As demand continues to rise for new-home products, surfacing manufacturers have responded to consumer preferences with softer, biophilic tones, easier installation processes for contractors, and health-conscious design and manufacturing principles. Here are a few of the industry's newest surfacing options and examples, ranging from countertop slabs to wall cladding, tile surfaces, and even outdoor ceilings.

Island Stone

The Lava Glass mosaic tile series is defined by undulating, iridescent surfaces that evoke the look of light through water, designed for use in pools, showers, and other water applications. The tiles meet or exceed all industry requirements for submerged applications and exterior freeze-thaw environments, and they feature durable back paint, applied at over 1,025 degrees Fahrenheit, that provides the tiles’ pearlescent color.

Tile colors include Burning Ice, Cool Tropics, Deep Flow, Hazy Wave, Liquid Rock, and Solid Ash, with mosaics available in 1-inch by 1-inch straight set, 1-inch by 2-inch offset, and 1-inch by 2-inch V-cap trim. islandstone.com

Crossville

The In-Side porcelain tile panel collection is designed to mimic the appearance of Pietra del Cardoso, a deep-blue gray stone mined from the Apuan Alps. Each panel is made up of a mixture of raw materials of variable sizes, creating a textural surface evocative of natural stone. Color variations include Pietra-Di-Cardoso Grigio, a gray tone, and Pietra-Di Cardoso Nero, a black tone. Both are available in either a matte or a flamed finish. Panels are sized 1 meter wide by 3 meters high and 5.6 millimeters thick. crossvilleinc.com

Walker Zanger

The Handmade to Order collection includes a choice of 32 white clay body shapes, including mesh-mounted mosaics and field and organic shapes, and 108 color options, 38 of which are entirely new to the brand. According to the manufacturer, the color spectrum was chosen to provide a range of warm and cool tones, as well as multiple values within a color spectrum, which customers can order blended in any of the pattern variations. Handmade to Order is a dealer-exclusive collection and requires an eight- to 10-week lead time due to its small batch manufacturing process. walkerzanger.com

The Korlock Select system by Karndean Designflooring, shown here in Palazzo Marble’s herringbone arrangement.
Karndean Designflooring The Korlock Select system by Karndean Designflooring, shown here in Palazzo Marble’s herringbone arrangement.

Karndean Designflooring

Karndean Designflooring has introduced 17 new stone designs to its Korlok Select line, an interlocking rigid core flooring system developed as an alternative to porcelain tile. The stones connect together with the manufacturer’s proprietary fold-down locking mechanism, and a whole floor system installs quickly over most existing wood floors. The new designs are inspired by natural stone forms, including Calacatta marble, slate, and limestone. Each new option, except for the two stenciled designs, features the manufacturer’s color-coordinated InteGrout, a smooth, nonporous grout attachment that eliminates the need to apply grout during installation. karndean.com

Cosentino

The new Loft Series profiles by Silestone by Cosentino feature feature subtle veining and surface variations, with background tones that range from soft, warm grays in Camden and Poblenou to darker cement tones in Seaport, bright white in Nolita, and deep black in Corktown. The Loft Series marks the debut of a new fabrication process, Silestone HybriQ+, which significantly reduces the amount of crystalline silica in the product. Instead, it uses a hybrid of mineral and reused raw materials, such as recycled glass, processed with 98% recycled water and 100% renewable energy. cosentino.com

Cambria

Cambria’s new, 6-millimeter quartz slab surface thickness—the equivalent of three stacked nickels— is designed to meet the needs of commercial clients, who often encounter weight sensitivities in applications like health care, furniture, and luxury transportation, and to offer design versatility for residential projects. The extra-thin slabs also meet consumer demand for extra-thin countertops, and may be used as cladding options for walls, ceilings, fireplaces, backsplashes, or shower and tub surrounds, among many other applications. The size is available for 10 existing Cambria designs at launch. cambriausa.com

Versatex

Versatex’s maintenance-free PVC trim, designed for use in outdoor ceilings, soffits, and accent walls, is available in two additional Canvas series finishes: Turner Oak, a “greige” shade that offers a lighter wood tone than walnut, and Kitami, which emulates the look of Japanese shou sugi ban wood. The Canvas series, which also includes Black Cherry, Walnut, Tropical Macore, Amber, and Weathered Grey, combines a wood grain laminate with a moisture-resistant PVC substrate, available in the standard WP4 tongue-and-groove profile in 18-foot lengths. Another new offering is Piazza Blue, also known as haint blue, a popular Southern choice available as a color-through, solid-PVC beadboard. versatex.com

Caesarstone

The Whitelight Collection both introduces and curates a selection of light neutral colors, designed to convey the “movement and drama of natural stone,” according to the manufacturer. New designs in the series include 5171 Arabetto, featuring swirling copper and jade veins on a white backdrop, and 5112 Aterra Blanca, which offers a misty white surface and earthy veining. Both are available in a polished finish. Recent additions 5114 Calacatta Maximus and 5151 Empiria White also join the collection, as well as three existing designs: 5143 White Attica, 1111 Vivid White, and 5031 Statuario Maxiumus. caesarstoneus.com

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