Contrada Valente by Cir

Collection Summary

Contrada Valente by CIR is a glazed fine porcelain stoneware collection that recreates the limestone of Puglia, a defining material of southern Italian and Mediterranean architecture. The collection is made in Italy and comes in three colors: Chianca, Trani, and Apulia. The surfaces are textured and unrectified, so the edges stay soft and the stone character reads as natural rather than machined.

Formats run from 8×8 to 24×36 in 10mm thickness, plus a rectified 24×36 in 20mm for outdoor use. There is also a 2×2 mosaic and a pre-mixed four-size modular pattern, Modulare 39. The collection’s most distinctive feature is its finish range: a natural matte surface, an R11 grip surface, and a lappato finish. The lappato finish is polished only on the raised ridges of the texture.

Design & Aesthetic

The three colors cover a narrow, stone-true palette:

• Chianca is the lightest and most restrained of the three.
• Trani is warm and golden, recalling Mediterranean light.
• Apulia is a whitish grey that brings out the stone texture and works as a neutral base.

The lappato finish creates contrast within a single tile. The high points of the relief are lapped to a sheen and the recesses stay matte, which makes the texture read more strongly in raking light. The natural and grip finishes keep a uniformly matte, weathered surface.

Modulare 39 combines 8×8, 8×16, 16×16, and 16×24 pieces in a fixed ratio. It gives the irregular, laid-by-hand rhythm of traditional stone paving without custom layout work. The single-format 8×8 and 8×16 sizes suit tighter, more traditional patterns. The 24×36 format shows the stone at architectural scale.

Material & Craftsmanship

Contrada Valente is glazed fine porcelain stoneware with a water absorption of 0.3% or less, which places it in the BIa group. The tiles are unrectified, except the 20mm 24×36. Unrectified edges are a deliberate choice that keeps the material’s raw quality. Shade variation is rated V2, so expect slight tonal differences from tile to tile. The collection is rated frost resistant and resistant to thermal shock.

Design Applications

CIR positions Contrada Valente for both indoor and outdoor use. The Tile X Design listing lists floor, wall, shower floor, and outdoor applications. Typical uses include:

• Continuous floors running from interior living areas out to terraces, with the R11 finish indoors and the 20mm format outdoors.
• Outdoor stairs and level changes, using the 20mm step treads and L-shaped step pieces.
• Patterned floors in Modulare 39 for kitchens, entries, and hospitality spaces that call for a rustic Mediterranean feel.
• Smaller areas such as shower floors or detailed insets, using the 2×2 mosaic.
• Statement floors in the lappato finish where the surface texture should be the focal point.

Specifying Contrada Valente

• Finish availability depends on size. Lappato comes only in 24×24 and 24×36. The R11 grip finish is offered in every 10mm format and in Modulare 39.
• 20mm comes in one format only: a rectified 24×36 with R11 slip resistance. Coordinating 20mm pieces include step treads with ground or bullnose edges, L-shaped step elements, and a block step.
• Nominal and actual sizes differ. The 10mm “24×36” and “24×24” actually measure 60.8 cm on one side. The 20mm 24×36 measures 60×90 cm and is rectified. Plan joint alignment carefully where 10mm and 20mm surfaces meet in the same layout.
• Modulare 39 needs a 4–5 mm (3/16″) joint, per CIR’s guidance.
• Two availability tiers: some items are stocked by Tile X Design, and others are special-ordered from Europe with a 10–16 week lead time.

Product Specifications

Values below are from CIR’s technical sheet. Where values differ, they are listed as standard / Lappato / 20mm.

• Material: Glazed fine porcelain stoneware (BIa GL)
• Water Absorption (ISO 10545-3): E ≤ 0.3%
• Frost Resistance (ISO 10545-12): Frost proof
• Thermal Shock Resistance (ISO 10545-9): Resistant
• Scratch Hardness (EN 101): MOHS ≥ 6
• Abrasion Resistance (ISO 10545-7): Class 4
• Resistance to Household Chemicals (ISO 10545-13): Class A
• Resistance to Low-Concentration Acids and Bases: Class LA-HA
• Stain Resistance (ISO 10545-14): Class 5
• Modulus of Rupture (ISO 10545-4): R ≥ 35 N/mm² / R ≥ 35 N/mm² / R ≥ 50 N/mm²
• Breaking Strength (ISO 10545-4): S ≥ 1300 N / S ≥ 1300 N / S ≥ 5000 N
• Anti-slip (DIN EN 16165 Annex B): R10 (natural), R11 (grip), R9 (Lappato), R11 (20mm)
• Barefoot Anti-slip (DIN EN 16165 Annex A): A+B (natural), A+B+C (grip), A (Lappato), A+B+C (20mm)
• DCOF (ANSI A326.3): ≥ 0.42; no value published for Lappato
• Shade Variation: V2

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Contrada Valente finish should be specified for a shower floor or other wet area?

The natural and grip finishes carry a DCOF of 0.42 or higher, and the grip finish has the highest barefoot slip classification in the collection. CIR publishes no DCOF value for the lappato finish. Confirm suitability with your Tile X Design representative before using lappato on wet floors.

Can Contrada Valente run continuously from an interior floor to an outdoor patio?

Yes. Use the 10mm grip finish indoors and the 20mm 24×36 outdoors, in the same color. The 10mm tile is unrectified and measures 60.8×90 cm, while the 20mm tile is rectified at 60×90 cm. Grout lines will not align tile for tile across the threshold, so plan the transition deliberately.

How does the lappato finish differ from the natural finish?

The lappato finish polishes only the raised ridges of the stone texture, so glossy high points sit against matte recesses. The natural finish stays matte throughout. Lappato is limited to the 24×24 and 24×36 sizes.

What should a designer expect from the unrectified edges and V2 rating?

Edges will be slightly softer and less uniform than on rectified porcelain, and color will shift modestly from tile to tile. Review multiple samples or a current production lot to set client expectations.