Shackerley alerts contractors to new market opportunity

Specifiers are becoming increasingly aware of the availability and aesthetic appeal of large format porcelain tiles, and of their potential applications in interior installations. Given the requirements of BS 5385 Part 1 - which demands mechanical fixing of all large format ceramic tiles used above first floor height in pedestrianised areas - there is also increasing interest in the different methods that can be used to provide a safe, secure and stress free fix for these products, which manufacturers now offer in more colourways, patterns and surface finishes than ever before.

Lancashire manufacturer and distributor Shackerley Holdings Group Limited is the UK’s leading supplier of ceramic granite ventilated cladding with its Queen’s Award winning Sureclad system, and has supplied facades for prestigious landmark buildings across the country. The expertise the company has gained in developing ever more versatile and installer-friendly facade fixing systems for the external envelope is now being offered to those wishing to incorporate stylish large format tiles into contemporary interior design schemes.

The company is able to offer expert advice on all aspects of mechanical tile fixing and has extensive in-house cutting, specialised drilling and prefabrication facilities to prepare large format tiles for use in interior and exterior cladding applications. A patented undercut anchor system is employed and all prefabrication is carried out in ISO9001 quality certified production facilities. Once drilled and fitted with fixing brackets the tiles can be installed to interior walls and ceilings using a modified version of the company’s Sureclad carrier system. In some cases, depending on the planarity of the elevations involved, the need for a primary support system and the installation of vertical rails can be avoided completely, and horizontal rails can be screwed straight onto the wall.

Group Chairman of Shackerley, Brian Newell says: “The advent of large format ceramic tiles has certainly not gone unnoticed in the specification market. Architects and other specifiers are becoming increasingly aware of the ever-increasing range of colours, finishes and formats that manufacturers are now able to produce. They are already very comfortable using large format ceramic panels to create sleek ventilated facades to protect and enhance exteriors. It was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to interior applications.

“Because of the requirement to mechanically fix large format tiles above first floor height, tiling contractors really need to be thinking about the range of skills they have in-house if they are to take advantage of the new business opportunities that are opening up. By working in partnership with companies like Shackerley and really getting to grips with established mechanical fixing methods for large format ceramic tiles and slabs they will be able to serve the needs of what could potentially be a fast growing and lucrative sector of the market in future”.