H&R Johnson to invest Rs. 400 crore in two years



Vijay Aggarwal, Managing Director



Ceramic tile maker, H&R Johnson (India), which has entered the bath fittings and kitchen cabinets segment, plans to invest nearly Rs. 400 crore in the next two years for expanding its various businesses. The Rs. 1,500-crore company hopes to increase its revenue by 25 per cent in the current fiscal.

Vijay Aggarwal, Managing Director, H & R Johnson India, said the ceramic tile market was growing along with the demand for bath fittings and kitchen cabinets. To meet the increasing demand, the company had invested Rs. 225 crore for expanding its ceramic tile manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh from 3 million sq.m to 6 million sq.m.. This was being further expanded to 9 million sq.m by January 2012.

Greenfield projects

The company would also be investing in two new plants at Rajkot in Gujarat. It had already invested Rs. 20 crore during the current fiscal in a joint venture to make 2.3 million sq. m of small tiles. The second one, a greenfield plant, would come up by February 2012 to produce one million sq.m of engineered marble and quartz at an investment of Rs. 50 crore. The company also planned to increase the capacity of industrial tiles, Endura, from 1.5 million sq.m to 2.5 million sq.m by March next year. It would be investing Rs. 35 crore for this expansion plan.

The market for tiles is estimated at Rs.14,000 crore. The share of the unorganised sector is around Rs. 8,000 crore and the balance is the contribution of the organised sector. Of the total organised market, Rs. 5,000 crore came from medium-end products and the balance from top-end products. For H&R Johnson, Marbonite and Johnson tiles contribute 45 per cent of its sales and the balance came from Endura.

The company had introduced digital technology for printing new designs on the ceramic tiles. Mr. Aggarwal was of the view that digital technology would catch up in the ceramic tile market in future.

On the bath fittings division, he said the company was planning to double the capacity of Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) plant. It would be doubling the capacity to 50,000 pieces of taps annually. It was also planning to set up a greenfield project in Jammu to manufacture 50,000 pieces of taps by April next. The revenue from this vertical was Rs. 70 crore last year. This would go up to Rs. 100 crore in the current fiscal, he added.

He said the kitchen cabinet division was started two years ago and was providing one-stop solution to customers. At present, the company had 40 dedicated showrooms. This would go up to 70 in the next six months.

Why vitrified tiles are a good option?



Vitrified Tiles



Though many home-owners like to have hardwood flooring for their homes, they forget that it is not strong enough and cannot withstand high traffic. Though hardwood flooring looks elegant, it is quite delicate and requires a lot of maintenance to keep its appearance intact. For those who are looking for attractive alternative to hardwood flooring, vitrified tiles is a good option. Vitrified tiles not just look attractive and pleasing but also are stronger compared to hardwood flooring. They are much tougher than most other flooring options. With vitrified tiles, you can give your home a modern, new look that is hard to miss.

Vitrified tiles are manufactured essentially with the vitrification process which involves mixing 40 % clay and 60 % silica. This combination of clay and silica is termed perfect to form vitrified tiles. 

As a result of the process of vitrification, the end product is hard and non-porous. Being hard and non-porous, vitrified tiles easily score over other tiles like marble tiles and other stone tiles. Stone tiles and some of the marble tiles are porous and can get spoilt easily if there is much of water retention. 

Advantages 

Another good thing about vitrified tiles is that they hardly require any maintenance. Vitrified tiles are a perfect option in places which experience a lot of traffic as they are designed to be non-abrasive. Another unique advantage vitrified tiles have over hardwood and other types of flooring is that the designs for vitrified tiles are printed with soluble salts and can easily penetrate the surface of the tile to about 3 mm. This implies that vitrified tiles have their designs which are entrenched at a depth of almost 30% of the tile’s thickness.  With so many advantages, you surely cannot miss on having vitrified tiles for your home. 

