WHY TILES ARE THE BETTER CHOICE

Withstands Time While Inspiring Design:

Ceramic tile continues to be the preferred choice around the world for centuries for its beauty, durability and the abundant natural material used for it's construction. The endless installation options truly makes each room unique to be enjoyed for generations. Discover unlimited design and customization possibilities, mixing colours, textures, patterns, shapes and styles.

The Evident Choice for Green Building:

Due to various sustainable attributes today, tiles contributes towards points and credits for several green building standards:

In North America, sustainable buildings are defined by several green building standards, codes, and rating systems that, put together, recognize a wide variety of sustainable product attributes such as low occupant energy costs and reusable building materials. The following chart outlines the many ways in which ceramic tile can satisfy conformance requirements, or contribute toward credits and points.

STANDARDS REFERENCE GUIDE

	Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v3	NAHB National Green Building Standard (ICC 700-2012)	Green Globes/Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings (ANSI/GBI 01-2010)
RECYCLED CONTENT	MR Credit 4	604.1 Recycled Content	10.1.2.1 Recycled Content
PRODUCT REUSABILITY	MR Credits 1.2 and 3	603.1 Reuse of Existing Building 603.2 Salvaged Material	10.4.1 Reuse of Building Facades 10.4.3 Reuse of Non-Structural Elements
REGIONAL MATERIALS	MR Credit 5	11.069.1 Regional Materials	10.1.3 Transportation of Reclaimed or Salvaged Materials 10.1.4 Transportation of Manufactured Materials
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN	IEQ Credits 3.1 and 3.2	N/A	6.2 Environmental Management During Construction
6.2 Environmental Management During Construction	IEQ Credits 4.1 and 4.3	901.7 Hard-Surface Flooring 901.8 Wall Coverings 901.10 Adhesives and Sealants	12.2.1 Volatile Organic Compounds
HEAT ISLAND EFFECT	Credit 7.1	505.2 Heat Island Mitigation	7.2.2 Heat Island Effect
ENERGY EFFICIENT	EA Pre-Requisite 2 and Credit 1	702.2.2 Energy cost performance Analysis 703.1 Building Envelope	8.4 Building Opaque Envelope
INHERENT DURABILITY	N/A	602.1.6 Termite-resistant materials 602.1.11 Tile Backing Materials 901.6 Wall-to-wall carpeting not installed	10.6.1 Building Service Life Plan
OTHER ATTRIBUTES	Innovation in Design (ID) Credit Opportunities	601.3 Building Dimensions & Layouts 601.7 Pre-Finished Materials	10.7.7 Rain screen Wall Cladding
LCA OR EPD	Pilot Credit, Pending USGBC Approval for v4	610.1 Life Cycle Analysis	10.1.1 Performance Path A
Multi-Attribute Sustainability Conformance to Green Squared	Pending USGBC Approval for Pilot Credit & v4	611.2 Sustainable Products	Green Squared Certified products will help fulfill several of the above-listed criteria

For more comfort, try to look for products that are Green Squared Certified. Measured by third parties, these products provide sustainability and in some cases even provide additional compliance and points. They are the world's only multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and all the associated products needed to install it. Only products that are independently evaluated by an approved certification body can have the Green Squared Certified Mark. Find Green Squared Certified Products here.

GREEN SQUARED CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

International Green Construction Code (IgCC)-2012	Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1-2011)	California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen-2010)	Facilities Standards for Public Buildings(GSA p100-2010)
505.2.2 Recycled Content Building Materials	9.4.1.1 Recycled Content	A4.405.3 Recycled Content (Res) A5.405.4 Recycled Content (Non-Res)	3.16 Interior Finishes
N/A	N/A	A5.405.3 Reused Material (Non-Res)	N/A
505.2.5 Indigenous Materials	9.4.1.2 Regional Materials	A5.405.1 Regional Materials (Non-Res)	N/A
804.2 Pre-Occupancy Baseline IAQ Testing	10.3.1.4 IAQ Construction Management Plan	A5.504.1 IAQ During Construction (Non-Res)	N/A
806.2 Adhesives & Sealants 806.4 Flooring 806.5 Acoustical Ceiling Tiles & Wall Systems	8.4.2.1 Adhesives & Sealants 8.4.2.3 Floor Covering Materials 8.4.2.6 Ceiling & Wall Systems	4.504.2 Finish Material Pollutant Control (Res) 5.504.4 Finish Material Pollutant Control (Non-Res)	3.16 Interior Finishes
408.2 Site Hardscape	5.3.2.1 Site Hardscape	A5.106.11.1 Hardscape Alternatives(Non-Res)	N/A
605 Building Envelope Systems	7.4.2.1 Building Envelope Requirements	N/A	N/A
General Conformance to A108 Committee Standards for Baseline Code Compliance	10.3.2.3 Service Life Plan	N/A	3.16 Interior Finishes
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
303 Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment	9.5.1 Life-Cycle Assessment	A5.409 Life Cycle Assessment (Non-Res)	N/A
Green Squared Certified products will help fulfil several of the above-listed criteria	Pending ANSI SSPC 189.1 WG 9 Review of Sustainable Product Certification (SPC) Programs	Green Squared Certified products will help fulfill several of the above-listed criteria	Interior Systems

A study was made about the life cycle costs for floor finishes (per square foot) was compared to several different floor types by Scharf Godfrey (a construction cost consulting firm). The per year cost includes installation, maintenance, and removal costs.

