You can download the PDF catalogues by clicking "Download" on the website menu. If you prefer to use paper catalogues, please contact one of our authorised retailers.
Quick answers to the most common questions regarding our products.
You can download the PDF catalogues by clicking "Download" on the website menu. If you prefer to use paper catalogues, please contact one of our authorised retailers.
Panaria Ceramica does not sell directly to the public nor has a factory outlet. Go to any one of the numerous retail stores that sell our collections. To find the names of the nearest stores visit the "retailer" section.
Ceramic tiles are flat sheets made from a mixture of clay, sand and other natural materials formed into the desired shape and size and then fired at a high temperature. They come in various sizes and with thicknesses of between 3mm and 20mm. Thanks to advanced production technologies, they are available in an almost unlimited variety of sizes, colors surfaces and decorative effects.
Italian tiles essentially perform three different functions:
- Aesthetic, they are part of the interior design project along with the other finishing materials
- Technical, they are able to withstand the stresses produced by the people who use the spaces without suffering damage or deterioration
- Functional, they are hygienic and capable of effectively withstanding foot traffic, frost fire and the elements.
New photovoltaic functions, although these are currently limited to a niche market.
The term porcelain stoneware (also known as porcelain tile) refers to an extremely compact dry-pressed ceramic tile with excellent technical characteristics (high resistance to bending, scratching, abrasion, chemicals and weathering) and, in particular, extremely low porosity. During the firing phase (1000-1350 ° C) all porosity in the product has been eliminated, allowing it to be declared as fully vitrified.
Colored-body glazed stoneware is a product colored in the mixtures of the tile’s body and further enriched by applications of enamel on the surface.
20 mm thick porcelain stoneware is a highly durable product designed for external flooring of public and residential spaces: town squares, pavements, walkways, parking areas, terraces, poolsides, bathing facilities, public parks, and more.
The increased thickness (2 cm) as compared to traditional stoneware (1 cm) and heightened technical performance guarantee timeless durability and no risk of breakage. It has greater anti-slip characteristics and is easy to clean, maintaining its texture and colour over time.This describes a glazed tile, where both tile and glaze are fired together at a temperature exceeding 1000° C: the resulting product presents good resistance to abrasion and the wear of foot traffic. It is therefore suitable to be used as flooring. Single firing can also be in white paste (richer in feldspars and kaolin) or red paste(containing greater quantities of iron).
The technical features of single firing make it suitable for floor and wall tiles in private homes, where the level of resistance of the materials more than guarantees the life time of the product. On the other hand, in spaces used for other purposes such as shops or establishments that are open to the public, where foot traffic is more intense and the tile is exposed to greater stress, it is preferable to use a product having a greater level of resistance (glazed or polished porcelain stone).
The phrase “shading” is a denomination which means a passage of visible chromatic gradations that cannot be harmonized. It indicates the difference of tone of single tiles that are not homogeneous. Classes of shading have been established within which the different collections of grès porcelain tiles are classified:
V1= uniform
V2= slight
V3= moderate
V4= strong.
'Surface finish' defines the texture of the surface of a ceramic piece and the process adopted to obtain it.
The matt (or natural) finish is the most versatile version in which the tile is not subjected to any other process after the cooking; the polished finish enhances shine and elegance; the structured effect simulates a process performed with specific tools that give the surface a rough and rustic effect; this finish makes the surface non-slip for use in wet environments and particular environmental conditions as well as for outdoors use.
Tone is the tonality of color that characterizes a particular lot of tiles. Considering that it is almost impossible to produce pieces with identical chromatic tonality in an industrial production, the tiles are grouped together regarding the homogeneity of color (tone) before being packed.
Gres porcelain tiles can have three different types of edging:
- natural (NAT): edging that comes exclusively from the molding of the press;
- rectified (RECT): edging perfectly straight (sometimes accompanied by a slight chamfer around the perimeter of the surface) coming from squaring procedures that bring the pieces to a uniform dimension of the sides, independent of productions lots;
- aged: edging that replicates a random irregularity by mechanical processing after the firing.
The work size is the manufacturing dimension of tiles. Due to manufacturing technology reasons, the porcelain tiles leaving the kiln may be of slightly different dimensions. Therefore, during the grade sorting stage, they are divided and grouped into batches of the same dimensions, according to the standards tolerance provided for by specific regulations. The work size is displayed on the pack.
No, the grout line is a necessary distance that permits dilation of the floors and natural settling due to structural movements, humidity, and variations in temperature. Depending on the tiles’ type of edge, it can be very thin (1 mm) or very wide (5 mm). The laying of tiles generally varies according to the characteristics of the collection itself. If the tiles are rectified (the edge is perfectly straight), they can be laid with a minimum grout line of 1 or 2 mm for a sophisticated and elegant look. The final result is quite striking and is generally recommended for modern and highly technical products like the large formats. In the case of more traditional or rustic tiles, in which the borders are not perfectly straight, a slightly wider grout line of approximately 4 mm is generally recommended so that the end look remains in keeping with the aesthetic and functional characteristics of the tiles themselves.
