Slabs Installation & Handling Guide
Slabs are HUGE!
If you want to lay Slabs, the awesome news is that they will look incredible.
However, these beauties are NOT for the DIYer.
This is a job for the experts!
Arabascato White Matt
Find a tiler
We’ve trained lots of tilers on the art of laying Slabs correctly and these tilers have the skills and equipment to get the job done right. Let us help connect you to these specialist tilers with our Find a Tiler Database.
Free training for tilers
Installing our Slabs requires specialist training that we provide to our Trade Club members for free! Level up your skills with our free Slab training from the best in the business, simply call your local Beaumonts store and we’ll arrange it for you.
Slab Considerations
You’ve chosen Slabs for your space; now let us help you go from dream to reality!
Large and Multipurpose
With breathtaking beauty, and remarkable practicality, these man-made emulations of natural stone have opened up doors to new design innovations we have only imagined.
Slabs have a maximum visual impact with a minimal profile, they use various technologies to achieve their slender depth creating ceramic skins for exteriors and interiors.
They are ideal for surfaces requiring a precise finish. With slim lines and mechanical strength they are perfect for decorative feature walls, a streamlined look for floors, and even a porcelain veneer for furniture. Slabs are seamless for cladding kitchen countertops, islands or bathrooms. They also save time in renovation projects with the ability to tile over existing floors.
How to order Slabs for your space
Slabs are ordered by the panel, not m2 so take extra care calculating
◊ Measure plan by Slab layout (not m2) this means counting the number of Slabs you will need.
◊ To measure up: draw out room, count the number of pieces.
In this example there are: 6 Slabs across x 3 Slabs down = 18 pieces (if there is a continuous pattern/grain direction being lined up) + 10% wastage, rounded = 20 pieces
Note: partial pieces can be cut from both ends of a Slab and rotated to hide rough edges in expansion joints or beneath skirting boards. In this example the 6 end pieces could have been cut from 3 Slabs.
◊ Always allow 5 - 10 % more Slab pieces for wastage. 6 Slabs across 3 Slabs down
Slab Considerations
Checklist:
1. How to order correct quantities
Slabs are ordered by the panel, not m2 so take extra care when calculating.
2. Confirm Freight & Delivery costs
a. Your store will expertly step you through this process with a specifically trained freight provider with a forklift.
b. All Slab products will be shipped direct to your site in a customised crate to ensure correct handling.
c. The cost of your Slabs will include the crate that it is delivered in when ordering full pallets, but if you are ordering a partially full pallet you will need to add a $250 cost per crate to get your beautiful Slabs to your site safely.
d. Your store will calculate the cost of freight for these crates based on the pallet space that each crate takes up and then adding that to the cost of the Slabs.
3. Logistics & Handling on site
a. Is there enough room to store the Slabs pre-installation?
b. Is there enough room to cut and prepare the Slabs?
c. Is it possible to actually get the Slabs into the room that’s getting tiled? Double check your finished ceiling height if wall tiling!
d. Manual handling of Slabs will require at least 2 people.
e. When moving Slabs care must be taken with the edges and vibration kept to a minimum. Rest them on a soft substrate surface to protect from chipping, and use corner protectors to prevent damage.
Only tiles that are 800x1600mm or bigger are worthy of being called Slabs!
4. Book in your Specialised Large Format Tiler
Laying these large scale beauties is NOT for the DIYer! This is a job for the experts - find an accredited tiler at www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/tiler and select Large Format Tiles in ‘Tilers Preferred Work’
5. Tools & Adhesives
Special tools and adhesives are required for handling and cutting of Slabs on-site. For this purpose we recommend hiring an accredited Slab installer.
6. Cleaning and maintenance
Slabs are super special, but there is nothing special in their cleaning and maintenance. They keep clean just as easily as any regular tile, and have far fewer grout lines to deal with - they are also great for using epoxy grout with.
For more information on the cleaning products we recommend simply ask in store, or visit our website. Scan the QR code below to check out our Cleaning and Maintenance System.
We can provide registered tilers with Slab Training
We’ve worked with the best from around the world and know the ins and outs of working with Slabs. Level up your skills with our free Slab training for Trade Club members, simply call your local Beaumonts store and we’ll arrange it for you.
