Material Matters In Bathroom Products

Feeling overwhelmed trying to choose bathroom products? We get it, there are lots of decisions to make. Aside from how these fixtures look, and whether the products will work logistically, it’s also natural to want to get the best value for money. For instance, you may have decided on a vessel basin, but see wildly different prices. You wonder, are they all the same, really? Am I just paying for the ‘brand’ when a cheaper option is going to be just as serviceable? How do I understand where value really lies?

A fashion designer once told me, the clothing label tells the real story about the garment. Most times, the price of the garment equates to the quality (which is why that cashmere sweater is always twice the price). Sometimes though, we can get swindled into paying more for the latest design, only to discover the fabric itself was sub-par. That’s why if we know about the different material qualities, we’ll be able to tell for ourselves how long the item will last, how it will wear and how it will wash. And know if it’s worth the price. The same can be said for our bathrooms.

The material tells the real story of value in our bathroom products

Bathroom products made from quality materials will be easier to clean, resistant to wear and tear, and have a timeless look that is beautiful for years to come. It stands to reason that when we understand bathroomware material, we can shop with confidence for our baths, basins, and toilets. That’s because we’ll know where value lies. To illustrate this idea, we’re going to delve into the materials developed by luxury German manufacturer Villeroy & Boch. A brand that excels in high-grade baths, basins and toilets.

Since 1748, Villeroy & Boch have offered expertly crafted bathroomware backed by innovation and product development. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing methods, and with a focus on sustainability. At the heart of Villeroy & Boch, is a brand that holds quality and design to the highest standards. With these values in mind, they use and develop materials that solve problems, allow for innovative design and importantly, stand the test of time.

CeramicPlus®

CeramicPlus® is an innovative material that has been available in the majority of Villeroy & Boch ceramics for the past 10 years. Its discovery was based on findings from the field of physical materials research. CeramicPlus® is a coating which refines the surface of your ceramic, for more durability and easier cleaning.

With regular ceramic, dirt and droplets flatten when in contact with the surface. This requires scrubbing or harsh products to clean. Ceramic coated with Ceramic Plus® resists this process, encouraging droplets to bead on the surface instead. So, what are the benefits of this technology?

• More hygienic. The majority of liquids don’t linger on your CeramicPlus® surface. Once liquid makes contact, it beads and these beads roll straight into your outlet. So having this dirt and germ-repellent surface makes for an overall more hygienic bathroom.
• Easier cleaning. Any remaining dirt or limescale will wipe away easily with gentle cleansers - no harsh chemical-laden cleaners required. Not only is this better for the environment, but cuts down your cleaning time, and the amount of elbow grease you need to put into the job. Hands up who doesn’t like the sound of that?
• Longer life. CeramicPlus® is not only dirt-resistant, but it also provides a protective surface which is scratch-resistant, and resistant to chemical damage. CeramicPlus® is resistant to acid and alkaline based products as well as medical and cosmetic products which can tarnish normal ceramic surfaces. 

CeramicPlus is standard on all ceramic kitchen sinks and is optional for all toilets, alpine white basins and standard for all stone white and ebony products. See it on our website in the gorgeous curved lines of the MyNature 810 Vessel Basin or the Avento Direct Flush Wall Hung Toilet.

TitanCeram®

Thin and delicate designs are really having a moment in bathrooms. The problem with delicate designs is that they are often fragile and can chip easily. This is especially true when cheap materials are used for delicately formed ceramics. TitanCeram® is a completely new ceramic material for fine designs, bringing extreme durability to these new forms. The ceramic is strengthened in a specialised process, with the addition of natural raw materials of feldspar, quartz, clay and titanium dioxide. The result is beautiful, fine designs in basins, without compromising on the promise of long lasting, quality products. TitanCeram® benefits:

• Permits precise, delicate designs. Villeroy & Boch can form exceptionally precise shapes with thin walls and sharply defined edges using a specially developed production process and extra tough materials.
• Resists damage. The result is an extremely stable product with high material strength. It resists chips and wear, and is built to last.
• Temperature-resistant. TitanCeram® is particularly resistant to hot and cold temperatures

Wherever you spot Villeroy & Boch’s elegant and modern designs, you’ll probably find TitanCeram® at the heart of it. This material has been used to conjure the exquisite Artis Basin range as well as the striking Memento 2.0 Countertop Basin and the Finion basin range.

