Precision Water Jet Cutting Enhances Wetroom Tiling at Kensington Forum Hotel

Achieving flawless finishes in high-end wet-room installations demands exceptional precision—especially for diagonal cuts and niche detailing. Our recent partnership with Affordable Granite demonstrates how advanced water jet technology delivers perfect results on the iconic Kensington Forum Hotel project.

In the world of premium commercial tiling, achieving mitred edges, intricate diagonal cuts, and perfectly shaped niche surrounds can make or break the final aesthetic and waterproofing performance. For our ongoing work at the Kensington Forum Hotel—a landmark 27-storey refurbishment on Cromwell Road, London—delivering over 20,000 square metres of bespoke Florim porcelain tiles requires uncompromising accuracy, particularly in the numerous luxury wet-rooms and en-suites.

Why Water Jet Tile Cutting is Transforming Wetroom Installations

Traditional methods like manual scoring or angle grinding often introduce micro-chips, inconsistencies, or visible seams that compromise both appearance and longevity in wet environments. Water jet tile cutting addresses these challenges head-on by using a high-pressure stream of water mixed with garnet abrasive to slice through porcelain with computer-controlled precision. This cold-cutting process eliminates heat distortion, prevents edge chipping, and allows for tolerances as tight as ±0.1 mm—ideal for seamless mitres and complex shapes.

We recently partnered with Affordable Granite, specialists in advanced stone and tile fabrication near Gatwick, to handle all diagonal cuts for our wet-room shower formers and the face tile cuts for recessed niches. This collaboration ensures every piece arrives on site ready for installation, reducing on-site adjustments, minimising waste, and accelerating programme timelines for main contractor Ardmore.

Site Visit and Template Oversight at Affordable Granite

Yesterday, our team visited Affordable Granite's state-of-the-art facility to oversee the templating process for the first batch of shower former tiles. These large-format pieces feature precise 45-degree diagonal cuts to create flawless corner junctions and integrated drainage falls. Watching the water jet in action was impressive: the machine followed digital templates with millimetre accuracy, producing clean, crisp edges that require no further dressing.

A short video captured during the visit highlights the process—from loading the Florim porcelain slabs to the final cut pieces emerging with mirror-like precision.

This level of detail is essential for the Kensington Forum Hotel, where guest bathrooms demand luxury finishes that withstand heavy use while maintaining a sophisticated, monolithic appearance.

Benefits for Large-Scale Hospitality Projects

On projects of this scale, partnering with fabricators equipped with 5-axis water jet systems offers multiple advantages:

• Consistency across hundreds of identical wet-room modules.

• Speed—complex cuts completed off-site in hours rather than days on-site.

• Quality—chip-free edges that enhance grout joint uniformity and reduce waterproofing risks.

• Sustainability—minimal material waste thanks to optimised nesting and precise programming.

For the Kensington Forum Hotel, these pre-cut components support our commitment to delivering hotel tiling solutions that exceed expectations in both aesthetics and durability. The result? Wet-rooms that not only look exceptional but perform reliably for years to come.

Looking Ahead

As we progress through the Kensington Forum Hotel refurbishment, innovations like water jet tile cutting continue to play a pivotal role in our workflow. This partnership with Affordable Granite exemplifies how forward-thinking subcontractors can elevate outcomes on Tier 1 projects. Stay tuned for more updates as we share progress, completed installations, and further insights into commercial tiling best practices.