The Brew Cabin

Great site. Learnt more browsing today than I'd have thought possible.

Does anyone have experience of Marshalls Firenza Tiles product? It's a Terracotta faux "hand-made clay tile - yet with the durability and consistent size of concrete".

According to Marshalls brochure, the "manufacturing process means that Firenza Tiles should be bedded on mortar". Why is this?

How durable are the 'tiles'?

I'd welcome any observations / comments / thoughts etc.

Thanks in advance.

They need to be bedded on mortar because they are relatively thin, and, if laid on just sand, or on the vile spot bedding, they'd snap when walked upon.

I'm not a big fan of Firenza. I don't think they look authentic, I think the colour is false, I think they're prone to breakage, and I prefer to use genuine pamments or reclaimed frost-proof terracotta.

However, they can make an attractive edge detail to other pavings and they are as 'durable' as most other concrete products. The guff about 'consistent size' is, as I say, guff. To me, part of the beauty of genuine terracotta paving is that it's NOT consistent - the slight variation in size is what makes it look so natural and organic!

I'm reluctant to condemn the Firenza products out of hand, but I would like to know more about the design, the total area, the planned usage, etc., before deciding whether I would use them. The aesthetics must be your decision - I can't say what you should like and what you shouldn't, but I do believe there are alternatives to the Firenza that have ....err....shall I say "certain benefits" that are not found with the Firenza, not least of which is cost!

Have a look at Westminster Stone's Old Provence, and Antique Tile range.

Note there are a couple of new tile products not on the website, so call for the new brochure due out in the next 10 days