Frequently Asked Questions

5 samples can be shipped free of charge if in the Perth metropolitan area.

if you require more than five samples, we will contact you with any additional charges.

if you require samples delivered outside the Perth metropolitan region, we will contact you with a delivery charge. usually it will be approximately $15.00 to be sent express post

or samples can be ordered and collected in store. please allow 24 hours to prepare.

shipping of samples may take 3-5 days to arrive.

Please email any requests.

AS/NZS 4856 slip resistance classification of pedestrian surface materials outlines 4 test methods to classify and assess the frictional properties of floor surfaces and include the following slip resistance test methods

Wet pendulum slip resistance test
Dry floor friction slip resistance test
Wet barefoot slip resistance test
Oil wet ramp slip resistance test

this test is conducted using a portable pendulum devise, which consists of a weighted foot with test slider that swings down and slides across the surface wet with water. The weighted foot comprises a spring-loaded rubber test slider that excerpts a prescribed force over the specimen as it slides across the surface. the results of expressed as a british pendulum number (BPN) and classified according to AS/NZS 4586 as shown in the table below

while there are 2 rubber slider materials that may be used, four (simulated standard shoe sole) is generally accepted as the material to assess the slip resistance for the general public wearing suitable footwear.

TRL (transport research laboratory) rubber is predominately used for highly slip resistant and profiled surfaces.

research has indicated that TRL rubber may provide a better indication of barefoot slip resistance due to the softer yielding nature of the material, being more comparable to human skin than four S rubber.

the dry floor slip resistance slip test (AS/NZS 4856 appendix B) uses a battery-operated machine commonly referred to as the “dry FFT”a or “tortus”. The dry FFT measures the force opposing the motion of a 9mm diameter test slider of four S rubber as it moves across the surfaces at a constant speed of 1m/min. the average of two measurements of 800mm is taken and the results are expressed as coefficient of friction (CoF). The coefficient of friction is a ratio of the horizontal and vertical forces and the slip resistance test results are classified as follows;

 the wet barefoot ramp slip resistance test (AS/NZS 4856 appendix C) uses a panel of the test surface which is constructed on a ramp large enough for a person to walk on.

 Two test people attach themselves to a safety harness, after bathing their feet for 10 minutes to soften the skin walk bare foot on the test surface while the angle of the platform is increased until the limit of safe walking is achieved.

 this is generally when the test walker slips or feels that they will slip on the board. The angle that the limit of safe walking is obtained is known as the mean angle of inclination.

 three calibrated boards A<B & C are also tested, with the classification of the test pane based on the mean angle of inclination obtained in comparison with calibrated boards.

 slip resistance results achieved in laboratories are to be used as a guide to compare one tile surface to another

 the tiles anti slip properties may be altered after installation due to circumstances beyond original ceramics control. tiles may vary in slip resistance due to poor installation methods as well as inadequate cleaning and maintenance regimes, which can result in a build up of grime that can reduce the tiles anti slip properties. long term foot traffic, especially if heavy will also eventually degrade the slip resistance of a tile surface. this is to be expected.

 original ceramics cannot take any responsibility on selection of appropriate slip rated tiles for certain applications. this is solely up to the purchaser to determine. either through their consultant architects, designers, interior designers and/or builders.

ceramic tiles are normally made of pressed red or white clay. they are then glazed and fired at approximately 600 degrees Celsius.

normally used mainly for wall applications. they can be in gloss or matt finishes as well as having patterns printed onto them.

these tiles are much more durable. they are made by dry pressing dust under great presses using enormous pressure. they are then fired at 1200 degree Celsius or more.

this results in a vastly more durable tile which is hard wearing and exhibits higher technical characteristics. water absorption for instance will be around 0.05%.

they are ideal for any residential wall and floor application as well as commercial walls or floors. 

There are mainly two types of porcelain tiles.

this is full bodied porcelain. this means it is a homogenous material from the top to the bottom of the tile. for instance, it is not glazed. technically this would be the most durable and long lasting of all porcelain tiles.

this is a porcelain tile which has a glaze applied to it before it is fired in the kiln. the advantage is that the manufacturer can print designs onto the surface. this is can be done anywhere from a basic inkjet print to a more advance high definition digital print.

the digital print will allow for extremely detailed designs including stone, marble effects to even graphic designs.

Digital porcelain is now generally the most common form of porcelain tile manufactured.

this refers to the body of the porcelain tile closely matching the surface of the porcelain tile. In other words, if the surface of the tile is a dark charcoal colour then it will be matched with an equal colour in the main body of the tile. And not for instance a cream body. This will then disguise to some extent any chips in the tile.

Colour bodied porcelain will be a higher quality tile in general.

these are tiles that have had their edges machined off to create a dimensionally accurate and calibrated tile. all dimensions in both width and length will be consistent. this will allow the tiles to be laid with tighter joints reducing the grout lines.

these are tiles that have been pressed from a mould and have what may be referred to as pencil round, or pillow edges. normally more common in wall tiles such as subway tiles.

in some cases, it is common to receive tiles which have a degree of curvature in them. this can occur and is most common in rectangular formats. This is due the unequal stresses in the tile over the short and long lengths after being subject to being fired in a kiln at often at temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees Celsius. this is common characteristic in all kiln fired products.

being the 21^st century does not mean even the best manufacturers can avoid this. there are Australian standards which allow for acceptable parameters.