TitanGlaze®

Matte surfaces are a major trend in interior design. They’ve given us a new sense of freedom in our bathroom designs that has been very exciting. The problem is, matte bathroomware is traditionally not as hardy as its gloss cousin. Matte surfaces are prone to scratching and wear, and this is a major downside to the choice. Unless…you’ve chosen Villeroy & Boch’s TitanGlaze® products.

TitanGlaze® offers a matte look with the same strength in the glaze as regular ceramic. The material is made from ultra-pure crystalline aluminium oxide. Villeroy & Boch have used all their years of ceramic experience to create a strong protective coating that’s ideal for matte colours. Here are some of the major benefits of choosing TitanGlaze®:

• Velvet matte finish. Accentuate form with flat colour that is velvety and totally touchable in black or white.
• Scratch resistant. Bringing home an above average ranking for diamond-scratch tests.
• Impact resistant. It also scored an above-average ranking for falling ball tests (yes, that’s totally a thing)
• Heat resistant. Resistant to extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Isn’t it heartening to know that even after years of living in your bathroom it is going to look as good as new? TitanGlaze is standard for all Villeroy & Boch’s matte basins, in gorgeous colours of stone white, or ebony. It is particularly beautiful in the latest Collaro basin range.

Quaryl®

For baths, strength is very important. The product should look good, but it also needs to be durable. Villeroy & Boch developed Quaryl® to meet this need - a combination of 60% natural quartz, with the versatility of high-quality acrylic resin. This combination has some incredible benefits:

• Delicate shapes. When in liquid form during the manufacturing process, Quaryl has immense flexibility. This gives designers free rein to shape the product down to the minutest detail. The result is aesthetically beautiful and award-winning designs.
• Advanced designs. The material removes previous limitations to produce innovations in bathware, such as luxuriously deep baths that were previously not available.
• Robust material. Once solid, Quaryl is as hard as crystal and resistant to shock, blows and scratch. This makes it perfect for use in baths.  The material is also UV resistant and colour-fast.
• Easy clean. The surface is smooth and non-porous, which much like CeramPlus, makes droplets and dirt bead on the surface. This repels limescale and makes for much easier cleaning.
• High comfort. Quaryl® feels warm to the touch and also retains heat, so that bathwater remains hot for a longer period of time. The material absorbs sound, and is perfect for busy households, spas and hotels. 

The amazing Quaryl® material is available from Villeroy & Boch in the Libra drop-In bath range, My Art Drop In Bath, Oberon Bath range or the Aveo Freestanding Bath.

Invest in quality

We hope you feel inspired about the benefits (and possibilities) of using high-grade material in your bathroom. There is one thing we always explain about Villeroy & Boch products, and all the products we stock in our showroom (which by the way, are all carefully selected to reflect our own values of quality). A bathroom is an investment. An investment in your lifestyle, comfortability, and ultimately, the value of your home. We believe that using quality products in your bathroom, that are going to look beautiful for years to come, is always a great investment.

If you’re wanting to see the gorgeous designs and high-quality products Villeroy & Boch have to offer, we’d love to see you in our Brisbane showroom. Book a bathroom consultation  at a time to suit you, or simply drop in. We offer the largest selection of Villeroy & Boch bathroom products on show.

arthaus Bathroom & Kitchens Brisbane

Open times: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday - booking not required

Location: Level 1, 22 Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley.

Parking: We have on-site parking, which you can access by intercom at the top of the car park.

Consults available: Book a showroom consultation with Andrea, Richard or Kathy at a time to suit you.

Not in Brisbane?

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