Porcelain

LAMINAM® Terra di Pompei

LAMINAM® Terra di Pompei is a large-format porcelain slab from the Italian premium manufacturer Laminam in a deep, warm red-brown earth tonality – inspired by the historical “Pompeian red” of the ancient wall paintings in Pompeii and by the volcanic earths of the Campania region around Vesuvius. The slab shows a calm, almost monochrome red-brown terracotta material tone with a subtle granular depth structure and a warm, archaic mineral feel. At ROSSITTIS we work Terra di Pompei into characterful kitchen worktops, wall cladding, bathroom fit-outs, floor coverings, outdoor kitchens and façade elements with a warm Mediterranean earth feel.

Sinterkeramische Großtafel (Sintered Stone) der italienischen Premium-Marke Laminam (System-Gruppe, Fiorano Modenese) – eine pigmentiert-erdfarbene Solid-Color-Werkstoff-Sortierung. Variante „Terra di Pompei" zeigt einen tief warm-rotbraunen Erdton, inspiriert vom historischen „Pompejanischen Rot" der antiken Wandmalereien in Pompeji und von den vulkanischen Erden der Vesuv-Region in Kampanien. Vollmineralisch durchgesintert (Feldspat, Quarz, Tonminerale, Pigmente, ohne polymere Bindemittel), bei über 1.200 °C gesintert, damit hitzefest, säurefest, UV-stabil und außentauglich. Stilistisch eine warm-mediterrane Anspielung auf gebrannte Lehm-Erden und antike Pigment-Wandmalereien.

Porcelain Italy

Available as: Slabs

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About LAMINAM® Terra di Pompei

Background. Laminam® is the Italian premium brand for large-format porcelain slabs, founded in 2001 in Fiorano Modenese (province of Modena) as a subsidiary of the System group. The “Terra di Pompei” grade belongs to Laminam's pigmented, earth-coloured solid-colour material grades with dramatically warm Mediterranean earth tones. “Terra di Pompei” (Italian for “earth of Pompeii”) refers both to the famous volcanic earths of the Campanian region around Vesuvius (in whose ash the city of Pompeii was preserved in its destruction in AD 79) and to the historical “Pompeian red” – a famous red-brown, earthy pigment used in the ancient Pompeian wall paintings (frescoes, domus with atrium frescoes in the Fourth Style) and since then part of the iconic colour tonality of classic Mediterranean architecture.

Material composition and manufacture. A Laminam slab consists of around 100 % mineral raw materials – feldspar, quartz, clay minerals and pigments – without polymer binders. The mixture is compacted in a mould in a patented pressing process, provided with decorated pigment layers for the surface look and then sintered at temperatures above 1,200 °C in a tunnel kiln. In this sintering the mineral particles partly fuse into a closed crystalline mineral structure – the end product is a fully mineral, sintered-through slab with no resin content. This yields decisive technical advantages over engineered quartz: water absorption below 0.1 %, very high heat resistance (hot pots can be set down directly), full UV resistance and thus suitability for external use, frost resistance and almost complete acid resistance.

Appearance. The ground tone is a deep, warm red-brown earth tone with subtle anthracite-brown underlays – almost like fired clay or volcanic lapilli earth, but with the pure mineral depth of a sintered-through ceramic. The slab shows a very calm, almost monochrome effect with a subtle granular depth structure that gives the surface an archaic, mineral character – like a pigmented tadelakt wall, an ancient Pompeian earth colour or a Vesuvian lapilli layer. From a middle distance the surface appears almost uniformly warm red-brown with a calm depth; close up you discover the fine pigmented mineral feel. The grade does not live from dramatic veining or powerful marble quotations – it lives from the calm, pigmented earth depth and the warm Mediterranean character.

Formats and thicknesses. Laminam supplies the slabs in several large formats – the standard format is around 162 × 324 cm and 100 × 300 cm. ROSSITTIS carries Terra di Pompei in 12 mm thickness. Further thicknesses from the Laminam programme are available on request.

Thermal and chemical properties. Unlike engineered quartz, there is no polyester resin here – which removes the typical weaknesses: Terra di Pompei is heat-resistant (hot pots can be set down directly, the slab is unaffected well beyond 200 °C), almost completely acid-resistant (wine, lemon, tomato, vinegar leave no traces) and fully UV-stable (suitable for external use). Frost and weather resistance are given. Water absorption: almost zero (below 0.1 %, as is typical for porcelain).

ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes currently in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we fabricate kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, buffet and furniture tops, wall cladding, bathroom fit-outs (vanity units, wall and floor applications, showers with proper waterproofing), window sills, skirtings, interior and external floors, pool surrounds, outdoor kitchens and back-ventilated façade systems.

Comparison. Within the Laminam portfolio, Terra di Pompei positions itself as the warm red-brown, earth-coloured solid-colour grade with a Mediterranean, archaic effect – stylistically in contrast to the dramatic marble-look slabs (the Calacatta lines, the Statuario grades), the natural-stone-based dimension stone slabs (Pietra di Cardoso, Pietra Piasentina, Pietra di Savoia) and the concrete-look lines (Fokos). Related warm earth-coloured grades can be found in the Calce family (tadelakt/limestone-oriented with warm tonalities) and in the pigmented solid-colour line. In competitive terms, among other porcelain brands, Neolith Terra, Dekton (Cosentino, with warm earth tones) and SapienStone Terra grades offer a similar pigmented earth-coloured effect. Compared with genuine terracotta materials (fired clay, Cotto Toscano), Terra di Pompei is markedly easier to care for, more acid-resistant and more suitable for external use – terracotta is open-pored, acid-sensitive and requires regular wax or oil care.

Honest assessment. Terra di Pompei is the ideal choice for any application calling for a warm Mediterranean earth feel in a deep red-brown tonality. The grade works particularly strongly in rooms with warm Mediterranean material palettes, combined with pale timber, Corten steel, lime render, antique brass and warm wall colours. Classic applications are kitchen worktops in Mediterranean concepts, bathroom fit-outs in wellness areas with a warm atmosphere, outdoor kitchens in Mediterranean-rustic garden concepts and back-ventilated façade systems in Mediterranean-archaic architecture. Anyone looking for dramatic veining or powerful marble quotations should switch to Calacatta or Statuario grades; anyone wanting a calm, bright tonality should reach for concrete-look grades such as Fokos Avorio; anyone who prefers authentic fired terracotta with a developing patina should switch to traditional Tuscan cotto and accept the higher willingness to care for it.

Suitability by application

Particularly suited to

Bodenbelag ✓ Ideal
Außenbereich ✓ Ideal

Finishes

LAMINAM® Terra di Pompei is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Naturale matt

Standardoberfläche im matten Keramik-Segment — die Originaloberfläche nach dem Brennen. Plan in der Anmutung, aber haptisch etwas rauer als poliert. Pflegeleicht, kratzunempfindlich und fleckenresistent — die alltagstauglichste Keramik-Veredelung für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und Bodenflächen.

Fiammato geflammt

Unebenere und rauere Oberfläche, deren Haptik an geflammten und gebürsteten Naturstein angelehnt ist, aber deutlich intensiver in der Farbwirkung. Durch das Brennen bleibt die Keramikoberfläche geschlossen und pflegeleicht. Eine charaktervolle Wahl für gestaltete Außenflächen, Stufen und Wandverkleidungen mit rustikaler Anmutung.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. In everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to mildly alkaline pH cleaner are sufficient. Mild all-purpose cleaners, mild washing-up foam and all commercially available sanitary and kitchen cleaners without hydrofluoric acid (HF) are suitable. The porcelain is almost completely acid-resistant – even vinegar, citric and hydrochloric acid practically do not attack the slab. Take up spills promptly.

Do not use. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) and fluoride-containing cleaners are the only class of substance that can genuinely attack porcelain – they occur practically only in industrial glass and stone cleaners and are not relevant in the household.

Sealing. Not required – porcelain is dense and pore-free in itself, and water absorption is below 0.1 %.

Naturale matt surface. The naturale matt surface reacts somewhat more sensitively to smear films and visible wiping streaks than a polished variant; isolated water drops dry off less smoothly. We recommend prompt drying off with a soft microfibre cloth.

The surface finishes currently in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. A classic external surface with high slip resistance – ideal for external floors, pool surrounds, stairs and areas with water contact.

Warm earth tonality – care notes. On a warm red-brown slab, wiping marks remain less visible than on very dark or very bright grades – a practically relevant advantage of this tonal class. The slab stays visually calm and relaxed even in heavily used kitchens.

