In today’s competitive tile market, prices can be tempting, but low costs often come at the expense of quality. For importers and construction companies, this trade-off can lead to costly mistakes and compromised projects. This blog will guide you through the essential quality checks that should be non-negotiable when importing tiles. By the end of this post, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the critical parameters to watch for, ensuring that you never have to sacrifice quality for price
Quality checks are the foundation of a successful import operation. Without them, you risk receiving tiles that do not meet your standards, leading to project delays, increased costs, and unsatisfied clients. By conducting a thorough quality inspection before dispatch, you can identify and resolve potential issues early, ensuring that the tiles you receive are consistent with your expectations.
During Manufacturing Inspection: During Manufacturing Inspection is conducted when 10-15% of the quantity is produced. It allows for any deviations from specifications to be addressed early, ensuring that every tile meets your desired quality standards.
Pre-Shipment Inspection: The Pre-Shipment Inspection is conducted after all the quantity is manufactured. This inspection involves a comprehensive evaluation of the finished tiles before they are dispatched to the buyer or palletized for shipping. The goal is to ensure that buyer receives the highest quality products, aligning perfectly with their expectations.
Pre-Loading Inspection: This inspection focuses on the palletizing and container loading process. It ensures that tile boxes are palletized correctly and loaded securely, adhering to proper stacking techniques and weight distribution guidelines to minimize damage during transit.
For tile importers, pre-shipment inspections are particularly crucial. There are many third-party quality inspection agencies available to assist with your quality inspection needs, or you can request your manufacturer to conduct a pre- shipment inspection and share a detailed report for your assessment.
A post-inspection quality report provides you with a detailed overview of the tiles’ characteristics, ensuring transparency and trust. It helps in verifying that the tiles meet industry standards and your specific requirements. Additionally, it acts as a safeguard, allowing you to address any discrepancies before the tiles are shipped, thus avoiding potential issues upon arrival.
Brief: The number of shades per design is a critical factor in ensuring visual consistency across a tiled surface. Inconsistent shades can disrupt the aesthetic harmony of a space, leading to an unsatisfactory final look.
How it’s Checked: Tiles are inspected under consistent lighting conditions to compare their shades. This comparison is crucial for ensuring that all tiles used in a single project have a uniform appearance.
Acceptable Values: Ideally, there should be no shade variation within the same design batch. This uniformity ensures that the tiles will look cohesive when installed.
Outcome: If the shades vary significantly, it could result in a patchy or inconsistent appearance, which could be a deal-breaker in high-end projects or those requiring a seamless look.
Brief: Multiple batches of the same design can sometimes result in slight variations in color, texture, or size due to differences in production conditions. This is why tracking the number of batches per design is crucial for maintaining consistency throughout design.
How it’s Checked: Check the batch numbers on the inspection report to ensure that all tiles are from the same batch. Avoid accepting a particular design from different batches.
Acceptable Values: Ideally, tiles for a single project should come from a single batch. Avoid multiple batches, if multiple batches are necessary, they should be blended evenly to avoid noticeable differences.
Outcome: Mixing tiles from different batches without proper blending can lead to visible differences on walls or floors, which can be particularly problematic in large, continuous areas.
Brief: The manufacturing date indicates when the tiles were produced. This information is important for tracking the age of the tiles and ensuring that they are not too old, which can affect their quality.
How it’s Checked: The manufacturing date is cross-referenced with your order timeline to ensure the tiles are relatively fresh and haven’t been stored for too long, which could affect their packing condition and quality.
Acceptable Values: Tiles should ideally be recently manufactured to avoid issues such as degradation of boxes that occur over time, especially if stored improperly.
Outcome: If the tiles are stored for too long, there are high chances of degradation and wear and tear that can happen on the boxes in which the tiles are packed. This may lead to minor and major chipping on the corner of the tile.
Brief: The inspection date is crucial because it should be conducted 24-36 hours after the manufacturing date to allow any potential issues, such as warping or curing problems, to manifest.
How it’s Checked: The inspection date is checked to ensure it falls within the 24-36 hour window post-manufacturing. This timing is critical for accurate quality assessment. Always ask for reinspection if the dispatch of the order is delayed.
Acceptable Values: the inspection should ideally occur 24-36 hours after manufacturing. This ensures that any issues are detected and addressed promptly before the tiles are shipped.
Outcome: Inspections done too early might miss crucial quality issues, leading to potential problems after the tiles are installed.
Brief: This parameter ensures that the number of tiles produced matches the quantity ordered. Discrepancies here could indicate potential issues with the stock in warehouse.
How it’s Checked: The number of boxes produced per design is compared to the order to ensure they align. Any significant difference could lead to over-stock and under-stock problems in future.