Get to know more about taps

Taps

Taps are an all important accessory of any bathroom. Bathroom décor comprises an eclectic mix of different styles and designs of taps. Selecting right kind of taps for your bathroom creates a visually pleasing effect, be it a traditionally styled bathroom or a contemporary one. Taps come in attractive finishes and designs and they are considered best in elegance and utility.
Taps are an integral part of bath accessories as they are used for a number of purposes. A bathroom is rendered completely redundant without a proper set of taps. With modern technology making swift strides, taps are designed keeping in mind the latest market trends. Taps are cleverly designed and exhibit an example of utility and simplicity. These pieces blend effortlessly with the theme and colour scheme of your bathroom. If you are wondering about the prices of these exquisite taps, then worry not as these taps are available in the market at affordable rates so you can easily afford them.  Even with low prices, you will not be limited with options as taps come in diverse weights, sizes, finishes and shapes.
If you are looking for designer taps, then cross-water taps are a good option.Cross-water taps have handles that provide a comfortable grip and have smooth finish lustre. Cross-water taps are such that they can be easily handled by the old people as well as the kids. These taps are popular because they come with uniform water release feature and are strictly tested to give an error-free performance, resistance from corrosion, high quality, super design, resistance from abrasion and durability. Apart from taps, mirrors are an all important accessory of any bathroom. Mirrors for bathrooms come in different varieties like frameless mirrors, illuminated mirrors, semi-framed and framed mirrors. The type of mirrors we choose for our bathroom reflects our aesthetic tastes and choices.

Tiles- Perfect option for your balcony



Outdoor Tiles



When we buy a home, we always look for an additional outside space like a balcony or a terrace. Though not all of us are lucky enough to have a separate terrace, most of us have balconies attached to our homes. Though many of us do not spare much of a thought in designing the balcony, there are many who take a great amount of interest in designing the balcony. The balcony is considered an even more important space in hot summers when you desperately look for some place to chill and feel good. You may have a small sized balcony or a large one, but the fact remains is that it should be designed in the right way to gather most benefit from it. If your balcony is decorated in a right manner, it will greatly help to reduce the bad effects of any harsh weather conditions.

When it comes to designing the balcony space, the floor and the walls need to be done rightly done as this will influence how the entire atmosphere in the balcony is. For floors and walls of your balcony, tiles are an excellent option. Tiles are mostly made from natural stone. As they are made from natural stone, it helps to keep the surrounding temperature down when there is scorching heat outside. Apart from the cool temperature, tiles are also known to beautify your balcony and add a unique look to it. They will surely augment the appearance of the outdoor space. If you are wondering about the price of tiles, then worry not as tiles are extremely affordable and you can easily purchase them even if you are working on a tight budget. Thus, tiles are a perfect option for the walls and floor of your balcony. There are different types of tiles in various shapes and sizes and patterns if you closely research the market.

Replacing damaged ceramic tiles




Ceramic Tiles

  Ceramic tiles are known for their aesthetic value and long shelf life and they come if various shapes, sizes apart from varying degree of thickness. Sometimes, harm may be caused to the ceramic tiles when a hard object smashes on the floor. Damaged ceramic tiles need to immediately removed and replaced.

Once you see that any of your ceramic tiles is damaged, you need to purchase new ones. The damage may have caused uneven ends at the corners. This requires correct shaping to be done. Once you are done with shaping, you have to start the procedure of laying the tiles. To lay the tiles, you need to first prepare the floor surface. To start with, you need to remove all the broken pieces of the ceramic tiles. Following this, hack the dry grouting that is present beneath the surface of the tiles. While doing this, care should be taken to see that the surrounding tiles are not harmed. Ensure that you clean all the debris before proceeding with installing the tiles.

When you finally start replacing the broken tiles and fitting new ones, you should see to it that you do not harm the existing tiles which are in good condition. Before you start to lay the tiles, wet the surface and let it be for around forty minutes. To even the surface, a mixture of cement and sand is used. The ratio is two parts of sand and one part of cement which gives a rich mixture. Add the right amount of water to make the mixture consistent. Spread the mortar in the area. Put the cement grouting on top of the surface. After this, lay the tile on the top and use a mallet to level the tile while pounding it.

Getting right tools to clean industrial tiles

Industrial Tiles

Industrial tiles are a lot more different from the standard tiles that we see in homes and other commercial spaces. Industrial tiles or the standard tiles, you must have noticed that tiles began to lose their sheen after some time. They do not look the way they used to when they were installed. You may mop the floor several tiles with all the cleaners present in the market, but somehow the sheen does not come back completely. After certain point of time you tend to give up and let the floors remain as they are.Industrial tiles need to be maintained properly as industrial spaces go through a lot of rough activities and this may harm the tiles or permanently stain them. The first thing while purchasing tiles for industrial spaces is to see that they have a good shelf life unaffected by the regular dents and stain marks. For industrial tiles, many people prefer to go it simple and use a normal vacuum cleaner to clean the tiles. After the vacuuming, a drained mop is used to get rid of the remaining dust. But while using the wet mop, you are scared. There is a danger that that water may seep in to the tiles causing the flooring to swell.
Floor buffers
If you want to be assured of the beauty and the long lasting ability of your industrial tiles, then it makes sense to go for a floor buffer. You must have probably heard of a floor buffer earlier and chances are that you may know a few people who have already gained the benefits of installing a floor buffer. Floor buffers are quite common in markets. Floor buffers for industrial tiles might look difficult to use, but the reality is that they are quite simple to use. While using floor buffers for industrial tiles, always use a new pad every time you take up cleaning the floor. For tough surfaces, you can use cutting pads. For a wooden surface, a finishing pad will do the job well.

