The future of 3 cm and 2 cm ceramic tiles

Products and innovation / By Team ROMFIX

The shift from 3 cm to 2 cm

Thick tiles have long been valued in landscape architecture and outdoor design for their durability and appearance. Increasingly, 2 cm ceramic tiles are replacing 3 cm tiles. What is driving this change, and what does the future hold?

The rise of 2 cm ceramics

High-quality 2 cm tiles now offer durability, resilience and aesthetic variety comparable to traditional 3 cm tiles. Advances in manufacturing have improved quality, attracting designers who want a high-quality finish.

A wide range of sizes and bespoke options also makes 2 cm tiles attractive. Designers can be more creative and tailor projects to their customers’ needs.

Why choose 2 cm ceramic tiles?

Choosing paving is an important part of garden design, and 2 cm ceramic tiles offer new possibilities. Here are five reasons to choose these thin but strong tiles:

1. Durability:

Despite their thin profile, 2 cm ceramic tiles are designed to withstand harsh weather and everyday use without being prone to cracking or distortion.

2. Easy installation:

The thinner tiles are lighter and easier to handle, making installation faster and more efficient. This saves costs and reduces disruption during garden construction.

3. More design options:

A wide choice of colours, textures and patterns lets you tailor the outdoor space to your style and garden design.

4. Low maintenance:

Ceramic tiles resist stains and discolouration and need little maintenance, leaving you more time to enjoy your garden.

5. Versatile applications:

From paths and patios to pool surrounds and vertical cladding, 2 cm ceramic tiles suit a wide range of garden applications.

6. Budget-friendly

You can save time and money by reducing excavation and surplus soil removal, avoiding edging installation and its associated work, and preventing the need to repair tile joints affected by movement in the base.

ROMFIX’s role in 2 cm ceramics

As the market shifts towards 2 cm ceramic tiles, ROMFIX offers a durable system designed to keep even the thinnest patio tiles stable.

Installing ceramic tiles requires precision. With bonded installation supported by our durable system, professionals receive a five-year system warranty that they can pass on to their customers.

Ceramic tiles have grown in popularity in the Netherlands since 2011. Their traditional thickness of 2–3 cm requires a specialist approach. Thin, precisely finished tiles can be vulnerable to instability, but the ROMFIX system helps professionals install them correctly.

The system combines drainage bedding mortar and a bonding agent to virtually eliminate patio settlement. With the ROMFIX system, 2 cm tiles are stable and can also make edging kerbs unnecessary.

Experience

Trivium also uses ROMFIX to install ceramics. As the first company to import ceramic tiles into the Netherlands, it quickly recognised that they could not be installed in the traditional way.

While thick ceramics can be laid in sand, thinner tiles need a stable base. This prevents settlement, holds the tiles in position and keeps them free from scratches and stains.

Trivium and ROMFIX aim to keep customers happy for years to come. The foundation is crucial, which is why Trivium has used ROMFIX to install ceramic tiles from day one.

Conclusion

Falling prices and changing market conditions present challenges, but choosing 2 cm ceramic tiles opens up new opportunities for high-quality solutions.

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