Posted in Outdoor
5th June 2024
While there is continued media coverage of the decline of public swimming baths, the number of privately owned pools continues to grow in the UK. A conservative estimate suggests over a quarter of a million homes have a private indoor or outdoor pool and, driven by climate change and the health benefits of swimming, that figure seems to be increasing by circa 2,500 every year.
At Minoli, we’ve certainly seen a significant increase in enquiries from designers, specialist pool construction and installation firms, and homeowners. In this article we explore the positive attributes of porcelain tiles and paving as the surface solution of choice for pool surrounds and rooms, adjoining patio areas and even as an attractive alternative to traditional glass mosaic, concrete, PVC, vinyl or fibreglass pool tank linings, where the appropriate substrate is in place.
Technical Qualities
Aside from aesthetics, an important consideration when designing a pool and the surrounding areas is the technical qualities of the materials used. Porcelain tiles and extra thick 20 mm pavers are extremely durable and high load bearing when laid correctly.
Because porcelain tiles are vitrified under enormous pressure in kilns during production, they are an extremely dense material and have near zero porosity. This makes them impenetrable by water and highly resilient in extremely hot and cold temperatures, or thermal shock conditions as they are known.
They are also impervious to oil and dirt, making them very hygienic, and resistant to the chemicals commonly used in swimming pool maintenance. What’s more, porcelain tiles will not shrink, split or splinter, warp or show wear and they are better suited for use in humid and wet areas as they will not rot or attract algae.
Another vital attribute of porcelain tiles and pavers is slip-resistance. There are various measurement classifications relating to the barefoot slip resistance of surfaces where water is present including ramp, pendulum and microroughness tests, and The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommendations have recently changed to a new standard. Whilst it is not possible to directly translate the R-Ratings into the single angular values attained in the latest EN-16165 – Annex A guidelines, it is generally regarded that tiles with R11 ratings and above are suitable for pool surround surfaces and for use in exterior settings, particularly for private, residential pool projects*.
All 20 mm thickness pavers in the Outdoor By Minoli Collection have textured surfaces with a minimum R11 slip-resistance rating, as do some indoor specification tiles with structured or grip finishes, which are particularly suited for use in showers and wet rooms, or even indoor pool applications.
Porcelain tiles and pavers are also very uniform in production with precise rectified edges and manufacturing tolerances. This makes them ideal for use in swimming pool areas where exacting alignment and seamless surfaces are required for safety, integrity and comfort underfoot.
Diversity of Design
Whether a classic or contemporary style is preferred, the sheer breadth and depth of different design directions within Minoli’s porcelain tile and paving portfolios provides so many options. With textured grippy surfaces for pool surrounds and floors in wet areas, coordinating wall tiles which can be used as exterior cladding or within pool and changing rooms, plus a range of complementary and equally resilient mosaics and decor tiles, there are ranges to fulfil the most creative and inventive briefs.
Amongst the surface styles in the Outdoor By Minoli Collection, there are porcelain products that emulate traditional and technical stoneware, modern concrete and clay-effects, plus new series that replicate the most sought-after marble with remarkable authenticity.
Soft backgrounds, high-definition graphics, impressive depth and detail, and an exceptional variety of colour palettes are the qualities that set new standards in the production of precision, high-performance porcelain. With increasingly elevated pattern frequencies, design repetition is almost indiscernible and tiles with the look of natural materials are near-indistinguishable from their quarried and cut counterparts.
Beyond the more functional use of porcelain tiles as a floor and wall covering, we’re now seeing more colourful and decorative designs being used to create artwork-like inserts and features to adorn pool rooms with patterned panels. Whether using extra-large format slabs with marble and gemstone effects, the block-print patterns of majolica or metro-style tiles, or bringing tactile textures with mosaics and décor ranges, the creative opportunities are almost endless.
Sustainability and Wellbeing
An increasingly important requirement and preference in modern building specifications is to lessen the environmental impact and improve the sustainability of both the materials used in construction and the performance of the final built structure.
Porcelain tiles are manufactured according to energy and water-efficiency criteria and are an environmentally friendly choice due to their long-lasting and recyclable characteristics and production is considered ‘zero waste’, based on the use of natural and always reusable materials.
Furthermore, from a health perspective, porcelain tiles are inherently hygienic, given their impervious and easily cleaned surfaces, and they do not contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, PVC, plastics or petroleum derivatives.
Minoli are fortunate to work with some of the leading producers in the Italian and Spanish ceramics industries and our key production partners hold various sustainability certifications, support a range of environmental programmes and are all working towards greener goals and third-party validation of their achievements. While not all of Minoli’s products have the same material composition, if a particular specification is required for a project, our teams can advise and source the relevant technical data for designers and architects.
Sizes and Specialist Pieces
Porcelain tiles and paving are available in an ever-increasing array of different sizes, many with coordinating dimensions that allow for multiple formats to be aligned within designs. In terms of the 20 mm thickness, outdoor specification pavers, sizes range from 60/60, 60/90, 80/80 and 90/90 through to the larger formats of 60/120, 120/120 and even 120/240. Wood effect exterior-use pavers, that feature a more plank-like design also come in 30/120 sizes as an alternative to timber decking.
When looking at standard thickness tiles, which are usually 9-10 mm and are still appropriate for use outside, the choice of sizes is even broader with 30/60, 75/75, 75/150, 80/160 and extra-large slabs in 120/278 and 160/320 formats also available. Plus, there are more traditional wood-effect tiles in 20/120 or 22.5/90, amongst others.
The larger formats of porcelain tiles and slabs now available also contribute to improved hygiene levels as there are fewer grout lines between the otherwise uninterrupted surfaces.
Regarding specialist pieces, which are especially essential in swimming pool construction, these can be either ordered direct from Minoli’s production partners or cut and finished locally, whether from a wide selection of off-the-shelf designs or to fulfil bespoke requirements. These include tiles with mitred / drop, bevelled or bullnose edges, step treads and finger grips, drainage grates and gullies, plus internal and external corner details. Using the same materials for larger paved areas and these particular pool-side pieces delivers new levels of visual continuity with which to realise the most exacting designs.
From both technical and aesthetic design perspectives, the case for using high-performance porcelain products in swimming pool projects is clear. Their strength and resilience, format diversity and slip-resistance, sustainability and suitability for specialist applications provide many apparent advantages over other materials, and they simply look beautiful when expertly installed.
Including all of our most frequently specified outdoor porcelain pavers and indoor tiles, Minoli holds over £4m in net cost value stock at our centrally located warehouse and distribution centre in Oxford, ready for prompt delivery normally within 2-5 working days. Beyond this extensive UK stockholding, a huge selection of further designs and formats are available to order from Minoli’s production partners in Italy and Spain, with very reasonable lead times.
If you’d like to talk to our team about options for a forthcoming swimming pool project or to order samples of our extensive collections, please do get in touch. We’d gladly discuss your needs on the phone, arrange a time for a design consultation at one of our showrooms or, for our corporate clients, arrange a meeting with your account manager.
Minoli Oxford: 01865 778225 / showroom@minoli.co.uk
Minoli London: 020 7474 2934 / thesurfacewithin@minoli.co.uk
Corporate Clients – Please contact your account manager directly / developers@minoli.co.uk
Outdoor Specific Product Enquiries – 01865 778225 / outdoor@minoli.co.uk
*Please note: Minoli rely on the availability and accuracy of technical product information from our production partners. If a specific material specification is required for a project, advice should be sought about the individual products and their suitability and safety. Our teams can access and provide technical information regarding slip, breakage, temperature and chemical resistance, where made available by the manufacturer.