Frequently Asked Questions
• Useful Information
Tuscania is a company in the Italian production sector. It represents a high-quality excellence of Italian ceramics worldwide. Thanks to innovation and research, it translates market trends to furnish contemporary living spaces.
Tuscania Ceramiche produces porcelain stoneware in various sizes and finishes.
Tuscania offers a wide range of effects, colors, sizes, and finishes to meet all aesthetic and design requirements. Regardless of the chosen surface, each tile maintains its beauty over time and is extremely easy to clean.
All items are entirely produced in Italy.
Tuscania's porcelain stoneware tiles feature superior resistance, durability, and aesthetic stability compared to many alternative materials. The constant technological evolution and production experience result in a wide and versatile range of products suitable for any type of environment and use.
Tuscania's production process is a closed-loop system: all production waste, including wastewater, is treated and reused. Through specialized systems, all components are fully recycled and recovered. Emissions from the production process are purified by abatement systems that use the best technologies, ensuring compliance with legal limits.
We have always been committed to reducing the environmental impact of our production processes, which are already compliant with ISO 17889-1, and to offering products that are safe for people and the planet. Tuscania is an ordinary member of the U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, and all collections are entirely produced in Italy. Tuscania ceramics have all the most important certifications, such as EPD.
Tuscania is based in Serramazzoni (Mo), Italy, but is able to serve every country in the world through its commercial network and collaborations with local distributors, who can help you find the product, service, and prices best suited to your needs. We do not sell directly to private individuals, so our tiles are only available through our authorized distributors. We invite you to contact us to find the nearest one to you.
Our showroom is located at our headquarters in Serramazzoni and is open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. We invite you to contact us to schedule your visit.
Porcelain stoneware, in its various surface finishes, is made from a mixture of clays, feldspars, sand, and other natural non-metallic substances of different sizes and colors. It is a "vitrified" material with high technical characteristics and a very low absorption coefficient. The firing process at extremely high temperatures (1000 – 1300 °C) transforms the high-quality raw materials into tiles that are frost-resistant, acid-resistant, mechanically strong, waterproof, hygienic, and feature a refined aesthetic. The term "porcelain" comes from the use of white clay, which is also used for porcelain production.
Compared to other types of flooring and wall materials, porcelain stoneware tiles offer greater resistance to environmental stress and wear from daily use. They are resistant to abrasion, weathering, chemicals, stains, and even fire.
Glazed porcelain stoneware refers to vitrified ceramic surfaces (with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%) that have a neutral-colored internal composition. The subsequent application of a layer of glaze allows for a dynamic and visually impactful graphic variety. Resistant to stains, chemical attacks, and easy to clean, glazed porcelain stoneware flooring can be used for both indoor and outdoor installations (once the appropriate anti-slip coefficient has been verified).
Porcelain stoneware is a material with high technical performance, making it suitable for various applications: Residential, Commercial, and Public Areas.
However, it is necessary to check the nature of the collection in relation to the intended use of the product, as some collections, due to surface treatments, may be used exclusively for residential coverings or flooring, or in areas where specific anti-slip performance is not required.
Porcelain stoneware can be used as a wall covering for bathrooms or kitchens, offering high-quality aesthetic solutions with the possibility of using the same product for both flooring and wall coverings.
Porcelain stoneware is recommended for use with underfloor heating as it retains very little heat, allowing for optimized heating consumption.
Porcelain stoneware tiles are frost-resistant, weatherproof, and durable under foot traffic. In particular, tiles with a structured and grip finish provide the best anti-slip performance and are therefore most suitable for outdoor use.
Tuscania also offers Fp2, the 20mm tile line dedicated to outdoor spaces. The Fp2 collections combine the superior strength of thick porcelain stoneware with the unmistakable style of Made in Italy.
The FP2 collections, with a thickness of 20mm, combine aesthetic quality with high technical performance. They are ideal for outdoor paving in residential and commercial settings, such as gardens, walkways, terraces, pool edges, sidewalks, squares, beach resorts, parking lots, and much more.
They are resistant to frost, thermal shocks, salt, stains, and mold.
The anti-slip materials ensure that outdoor spaces can be enjoyed safely while maintaining their color and texture over time.
The products can be easily installed both dry (on grass, gravel, or raised installation) and with adhesive.
This is a misconception. Large-format tiles create fewer joints and give the surface continuity, making the space appear larger. The aesthetic effect is enhanced if tone-on-tone grout is used.
