About This Website
Please view the description of the product:
If it states that the unit is per m2 (square meter) then the availability will be the unit quantity = available quantity per m2.
With the artistically rich surfaces, one unit will either refer to a set of tiles and/or to a mural.
We do not see/view our products as tiles!, but rather as a aesthetic that speaks to handmade/handcrafted surfaces.
The end-result is authenticity, and variation in shape, colour, format, texture, unevenness, flaws, cracks, etc. are all elements that we cherish. These parameters can be refined with bespoke and customized orders, however at an increased price-point.
CURATION NOTES:
Note: Our surfaces relate to and embrace Wabi-Sabi characteristics: Wabi-sabi is the view or thought of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature. It is about the aesthetic of things in existence, that is “imperfect”.
Wabi-Sabi embraces the inherent defects & characteristics like cracks, bowing and lateral deformation, size and colour differences, and irregular grout lines. Texture plays with the light and shadows resulting in a harmonious installation.
(Wabi-Sabi editions can be customized with your specifications.)
Light & Shadow: The effect of directional light sources and/or changes of daylight/sun will create changing shadows and ambiance.”
The photography is done by professional photographers to portray the true character of the surfaces.
In the description there will be a note to which images cover a surface of 1m2(1 square meter of tiles). These will normally be the first few top images with the bottom ones referring to close-ups.
These images will also provide some inspiration as how to use these tiles, however it will often be possible to use them to personal taste and preferences.
You are welcome to request a quote or request options to bulk the m2 if there is not enough for your project.
Unfortunately no, that will be a customized order and VEELVLAK Signature Surfaces will be happy to quote you to fulfill your brief and requests.
All these listed products are pre-blended and ready to dispatch in most cases.
INSTALLATION TIPS - For our porcelain & stoneware handmade, pressed, hand-cut, extruded, moulded and/or hand manipulated tile surfaces:
Main Characteristics that may be applicable to your order:
Tile Size: Approximate(view your image and read description)
Thickness: Approximate(view your image and read description)
Shape: Square, rectangular, relief, 3D, shaped, etc.and reasonably precise (view your image and read description)
Cutting: A fixed bed tile cutter with continuous water on the blade has to be used when cutting the tiles.
VERY IMPORTANT:
All tiles, surfaces and murals should be laid out prior to installation to prepare you for look & feel(mood) spacing and fit. DO NOT commence installation without unpacking and laying out all the tiles and if necessary on a template – TAKE YOUR TIME – read the documentation if included – plan the installation – think twice work once.
Because our tile is hand-crafted, the time you take for prep and placement will greatly impact the finished result. We suggest meticulously planning your layout, pre-sorting the tiles by size, shape, texture and color variation, and strategically blending.
And remember, zero tile installations look good before grouting! Grout is the glue that pulls the entire installation together — make sure you choose the right color.
Size & Length Variation
Our tile shrinks about 12% in the production process. The “about” means it’s not an exact science and variation in length and distortion can occur. You can expect variation, especially on longer tiles.Planning for some variation is the key to a beautiful installation. Pre-sort your tile by color and size so you can distribute the range of variation throughout the installation.
Lengthwise Bowing & Surface Undulation
Clay is an elastic material. If you force an elastic material into a mold or extrude it, it will attempt to regain its original shape as it moves through the production process. For this reason, you can expect your tile to have what we deem to be an acceptable amount of lengthwise bowing or lateral distortion especially in our longer shapes.
Surface undulation can occur in our tile for the same reason that bowing occurs. Undulation can be anything from a slightly raised corner or edge to undulation across the entire surface. First, look at the positive. Surface undulation gives the light more surface area to play on, which means your installation becomes even more incredible (even with all-white tile). To get a level surface, use a deeper comb of thinset so you've got room to set certain tiles deeper than others.
Unpack and mix the tiles within a drawn template of the walls on the floor or on top of trestle and wooden decking boards. If you have received any diagrams from us - please view and study it.
The tiles will have varying grout spaces – the aim is 5mm as the average over the total distance. Do the tiling of back walls first and the sidewalls last.
The laying of handmade tiles will take longer.
