HDP- High Definition Porcelain Tiles

We tile gurus here at H. Winter have been searching for natural stone looking porcelain tiles for many years. We consistently meet customers that desire a slate floor in a porcelain but do not want the maintenance that a natural slate floor brings. There's always the customer who wants a travertine look in a porcelain tile because they don't like the high price tag for a natural travertine.

Florida Tile, an industry leader in manufacturing ceramic, porcelain, glass and stone tiles now offers what they call high definition porcelain (HDP) tiles and they sure do look just like natural stone. The first manufacturer to bring this technology to the United States, this revolutionary new product category, HDP, "utilizes the most technically advanced glazing system in the industry today," according to Florida Tile's website.

"The manufacturing process of a HDP is essentially that of digital printing. It brings you the most realistic image possible on a tile. Digital technology uses 500 injectors to print with greater variety and less repetition in the overall pattern. This process allows for a production pattern that is not exactly repeated for 180 ft. This is 8 times the variation of a conventional Roto-color machine and a far better resolution. This is a huge leap forward in both resolution and pattern variation, creating a porcelain tile that is virtually undistinguishable from natural stone." according to Florida Tile's website.

Florida's Legend series offers a natural slate look in a porcelain tile. This rich and subtley textured tile won't shale or scratch and will never need to be sealed. Offered in many sizes and 4 color variations, no two pieces looks exactly the same. The paramount series (pictured at right), also offered by Florida Tile, offers three colors all with a travertine-like appearance. Also available in unique sizes such as a 9x18, the colors are soft yet the design is defined and it doesn't give the appearance of a blurry picture.

The durability and beauty of natural Quartzite inspired the Quartez series, Florida's newest HDP. Created in a cleft punch, the surface has a heavy texture that contributes to the slip resistance, but makes the tile soft to the touch. Like all HDP products, the 3 colors are created with high graphical variation.

With the advancements in the manufacturing of porcelain tile, the pixeled, blurry, print-look of many tiles will soon be a thing of the past. Manufacturers are making leaps and bounds to produce porcelain tiles that look and feel just like natural stones. Stop by our showroom today to see displays of the newest technology in porcelain tiles.