Acceptable Values: Ideally, the number of boxes produced should match the number ordered. Small variations are acceptable, but significant differences could be problematic.
Outcome: If there are fewer boxes produced than ordered, it could delay the project due to insufficient materials. Overproduction will lead to overstocking of a particular design that might turn into deadstock in the future.
Brief: Ensuring that a sufficient sample size of the production batch is inspected is crucial for reliable quality control. The higher the number of inspected boxes, the more confidence you can have in the consistency of the product.
How it’s Checked: The inspection report should indicate the number of boxes inspected compared to the total production run. A larger sample size provides a more accurate assessment of the overall quality.
Acceptable Values: A significant portion of the total production should be inspected—ideally, around 20/1000 pcs of the production.
Outcome: Insufficient sampling could result in undetected defects, leading to problems when the tiles are installed.
Brief: This metric tracks the defect rate within the inspected tiles. It’s essential to understand both the number and severity of defects to assess the overall quality of the batch.
How it’s Checked: The inspection report will list the total number of faulted pieces versus the number of boxes inspected. This gives an idea of the defect rate and its potential impact on the full order.
Acceptable Values: A minimum of 95% of tiles examined (Total pcs inspected), shall be without visible defects at 1 meter with daylight reflection.
Outcome: A high defect rate could result in significant material wastage, project delays, and increased costs due to the need for replacements.
Brief: Differentiating between major and minor faults is essential for determining whether the defects are acceptable or if they compromise the tile’s surface quality and usability.
How it’s Checked: Faults are categorized based on their impact on the tile's function or appearance. Major faults typically involve structural issues, while minor faults might be small chips or surface blemishes.
Acceptable Values: Ideally, there should be no major faults. 1-2/20 PCs with Minor faults may be acceptable depending on their visibility and impact on the overall batch.
Outcome: Major faults could lead to tile rejection from your customers, while minor faults might be tolerable depending on their severity and location.
Brief: Moh’s Hardness Scale measures the tile's resistance to scratching. This is especially important for tiles that will be used in high-traffic areas.
How it’s Checked: A scratch test is performed to determine the tile's hardness level, which is then compared against the standard for that type of tile.
Acceptable Values: For glossy surfaces, the hardness should be greater than Class 3; for matt surfaces, it should be greater than Class 6.
Outcome: Tiles with a hardness lower than these values might scratch easily, leading to a worn appearance and the need for premature replacement.
Brief: Curvature parameters assess the flatness, straightness and rectangularity of tiles. Any significant deviation can cause problems during installation, leading to uneven surfaces.
How it’s Checked: Precision measuring tools are used to assess the curvature and warpage of the tiles. This ensures that the tiles are flat and will lay correctly when installed.
Acceptable
Values: Edge Curvature:
+/- 0.50mm
Center Curvature: +/- 0.6mm
Warpage: +/- 0.60mm
Straightness of Sides: +/- 0.20mm
Rectangularity: +/- 0.30mm
Outcome: Exceeding these limits can result in tiles that do not sit flush with one another, leading to unsightly gaps or uneven surfaces.
Brief: Box weight is directly proportional to thickness, density, and price. Usually, manufacturers give low prices to attract customers but at the same time they reduce the thickness and density which may hamper the strength of the tile. So, it is very important to check for the box weight while deciding on prices.
How it’s Checked: The average weight of 4-5 boxes from a single batch is calculated to decide the weight of the box.
Acceptable Values: There are no such acceptable values of box weight. You should always check if the average box weight is as per your requirement.
Outcome: The average box weight should be balanced as per your market need—not too low, as that might affect the strength of the tiles, and not too high, as it could increase your landing costs by reducing the number of boxes that can be loaded into the container.
Brief: Same as box weight, tile thickness is also directly proportional to box weight, density, and price. Always check for the thickness while discussing the price. Also, the tile thickness is critical for installation, especially when matching tiles with grout lines and ensuring even surfaces. Variations in thickness can cause tiles to sit unevenly.
How it’s Checked: A micrometer is used to measure tile thickness, ensuring it falls within the acceptable range.
Acceptable Values: It should be according to your requirement and thickness variation should not exceed +/- 0.30mm.
Outcome: You should always confirm the box weight and thickness when you place your order. Going for low prices may lead to lesser thickness and box weight which might not be acceptable by your customers. Excessive variation in the thickness can result in uneven surfaces, difficult installation, and a less professional experience.
Brief: The Modulus of Rupture measures the tile’s bending and breaking strength, which is crucial for assessing its ability to withstand loads without breaking.
How it’s Checked: Tiles are subjected to a bending test to determine their strength, and a specialized M.O.R. machine is used to check the strength of the tile.
Acceptable Values: The M.O.R should be greater than 35 n/mm² and the breaking strength should be 1300N.
