In order to preserve the long-term use of our products, please read carefully our information on product maintenance and care.

PREPARATORY WORKS

Please inspect the product immediately, but no later than within 10 days of receipt. Our products are handcrafted throughout the entire manufacturing process by careful and skilled professionals. Finished products undergo a thorough and strict quality control before packaging. However, if you notice any defects in the product, please report them to us immediately before tiling or using the product in any way. The colour of the handmade cement tiles is not homogeneous and there may be faint, cloud-like transitions in colour tone.

It is recommended that you take the cement tiles out of the boxes and lay them on the ground one by one, mixed together, to form the intended pattern, before you start tiling. Once the cement/terrazzo tiles have been laid, we cannot refund the price of the tiles installed and used or even cut.

IMPREGNATION

Due to their raw material, cement tiles have an open, porous surface, which is why it is necessary to seal their top wear layer. Impregnation can and must be carried out on dry, dust-free and clean tiles before laying them, three times in a row, making sure that the impregnating agent does not run down the sides of the tiles, as this prevents the adhesion of the cement milk grout. The drying time between each impregnation is cc. 2 hours. Apply the impregnating liquid horizontally, using a teddy roller (or a brush), evenly over the surface of the cement tiles. Apply only as much impregnating agent as the cement tiles can absorb, wipe off the excess, do not leave drops or stains on the surface. After the cementitious grouting and cleaning, it is advisable to give the finished, clean and dry surface another coat of the impregnating agent. On request, we can impregnate the tiles in the manufactory.

Impregnation of cement and/or terrazzo tiles can be carried out in our workshop as an additional service, if required. The products recommended for impregnation can be purchased in our showroom.

TILING

Please always inform the contractor in advance that you will be using cement tiles. The cement tiles must be laid on a completely dry, properly insulated horizontal subfloor. The general setting time of the subfloor concrete is usually 28 days, and the drying time is longer than that. Please make sure that the subfloor concrete is dry in every case, as tiles laid on a wet subfloor will be damaged.

In the case of underfloor heating, the subfloor concrete must be heated and cooled three times, but at least twice, to allow any cracks that may develop due to thermal expansion to be repaired before tiling. Cement tiles can be safely used as a tiling in spaces with underfloor heating, and the tiling will not adversely affect the efficiency of the heating system. During construction, cement tiling should be one of the last works to be carried out. In any case, protect the laid tiles by using geotextile or OSB sheets.

We recommend that when laying a carpet-like pattern, start from the centre of the room and work outwards towards the edges. Use a flexible tile adhesive as a bonding agent. Refer to the manufacturers instructions for drying time of the adhesive. Spread the adhesive evenly on the subfloor, one thin layer at a time, on the bottom of the tiles, corner to corner, using a 14mm trowel.

For laying, we recommend using a 1 mm grout cross, placed a few centimetres away from the center of the connection of the tiles, to ensure a damage-free removal. When creating the layer structure, please consider whether the tiles will be placed in a space that is in contact with water, in a space that does not come into contact with water on a daily basis or outdoors. In the case of a water-contact space, the dry concrete should be provided with a deep primer and a two-component waterproof layer before tiling, as well as a waterproof sealing tape in the negative corners. It is also usually necessary to apply a levelling compound before laying the tiles. Cement/terrazzo tiles can be cut with a wet tile saw, drilled with a concrete drill, mitred, laid vertically on concrete, brick, ytong and double plasterboard walls. For large, continuous and outdoor surfaces, we recommend the use of expansion joints and frames.

We recommend cement tiles for indoor use and terrazzo tiles for indoor and outdoor use.

GROUTING

Cement milk is used as a grouting material to fill the gaps between the cement tiles. Before tiling, the impregnated, completely dry and clean covered surface has to be grouted. If the cement milk does not completely fill the grouting gap, repeat the grouting. Wash off with plenty of clean water after each application. The cementitious grout is available in the traditional white and grey cement colours. Do not use coloured grout as it will discolour the tiles. Excess grout and any dirt should be removed immediately with a damp cloth and should not be left on the tiles under any circumstances. In all cases, at least 24 hours must pass between impregnation and grouting with cement milk.

WAXING

Waxing should be carried out not alone, but with help on a clean, dry surface that has been grouted with cement milk, possibly impregnated afterwards. As a result of waxing, the cement tiles will have a slightly glossy surface. One person applies the material with quick gestures using a microfibre, while his helper uses a flex and a wool pad, using the flex at a low speed, thoroughly spreading the wax and filling the pores with it. If the waxing dries out the next day, a second surface treatment can be applied the following day, but be sure to apply the second layer within two or three days. The durability of the waxing is affected by the scale of use and proper stone care.

In the case of terrazzo tiles, our company undertakes the on-site burnishing and surface treatment of the tiles on special order.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

For cleaning cement and terrazzo tiles, we recommend the use of stone soap, available for purchase in our showroom. It is recommended that you wash the surface with stone soap every day for the first two months after tiling. In any case, avoid the use of acidic and alkaline cleaning products, descalers and vinegar, as these substances can damage the surface of the tiles. Scale formation can be prevented by occasionally wiping it off the surface by hand. Do not leave corrosive and acidic substances (red wine, coffee, wine vinegar, mustard, beetroot and berry juice, salad dressing, orange juice, etc.) on the surface, as impregnation cannot prevent the absorption of aggressive substances left there for a long time. A properly prepared and maintained cement tile is a durable and timeless tiling, it can withstand the mechanical effects of everyday life, it ages beautifully and with patina, it co-exists with its environment. Heavy, sharp, pointed objects can cause cracks and scratches in the tiling, so try to avoid them.