Rectification of tiles
Rectification is a process carried out with cutting and milling machines that allows for the production of porcelain stoneware tiles with perfectly squared edges. This process allows tiles to be laid with almost invisible joints, down to a minimum of 2 mm, creating an elegant and aesthetically impactful effect.
Shade of tiles
The shade refers to the color tone that characterizes a specific batch of tiles.
Since in industrial manufacturing it is almost impossible to produce pieces with the exact same shade, the tiles are grouped by color uniformity, or shade, before packaging.
The tile shade is often indicated with a number and letter and stamped on the packaging (e.g., Shade 50 A, Shade 50 B).
Size of tiles
The size refers to the manufacturing dimensions of the tiles.
Due to manufacturing technology, tiles that come out of the kiln can vary slightly in size. Therefore, during selection, they are grouped into batches of the same size, within the tolerance limits set by regulations.
Like the shade, the tile size is indicated on the packaging as follows:
61 x 61 cm size D (W 608 mm x 608 mm), where 608 mm is the manufacturing dimension.
Or: 61 x 61 cm – Size 01 – 0 – 1 ......
Tile selection
The selection class of the tiles is another parameter that characterizes the supply.
Only the first selection is regulated by standards. In this case, for example, concerning appearance defects, no more than five defective tiles per hundred are allowed. The other selections (second, third, commercial, kiln yield, etc.) are of lower quality and may contain a greater number of defects.
The surface of ceramic tiles can undergo various treatments during the production process that affect the roughness, gloss, and anti-slip properties. The main surface finishes are four:
• Natural: The most commonly used finish, where the tile undergoes no treatment after firing. Regardless of whether the surface is more or less smooth or matte, these tiles are suitable for any type of environment.
• Structured: The surface roughness is generally more pronounced, making this type of surface more resistant to slipping and, therefore, better suited for outdoor use.
• Lappato in relief (semi-polished): The surface undergoes mechanical treatment that makes it smoother and shinier, enhancing the aesthetic value of the material, making it ideal for residential interior projects. The intentionally moderate and non-uniform glossy effect allows for a more faithful reproduction of polished natural stone.
• Full lappato (fully polished): This surface is obtained by passing abrasive wheels over it, making it completely glossy and achieving a "mirror effect".
What is the selection class of tiles?
The selection class of tiles is another parameter that characterizes the quality of the product.
Some collections are characterized by color variations between the tiles. This is a particular feature of that product, which should be emphasized during installation by selecting pieces from multiple boxes to achieve optimal color blending.
When selecting the ideal type of tile for the project we have in mind, it is necessary to evaluate both technical and aesthetic aspects.
Technical characteristics
The technical characteristics are those necessary for the material to perform its function properly and reliably.
They can be divided into several categories, including:
- Regularity characteristics
- Structural characteristics
- Bulk mechanical characteristics
- Surface mechanical characteristics
- Thermo-hygrometric characteristics
- Chemical characteristics
- Safety characteristics
Regularity characteristics
Regularity characteristics define the suitability of a batch of tiles for "regular" installation, free from irregularities such as dips or bumps, steps between adjacent tiles, or irregular joint paths.
Structural characteristics
Structural characteristics describe the structure of the material from which the tile is made, particularly the porosity of the tile. The measure of porosity is water absorption, which is lowest in porcelain stoneware. Higher values are found in single-fired tiles, majolica, terracotta, and cotto.
Bulk mechanical characteristics
Bulk mechanical characteristics indicate resistance to loads (such as the weight of people and furniture on the floor) to which the tile must withstand. These are called "bulk" because they involve the entire mass of the tile and are distinguished from "surface" characteristics, which describe the surface. Mechanical characteristics include flexural strength and breaking load. The former is related to the material the tile is made of and is directly proportional to water absorption. Breaking load, on the other hand, is a characteristic of the already-formed tile, with its structure and dimensions. It is directly proportional to thickness. Impact resistance is another feature in this category.
Surface mechanical characteristics
These characteristics relate to the surface of the tile, associated with resistance to scratches, abrasions, foot traffic, and deterioration caused by hard objects moving over or in contact with the surface. These are primarily relevant for flooring. The most significant is abrasion resistance, which shows the tile's wear rate (for unglazed tiles) or its ability to maintain its appearance (for glazed tiles). In unglazed tiles, this value increases as water absorption decreases and is high in porcelain stoneware. In glazed tiles, abrasion resistance depends entirely on the glaze, with lighter glazes showing wear effects more clearly.