Even though the waste products from the demolition of tiles are “inert” materials (non-reactive, chemically and physically stable, resistant to prolonged exposure to extreme thermal, hygrometric, and chemical conditions), we recommend bringing the waste to the recycling point nearest you for proper and environmentally sustainable disposal.
All Panaria Ceramica porcelain stoneware floors, by virtue of their great heat conductivity, which is equal to 1.3 Watt/m °K or 1.1 Kcal/m h °C (refer to EN 12524:2001 standard), are highly recommended for installation on heated floors.
In Panaria everything is thought of and realised with the maximum respect for the environment: from architectural conception of the production premises, in perfect harmony with the territory, up to the careful control procedures of every work phase.
The raw materials used in the production process are constantly monitored in the end to indulge environmental standards required by law. Large productive waste are reused with a significant reduction in the use of new natural raw materials, conversely, all other production residues, are managed by separate waste collection to be reused in other industrial areas.
The production sites, highly automated and integrated, are in possession of the certificate ISO 9001 (System Quality), ISO 14001 and EMAS for the environmental management. All products undergo rigorous and accurate quality controls and every collection is classified according to the regulations ISO 13006, EN 14411 and ANSI 137.1; the majority of these possess the credits LEED and the prestigious mark ECOLABEL. The corporation is a member of the US Green Building Council, ordinary member of the Green Building Council Italia, as well as Casa Clima.
All the packaging of stoneware produced by Panaria indicate the choice of the tiles in the box. Therefore to be sure that your point of sales sold you first choice tiles, it is enough to control that on the box there is written “I” or “1°”. Depending on the collections, for flooring, decors or special parts, the first choice is indicated by the Arabic or Roman number.
ZER0.3 is laminated stoneware obtained by means of an extremely innovative production system, which is the outcome of the latest technology. It is produced in whole slabs of size 300x100 cm and 120x260 cm, without using dies. The ZERO.3 ceramic slabs are only 3,5mm, 5,5mm and 6mm thick.
The characteristics that make this product unique are:
- Resistant (ZER0.3 Plus resists a breaking stress of 1.235 Newton)
- Large (a range of 6 sizes, up to 100x300cm and 120x260cm)
- Flat (the surface is always perfectly flat)
- Thin and light (a thickness of 3 mm for a weight of only 7.4 kg/sqm)
- Easy (to cut, drill and install)
- Reliable (used all over the world for many prestigious projects)
- Ecological (lower consumption of energy, lower emissions of CO2)
- Available with the exclusive antimicrobial Protect shield
In ZER0.3 PLUS version (reinforced by a fiberglass mesh) can be installed on new slabs, even in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic but not subject to heavy concentrated loads (e.g. it is not suitable for areas subject to the passage of trolleys with hard wheels). Consult the technical manual.
As far as old ceramic, cotto, stone, marble or PVC floors are concerned, make sure they are sound and firmly fixed. The existing floor must be dry, stable, sound, perfectly flat and clean, which means that there must be no brittle fragments compromising adhesion of ZERO.3 Plus. Consult the technical manual.
Of course! The high technical performance of ZERO.3, in particular its resistance and cleanability, make it ideal for any environment that must be hygienic and clean. In particular, the exclusive 100x300 cm and 120x260 cm sizes reduce grouting to a minimum to guarantee the utmost hygiene.
TOUGHNESS
Thanks to its partially vitreous structure and high degree of internal cohesion, ceramic is hard and highly resistant to breakage and abrasion. These characteristics are governed by international standards (EN 14411 ISO 13006), allowing comparisons to be made on the basis of objective values. Refer to the packaging and data sheets far details or contact the retailer far further information.
lMPERMEABlLlTY
Ceramic, especially vitrified ceramic, is a compact and non-porous material, making it impermeable and resistant to staining. This means that tiles are quick and easy to clean, as well as having good frost resistance.
SAFETY
Unlike many other materials, ceramic tiles are noncombustible, they do not release fumes or toxic gases in the event of fire and they have a flame-retarding action, thus reducing fire damage.
SHAPES AND SlZES
Today's ltalian ceramic tiles come in modular sizes with lengths ranging from a few centimetres to more than a metre, so purchasers can choose from an enormous range.
HEALTH AND WELL-BElNG
Ceramic is an inert materiai with a composition that prevents the release of any substances that are harmful far health. And unlike other surfaces and objects, they do not trap dust, pollen or germs, allowing them to be cleaned effectively so as to minimise health risks.