Due to inherent characteristics of handcrafted ceramic products, certain tolerances as to size, colour and shade variations are normal. PLACE AND POSITION TILES BY EYE AND DO NOT RELY ON SPACERS FOR CORRECT POSITIONING.
Cutting of tiles:
It is important to note that a fixed bed tile cutter with a diamond blade and continuous water will deliver the best results!
Spacers:
The tiles will have varying grout spaces – the aim is 5mm as the average over the total distance.
Cut strips approximately 2cm wide x 2cm long from hard corrugated carton or plastic of varying thickness and use these as spacers to assist in aligning tiles. The thickness of the cardboard/plastic will be the width of the grout. I suggest cutting spacers from different thickness of cardboard.
Adhesives:
VEELVLAK Signature Surfaces are all high fired stoneware products and therefor adhesive specified for vitrified ceramics and/or porcelain will be required.
Sealers:
Adding sealers to grout is advisable.
Due to all our tiles being vitrified no sealers will be required. However, the unglazed but vitrified parts can be sealed with for example TFC Invincible Porcelain Sealer. This will not change the colour.
Installation in pools:
Use a reputable and experienced pool contractor.
Shipping
Care with packaging is of utmost importance to us.
Please note: for long distance haulage you may be quoted for a cost-over regarding extra polystyrene cladding for extra protection.
Yes, we ship all over the world. Shipping costs will apply, and the studio will gladly arrange options that will suit your budget.
Sea-freight normally and conservatively takes 2-6 weeks with customs and clearing at both sides an additional week per side. For our large orders this is the budget route.
Air-freight is by far the most reliable, fast and takes approximately 5-10 days.
It depends on where you are. Orders processed for South African clients will take 5-7 business days to arrive. Overseas deliveries can take anywhere from 7-60 days. Delivery details will be provided in your confirmation email.
We use all major carriers, and local courier partners. You’ll maybe asked to select a delivery method during checkout.
Due to the weight of our products most standard courier companies do not integrate with us. The best is that we quote for you using Parcel Perfect servers to provide best options with long haul transport companies.
It's possible that in some cases (outside South African Borders), your order may be subject to taxes. But as we have no control over these charges, we can’t tell you what the cost might be; customs policies and import taxes vary widely from country to country. If you're unsure, please check your home country's import tax policies. Our shipping covers delivery to you, but does not include local duties or taxes at the point of import; these are your responsibility as per our terms of service. We will include the necessary documents for customs/border control with your parcel, but your country's assessment of these documents, the time it takes and the import taxes charged are out of our control.
Product
We use professional photographers to assist in the photography of all images posted on this website. Product images are photographed by Erlo Brown (https://erlobrownphotography.co.za) and others by Tasha Seccombe (https://tashaseccombe.com).
As a Team we try and provide you with the best possible images to portray the true character of the items on this www.VLVLK.com.
We always aim for making sure our customers love our products. We take extra care and use professional photographers to show clients the true character of our surfaces.
Bespoke orders cannot be returned and are non-refundable.
OTR (Of The Rack) orders from the VLVLK website, unused, not damaged and in original packaging can be returned at client’s cost and a refund less 20% handling fee will be reimbursed.
Veelvlak Signature Surfaces specializes in the customization of handcrafted ceramic surfaces and objects for Architects, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects and Private Clients. Please provide a full brief, for example colour/s, shape, texture, pattern/s, decorative preferences, etc. as well as any other specifications that maybe important to you for a unique, original, individualized order that will speak to your likes/dislikes.
The substrate are made using various clay bodies, from terra-cotta clays to off-white stoneware to super porcelains. To achieve some effects we at times inter-mix these.
The glazes vary, from Matt, satin and high gloss. Almost all the glaze ingredients are imported from global but mainly EU suppliers like FERRO.
Other
You can contact us through our contact page! We will be happy to assist you.
How Does VEELVLAK quote With Customised Orders?
NO quote will be processed before a clear and accurate brief has been received.
