INSTALLATION INTERIOR SPACES
result of the drying process – it’s a characteristic of the product and not classed as a fault. When tiling with a brick bond pattern with large format porcelain tiles, offset each row from the previous row by no more than one third of the tile’s length. This will ensure that the bowing does not adversely affect the look of your tiled area, however we suggest you check your particular tile before you install and decide what is best for you. We also recommend using levelling clips, as this will ensure a good, finished result is achieved. Prior to installation Both sides of the tile should be wiped clean of any dust before installation and the top surface should be wiped again after installation and before grouting takes place. The subfloor or wall should be a flat, level, and stable surface to tile on to. If tiling over a timber surface, the floor will need overlaying with a specialist tile backerboard. You can also use this product to tile on to timber- framed walls, we do not recommend tiling onto plaster board, especially in wet areas. We recommend to pre-tile prime all surfaces that are going to be tiled using our Pre-Tile Primer, diluted as per the instructions on the packaging. If you are tiling on to walls and floors in wet areas, we recommend you fully tank (waterproof) prior to tiling with a specific paint on tanking system. If you are tiling on to an underfloor, heated screed, or a newly poured screed (once it’s fully dried and cured, please refer to the manufacturers’ instructions regarding this) the floor will need pre-tile priming and overlaying with a movement decoupling membrane such as our Structured Decoupling Matting. This will help prevent any shrinkage or cracking that may occur in the screed being transferred through to the tiles. Cutting stone & tiles Natural stone and tiles can be cut using a diamond blade – ideally a water-cooled machine to keep dust to a minimum. Some porcelain, glass and ceramic tiles can be cut Grout joint width is a personal choice however when using spacers extra care must apply when tiling natural stone, non-rectified porcelain and smaller format tiles because these products have higher tolerances in size variation that can cause some challenges when using set size spacers. with a scribe and break type cutter. Grout joints, spacers & levelling clips
When installing natural stone in one of our random repeating patterns (French, Dutch or Spanish for example), we advise dry laying a pattern set to establish the required grout width to make the pattern flow, with such patterns it is normal that these joints will vary so it is best to avoid using set size spacers and use wedges/packers. Once grouted this variation will be hardly noticeable and part of the feature of a random looking floor. Commonly known as LASH clips, this stands for Level, Align, Space & Hold. Levelling clips are a two-part system consisting of a clip and a wedge, ensuring your tiles are absolutely level without any lipping or exposed edges that can be caused by slightly bowed tiles. They can align tiles from 9-15mm thick ensuring even grout joints and can be used for both wall and floor tiling. The holes in the base of the clip allow for the adhesive to pass through, ensuring no voids are left under the tile. Installation Use a good-quality, flexible, white, tile-adhesive, such as our Premium White Semi Rapid Set (carefully follow any instructions on the packaging) and apply with a notched trowel. Ensure 100% adhesive coverage of each tile and the subbase, never dot and dab. Remove excess adhesive with a damp cloth quickly before it hardens or stains the tile. Level the tiles using hand pressure only, where possible. Using a mallet or rubber hammer could cause cracking. Preparing before sealing and grouting – natural stone and terracotta Clean and condition the surface using a diluted solution of alkaline cleaner such as our Deep Clean (diluted 1:10 with water). This will help ensure that any dust, dirt, and grime that may have accumulated during the installation process is removed. A properly cleaned and prepared surface will improve the efficiency of the sealer. Sealing your tiles – natural stone, crackle glaze and terracotta Once your tiles are installed you will need to use an impregnating sealant for protection prior to grouting such as our Stain Block (or for crackle glaze tiles a crackle glaze sealant). Preparing before grouting – porcelain and ceramic tiles Clean the surface using fresh clean water. This will help ensure that any dust or grit that may have accumulated
during the installation process is removed, preventing the risk of scratching the tiles when being grouted. Grouting We recommend using lighter coloured grouts for most products, in particular natural stone and matt/textured glazed tiles, rather than black or bright coloured as these can cause staining on light materials, this staining is particularly hard to remove. • Ensure you have selected a grout product that is suitable for use with the chosen tile material and desired joint width. • Ensure that you wipe away any excess grout with a sponge and regularly change the water before the grout dries. Avoid raking out the grout in the joints and do not allow water to puddle. • Before the grout has fully set wash again with a damp sponge to ensure as much residue is removed with a solution of alkaline cleaner such as our Deep Clean (diluted with 1:20 with water) Finishing after grouting – natural stone and terracotta Natural finish: (Typically smooth finish materials) Apply a final coat of impregnating sealer making sure to cover grout joints as well, you will then need to remove any excess unabsorbed sealer after approx. 30 mins depending on atmospheric conditions. OR Satin finish: (Typically for more rustic and porous materials, especially terracotta) Further to the above and only if the stone is not used is a wet area, you can apply a surface coating such as our Stone Shield or Bees Wax Polish. This will offer further protection; it will help fill the natural pours and gives the product an attractive patina. Finishing after grouting – porcelain and ceramic tiles For crackle glaze apply a second coat of crackle glaze sealant. Dry buff the tiles with a clean cloth to remove any final grout residue. There is the option to further seal the grout joints if desired using our Stain Block Eco. When using this remove any excess liquid immediately. On very matt porcelain floors you can apply our Stone Shield in non-wet areas to help ease the cleaning required and enhance the appearance of the tile.
Please note these are very general guidelines and not definitive instructions. The issuer of these guidelines cannot be held responsible for installation. It is always recommended that a qualified and professional tiler should take responsibility for the installation of all stone and tile products. We recommend that your installer has adequate understanding of how to install our artisanal materials to ensure the best results. We always recommend ordering 10-15% extra material for wastage when installing, if your order has suffered any minor damage in transit, we suggest you keep these tiles aside for cutting. On receipt of your order When you receive your order, please check that you have all your tiles and that they are in good condition as any discrepancies cannot be resolved after installation. Some general points • Prior to installation you should store your tiles in a dry place. • Do not install tiles during very hot weather. • Avoid direct sunlight on to natural stone during installation (prior to sealing the tiles). • Never use acids or undiluted alkaline solutions to clean natural stone, unless for troubleshooting. • Always ensure that surfaces are properly sealed on natural stone and crackle glazed tiles before grouting. • Do not cover newly installed surfaces with non- breathable membranes such as self-adhesive plastic sheeting or plywood sheets. If surfaces need to be covered after installation, use a good-quality decorator’s sheet or a thin specialist protective card instead. • Always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines on the packaging of installation materials or data sheets, available on request. • It is important to shuffle your tiles from pack to pack before you install them, to ensure an even blend of tones, this is particularly important for natural stone and more artisanal products. • It is known in this industry that porcelain tiles and paving exceeding 75cm in length and/or width have a slight bow to them. This bowing occurs as a natural
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INSTALLATION
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