many are still struggling to...
Navigating the complex regulatory landscape for antimicrobials
Jonathan Clapp, international senior technical manager for Microban International, explains how companies can stay ahead...
Top tips for cold weather working
Alan Collins and Martin Pouncey, technical training and site support managers at Instarmac, outline some...
Marble tiles – getting what you pay for
Peter Vann, director of Ceramique Internationale, discusses the important differences between high and low quality...
Go large with large format tiling
David Wilson, UK head of standards and specification at BAL, provides a fixing guide for...
The march away from “solvents”
Richard Osborne, managing director at LTP, explains the reasons behind the rise of water-based sealers...
Re-introducing a familiar face…
A veteran of the tile industry, Craig Powell returns to the pages of TSJ to...
Tiling horror stories
With Halloween just around the corner, and following on from their advice about how to...
Dealing with common issues when levelling over underfloor heating: Part 2
Having discussed preparation for underfloor heating installations last month, Alan Collins and Martin Pouncey, technical...
How to avoid appearing as a cowboy
Upgrading the home is an exciting and nerve-racking process.
The customer has decided which areas need...
Tiling in the cold
Continuing from last month’s column, BAL’s head of standards and specification, David Wilson, explains how...
Marketing in the era of the ‘Code for Construction Product Information’
2022 ushers in a new era for construction product marketers, with the option to incorporate...
Redefining ceramic surface with built-in antimicrobials
Kimberley Cherrington, international marketing manager at Microban, discusses sustainable options to maintain ceramic surfaces
Walk into...
What causes black spot and how to remove it .
Mark Atkins of LTP explains how to address this insidious microspore’s effects on tiling installations
Regular...
When levelling over underfloor heating.
Instarmac technical training and site support managers, Martin Pouncey and Alan Collins, offer help with...
Tiling in different temperatures.
David Wilson, UK head of standards and specification at ARDEX UK and BAL, explains some...
Mark Atkins on porcelain protection myths
Now here’s a common myth – “porcelain doesn’t need protecting”. And, while we’re at it,...
Sean McPheat on eliciting positive answers
If I was to ask any crowd at any trade exhibition: “Would you consider yourself...
Sean McPheat on business partnerships
A 2019 survey by Gartner interviewed over 2,000 buyers and sellers to ascertain what they...
Mark Atkins on some stone sealing myths
There are lots of myths out there. Many hang around, despite how much good information...
Sean McPheat on negative mindsets
How do you really feel when someone is negative with you?You know, the client who...
Mark Atkins on the new terracotta trend
Have you noticed lots more interest in hand-made terracotta? We certainly have – and we’ve...
Mark Atkins on looks versus safety
Natural-effect matt porcelain tiles offer lots of benefits and, for many, good grip is a...
Lucy Pringle on force majeure
The current shortage of HGV drivers is well documented. A combination of Covid, Brexit, and...
Jonathan Stanley on worktop worries
After 18-months of a global pandemic that saw us not only eat in our kitchens...
Tina Chander on flexible working
As working life steadily returns to normal after the pandemic, one difficulty already causing headaches...