LIFE CYCLE COSTS FOR FLOOR FINISHES (per square feet)

Floor Finish	Installed Cost	Life Cycle Cost	Expected Life (y)	Cost Per Year
Quarry Tile	$6.83	$16.13	50	$0.32
Glazed Ceramic Floor Tile	$7.00	$16.30	50	$0.33
Glazed Porcelain Tile	$8.34	$17.64	50	$0.35
Mosaic Tile	$8.20	$17.50	50	$0.35
Unglazed Porcelain	$8.30	$17.60	50	$0.35
Natural Hardwood	$9.31	$20.80	50	$0.42
Travertine-Turkish	$12.50	$21.80	50	$0.44
Marble	$21.00	$30.30	50	$0.61
Laminate	$8.84	$17.77	25	$0.71
Man-Made Hardwood	$9.58	$18.51	25	$0.74
Portland Cement Terrazzo	$14.88	$24.27	30	$0.81
Stained Concrete	$12.40	$24.60	25	$0.98
Carpet	$3.22	$6.50	6	$1.08
Resin Terrazzo	$8.50	$16.53	15	$1.10
Sheet Vinyl	$6.90	$13.90	10	$1.39
Poured Epoxy	$8.18	$15.18	10	$1.52
VCT	$3.91	$18.35	10	$1.83

One of Julian Tile Suppliers Partners With Lamborghini

The Protoshop by Lamborghini is the first multi-storey industrial building in Italy in Class A: it covers an area of almost 5,000 m2 and was designed for the famous vehicle manufacturer to house its “Prototypes and Pre-series” department.

The project is the work of the Prospazio team of architects of Modena, who chose the ultra-slim (3.5 mm thick) and big size (3m x 1m) Slimtech slabs by Lea Ceramiche for the covering of the ventilated façade.

Lea Slimtech is ideal for the construction of low energy buildings because it is 100% eco-compatible; it releases less pollution into the atmosphere, makes the most efficient use of natural resources, achieving savings in transport and packaging, creating less production waste and optimizing its energy performance.

Download the technical information on this project.

Onix Mosaics from Spain. 98% Recycled Content.

The Mosaics by Onix are a symbol of distinction, a break from the norm and an expression of personal style with which interior design redraws its boundaries and rethinks preconceived ideas to become a decorative element of considerable added value. As the light strikes our high-quality textures, it creates a combination of effects that generate the most spectacular atmospheres. Their incredible versatility liberates the innovative and avantgarde spirit of whoever chooses them without placing restraints on creativity because these mosaic tiles are capable of harmoniously blending in with any other component chosen for interior design projects. An entire decade of dedication to modern design and innovation has provided ONIX with a unique identity, making it stand out from among the leading companies in the sector. Homes, public spaces and shopping centres around the world have all been designed according to the ONIX spirit; a spirit that entices you to live the future in the present through the selection of any one of the numerous and versatile collections we have to offer.

Create Unique Patterns With Woodstock; Eco Porcelain Tile From Italy

Woodstock Series comes in 5 different sizes and gives you hundreds of setting possibilities. And because Woodstock Series is certified by the Green Building Council of Italia and EMAS, the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, you can free your creativity and feel good about our environment.

New Glass From Italy With 95% Recycled Content.

Area 25 Mosaics. To view all the colours and for more information about this tile, please click here

Natural Living. Eco Managed Italian Porcelain From Julian Tile.

Four colors, a beautiful long bar mix and an eco label from the European Environment Commission. Natural Living. A natural choice

Woodstock. New Italian porcelain tile at Julian Tile.

Woodstock features four modular sizes plus two coordinating mosaics in fiveearthy colors. Truly a tile for all seasons.

Slimtech. 3.5mm Italian PorcelainTile. Eco Certified.

Slim (3.5mm) and light, Slimtech is a pleasure to lay. An Incredibly versatile product with great aesthetics and high technological value.
Click here to visit the Slimtech page.

Micro Ban Anti Bacterial Technology

Arenaria - Ecological Porcelain Tile Made in Italy

Kyoto - Floor/Wall Porcelain Made in Italy

Eiger. Italian floor/wall porcelain tile

A fresh, clean look with a commercial grade surface rating. For more information and pictures please click here

Tile – A Green Choice

Tile is a clever choice for anyone who wants to build green. Take a look at some facts that make ceramic and porcelain tile a environmentally-friendly material.

Life Cycle - When installed properly, ceramic and porcelain tile can last a lifetime. Unlike carpet, laminate or vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile does not have to be replaced periodically.

Recycling - Most of the tile factories today are getting certified for eco responsible process. Reutilization of water and materials are common ground.

Air Quality - Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is a big factor on many health problems. Ceramic and porcelain tile are fired to extremely high temperatures removing 100% volatile organics. You also can use grout and adhesives with zero or close to zero VOCs.

Hypoallergenic – Tile is inhospitable to dust mites, mold, germs, and bacteria and often used to replace carpet for people with allergies or asthma.

Low Maintenance – You don’t need chemicals to maintain the beauty of your tile. Often just warm water will do the job.