Kitchen counter-tops- Different materials to choose from

Kitchen Countertops

There are so many options you have when looking for kitchen counter-tops.Kitchen counter-tops are manufactured in different materials like stone, corian, quartz and laminate. Natural stone remains a popular choice when it comes to choosing the material for kitchen counter-tops. The functionality and beauty of stone counter-tops easily makes them a preferred choice for kitchen counter-tops. However, other materials are also popular. They are further explained below.

Quartz 

A large range of Kitchen counter tops are manufactured in quartz material. Many popular brands produce kitchen counter-tops in quartz material. Counter-tops made from quartz material are known to be sturdier than granite and are also resistant to most types of bacteria. There are also different colour options when it comes to choosing counter-tops in quartz material and you can easily select the colour of your choice. Quartz, as a material is known to be homogenous and have a firm and tight graining pattern. Some manufacturers also provide quartz counter tops in colour's which might not be available in natural stone. 

Corian 

Corian is another solid material that is used to produce kitchen counter-tops. Many people are unaware about the features of corian material but it is also an extremely good material for kitchen counter-tops. Counter-tops made from corian are known to be resistant to staining and this material does not require sealing. Another good thing about corian material is that it can be moulded into any shape and thus you can get a sink and a counter-top in whatever shape you want. This flexibility of having the counter-tops in any shape is not given by any other material.

Tiles for industrial spaces

Industrial Flooring

Industrial flooring has to be chosen wisely as it will be drawing a huge number of footfalls. The flooring for industrial spaces has to be durable enough to last for a long time without getting spoilt.

Unlike the olden days, when there were limited options for industrial flooring, the market is now buzzing with a variety of industrial flooring types available. There are different types of industrial flooring available, in diverse textures, materials and designs. It is important that you select an appropriate type of tiles for your industrial space. Tiles meant for a hospital would not be suitable for a restaurant or a shopping mall.

Factors to consider 

Before you start looking for tiles for your industrial space, you need to get answers to a few questions. You have to first decide what type of industrial space need to be tiled, what will be the type of usage of the tiles- whether the flooring will attract a lot of traffic throughout day or will there be heavy traffic only at certain periods. You also need to determine how often you will be cleaning the floor tiles. If you plan to clean the tiles once in a week, then it is good to opt for stain-free tiles. You also need to chalk out how often will you be changing the tiles and what extent of durability are you looking at. Lastly, you have to figure out what extent of moisture will the tiles be subjected to. If the flooring will be subjected to a high amount of moisture, then it makes no sense to opt for tiles that have high water absorption rates.

Industrial tiles from Endura

Industrial tiles from Endura come with a lot of features and benefits. They are designed to withstand a high amount of traffic and also have an abrasion free surface apart from being anti-skid. If you are looking for industrial tiles, then look for Endura tiles marketed under H & R Johnson (India).

Few reasons why you should opt for ceramic tiles...

Ceramic Tiles

Many of us are not aware that ceramic is an aesthetic, strong and enduring flooring and wall material. Tiles made out of ceramic are known to add a beautiful appeal to homes and other establishments. Ceramic tiles not just look good, but are also resistant against most types of wear and tear suffered by other flooring types. Some more benefits of ceramic tiles are explained below.

Long shelf life

Ceramic tiles are manufactured in such a manner that they have en extremely long shelf life compared to all other types of flooring. Ceramic tiles last for a long period of time and you do not have to worry about installing new tiles for a long time to come once you have installed ceramic tiles.
Resistant to fire
Another important feature of ceramic tiles is that they are designed in a manner which makes them fire-proof. They will not catch fire under any circumstances. Also, they will not give out toxic fumes and harmful gases which may be bad for small kids or senior members in the home.

Anti –skid surface

Ceramic tiles are produced in a way that their surface prevents slipping or skidding. If there are small children or senior members in the home, you may be worried about their safety. Ceramic tiles are coated with an abrasive grit which is added to the glaze. Some other types of ceramic tiles have studs, ribs or an orange peel finish added to the texture. This makes the ceramic tiles anti-skid and you will not slip on them even if you walk fast or run.

Tiles and balconies...

