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Panels of Victorian decorative and encaustic-style tiles in the trade showroom display at Jackfield Tile Museum

Tiling Trade News: Domus Buyout After Headlam Collapse

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Tiling and bathroom trade news from the second half of October, read from the homeowner’s side. A designer tile supplier has bought itself out of a collapsed flooring group, a new tile backer board swaps its plastic core for a plant-based one, a hardware distributor now sells luxury vinyl tiles, and a 90-year-old British tile factory had a royal visitor.

Domus buys itself out of the collapsed Headlam Group

Domus Group, the London tile and surfaces supplier to architects and designers, announced a management-led buyout on 28 October and now trades as Domus Group London Ltd. It was a subsidiary of Headlam Group, which recently went into administration. Headlam’s Thatcham distribution centre, its operating assets and stock, and the Crucial Trading and Concept Flooring brands were sold to Likewise Group for £14.9 million plus VAT. Headlam’s other subsidiaries, Domus, Melrose and CECO, were not part of that sale and kept trading.

Why it matters: if your designer has specified Domus tiles, the supplier is still trading under new ownership, so there is no need to re-specify. For any tile order through a business with a collapsed parent, pay the deposit by credit card where you can, as that gives you Section 75 protection on purchases over £100. Source: Tilezine (The Tile Association), 28 October 2026.

Jackoboard Lignin: a tileable board with a plant-based core

BEWI, which makes Jackoboard construction boards, is launching Jackoboard Lignin, Tilezine reported on 21 October. The core uses lignin, a by-product of paper making, plus recycled material. BEWI says this gives a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with conventional XPS, the extruded polystyrene used in most foam backer boards.

Why it matters: foam boards are the usual choice for wet-room walls and for lining timber stud walls before tiling. The lower-carbon claim is the manufacturer’s own; before you swap boards, check that the new product is approved for the job, such as a shower enclosure, and that it suits the tile weight. Our guide to tile backer board covers thickness and fixings. Source: Tilezine, 21 October 2026.

Häfele now sells Karndean’s Palio luxury vinyl tiles

Häfele UK has started stocking 19 products from Karndean’s Palio Rigid and Palio Core ranges in plank, herringbone and tile formats, kbbreview reported on 21 October. Nine Palio LooseLay products can be ordered, along with scotia trims for floors fitted without taking the skirting off. Häfele says the range is particularly well suited to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom market.

Why it matters: fitters who buy from Häfele can now supply luxury vinyl tile on the same order. It is a reasonable choice for a bathroom floor over a sound subfloor, but it is not ceramic or porcelain: it scratches more easily, and scotia trim is a shortcut you may not want in a bathroom you are refitting properly. Source: kbbreview, 21 October 2026.

Triton wants hot water use to count in new-home energy ratings

Triton Showers published a report on 26 October calling for cuts in domestic hot water demand to carry more weight in SAP 10.3, the calculation used to show that new homes meet energy targets. It says hot water could account for more than half of household energy demand in homes built to the Future Homes Standard, against 35% previously, and that showers and baths account for 55% of domestic hot water demand.

Why it matters: as homes become better insulated, the shower becomes one of the biggest energy users in the house. When you choose a shower for a new bathroom, flow rate matters as well as looks. Source: kbbreview, 26 October 2026.

Marlborough Tiles marks 90 years with a visit from Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla toured the Marlborough Tiles factory in Wiltshire in its 90th anniversary year, kbbreview reported on 27 October. The company, founded in 1936 and now run by its third generation, showed her its hand glazing, dipping line and hand-painting studio, and she painted a tile herself.

Why it matters: hand-glazed British tiles are still made and still specified for kitchens, fireplaces and period bathrooms. Expect variation in shade from tile to tile, order everything from one batch with spares, and allow a longer lead time than for stock porcelain. Source: kbbreview, 27 October 2026.

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