The darling Brazilian coatings
Present in most buildings in the country, whether on the floor, on the walls, in furniture and even works of art, Ceramic tiles arrived in Colonial Brazil ordered from Portugal to decorate the homes of the richest and churches with landscapes, Biblical scenes and everyday life in Lisbon. three centuries later, the material became popular in such a way that it placed the Brazilian market in the third position in the world in terms of manufacture and consumption, according to Anfacer (National Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Coatings, Sanitary ware and Congeners).
the tropical climate, a wide coastline, cleaning habits, the cost-benefit ratio and the advancement of the industry, helped popularize ceramic tiles in Brazil. But, by Amanda Andrade Nor, engineering and sustainability consultant CCB (Brazilian Ceramic Center), there are also other factors. “The high durability, highly valued by consumers who value sustainable and lasting investments and cultural tradition are two other great differentials that have expanded the use of the product around here”, says Amanda, representing the entity whose objective is to develop and implement techniques and certify the quality of ceramic products.
The trend and what doesn't go out of style
Traditionally used in wet areas of the house, how to cook, bathrooms, laundry, garden and barbecue area, the products have also been gaining space in other environments. “I see a change happening in Brazil in the sense of applying ceramic coatings on bed headboards and as a highlight on living room walls. Knowing how to mix products with different textures brings surprising results for this type of use”, says Lilian Santos, coatings specialist and CEO of the portal cladding the house.
Although fashion and trends have a greater influence on the choice of pieces for homes – and the industry offers a wide range of different designs –, neutral products are always in trend, especially in apartment buildings, where they are chosen by builders because they have more appeal to meet the taste of the largest possible number of customers, avoiding yourself, like this, the exchange when the keys are handed over.
There is also use in commercial projects where different types of coatings are used to meet both the technical specifications of organs and the Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), regarding the aesthetic proposal of the interior design.
neither better nor worse
When choosing the right product, you need to know the needs of each environment, according to the use it will have. Among the different ceramic coatings, Porcelain tiles meet a stricter classification, having a greater resistance.
This means that there is a difference in quality between porcelain tiles and ceramics.? Absolutely, not. Each of them meets specifications that depend on the use that each space will have., therefore, it is important to be aware of both the architect's guidelines and the manufacturer's specification regarding the use of the product. Following this step by step, project success is guaranteed, without prejudice to the darling reputation that ceramic tiles have enjoyed for centuries.