Outdoor Tiles

When the summer temperatures reach a zenith, you always look for cooler pastures where you can just relax yourself. For people who have small gardens in their home, it is good thing as they get to soak in the coolness of the trees and plants. However, those who cannot have a garden in their home, have to look for other alternatives. Terraces and balconies are places which provide them some respite from the sweltering heat. Balconies and terraces are wonderful apartment facilities. With little thinking and effort, you can transform your small balcony or terrace into a calm and cool oasis. However, before you decide to remodel your balcony, you need to have a clear understanding of what will be required for the decoration.

Tiles for balconies

When you look forward to decorate your terrace or balcony, tiles are a great option for the flooring of these spaces. If you are a budget spender and looking for cost effective options to decorate your balcony, then tiles are a great option. Within a small budget, you can redecorate your balcony without having to compromise on the décor of the balcony. Another great thing about tiles is that they are extremely durable and once you install them for your balcony floors and walls, you do not have to worry for a long time to come. Tiles will not break or deform easily and are known to be extremely durable.
With tiles, your balcony or the terrace will remain cool in hot summers. This is because most tiles are made up of stone which helps to keep the surface temperature pleasing. Hence, tiles are an ideal flooring option for your balconies and terraces.

Marble tiles for your flooring...

Marble Tiles

Deciding on a perfect home renovation plan can be a tricky task for most home-makers. A lot of things have to be decided when you take up remodelling of your home. Things like what colour to be used for painting the walls, what type of furniture should be purchased, what kind of upholstery should be used are just a few of the things which need attention when you take up home renovation. Apart from these things, one thing that needs attention is the flooring of your home. When choosing the flooring for your home, you have different options to choose from. You can opt for solid hardwood flooring or marble tiles. Both have their unique features and qualities. While wood flooring lends your home a more classic look, marble flooring will give it a more chic appearance.

Marble tiles

Marble tiles are a preferred option for flooring among many home-owners. If you are confused about the quality of marble tiles, then a fact to note is that marble tiles are superior in quality compared to most other tiling options. Marble is a naturally occurring stone and thus it is stronger than most other materials. Marble tiles are also sometimes better than ceramic tiles. Before installation, ceramic tiles have to be glazed as they have a porous surface. However, this is not the case with marble tiles. Their installation is simple compared to ceramic tiles.
When looking for marble tiles, Marbonite is a trusted brand. Marbonite, the arm of H & R Johnson, a worldwide recognised company, specialises in the production of marble tiles in different forms, shapes and colours. You can find the tiles of your choice and like as Marbonite offers a wide range of tiles.

Wall tiles for your home

Wall Tiles

Home decor is a tricky subject. What may look aesthetic to one person may be entirely distasteful to another. When you look to redesign your home interiors, you should follow your instincts rather than blindly following others’ advice.

Your house walls are a fundamental part of your home. You must be aware that people like to paint their walls in all different hues and colours to add that extra zing to their rooms. Many people also like to have mismatched colours and different textures for their walls. A new trend that is emerging is tiles for wall decoration. Wall tiles look aesthetic and give a sober yet beautiful appearance to the wall. Wall tiles come in a range of textures, designs and colours. Such is the range that you will never feel short of choices while looking for wall tiles. With wall tiles, you can create different appeals like of a metallic look or a crystal look for the wall. Some of the types of wall tiles are explained below.

Metallic wall tiles

Metallic tiles, which are prepared from stainless steel, are used in residential as well as commercial spaces. They add a degree of luxury to the walls. Metallic wall tiles come in a range of varieties and as a user, you will never fall short of options. There is a very prominent use of different colours while making metallic tiles. You can find metallic tiles in all sorts of hues.

Adhesive wall tiles

In a bid to make the installation procedure simpler, adhesive wall tiles come with an in-built layer of adhesive and also a built-in grout. Self-adhesive wall tiles have a smooth and silky appearance and no produce much mess while installing them on the walls. Adhesive wall tiles can be installed by you even if you do not have much knowledge about wall fittings. You will just have to take measurements, remove the protective paper, thus exposing the adhesive and put it on the wall. Adhesive wall tiles are resistant to humidity and heat and have no restrictions on the place of installation.

Yet another Bathroom tile layout pattern can be the "Mosiac" pattern.

Bathroom Tile

A mosaic tile layout works best when used in small doses, such as around your mirror or placed around the bathtub. The advantage of using a mosaic tile layout is that you don't need to spend a lot of time worrying about what goes where. You can use any shades that work with the rest of your bathroom and in any size.
Some architects even use several shades of tiles and break those tiles into different pieces to create a unique and interesting pattern.