Specialised tools & adhesives
Adhesives are an important part of the job. We recommend the ABA/Ardex and RLA/BT brand adhesives specially developed for laying Slabs. You may also need to apply a levelling compound to ensure that your floor is true and level before tiling.
Slabs are not like normal ceramic or porcelain tiles due to their size, and require very specific handling techniques and equipment. Contact your local Beaumonts Trade Central to order all your specialised tools and adhesives.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
National Support Office 321 Richmond Road, (West Richmond) Adelaide Airport 08 8292 4444
NSO. Trade Central TC 08 8292 4485
Adelaide 200 Grote St 08 8214 2300
Beverley TC 724 Port Rd 08 8303 4800
Edwardstown TC CO 1057 South Rd 08 8374 8300
Gawler 485 Main North Rd 08 8523 1550
Gepps Cross TC CO 750 Main North Rd 08 8193 6700
Marleston Unit 5 / 254-262 Richmond Rd 08 8473 7700
Mount Barker 10 Secker Rd 08 8391 6244
Murray Bridge 128 Adelaide Rd 08 8531 1922
Paradise TC 683 Lower North East Rd 08 8330 3000
Port Lincoln TC 8 Porter St 08 8682 5400
Port Pirie 114 Main Rd 08 8632 5302
Seaford Meadows TC 11-15 Seaford Rd 08 8184 4400
Victor Harbor 246 Port Elliot Rd 08 8552 5108
Whyalla 131c Norrie Ave 08 8645 1679
Beaumont Tiles Studio
Norwood TC 40 Fullarton Rd 08 8169 8300
QUEENSLAND
State Head Office 55 Gardner Rd, Rochedale 07 3373 6250 HO. Trade Central TC 07 3373 6210
Airlie Beach Cnr William Murray Dve 07 4946 5383 & Shute Harbour Rd
Airlie Beach TC 1 William Murray Dve 07 4946 5383
Bokarina 384 Nicklin Way 07 5413 7200
Bundaberg 1 Enterprise St 07 4153 6855
Bundall TC 71 Upton St 07 5526 9444
Caboolture TC 70 Beerburrum Rd 07 5327 2715
Cairns Central 65 Mulgrave Rd 07 4037 1700
Cairns South TC 15 McCormack St, Manunda 07 4038 4600
Capalaba TC 29 Moreton Bay Rd 07 3823 4900
Enoggera TC 72 Pickering St 07 3093 1525
Hervey Bay 1 Bay Dr 07 4124 2413
Ingham 93 Herbert St 07 4776 5684
Ipswich 202 Brisbane St 07 3202 3447
Labrador TC 4 Ereton Dr, Arundel 07 5665 0100
Mackay Cnr Heaths Rd & Bruce Hwy 07 4847 5700
Mt Isa 55 Marian St 07 4749 3888
Rockhampton CO Cnr Boland St & Yaamba Rd 07 4936 5900
Springwood TC 3507 Pacific Hwy 07 3080 4600
Strathpine TC 130 South Pine Rd, Brendale 07 3881 1090
Sumner Park 101 Jijaws St 07 3376 4977
Toowoomba 52 Clifford St 07 4571 2700
Townsville TC 76 Duckworth St 07 4412 5300
Tweed Heads TC CO Cnr Pacific Hwy & Rivendell Dve 07 5524 4579
Virginia 1814 Sandgate Rd 07 3265 3805
Warwick TC 46 Wood St 07 4661 8268
Woolloongabba TC 80 Annerley Rd 07 3532 8932
Yeppoon 8 Industrial Ave 07 4913 4500
Beaumont Tiles Studio
Fortitude Valley 3 Montpelier Rd 07 3666 1700
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Darwin TC 655 Stuart Hwy 08 7981 1100
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
State Head Office 10 Enterprise Court, Canning Vale 08 8292 4417
Joondalup TC 11 Injune Way 08 6200 3300
Mandurah TC Unit 3, 16 Lakes Rd 08 9554 3900
Midland TC 10c Midland Megaplex, 7 Clayton St 08 6491 1100
Myaree TC 1/80 Norma Road 08 6325 3300
TASMANIA
Hobart 309 Liverpool St 03 6234 8181
Launceston 160 Invermay Rd 03 6349 1033