Thank you for purchasing your Foras Walls and Floors products.
It is very important you receive the advice and support you require for all your purchases.
We have provided laying patterns where applicable and technical data sheets for all preparation, installation and finishing products.
If you do not find the information you require in any of these areas or within our FAQ’s, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our stone is hand selected; each crate is thoroughly inspected before dispatch so you can rest assured that the stone you have seen is the stone you will receive.
We have spent many years curating a collection of beautiful stones, which offer great value and are of exceptional quality.
We keep our stone laid in our own showrooms and gardens so we can vouch truthfully for its durability, practicality and finesse.
We source our Originals Porcelain collection from the finest Italian factories.
Italy is a world leader in printed tile technology, providing innovative and varied patterning for an authentic look.
The tiles are also rectified (cut after firing) meaning that they can meet a tight size tolerance, cutting down on wastage and an allowing for precision grout lines.
Many of the tiles come in finishes and thicknesses which allow the same tile to be used inside and out; perfect for extending your living space seamlessly into the garden.
Yes you can request free sample swatches of tiles either by ordering them via the product pages on-line or by emailing your request to [email protected]
We can also arrange for full size samples to be collected or delivered, there is a charge for this option which is refundable against your purchase of tiles.
Take the widest points of your space horizontally and vertically and multiply them by each other.
For instance you measure your space as 2.5 meters horizontally and 3.5 meters vertically:
2.5 meters x 3.5 meters = 8.75 square meters
Always double check your measurements with your installer or builder if you are unsure and order extra for cuts and wastage (this is usually between 5 – 10%)
We offer full installation support, including all preparation, fixing and finishing products for both porcelain and natural stone along with contacts to tradespeople who can install the material for you.
Please contact us for more details.
This will vary depending on the porosity of your stone and the finishing product that you are using, therefore we recommend that you allow between £3.00 – £5.00 per square metre.
It depends on where it is laid and how much use the area gets. On average a high traffic area may require sealing every 3 -4 years while a low traffic area can last considerably longer between applications.
You should always use a PH neutral cleaner such as our Water Based Intensive Natural Stone Cleaner whether you need an intensive or general every day detergent.
If you have inherited a natural stone floor that you feel is beyond help please contact us for details of our Foras Partnership Cleaning Service.
This is entirely personal preference however you might want to consider the following when making your decision:
There is no other material like natural stone, it looks and feels amazing however you will need to care for it to keep it looking its best. You will need to apply sealers and choose your cleaning materials carefully. Mess and spillages will need to be cleared promptly to prevent absorption into the stone. That said, some stones are more forgiving than others due to their colour, finish and porosity; please contact us for more information about stone types and suitability.
The advanced technology used to manufacture porcelain tiles means that you can achieve almost any look from natural stone to polished concrete to bleached driftwood with the minimum of effort. It is easy to lay and even easier to live with as it requires no sealing, is low maintenance and you can clear up any mess in the morning without disastrous repercussions!
When considering natural stone versus porcelain think about your lifestyle and ask yourself what you want from your tiles and how much in return you are prepared to give, hopefully that will help you reach the right decision.
The generally guideline is an additional 10% for wastage however this could vary depending on the surface to be tiled. If unsure please check with your installer or builder.
We will accept returns of unopened tile boxes / stone crates to our warehouse if this is in excess of the 10% allowed for wastage. A credit will be raised for returned goods minus 20% restocking charge once the returned goods have been checked for condition. Special order tiles and stone are non returnable and non refundable.
We do not accept returns of open/part boxes or crates.
Not necessarily, a good quality stone that has been sealed properly can usually be bought back to it’s former glory so it’s always worth seeking professional advice. Please Contact us for more information.
If fixing a Free Length pattern then joints should be staggered by a minimum of around 100mm.
There is no correct answer, it is simply down to personal preference. Many people choose to leave their stone unsealed and let it weather naturally over time. As it is exposed to the elements, the stone will gain character and develop a look all of its own.
That is what’s know as Lichen (pronounced Ly-Ken), it’s a tough little bugger and likes nothing more than to reside on your lovely driveway, patio, brickwork etc. In fact it isn’t overly fussy where it lays it’s roots, it is quite partial to sandstone but it will appear pretty much anywhere. It’s a type of airborne spore which blows in off trees, settles on your stones and then spreads. It digs itself deep into the stone with a root like structure and is extremely hard to remove even with a pressure washer.
Treatment with our Natural Stone Chlorine Cleaning Kit can help to rid you of your unwanted guests however you must exercise caution when using chemicals and avoid contact between your plants and green vegetation and the chlorine solution.
Please read our technical data sheet for more information.
Say your mosaics come on 300 x 300mm sheets; you firstly need to work out the area of the sheet as follows:
0.300 mm x 0.300 mm = 0.09 m2 (total area of 1 sheet of mosaics)
Now take your square meter and divide it by the area of your mosaic sheet:
1 m2 / 0.09 m2 = 11.11
There are 11.11 sheets of mosaics per square meter.
So if you need 2 m2 of mosaics you will need to order 22.22 sheets, rounded up to 23 sheets plus extra for cuts and wastage.