Laying recommendations

For a proper use of our products it is neccesary to pay attention on the installation. In this sense, in order to help customers, Cifre Cerámica, s.l. indicates in the general catalogue, besides to each product, symbols corresponding to each of the 5 classified groups.
The recommended minimum space between the tiles is set at 1.5 mm; smaller joints may cause tension accumulation due to contact between them without permitting the proper grout installation.

Preparation for the tile setting

The laying of ceramic tiles must always be carried out by an experienced professional.
A regulating or levelling mortar can be used, or even water-proofing or drainage layers, etc., if the situation requires it.
The surfaces must be completely clean and dry before applying the mortar or the adhesive.

Choice of adhesive and method of application

The choice of adhesive is defined by the type of ceramic tile (the group to which it belongs and its format), the type of surface to be covered (material) and purpose of the tiled area.
The choice of tilling method depends on the location of the site (outside or inside) and the dimensions of the ceramic tiles.
It is recommended to use the adhesive with buttering and floating installation for more than 30 cm tile. This technique is achieved by placing adhesive both on the tile setter and on the tile, completely covering their surface.
It is recommended to contact the dealer and to follow the instructions of the manufacturer.

Special care during setting

Due to the shrinkage of the mortar during setting, watch carefully the pauses during setting, so that this change of level can be foreseen when restarting the work.
Rectified tiles need to be handled with especial care in order to avoid cuts to the hands and chipping and breaking to the edges of the tiles.
Use crossheds and spacers according to the joint, in order to maintain the orthogonality on the installation.
In a brickbond fitting, it is recommended not to surpass 25% of the longest side.

Grouting

There are various types of joints in a site:
Structural Joints: these are designed to absorb movements in the building and must always be respected. They can be covered with adequate profiles and filed with the indicated materials.
Perimeter Joints: all joints where the wall meets the floor. The minimum width will be 8 mm and emptied or filled with a deformable material. They can be concealed with the skirting board or the wall tile.
Setting Joints: These are the spaces left between tiles. According to the UNE 138002 standard, a minimum joint is defined as one that oscillates between: 1.5 and 3 mm, an open joint that oscillates between 3 and 5 mm, and a very open joint that has + 5 mm.The minimum joint for outdoor installation should be 5mm.
Before starting to apply the grout around the tiles, ensure that the mortar or adhesive is completely hard.
The joints must be completely clean and without from dust and particles.
Fill or seal the joints with grout using a grout float of hard rubber, without leaving spaces or uneven levels.
Remove any excess grout from the surface by moving the grout float in a motion diagonal to the joints, while the mixture is still fresh.

Finish the job

Cleaning the joints: respect the times advised by the manufacturer, clean the whole surface with a damp linen cloth, incluiding the grout.Clean the rest of the site with the appropriate products. Contact the dealer and never use products that contain Hydroflouric Acid HF.

Cleaning and maintenance of the material

Once the material is placed and grouted, it needs to be properly clean. An incorrect cleaning can leave remains of products used for installing or protecting the tiles such as cement, epoxy resins, grouting material, waxes, or grease. It is very important to do a first cleaning before the grout sets completely. Always follow the grout manufacturer’s recommendations. For an optimal cleaning after installing, in case of heavy and embedded dirt accumulated over time, and for its maintenance, it is necessary to use the right products.

It is recommended to test the cleaning products in a poorly visible area to ensure that they do not damage the ceramic material.

For regular cleaning of the floors we recommend the use of a neutral detergent with high cleaning power, avoiding acidic and abrasive products. Some types of dirt (gravel, sand…), increase the abrasive effect of pedestrian traffic.

Therefore, we recommend keeping the floor as clean as possible, protecting the entrances to circulation areas with doormats. Ceramic floors have moderate shock resistance. We shall therefore prevent the fall of heavy or sharp objects.

Drilling porcelain tiles

For an effective drilling, we shall use an appropriate drill for porcelain tiles, as well as a correct drilling technique.

Tools needed:
Drill: with power greater than or equal to 600 W.
Bits:
• Special tungsten carbide drill bit for porcelain tile: special spiral or arrowhead end.
• Diamond drill bit: cylindrical or crown end.

Cutting porcelain tiles

There are various tools that can be used for cutting porcelain tiles. We provide some indications on each of them below:

Manual cutting

The tool used shall have suitable characteristics for the formats, piece thicknesses, and job to carry out. Depending on the size of the roller, we recommend using an 8-mm diameter for pieces with smooth surface and an 18 mm diameter for rough surfaces.

Electric cutting

This tool has a diamond disc and water refrigeration system. It allows for precise cuts with some complexity, on very hard materials. It shall have suitable characteristics for the formats, piece thickness, and work to carry out. The diamond disc shall include wet and continuous band cutting. This tool is ideal for making any type of cut to porcelain tiles.

Grinder

It has a diamond disc. We recommend using a low-power 600-1100W approx. grinder, which uses a blade with a 115 or 125 mm diameter. The diamond disc shall include dry and continuous band cutting.