FAQ

Here you can find some of the answers to the many Frequently Asked Questions, together with some useful advice about porcelain tile maintenance and cleaning as well as tile installation.
Please use the list of categories shown at your left to browse answers to many frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between Geologica and GeoTecnica?

The technology for Geologica has evolved through porcelain technology. It is very important not to confuse the two lines. Large unit porcelain products have been in the U.S. market for 40 years. These products have their own installation standards that most tile contractors are familiar with. However, Geologica must be installed with the mentality of a stone contractor. The stones must be blended and very tight grout joints are recommended. The aesthetics of the two products are totally different. The GranitiFiandre porcelain offers a unique look. The product has several similar looks from fine grain to large grain to solids. Geologica on the other hand has the aesthetics of quarried stones. The color does not always go through body of the Geologica. The product does, however, have a homogeneous body. But due to the processes used to give color and the expense of the minerals that are used to make the color, it is not necessary to have through body color. However, on these products, there is a 100-year wear warranty to assure the client that the color will never fade or be "walked-through".

Is a material like Geologica or GeoTecnica slippery?

Slip-resistance depends on the finish of the tile. Our matte-finish or honed tiles offer natural skid resistance (greater than 0.6, wet or dry). Polished tiles are slip-resistant when dry, but dramatically more slippery when wet, and do not achieve the 0.6 standard. We also offer several special skid-resistant finishes with relief patterns to increase foot-floor friction in areas where standing water, oils or grease are used.

What sizes are available in the Geologica line?

Geologica products are available in several sizes: 30x30 cm (12"x12"), 60x30 cm (12"x24"), 40x40 cm (16"x16"), 60x40 cm (16"x24"), 60x60 cm (24"x24") and 120x60 cm (24"x48") (Please check size chart for each stone). Decorative inlays, trims, listellos, dots, bullnose and step treads are also available.

Is a GrantiFiandre product easy to break or chip? And what about scratching & abrasion?

Our products offer superior breaking strength well in excess of any applicable American or European standards. In fact, GranitiFiandre products have the highest breaking strength of any modular surface, due mostly to the extremely compact, low-porosity nature of the product. As for scratch resistance, our products are rated 8/9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. The Mohs scale measures a material's resistance to scratching and assigns a rating of 1 (talc) through 10 (diamond). The 8/9 rating for Geologica and GeoTecnica compares favorably to the 6/7 for natural granite and the 4/5 for marble. And the differences are even greater than they seem: In the Mohs scale, each rating is 10 times harder than the preceding one, so, for example, GranitiFiandre tiles are 20 times harder than granite.

GeoTecnica "High Tech Ceramic": what does it means?

The wording "High Tech Ceramic" is used to identify the high performance technological porcelain stoneware by GranitiFiandre: these recently formulated New Materials in Technical Ceramics have superior resistance properties compared to traditional ceramic materials. Initially used for flooring of industrial buildings, the New Slabs in technical Ceramic are backed by marked technological development, which has increased their technical and aesthetic performance, making them the ideal solution for any type of floor and wall tiling material. Modern production technologies can reproduce any texture on the surface of material elements. This ensures that the New Slabs in Technical Ceramics by GranitiFiandre best meet the standards of slipperiness for public premises and workplaces laid down in international norms. There is no limit to the fields of application of these new technological materials: in fact, GranitiFiandre, has worked in close contact with designers to develop New Materials to meet particular aesthetic and performance requirements.

What is the difference between Tarsie with joint and Tarsie with no joint?

TARSIA WITH JOINT
A decorative element created in a traditional way, combining various water-jet cut materials on a plastic fiber net. The separation between the adjoining parts of the Tarsia is provided by a gap, which will need to be filled with grout.

TARSIA WITH NO JOINT
a decorative element created combining various water-jet cut materials into a single solid piece, which is subsequently polished. The result is a high-quality product showing no gaps and a total uniformity feeling to the touch. Moreover, the Tarsie without grout joints highlight GranitiFiandre technology and high-quality products thanks to their great aesthetic value.

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