Product Overview

Refin Sea Luster Bianca Grip R11 24" x 48" Porcelain Tile combines a luminous white mineral appearance with the durability and enhanced traction of Italian porcelain. The Bianca colorway features softly layered white, pearl, and pale-gray tones, creating the understated character of weathered limestone without the sealing or acid sensitivity associated with natural stone.

Its textured Grip R11 finish provides increased slip resistance for patios, pool surrounds, covered outdoor areas, wet rooms, commercial entrances, and other moisture-prone surfaces. The rectified 24" x 48" large format reduces the number of grout joints, producing a clean architectural field across expansive floors and walls.

The corresponding Sea Luster 24" x 48" products are packaged two tiles per box, covering approximately 15.5 square feet. Hey Tiles Sea Luster collection reference

Technical Specifications

Slip-rating note: R11 indicates enhanced traction under the DIN 51130 shod-foot test. It does not mean the surface is slip-proof or automatically approved for every barefoot pool, shower, or commercial application. Confirm applicable building codes and project requirements.

Recommended Applications

• Outdoor Patios and Terraces: Creates a bright, contemporary surface with improved traction and fewer grout interruptions.

• Pool Surrounds and Splash Zones: The textured finish offers better grip than the standard matte version. Confirm barefoot-area and pool-deck requirements with the project professional.

• Wet Rooms and Curbless Showers: Suitable where the floor is designed with a single-plane slope and linear drain. Large tiles generally cannot follow the multiple slopes surrounding a central point drain.

• Covered Balconies and Walkways: Provides a clean stone-inspired appearance with porcelain’s resistance to moisture and routine weather exposure.

• Commercial Entrances: Appropriate for transitional areas where water may be tracked indoors, subject to the required traffic and slip-performance specifications.

• Exterior and Interior Feature Walls: The large format produces a quiet, nearly slab-like surface behind outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, showers, and architectural features.

Installation & Handling Guidelines

⚠️ IMPORTANT: LARGE-FORMAT PORCELAIN INSTALLATION PROTOCOL

• Inspect Before Installation: Verify size, color, caliber, finish, shade range, and condition before setting. Do not install damaged or incorrectly supplied material.

• Blend Multiple Boxes: Dry-lay tiles from several cartons to distribute subtle differences in tone and graphic movement throughout the installation.

• Use Large-and-Heavy-Tile Mortar: Install with a polymer-modified LHT mortar approved for porcelain, the substrate, and the intended interior or exterior exposure. ANSI A118.4 or A118.15 performance is generally appropriate.

• White Mortar Recommended: White mortar is recommended beneath the Bianca colorway, particularly where light-colored grout will be used.

• Directional Troweling and Back-Buttering: Comb mortar in one direction and back-butter each tile. Press the tile perpendicular to the mortar ridges to collapse them and remove trapped air.

• Mortar Coverage: Exterior and wet-area installations require near-complete contact beneath each tile, including full support at edges and corners. Voids can retain water and contribute to cracking or freeze-thaw damage.

• Substrate Flatness: Large-format tile requires a particularly flat, stable substrate. Correct surface irregularities before installation rather than attempting to compensate with excessive mortar.

• Grout Joint: Use a minimum joint consistent with the tile’s actual dimensional variation and applicable standards. Approximately 1/8" is commonly used for rectified exterior porcelain; wider joints may be necessary outdoors.

• Avoid a 50% Offset: For running-bond layouts, use a maximum offset of approximately 33% unless the tile and substrate have been evaluated for lippage.

• Leveling System: A mechanical leveling system may help control lippage, but it does not replace substrate preparation or correct mortar coverage.

• Exterior Drainage: Provide code-compliant slope away from structures. Never install exterior tile completely level where water can collect.

• Movement Joints: Include perimeter and field movement joints according to applicable standards, especially in exterior areas exposed to sunlight and temperature changes.

• Wet Cutting Required: Use water-fed cutting equipment and suitable dust controls. Do not dry-cut porcelain with power tools.

Care & Maintenance

• Sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent grit from collecting within the textured surface.

• Clean with warm water and a neutral porcelain-tile cleaner using a microfiber mop or soft nylon brush.

• Rinse thoroughly after cleaning so detergent residue does not remain in the Grip texture.

• Use a manufacturer-approved alkaline porcelain cleaner for stubborn outdoor soil, oils, or organic residue.

• Do not apply penetrating stone sealer, topical wax, or polish to the porcelain surface. These products can alter its traction and appearance.

• Clean grout haze immediately following installation using products compatible with porcelain and the selected grout.

• Pressure washing, when appropriate, should be performed at a controlled pressure and distance to avoid damaging grout and movement joints.

Design Profile

• Aesthetic Direction: Coastal Minimalism, Modern Mediterranean, Contemporary Resort, Scandinavian Outdoor Living.

• Visual Character: Soft white and pearl-gray mineral movement with a tactile, low-reflective surface.

• Complementary Materials: Pale limestone looks, white oak, teak, light concrete, fluted glass, and brushed metal.

• Complementary Fixtures: Matte black, brushed stainless steel, polished chrome, or champagne bronze.

• Grout Suggestions: Warm white, pearl, or very light gray. Exterior grout should be selected for performance first and color second.

• Coordinating Finish: Pair with Sea Luster Bianca Matte indoors to create a visually continuous transition to the higher-traction Grip R11 surface outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does R11 mean?

R11 is a slip-resistance classification established through the DIN 51130 ramp test. It indicates a higher-traction surface intended for areas where additional grip is beneficial.

Is R11 the same as a barefoot pool rating?

No. R11 is based on a shod-foot test. Barefoot wet areas may require separate testing or local-code approval.

Can this tile be used around a swimming pool?

It may be appropriate for pool surrounds and splash zones, but approval should be based on the manufacturer’s barefoot test data, local codes, drainage, and installation conditions.

Can a 24" x 48" tile be installed on a shower floor?

Yes, when the shower has a properly designed single-plane slope leading to a linear drain. It is generally unsuitable for the compound slopes surrounding a conventional central drain.

Does the tile require sealing?

No. Porcelain itself does not require sealing. Cementitious grout may require sealing depending on the grout manufacturer’s instructions.

Is the Grip finish harder to clean than the Matte finish?

Its stronger texture may hold more surface residue than a smooth matte tile. Routine brushing and thorough rinsing will prevent buildup.

Can it be installed outdoors in freezing climates?

Porcelain is generally suitable for freeze-thaw conditions, but performance depends on approved exterior mortar, near-complete coverage, proper drainage, movement joints, and compliance with the manufacturer’s technical documentation.