Lippage can be empahized even more by laying tiles in a brick bond or stretcher bond. it is recommended to lay tiles in stack bond or 25% brick bond.

if the brick bond is the desired tile layout then the tiler should allow for using self levelling clips such as raimondi self levelling clip systems or equivalents. there are many on the market and can now even be purchased at hardware’s.

some of the better installers will use these on all tiling installations. some are still yet to discover their benefits and may believe it will take them more time to install the tiles. This they will find is not the case. They will make for a better installation and in fact save some time. please discuss prior to installation with your tiler.

the expectation is that for instance all 300×600 tiles worldwide will be exactly this dimension. this is not the case. it is considered an international industry standard that all dimensions are nominal.

to expect the floor and wall joints to line up when using two different tiles from different manufacturers generally will not happen. often two tiles from the same manufacturer will not happen.

due to extreme kiln temperatures every production may come out a different for the following reasons;

1. all manufacturers worldwide have their own moulds. For instance, one maybe 300×600, the other manufacturer 301×602 etc. there is no international standard for this.
2. every separate production of even the same tile and /or manufacturer will vary from one production to the next. tiles are kiln fired. even with the manufacturer using the most advanced and up to date machinery, highest quality control, batching of clays and setting the kilns at a consistent temperature will not guarantee exact consistency from production to production.
3. You can use the analogy of baking bread or a cake. using measured and exact ingredients and oven temperature will not result in two different cakes being exactly the same.
4. Some tiles maybe rectified and some non-rectified. This can affect the size of tiles.

this stage should be carried out upon the completion of tiling and grouting before handover of the building. it is an important step in the cleaning regime. often it is not carried out correctly or adequately. failure to do this stage correctly may result in dirt building up on surface making regular cleaning more difficult.

many adhesives and grouts are polymer modified. if the tiler has not cleaned tiles sufficiently well as work progresses a residue of latex may be left behind on the surface of the tile. in this case a suitable cleaner should be used to wash/scrub away traces of any lime, cement, adhesive and grout hazing residues.

many cleaners are on the market. one reputable manufacturer is aquamix.

aquamix products can be purchased through tilers online. unit 1/3 Collingwood street Osborne park.

it is important to have the tiled surfaces clean and washed regularly. a mild acid free cleaner may be used using a white nylon scrubbing brush or sponge or mop. you can use aquamix concentrated stone and tile cleaner for regular cleaning. for heavier cleaning you can use aquamix heavy duty cleaner in both cases following manufacturers instructions

with textured surfaces and anti-slip tiles it may be necessary to clean more often and use more of a scrubbing action to remove grim and dirt build up.

there is always a trade-off to be expected between slip rating and the ease of cleaning!………….. the higher the slip rating or texture of the tile the more difficult it will be to maintain.

in wet areas such as bathrooms use of a rubber squeegee will reduce the build-up of soap scum can be useful.

if using cleaning agents always read instructions first of whatever product you are using.

visit aquamix.com.au for further technical information.

important note. acid based cleaners are not to be used on natural stone surfaces as will result in etching etching of the stone surface. please take care with stone surfaces that may be adjacent to porcelain or ceramic tiled areas.

also take care with all cleaners against other materials such as metals and natural timbers.

original ceramics recommends that experienced and professional contractors undertake the initial cleaning and the subsequent sealing of all stone.

use of an aggressive PH neutral detergent will be needed to remove difficult marks and we recommend a product such as aquamix heavy-duty tile and stone cleaner or similar.

it may also be necessary to use in conjunction with aquamix nano scrub to remove stubborn laying residue.

it is important not to use acid-based cleaners on stone floors or agglomerates comprised of stone chips such as terrazzo. the acid will etch the surface.

remember to use rubber gloves and read manufacturer’s instructions carefully. It may be necessary to repeat the process if dirt and marks are stubborn. remove any traces of cleaner residue with clean water and/or white nylon pad.

cleaning of exfoliated or textured finishes will require more frequent cleaning using some agitation with a hand scrubbing pad or mechanical brush. this will dislodge the dirt from the surface. high-pressure cleaners can be used as an option externally to dislodge dirt and grime. wash down thoroughly with clean water.

a more gentle approach to maintenance may be to use enjo mopping implements and fabrics to leave a streak free appearance for regular cleaning. a touch of methylated spirits may be added to the clean potable water.

do not use aggressive cleaning agents such as jiff or ajax on all stone surfaces.

It is recommended that if in doubt you consult a professional cleaning contractor.

stone must be completely clean and dry prior to sealing. We recommend sealers choice gold from aquamix. this is a penetrating sealer that will not change the appearance of the stone. after application of sealer is complete any excess sealer residue should be removed by buffing with a white nylon pad.

aquamix sealers choice will not have resistance to acidic substances such as alcohol, coke or citrus/ lemon juice so extreme care is needed.

Aquamix products may be purchased from tilers online. unit 1/3 Collingwood street, Osborne park. 9242 7373

Visit www.aquamix.com.au for further technical information about sealers and cleaning agents.