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Are you a tiler? Here’s what you need to know about BIM
April 4, 2024
Reading time 3 minutes
Imagine a world where tilers have all the information they need at their fingertips, without having to depend on other parties to contact suppliers for them. A world where tilers know exactly which tiles, adhesive, grout, etcetera to order and how tiles should be placed, all at a glance. This way of working is only a click of a button away when contractors, architects, tilers, and everyone else involved in the building process collaborate through Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Mark Trommelen, Industrial Designer at Mosa, sheds more light on the possibilities BIM creates for tilers, as well as the challenges.
What is BIM?
“BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is a digital concept used by multiple, if not all, parties involved in a building project, whereby all designs, processes and materials can be accessed and updated within one building model”, Mark Trommelen explains. “In other words, applying BIM provides insight into a design’s feasibility and makes both design and execution more cost-accurate.” BIM is currently still in its early stages and is mainly used by contractors for shadow accounting purposes, so tilers tend to play a rather limited part. However, Mark Trommelen expects this will change in the next few years.
Choosing the best tiles
“Tilers involved in the BIM process mostly come into play when decisions concerning the selection of materials have to be made. BIM makes it easier for contractors to consult tilers to help them make the best choice. BIM also makes it possible for tilers to provide as-built information after the project has been completed.”
The challenges of BIM for tilers
Working in a BIM environment is challenging for most tilers at first. As is the case for all other parties involved, BIM requires some considerable investments: “BIM software packages are expensive, and learning how to use the software properly takes time and effort. What’s more, many tilers get discouraged when they learn that their BIM software has many functions and features that don’t apply to their branch of the business”, says Mark Trommelen.
Mosa makes BIM easier for tilers
If you’re a tiler considering to jump on the BIM bandwagon, or a tiler already involved in a BIM project, Mark Trommelen strongly recommends using the Mosa Pattern Generator, which has recently been made compatible for BIM. “Perhaps the greatest thing about the Mosa Pattern Generator for tilers is that each tile pattern comes with a unique installation guide they can easily retrieve thanks to a design’s assigned code. It really turns calculating how many tiles are needed, waste included, into child’s play.”
Discover the Mosa Pattern Generator today and take your building project to a BIM level.
Try the Mosa Pattern Generator