Thermo-hygrometric characteristics
Thermo-hygrometric characteristics indicate resistance to specific temperature ("thermo") and humidity ("hygrometric") conditions, such as resistance to thermal shock, frost, and crazing (for glazed tiles). Sudden temperature changes (such as placing a hot object on a tiled kitchen countertop) and frost exposure should not damage the tile. Frost resistance depends heavily on porosity or water absorption: the lower the water absorption, the lower the chance of frost damage. Crazing refers to fine cracks in the glaze, which are influenced by the composition of the glaze.
Chemical characteristics
Chemical characteristics include resistance to stains, household products, acids, and bases. Chemical resistance increases as the tile's porosity decreases. Glazed tiles have a surface that is compact and non- absorbent, making them more resistant to chemical attack. Unglazed products, such as porcelain stoneware, exhibit excellent chemical resistance.
Safety characteristics
Safety characteristics refer to the risks of injury or health issues related to tile use. The main safety feature is slip resistance, which is crucial for outdoor, public, and industrial environments. Slip resistance is inversely proportional to the surface's friction coefficient. Another characteristic is the release of lead and cadmium (metals sometimes present in glazes), which must be carefully controlled in contact with food-related surfaces, such as kitchen countertops.
The aesthetic characteristics of porcelain stoneware tiles are essentially three: the format, the color, and the decoration.
The format:
The format is a feature that significantly influences the visual appearance of the tiled surface.
As the format changes, the density of the joint pattern (grout lines) between the tiles also changes. The pattern becomes denser with smaller formats and wider, thus less visible, with larger formats.
The most common formats are square or rectangular (though there are also hexagonal, octagonal, Provençal, Moorish shapes, etc.), simple shapes that offer a wide range of solutions.
To change the visual impact, you can modify the arrangement of the grout lines (for example, from continuous grout lines in both directions to staggered grout lines) or their orientation relative to the sides or axes of the surface to be covered. Another variation is to combine tiles of different formats.
By combining these two methods, along with creative research and innovation, today's tiling solutions are practically endless.
The color:
In glazed tiles, the color comes from the glaze. The color range available in ceramic glazes is virtually unlimited and includes any base color, tone, or shade.
For the same color, surfaces with different levels of gloss can be created, either glossy or matte, and with varying texture.
From the initial neutral tones of a few decades ago, when it was only a high-performance technical product, tiles have expanded to a broader range of solid colors and granular color textures that mimic specific natural stones.
This result is achieved by adjusting the composition and starting powders, as well as creating effects on the surface, such as veining, shading, or color blending. Color solutions are further expanded through polishing, which creates shiny, reflective surfaces.
The decoration:
The range of decorations is virtually infinite. Thanks to digital serigraphy, any design, even complex and multicolored, or any photograph can be printed onto the surface of a tile.
There are also "complete" decorations on individual tiles, where all the tiles in that batch are identical, as well as decorations that involve multiple tiles, arranged to form a large and complex design.
- Even a first-quality batch may contain defective pieces (up to 5% according to regulations).
- Some tiles need to be cut or drilled, so a certain amount of waste must be accounted for.
- It is always advisable to keep some spare tiles for possible future repairs or to have a representative sample of the material in case of disputes.
In conclusion, it is advisable to order 10%-15% more tiles than the surface area to be covered, and to do so in a single order, as subsequent batches may not be perfectly homogeneous with the ones used previously.
Upon receiving the material and before installation, check the correspondence between the documents and the goods. Verify that the shade, size, and grade are consistent. For optimal mixing, install the tiles by taking pieces from several boxes. We recommend adhesive installation using specific high-performance adhesives. The screed must be stable, even, and dry. For staggered installation, it is recommended to offset the tiles by a maximum of 20 cm.
For greater aesthetic value, we recommend using tone-on-tone grout that matches the color of the tile to reduce contrast and provide color continuity.
There is no single, binding rule for grout line width. Our rectified porcelain stoneware, due to its high quality, can also be installed with the minimum grout line allowed, which is usually established based on national regulations in each country; in Italy, it is set at 2 mm. For non-rectified tiles, we recommend a minimum grout line between 3 mm and 5 mm. In large spaces, expansion joints must be placed regularly, whereas in small spaces, it is sufficient to leave a slight gap between the tiles and the perimeter walls, which will be covered by the baseboard, completing the aesthetic effect.
For the installation of tiles with at least one side measuring 60 cm or more, it is recommended to use a leveling installation system. These systems help the installer to glue the tiles precisely, avoiding unevenness between one tile and another.
FP2 is the ideal solution for outdoor flooring in residential and commercial environments. Depending on the requirements and intended use, FP2 products can be installed in various ways: raised installation on specific supports, dry installation on gravel, grass, or sand, and traditional adhesive installation.
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