FAQ

You can get up to four tile samples in one order. Most of our samples are generous size, the 200 x 200 mm tiles come as a full tile.

Your tile order should arrive between 4 - 6 days. Please contact us if you haven't received your order within one week.

The good thing is that our samples are a decent size to give you a really good idea of the colour, look and feel. The downside is that the box is too large for standard letter box. So please, get us to send your order to your home address or workplace or the neighbours?

We have our showroom and factory in Mulgrave, Melbourne, come and visit us if you are close by. Otherwise visit your local tile store, the customer service team will help you out with your sample order.

You can place an order for Southern Cross Ceramics tiles at your local tile store.
We sell our tiles through major tiles stores throughout Australia.

If you are in Melbourne, visit us at our Mulgrave Showroom

We have our Southern Cross Ceramics tiles displayed at all major tiles stores throughout Australia.

If you are in Melbourne, visit us at our Mulgrave Showroom or contct us for assistance.

We are a ‘Make to Order’ business. This means your order is made specifically for you. Once you place your order, after 24 hours (and payment terms are met), your order will be sent to production in an assigned manufacturing run and will be shipped with a batch number. A batch is a group of tiles produced under identical conditions, using the same raw materials, digital decoration file, glazes, and kiln cycle.

Planning is key! Be sure to order enough tiles for your whole project. If you come back later to order more of the "same" tile, it will be made in a different batch, and while it’ll be close, it might not match perfectly. That’s because each batch can have slight differences in shade and tone — it’s part of the charm (and nature) of ceramic production.

Don’t worry — all batch variations are within the approved standards of AS 13006:2020, covering colour tone (tonality), size (calibre), and surface finish. We make sure it's consistent where it counts, but every batch still has its own personality!

 

Most of our tiles are made to order, which means we begin the process of making your tiles once the order has been placed.

In general, it's up to two weeks production turnaround and another one week for delivery, depending on your location.

Please check current lead times with your tile provider or enquire at our Mulgrave Showroom

You can cancel your order within 24 hours, after which we go to production. Please contact our Mulgrave Showroom if there is a problem with your order placement.

You can make changes to your order within 24 hours, after which we go to production. Please contact our Mulgrave Showroom if there is a problem with your order placement.

Variation in tiles is usually indicated by abreviation (V1), (V2), (V3), (V4) and refers to the amount of variance that occurs from tile to tile. For example a natural stone would have a lot of variation whereas a single colour glazed tile would have minimum variation.

Rectified edge on a tile refers to a tile which has been precision cut to size and the edges are square. This is often desirable as the grout lines can be narrower and the grout can be level with the tile.

Rounded and pillow edge tiles are often more economical and sometimes the difference is hard to notice.

The main difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is their composition, manufacturing process, and overall durability:

• Porcelain Tiles are made from a more refined, denser clay and are fired at a higher temperature than ceramic tiles. It typically contains sand, feldspar, and other minerals.
• Porcelain tiles are more durable, water-resistant, and expensive, making them suitable for high-traffic areas or wet environments.
• Ceramic tiles are more affordable, easier to install, but generally less durable and better suited as wall tiles.

Porcelain tiles as well as glazed ceramic tiles have low water absorption, which means they don't require sealing.

The grout between the tiles is often porous and can absorb stains or moisture. It's a good idea to seal the grout lines to prevent staining and mold growth.