Kitchen and bathroom. In kitchen and bathroom use, technically almost unbeatable: hot pots can be set down directly for a short time, acids such as vinegar, wine, lemon and tomato leave no traces, and anti-limescale sprays and all commercially available sanitary cleaners are approved.

Floor and façade. A classic application. The flamed variant is slip-resistant and can therefore be used in certified fashion in areas with water contact. Back-ventilated façade systems with factory-applied edge-strip securing are approved.

Outdoors and frost. Fully suitable. The slab is UV-stable, frost- and weather-resistant and can be used as a back-ventilated façade panel, external wall cladding, outdoor kitchen surface, pool surround and external floor covering. The warm red-brown tonality remains UV-stable and colour-fast – unlike many pigmented concrete or stucco surfaces, which can fade under direct sunlight.

Scratches and repair. Porcelain is very hard (around Mohs 7) and therefore considerably more scratch-resistant than most natural materials. Deeper damage cannot simply be re-polished – repair is carried out by replacing the affected workpiece.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is LAMINAM® Terra di Pompei?

A large-format porcelain slab (sintered stone) from the Italian premium brand Laminam (System group, Modena) – a pigmented, earth-coloured solid-colour material grade with a warm red-brown earth tonality. Mineral raw materials (feldspar, quartz, clay minerals, pigments) are compacted without polymer binders in a pressing process and sintered at over 1,200 °C in a tunnel kiln. It is not natural stone and not engineered quartz, but a fully mineral, sintered-through slab.

What does the name “Terra di Pompei” refer to?

“Terra di Pompei” is Italian for “earth of Pompeii” and refers to two cultural-historical allusions: the volcanic earths of the Campanian region around Vesuvius (through whose eruption in AD 79 the ancient city of Pompeii was preserved under ash and lapilli) and the famous “Pompeian red” – a historical red-brown, earthy pigment of the ancient Pompeian wall paintings, which is part of the iconic colour tonality of classic Mediterranean architecture.

What exactly does Terra di Pompei look like?

A deep, warm red-brown earth tone as the ground tone with subtle anthracite-brown underlays – almost like fired clay or volcanic lapilli earth, but with the pure mineral depth of a sintered-through ceramic. The slab shows a very calm, almost monochrome effect with a subtle granular depth structure and a warm, archaic Mediterranean character.

What slab formats and thicknesses does Laminam offer for Terra di Pompei?

Standard formats are 100 × 300 cm and 162 × 324 cm. ROSSITTIS carries Terra di Pompei in 12 mm thickness. Further thicknesses from the Laminam programme are available on request.

Is Terra di Pompei suitable for external surfaces, façades and pool surrounds?

Yes, completely. Porcelain is UV-stable, frost- and weather-resistant and can be used as a back-ventilated façade panel, external wall cladding, outdoor kitchen surface, pool surround and external floor covering. The warm red-brown tonality remains UV-stable and colour-fast – unlike many pigmented concrete or stucco surfaces, which can fade under direct sunlight.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, all neutral, alkaline or mildly acidic cleaners, mild all-purpose cleaners and all commercially available sanitary and kitchen cleaners. The slab is almost completely acid-resistant. Out of the question are only hydrofluoric acid (HF) and fluoride-containing cleaners – these are not relevant in the household.

Terra di Pompei or genuine terracotta such as Cotto Toscano?

Terra di Pompei (porcelain) is more even, more predictable, acid-resistant, fully UV-stable, suitable for external use and non-porous – the rational choice for kitchen worktops, external applications and heavily used interior surfaces. Genuine terracotta such as Cotto Toscano (fired clay) appears geologically more authentic with a naturally developing patina and individual batch variation, but it is open-pored, acid-sensitive (calcitic through its lime content) and requires regular wax or oil care. The choice is one between a predictable material feel with minimal care (porcelain) and craft authenticity with a higher care effort (cotto).

Which materials can Terra di Pompei be combined with?

Stylistically ideal with pale timber (oak, pine), Corten steel, lime render, antique brass, warm wall colours in beige and cream tones, Mediterranean-inspired fabrics (linen, wool in warm natural tones) and calm interior architecture concepts with a warm atmosphere. A classic combination is Terra di Pompei with pale render and untreated oak – a typical Mediterranean-rustic image.