BANARTA
A foam board described as tile-ready is not automatically approved for every tile. The tile format, thickness, material, substrate support and complete bonding system all matter. Check the intended wall or floor construction rather than judging suitability from the board's compressive strength alone.
Is there one minimum tile size for every foam board?
No. Published limits differ by the board system and application. Two European floor-application examples illustrate why a supplier needs the actual tile specification:
| Named external system / document | Published floor-tile example | Scope to keep with the number |
|---|---|---|
| Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD | Minimum tile size 5 × 5 cm | The described fully embedded floor-board application |
| wedi building-board application guidelines | At least 10 × 10 cm and at least 7 mm tile thickness | The stated residential or similar floor applications; high-point-load rolling traffic is excluded |
These are two separate systems, not competing Banarta specifications. Neither limit certifies a Banarta board, every foam shower tray or a wall installation. If a 300 × 300 mm mosaic sheet contains 25 × 25 mm pieces, the individual tile format is 25 × 25 mm. The sheet outline does not turn those pieces into a 300 mm tile.
Convert large-tile weight to a useful area figure
Suppose a tile is 600 × 1200 mm and weighs 18 kg. Its area is 0.72 m², so the tile-only mass is 18 ÷ 0.72 = 25 kg/m². Add the specified adhesive and other relevant finish layers separately when providing the wall-load information. This is a calculation example, not a permitted load for a Banarta board.
A piece weight, an area mass and a maximum permitted finish load describe different things. Give the designer the actual tile data and support arrangement, then obtain the applicable complete-assembly limit rather than comparing a kg/m² figure with a foam compression value in kPa.
Mosaics and large tiles raise different questions
With mosaics, record the dimensions of each individual piece as well as the overall sheet. A 300 mm sheet made of small pieces should not be described to a supplier as a single 300 mm tile. Identify any mesh or backing and ask the adhesive supplier to confirm its compatibility with the intended environment.
For a large tile, provide its dimensions, thickness, weight and material. Check the substrate preparation and the installation method needed to support it. A board being easy to cut or lightweight to handle says nothing by itself about the complete wall's capacity for that finish.
| Finish | Information to submit | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Mosaic sheet | Individual piece size, thickness and backing | Is this format permitted in the exact floor assembly? |
| Large ceramic or porcelain tile | Size, mass, flatness and adhesive selection | What substrate and coverage conditions apply? |
| Natural stone | Stone type and supplier requirements | Are moisture, movement and bonding conditions addressed? |
| Loaded floor area | Expected concentrated contacts and support layers | Does the documented assembly cover the intended use? |
Do not turn a core test into an assembly approval
A pressure value measured on foam does not reproduce the tile, adhesive, board surface, joints and substrate in a finished floor. The relevant evidence must match the use being proposed. Where a document gives a minimum tile size or another limitation, identify the product, region and installation method it applies to.
If the specified finish falls outside that scope, ask for an approved alternative assembly or a project-specific technical decision. Buying a thicker board without that review may leave the same problem unresolved.
Use a sample for the questions it can answer
A sample can help check surface texture, edge appearance and fit with the proposed finish. An agreed trial can assess workmanship and the intended materials. A small hand sample cannot establish long-term floor performance or every load condition.
Record the board batch, tile reference, adhesive and preparation method used in the trial. Define the acceptance criteria with the responsible technical parties in advance. Keep the result linked to the actual proposed construction so it is not reused for a different tile or board.
Before releasing the order
- Identify wall or floor, wet-area exposure and heating if present.
- Attach the tile data, including individual mosaic size where relevant.
- Confirm the exact board, support arrangement and joint detail.
- Resolve the bonding system and finish restrictions.
- List any missing evidence as an approval hold, not as an assumed pass.
Explore Banarta tile backer boards and the foam versus cement-board comparison. Send the tile specification with your board enquiry so the proposed configuration can be reviewed together.
Reference
Schluter's application documentation provides an example of product- and application-specific tile requirements. Do not transfer another system's minimum tile dimensions or approval to Banarta.
