Watch the video below for a demonstration of tiles installation
This article aims at giving you some useful suggestions to successfully install tiles, avoiding any damages.
First of all, during handling we highly recommend to keep all Large Format Tiles in their original packaging and to use lifting tools with a sufficient load capacity. Smaller formats can be handled by hand and the use of forklift is recommended.
As for the cutting, it is fundamental to use professional dry cutters, in order to avoid uneven cuts or breaking the material and to check the cutter blade in advance.
By using perimeter bands & all structural expansion joints, prepare a screed with a perfectly flat, dry, compact, dust-free surface, with no cracks or other visible damage: it should have suitable hardness and mechanical resistance to stresses due to the final uses. We recommend you to use a crack preventing mat between substrate & slab, in case of slightly cracked or non-solid screed.
For what concerns adhesives, always keep in mind the type of tile, surface and intended use of room. It is essential to have dry laying before final laying. Adhesive should be applied on the floor as well as on the backside of tiles with 3-4 mm thickness and onto the back of the slab with a 3mm trowel. It should be well distributed on corners & edges and must be spread over in the shortest direction of the tile, starting from the centre of the slabs. Adhesive should in fact have 100% contact with tiles/substrate to avoid hollow sounding. If you have to make any corrections, we recommend you to check the material before the adhesive dries: you can tap the slab with a rubber mallet for a complete fixing ensuring the air is expelled. Cementitious Adhesive (C2 Category – C2TES1) is highly recommended.
As to the joints, you must position them on structural connections (structural joints), between the wall and the floor (perimeter joints), between one tile and another (gaps) and between tiles and other materials (ceramic, linoleum or wood). A 2 mm joint spacer is suggested for all sizes.
For optimum surface performances, we strongly recommend to use a tile levelling system, since it acts as a spacer for joints, making the installation more accurate.
Before grouting the joints, wait for the adhesive to dry completely and ensure there is no adhesive or dust in the joints. Use grout with the same colour as the product and apply it by using a rubber towel, focusing on no more than 4-5 square metres of tiling at a time. We suggest you remove all excess grout from the tile surface with a sponge and plenty of water, while it is still wet, working in diagonal movements. Then, dry the surface with a damp cloth and give the laid tiles a second cleaning with alkaline detergents, on the day after.
Initial cleaning is essential to ensure the tiles a long-lasting appearance over time. Do that at least 4 to 5 days after laying and grouting but no later than 10 days afterwards. Use an acid-based product, diluted according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer, but without hydrofluoric acid or derivatives and focus mainly on the joints. The acid solution must be left to work for no more than two minutes and never be left to dry. To remove it, use a single-brush machine equipped with a non-abrasive disc, a wet vacuum or wash the tiles by hand, especially in the harder to reach spots.
For ordinary cleaning, simply wash with warm water, cloths, soft sponges, and, when necessary, neutral detergents. Don’t use soaps, waxes, or rinse aids and avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools on glossy and/or polished tiles. To remove traces of grease or oil on the surfaces, we suggest you use detergents with organic or alkaline solvents (pH> 9), rinsing properly at the end.
After installing the floor, cover it with suitable material and don’t drag heavy objects across the surface, in order to prevent tiles from damage or scratches.
For more visit our Suggested Installation Guidelines page
