A hard tile product and system useful for covering floors, walls and other surfaces which are both easy to install and remove are provided.

In one aspect of a reinforced tile, the reinforced tile may be configured for use with a support structure that may be engaged with a top portion of a pedestal. The reinforced tile may be configured with a substrate adhered to a back side of a tile, and the substrate may be comprised of a fiberglass material. A groove may be formed along at least one edge of the reinforced tile, and the groove may be positioned at the interface of the tile and substrate. The support structure may be formed with a generally vertical spine having at least one rail extending outward from a distal end thereof. The spine and rail(s) may be configured to secure one or more reinforced tiles, wherein one or more rails may be positioned within a groove formed in the reinforced tile.

A covering element for raised floors, comprising a decorative component made of ceramic material, said decorative component having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side and a thickness greater than 12 mm, wherein the covering element comprises a reinforcing component arranged underneath the bottom surface of the decorative component.

Set comprising a plurality of covering elements for floors and/or walls, wherein each covering element comprises an upper surface having a pattern and at least one distressed upper edge, wherein at least two covering elements of the set comprises substantially the same pattern, and wherein the shape of the distressed upper edge differs in each covering element of the set.

In one aspect of a tile and support structure, a support structure may be engaged with a top portion of a pedestal. The support structure may be formed with a generally vertical spine having at least one rail extending outward from a distal end thereof. The spine and rail(s) may be configured to secure one or more tiles, which tiles may be formed with a groove on at least one edge thereof, and wherein one or more rails may be positioned within the groove.

A decorative stone panel is provided, which comprises a natural stone panel (1), a ceramic tile (4), a light source (2) and curable transparent adhesive resin (3). The ceramic tile (4) is bonded to the inner surface of the natural stone plate (1). Counter-relies (9) are provided on the inner surface of the natural stone plate (1). The stone thickness at the bottom of the counter-reliefs (9) is 1 mm to 3.5 mm. The counter-reliefs (9) form a counter-relief figure. A cavity is provided between the counter-reliefs (9) and the body of the ceramic tile (4). The light source (2) is provided within the cavity. The cavity is also filled with curable transparent adhesive resin (3) on the side of the counter-reliefs (9) The decorative panel has good light transmitting properties and the light-transmitting surface is less prone to damage.

A floor element for forming a floor covering, the floor element comprising a decorative layer comprising a brittle material, and a resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer.

An underlayment for use between a veneer material and a foundation surface. The underlayment includes a base layer and a series of individual supports extending upwardly from the base layer and being configured to create voids in a layer of bonding material used to adhere the veneer material to the underlayment. Each of the individual supports includes at least one outer wall extending upwardly from the base layer, the outer wall extending at least partially around a perimeter of each of the supports. An internal wall is spaced from the outer wall and extends downwardly toward the base layer. A protrusion forms an overhang beneath which a heating element can be fitted. A liner material is bonded to an undersurface of the base layer and extends beneath the internal wall. A space is defined between the at least one outer wall, the internal wall and the liner material.

A floor element for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor element comprises a decorative layer made of a ceramic material and a support layer arranged below the decorative layer, wherein the support layer comprises edges provided with coupling elements configured to allow a mechanical coupling with coupling elements of an adjacent floor element, wherein the floor element comprises an intermediate layer having a resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer, and wherein the intermediate layer is an adhesive layer that bonds together the decorative layer and the support layer.

A floor element for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor element comprises: a decorative layer made of a ceramic material; a support layer arranged below the decorative layer; and an intermediate layer comprising a rigid resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer, wherein the decorative layer is between 8 and 10 mm thick, wherein the support layer is made of rigid PVC, comprises more than 30 wt % of filler material and is less than 6 mm thick, and wherein the floor element comprises an intermediate reinforcing layer having a resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer, wherein the intermediate reinforcing layer is an adhesive layer that bonds together the decorative layer and the support layer.