Porcelain panels are a hot design trend and have been a real boon for commercial projects for several years now — and the trend just keeps growing, not just for commercial applications but for residential projects as well. These innovative, thin panels are huge—measured in feet, not inches— and can be installed in ways and on surfaces previously unthinkable for tile. It’s the thickness, measured in mere millimeters, that gives these tiles the unique ability to be laid over old tile. Tile over tile installations are a big advantage for renovation projects, saving demolition time and expense and allowing businesses to stay in business with little or no downtime and much less mess.
Then, there’s the look. A single 1×3 meter porcelain tile can cover more than 30 square feet! That translates into a large expanse of tile with fewer grout lines to create a seamless look that works beautifully in both modern and traditional settings. For walls, you can go ultra thin. Our porcelain panels for walls are only 3 mm thick, which prevents unwieldy weight on vertical surfaces. But for floors, it’s necessary to go just a bit thicker. Our porcelain tile panels for floors are still quite thin at just 5.6 mm—that’s less than a quarter of an inch!
Here’s a look at some recent porcelain panel floor installations in real commercial spaces, so you can see for yourself how amazing these big tiles look!
575 North Dairy Ashford (formerly Energy Center II)
The original stone flooring throughout the lobby was beautiful but dated natural granite. The design team was concerned about removing the stone because it would be noisy, messy, time-consuming and an additional sizable expense. Through multiple consultations, the team chose Crossville’s I Naturali porcelain panels in Statuario Altissimo. Because the porcelain panels were installed directly over the old granite, the floor tile installation was quick and efficient, minimizing intrusion for building tenants while also achieving the dramatic transformation desired.
Click here to read the full case study.
Clearwater Beach Condominium Kitchen Remodel
The new owners of a beautiful beachfront condominium wanted to update the kitchen, including the floor and countertop. specifically wanted to remodel the condo with minimal demolition and time. Because the condo is their winter home, they wanted their time in the condo during the project to have little disruption. To ease the demo timeline, the team chose Crossville I Naturali porcelain panels in the Statuario Venato Matte for the kitchen floor in an easy tile-over-tile installation.
Northwestern University Walter Annenberg Hall
The design team identified for this renovation project Crossville porcelain panels as a the ideal solution The designers selected I Naturali Pietra di Savoia porcelain panels in Grigia for the floor of the monument stair and landings and In combination with the fresh simplicity of the Avorio wall color, the Pietra di Savoia creates a soothing appearance that works harmoniously with other materials throughout the space. Long-term, these durable tile panels on both floor and wall will be easily cleaned and maintained while retaining their elegant appearance—a key benefit for those managing the upkeep of a busy academic facility and seeking lasting materials that will stay stylish.
Germania Insurance
Tasked with updating the 1980s design and décor of Germania Insurance, the design team needed to replace the original brick-paver flooring throughout the facility’s lobby, corridors, and hospitality areas. The team specified I Naturali porcelain panels in the Travertino Grigio Venato colorway for the floors. The designers could create a high-impact interior scheme because the porcelain panels have generous dimensions of 3′ x 9′, allowing for minimal grout lines in a modern aesthetic. With outer dimensions measured in feet yet a profile of only 5.6 mm in thickness, the porcelain panels were quickly and easily installed in a full-size stacked pattern, providing a seamless style.
Learn more about the installation!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some “real-life” installations of our versatile—and beautiful—porcelain tile panel collections. Click here to see all the porcelain panel collections, read more installation stories, and get technical info about these innovative large-format tiles.