Kindly supply us with the following:
The estimated date for the tiles to be on siteThe delivery address if you want us to arrange delivery on your behalfThe dimensions of area/s to be covered. Be so kind to provide detailed measurements and/or drawings from your professional team i.e. kitchen designer, architect or done by yourself. This will provide us with the scope of your dream project and might afford us the opportunity to make suggestions and provide a more insightful quote.Which format tile do you prefer i.e. 75 x 75mm, 100 x 100mm, 75 x 150mm, 200 x 200mm, 300 x 300mm or a custom size or shape?Provide us with a colour reference and we can then do the research and development of your unique colour. Pantone, Dulux and Plascon paint swatches, fabric, ceramic shards, even your paint effect cupboard doors from your kitchen designer, anything....Do you have any special requests? Is there something special like a colour, pattern, image, etc. that you would like us to incorporate into your design.For an accurate quote with layouts there will be layout costs involved, which will be payable upfront, with the layouts only processed after confirmation of this payment.For bespoke samples, prototyping fees may apply, and will be payable upfront.
The procedure from us is as follows:
We shall request parameters regarding the brief as set out above.Each project is individually quoted and we shall consider the deadline, the brief and finally the dimensions of the area to be covered.
We shall then forward:
An accurate quote if it is stock based or relating to a specified catalogue item on our website, (Please note that all prices on this website are approximate.)OR A quote for samples,AND/OR A quote for samples including R&D when and if necessary,AND/OR A quote regarding layout, design and numbered diagrams for installation purposes,AND/OR The quote for producing the final product relating to the samples, R&D, layouts,etc.
ALLOCATING ALLOTTED PRODUCTION TIME
From the date of the issued quote, Southern Art Ceramics will allocate the working days needed to produce and complete your order within our present hierarchy of paid-up orders on our books. This allotted production time will be available to you for 10 working days before your quote expires..
NB: To proceed with expired quotations - be so kind to request up-dated quotation terms regarding delivery time.
Quotes are only valid for 10 working days and we reserve the right to withdraw from or to update the quote at any time.Any additional changes, samples, layouts, artwork, etc. will carry an extra charge and may affect the time allotted for production.Expedited production and earlier delivery may be achieved with an extra after-hour cost-over. Be so kind to relate urgency regarding your quote in case our allocated production time will be insufficient to meet your time-lines.The parameters regarding the approval to proceed with the order relate to prior communication or meetings or via e-mail. It is your responsibility and of utmost importance that you supply the full brief and/or any alterations to plans or order volumes that may impact on the delivery time.
*
Due to the inherent characteristics of hand crafted ceramic products, certain tolerances as to size, shape, colour, shade variations and some degree of imperfections are normal to the industry.
Computer generated layouts are mostly representational and will not look exactly the same on the finished product, and samples may vary due to manner of execution when producing the bulk order.
Our standard arrangement per brief is that we will do up to 3 graphic layouts relating to 2D design cost-overs.
Lay-outs, R&D, prototypes or final production are only produced on receipt of payment.Once you approve the final prototype, production will commence on your order.Payment acknowledges acceptance that a computer generated Tax Invoice will be issued.Payment acknowledges acceptance of terms and conditions.Full payment must be confirmed by e-mail with your quote or invoice number as reference, before your order to be to be executed.FULL PAYMENT CONFIRMS THE ORDERFor orders with lead-times shorter than 60 working days – Full payment will confirm the order.For orders with lead-times longer than 60 working days – 60% First payment will confirm the order and 40% Second payment will be due before delivery to transport agent.
Payment acknowledges acceptance of the quote and/ or price and is non refundable.
PAYMENT TO BE MADE TO:
Will be advised with quote.
Southern Art Ceramics may keep your personal information and use it to enable us to collect your payment; as well as our internal marketing and contract administration, unless you specifically tell us that we may not do this.
The estimated delivery refers to the working days needed to produce your order, as indicated in your quote, and will take effect as from the day payment is received and/or prototype has been confirmed and paid.
Quote may exclude or include delivery charges which will be quoted as a separate item.Courier and postage time fall outside the production / completion of delivery time set for orders.
Southern Art will endeavour to achieve completion of your order ahead of the time set for delivery, however it is not guaranteed, due to the complex nature of the processes we use to produce custom orders.
Goods become the property of the purchaser on delivery by Southern Art Ceramics to the transportation company.Insurance is your responsibility, and loss or delay in delivery is not the responsibility of Southern Art Ceramics.