Devang SarvaiyaDevang Sarvaiya
Just peel off the covering on the back of the tile skin, and the self adhesive glue will affix the tile skin onto an any smooth surface like tile, wood, marble, etc, to create a brand new surface. Devang Sarvaiya, sole distributor in India for the Italian-make Herrlich Tileskin, informs that the tile skin is a multi-layer product that 'feels' like PVC laminate, with one layer being of glue. It is waterproof (can be applied in bathrooms); heat-resistant (can be applied on kitchen backsplashes); anti-skid, and anti-scratch, and can withstand temperatures from -10°C to 140°C.

One big advantage is that there is no need to break or remove the surface at the time of renovation, thereby saving labour, time and cost of refurbishment. This makes tile skins especially advantageous for "home staging". With rents peaking, it becomes economical to simply renovate the office or house by placing tile skins on walls, floors, bathrooms, work stations, etc, and the place is ready for a new tenant. The skin can last for up to five years, and normal wiping is sufficient, but no chemical based washing agents should be used.

Herrlich Tile Skin

Tile Skin
A patented variant under the product range is the Smell Trap tile skin that entraps smell from the area it is applied in such as bathrooms, hospitals rooms, and other public places, provided the skins cover at least 80% of the space.

The tile skins come in 400 + designs and in vibrant colours that can be mixed and matched in endless combinations. They can be used to cover entire floors and walls, or applied as highlighters, create picture windows, and customized to create personalized effects. For plastered walls, the company offers another variant that can be applied by simply dipping it in water and affixing it on the wall, much like wallpaper. However, though the tile skin is a DIY product, Dewang recommends using their services for initial installation.

Herrlich tile skin prices range from Rs.100 to Rs.1200 per piece depending on the (cut-to-fit) size and a minimum order of 16 - 120 sq.ft. A more premium range is available in velvet (only for walls) and in metallic. For a more affordable option, Dewang suggests buying a cheaper variety of ceramic tiles and covering them with tile skin to create unique interiors that can be refurbished when desired.