Key developments impacting the tile industry

Two leaders in the tile industry share five developments that touched the industry.

BART BETTIGA

executive director, National Tile Contractors Association

1. Introduction of backerboard
   This development goes back a little longer, originating in the mid-’70s, but it really didn’t revolutionize the tile industry until the early ’80s. The development of tile backerboard must be at the top of the list. Initially, this was a cement backerboard, which ultimately led to many other product categories. It was first used in tub surrounds and showers, but later we realized its suitability as a floor underlayment, especially for wood frame construction. This innovation significantly increased ceramic tile sales and helped reduce failures where tile was installed over water-resistant drywall (greenboard). 
2. Latex-modified mortars and grout change the game.
   Although this technology was first introduced to the tile flooring industry about 60 years ago, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that it gained general acceptance. Latex changed the tile industry because it contributed to superior bond strength, flexibility and resistance to weather and frost. Once suppliers determined this could improve performance, they continued to develop products that cured faster and stronger and helped address long-standing industry problems, such as cracking in rigid mortar beds and poor performance in wet or temperature-variable environments. Moreover, it enabled the use of thinner mortar layers, lighter building materials and more complex substrates, making it ideal for both interior and exterior tiling.
3. Self‑leveling underlayments for tile flooring applications–This innovation allowed contractors to create smooth, level subfloors over uneven substrates before installing tile, significantly reducing the need for manual screeding and improving installation efficiency. Because the term “self-leveling” can be misleading, many manufacturers developed their own versions, and the industry evolved terminology and standards, such as the ANSI A108.T update in 2024, to more accurately describe these products as “flowable hydraulic cement underlayments.”Regardless, this technology has allowed tile and flooring installers to bring subfloors into tolerance for various products, including tile and stone. It has reduced the need for more expensive and labor-intensive methods and has significantly increased the per-capita consumption of ceramic tile and natural stone.
4. Inkjet digital printing
   Inkjet digital printing has become essential to the ceramic tile industry because it revolutionized how designs are applied to tiles, offering unmatched flexibility, precision and durability. This technology has allowed factories to introduce products that can produce any design from a digital file, creating much more realistic and aesthetically pleasing looks. At times, you literally cannot tell the difference between tile and marble, tile and wood—or tile and terrazzo—since the inkjet digital process has been incorporated into ceramic manufacturing. The technology also speeds up manufacturing, allowing smaller batch runs and on-demand production. Additionally, the ink used in digital printing positively impacts scratch resistance and improves shade variation and performance.
5.  Gauged porcelain tile panels

Gauged porcelain tile panels (GPTP)—the large-format porcelain panels and slabs now defined by ANSI—entered the U.S. market around the early 2000s, with the first products appearing roughly a decade ago (circa 2014–2015). The concept began in the late 1990s and early 2000s when manufacturers developed machines capable of producing tiles larger than ever before. The first large-format porcelain panels were produced in Italy and imported to the U.S. about 15 years ago (around 2009–2010). U.S. manufacturers began bringing these panels to market in the mid-2010s, partnering with European producers to supply the U.S. In November 2017, ANSI approved the first formal material and installation standards for GPTP, creating ANSI A137.3 and ANSI A108.19. This standardization, along with training programs from the National Tile Contractors Association and manufacturers, helped build industry confidence and expand adoption. By the mid-2020s, GPTP had become a well-established category in both residential and commercial applications, with panels available in sizes up to over 15 feet tall and in a variety of thicknesses. This technology has allowed tile manufacturers to enter the countertop and vanity top market and introduce porcelain pavers in thicknesses like 2 cm and 3 cm, expanding tile’s outreach into exterior living spaces.

SCOTT MASLOWSKI

executive vice president of SSC sales  and operations, Dal-Tile

1. The rise of porcelain tile–If you look back over the last 40 years, the No. 1 development would be the rise of porcelain tile, which really began in the late 1980s into the early to mid ’90s. It had such a big impact as porcelain replaced the traditional red body in many applications with a higher density, better water absorption and superior durability. It just opened up opportunities where tile could be used—commercially, exteriors, heavy traffic areas—and it allowed manufacturers to command a better price.
2. The introduction of digital inkjet printing–The introduction of digital inkjet printing in the mid-2000s. Before, visualization was really limited. With screen printing, realism was constrained to very basic small pattern repeats with an extremely high setup cost. After inkjet technology worked its way into the marketplace, you really started to see much better visualizations, particular in the marble and wood looks, then the concrete, terrazzo and textile visuals shortly followed. It gave almost unlimited graphic variations on what you could do with this technology.From an impact point of view, natural stone started to be substituted because porcelain looked real. That started an acceleration of porcelain and deceleration of stone. The looks allowed for luxury residential to explode with the use of ceramic and porcelain. It gave designers a lot more flexibility, and from a manufacturing point of view, it dramatically shortened product development cycles. It really helped the manufacturing piece of the business.
3. The globalization of ceramic tile/porcelain manufacturing–Over the last couple of years, with all this technology, major exporting countries started to emerge Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, India, China, the list goes on. People who were competing both around the world and in the United States in particular. The impact was price competition intensified with this globalization of manufacturing. And the imports reshaped North American distribution, who sold the product, how the product was sold. The other impact was domestic manufacturers like us were forced to invest heavily in automation to compete and stay relevant against the imports.
4. The size of tile
   When you look at tile from a size perspective, around 2010 you started to see the size of tile grow from 8 x 8 and 12 x 12 to 18 x 18, 24 x 24. Now we’re in the 24 x 48 and 48 x 48. You’ve had the introduction in the last couple of years of gauge porcelain, the 5 x 10 slabs. Tile has definitely gotten much larger in the last 15 years. The impact has been higher-end aesthetics.Of course, there’s the reduction of grout joints, but it’s also forced us to come up with new installation techniques. And it has also created greater fabrication opportunities for people who are involved in that piece of the business.
5. The explosion of tile
   One of the newest trends is that porcelain in the last few years has moved beyond flooring and into kitchen countertops. It has exploded in exterior facades. You’re now seeing it in furniture, shower surrounds, fireplace surrounds. Porcelain has positioned itself as a direct competitor to quartz, granite and marble slabs. It’s had a big impact as it positions itself against other solid surfaces.