Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care
01 2 PRELIMINARY STEPS
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Before proceeding to lay the tiles, Likewise, follow the instructions and make sure that you have enough ti- recommendations of use given by the les to complete the job.
02 4 PREPARING THE SUBSTRATE
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Before proceeding to lay the tiles, prepare the substrate by making a cement screed using sand and cement or specific pre-mixed products. Make sure that the prepared substrate is clean, dry and flat (with no unevenness of over 3mm, measured using a 2m straightedge). The substrate must be rigid and stable with no cracks. When the tiles are being laid, check for any possible defects in the flatness of the substrate before the tile adhesive dries completely.
03 6 LAYING THE TILES
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Due to the evolution of ceramic tiles Generally speaking, tiles are laid in in recent years, the system used to square or rectangular shapes. Squa- lay them has come to be known as re ones are usually laid orthogonally, the “thin-bed” system (using a che- at right angles to one another. As for mical bond, as opposed to a mecha- rectangular tiles, as well as laying nical bond or the “thick-bed” sys- them at right angles to one another, tem).
04 8 ADHESIVES
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Tile adhesives, traditionally known as cement adhesives, are used to bond tiles to a substrate. They have evolved with the development of new larger tiles with a lower water absorption rate, as is the case of porcelain tiles. As a result, different bonding materials are available to suit different types of tiles and, in turn, the intended use of the tiled surfaces: on walls or floors, indoors, outdoors etc.
05 10 TILE JOINTS & GROUTING
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Joints must always be left between To grout the tiles properly, it is impor- the tiles to guarantee the surface’s tant to take into the account the fo- proper technical performance. llowing points: • Before grouting the tiles, Depending on the type of surface, make sure that the tile adhesive the width of the tile joints may vary. is completely dry. When a minimum tile joint is needed, • this is deemed to be a gap of 2mm are clean and dry.
06 12 CLEANING THE SURFACE ONCE LAID
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care Although tiled surfaces are hygienic, • resistant to stains, and easy to care with water. Then spread the acid for, they must be cleaned properly solution across it and leave it to once they have been laid and grouted act for 2 minutes, without letting to ensure a perfect finish and proper it dry. long-term care.
07 14 EVERYDAY CLEANING
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care To care for the tiles on an everyday basis - that is, to remove dirt and stains -, it is sufficient to clean the surface with hot water and a neutral floor detergent, using a mop or soft cloth. When it is cleaned very often, clean water alone can be used. For large surfaces, specific cleaning machinery can be used, possibly combined with hand cleaning.
08 16 CARE
Guide to Ceramic Tile-Laying & Care • Do not use metal cleaning utensils or brushes with hard bristles to clean the tiles as they might scratch the surface or leave marks. • Remove any oil or fat stains with detergents containing organic solvents or with alkaline detergents (pH>9) and then rinse the surface well. • Do not use detergents or waxes not suitable for cleaning tiles, as they will leave a viscous film on the surface and make it look dirty.