Outcome: Tiles with an M.O.R. below this threshold are more likely to break under stress, leading to potential failures in high-traffic areas or during installation.
Brief: Water absorption percentage indicates how much water a tile can absorb, which affects its suitability and durability for different environments and application areas. Always check for WA% according to the type of tile ordered.
How it’s Checked: The tile is weighed before and after submersion in water to calculate the percentage of water absorption.
Acceptable
Values:
Vitrified/Porcelain Tile: < 0.5%
Ceramic Tile: 3-8%
Outcome: Tiles with high water absorption rates may not be suitable for wet areas and areas with high footfall, leading to issues such as breakage after installation, tile degradation, and Stain.
Brief: Glossiness implicates the amount of reflection on the tile surface. It can impact both the aesthetic appeal and maintenance requirements.
How it’s Checked: A glossy meter is used to measure the level of glossiness on the tile’s surface.
Acceptable
Values:
There are no acceptable values. But most of the
clients prefer:
Glossy/Polished Finish: Above 96°
High Gloss / Super Gloss Finish: Above 99°
Outcome: Inadequate glossiness can result in a dull appearance, which may not meet the client’s expectations.
Brief: The L Value is a parameter that measures the whiteness of a tile's surface, a factor that significantly influences the tile's overall appearance and aesthetic appeal. It is measured for the designs having white color as a base. A high L Value indicates a brighter, whiter surface, which is often desirable in various tile applications, especially in modern, minimalist designs.
How it’s Checked: To measure the L Value, a spectrophotometer is used. The tiles are typically measured under standardized lighting conditions to ensure consistency across the entire batch
Acceptable Values: There is no such acceptable L Value. It depends on the design and the requirements of clients. Too much deviation in the L Value in the same design could lead to issues of color and shade variation. Importers should always keep in mind that price and L Value are directly proportionate.
Outcome: Always opt for a higher L-Value to ensure visual perfection and for a better and more pronounced look of the design.
Brief: Size variation refers to the differences in the dimensions of tiles within a batch. Maintaining precise and consistent tile sizes is crucial for ensuring a smooth installation process and achieving the desired aesthetic outcome.
How it’s Checked: The dimensions of each tile are measured using precision instruments such as calipers or rulers that can detect even minute differences in length and width. The tiles are checked individually to ensure that the size variation remains within acceptable limits.
Acceptable Values: Size variation should be minimal, typically within +/- 0.3mm.
Outcome: Minimizing size variation is essential for a successful tile installation. When tiles are consistent in size, they can be laid in straight lines with uniform grout joints, resulting in a clean and professional look.
Brief: Diagonal variation measures the squareness of a tile by comparing the lengths of its diagonals. This parameter is crucial because tiles that are not perfectly square can lead to alignment issues during installation. Slight deviations in diagonal measurements can cause tiles to fit together poorly, resulting in visible gaps or uneven surfaces.
How it’s Checked: The diagonal lengths of each tile are measured using a ruler or caliper. The measurements of both diagonals (from opposite corners of the tile) are compared to check for consistency. Ideally, the diagonals should be equal in length, indicating that the tile is perfectly square or rectangular. Any significant difference between the diagonal lengths suggests that the tile is not square or rectangular and may cause problems during installation.
Acceptable Values: Small variations within acceptable limits are typically allowed, with most industry standards permitting a diagonal variation of +/- 0.5mm or less. This tolerance ensures that tiles are square or rectangular enough to be installed without noticeable gaps or alignment issues.
Outcome: Ensuring minimal diagonal variation helps maintain the overall quality of the tile installation. When tiles are square or rectangular, they fit together seamlessly, allowing for straight lines and uniform patterns. Tiles with significant diagonal variation can lead to misaligned edges, uneven surfaces, and gaps that may need to be filled with extra grout, compromising the visual integrity of the finished project.
Understanding these parameters empowers importers to make informed decisions, reducing the risk of receiving substandard products. It also enhances your ability to negotiate with manufacturers, ensuring you get the best quality at a fair price.
Rechecking the parameters upon receiving the order verifies the authenticity of the manufacturer's report and ensures that the tiles meet the promised quality standards. This step is crucial in maintaining the integrity of your projects and avoiding costly reworks or replacements.
When it comes to tile importing, cutting corners on quality can lead to costly headaches down the line. By focusing on these essential quality checks, you’re not just protecting your investment—you’re ensuring the success and durability of your business. Knowledge is power, and with the insights shared here, you’re equipped to make informed decisions that balance both cost and quality. So, as you finalize your next tile order, ask yourself—are you confident these tiles will meet your high standards?
To make your job easier, we have prepared a checklist for Acceptable Quality Limits and Inspection Standards which you can download by clicking on the link mentioned below.
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