Technical Data

DRY-PRESSED UNGLAZED (UGL) PORCELAIN STONEWARE TILES. GROUP B1A – BRANDS AND QB/UPEC CLASSIFICATION – EUROPEAN STANDARD

Room floors are rated on the growing intensity of attacks from wear (surface abrasion), heavy traffic, water for maintenance or normal use and so-called staining or chemical products.
The tiles are subjected to tests to determine their resistance to these attacks and are QB/UPEC classified.

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Packaging Information

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TILING INSTRUCTIONS

PHASE 1 : TILE INSPECTION

In order to obtain a homogenous result, open several boxes, take several
sheets from different boxes and lay them randomly (except for specific
Designs with numbered sheets).
No claim will be accepted once the tiles have been laid, all claims must
therefore be submitted before laying the tiles.

PHASE 2 LAYING

For a proper installation of all our unglazed tiles, they should be laid on
a surface that is clean, perfectly flat and does not show any sign of
moisture by infiltration. The adhesive must be adapted to the surface and
to unglazed porcelain tiles.

Recommended product:

Adhesive mortar adapted to unglazed porcelain
tiles.

PHASE 3 : GROUTING

Once the adhesive is entirely dry, apply a grout that is adapted to
unglazed porcelain tiles and let it dry.
Grouting can be done incrementally in order to make sure the tile joints
are filled correctly (or to compensate any shrinkage due to cement grout
drying).
Black or highly colored grouts may stain the tiles and are not
recommended.

Method

  1. Remove the excess of adhesive material in the grout lines.
  2.  Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the particles between the
    tiles.
  3. Prepare enough grout for 1 to 2 M2 (please make sure to follow
    the mixing instructions supplied with the grout).
  4. Spread the grout material using a rubber squeegee.
  5. Remove the excess of grout material by scraping the surface
    diagonally (do not apply too much pressure on the grout lines
    so that they are as level as possible).
  6. When the grout material becomes dry, diagonally wipe the
    surface with a damp sponge (do not apply too much pressure
    on the grout lines so that they are as level as possible).
    Recommended product: Cement or epoxy grout adapted to unglazed
    porcelain tiles.

PHASE 4 : CLEANING THE CEMENT FILM

Immediately after laying, tiles are covered with a whitish film. This is
usually surplus cement leftover from grouting. This cement residue is
cleaned using acid based products and mechanical treatment.

Method:

  • Sweep the surface to remove the largest residue.
  • Moisten the joints.
  • Spread the product on a portion of the surface (incremental
    treatment). Let it act for a few minutes.
  • Scrub the surface without applying too much pressure on the grout
    lines.
  • Rinse thoroughly with water (several times if necessary) to neutralize
    the product and recover all cement particles.Recommended product: Acid-based cementitious grout haze remover
    product (available at Winckelmans).

PHASE 5 : SEALING

This step must be taken after laying and only once the tiles are perfectly
clean and dry (cement residue must be entirely removed previously).
Impregnating is essential for highly exposed surfaces such as showers
and kitchen splashbacks, as well as any outdoor project in order to avoid
any staining products (such as greases and inks) from seeping into the
pores.
For optimum protection, it is recommended to apply a new coat of sealing
product every 5 years.

Method:

  1. Make sure the surface is perfectly clean and dry.
  2. Apply the product with a sponge evenly and gradually (1
    square meter at a time) until the entire surface looks wet (0.1
    liter/M2). Please wear gloves to avoid any skin irritation.
  3. Wait for at least 6 hours until the surface is completely dry.
    Recommended product: Unglazed porcelain tiles Sealer (available at
    Winckelmans).1.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

The purpose of routine tile maintenance is to maintain the original look of
the tiles for as long as possible. Frequent cleaning is therefore
necessary. Using the right product and the quality of the water (preferably
soft) will influence the tile’s cleanliness. Linseed oil-based products
should generally be avoided as they are greasy and will cause grime to
build up.

Recommended product:

Cleaning product adapted to unglazed tiles
(available at Winckelmans).

Do not use:

Black soap and Linseed Oil based products (causes grime build-up).
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) and by-products (damages the tile).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Wastage calculation

It is recommended to increase the surface calculated on site by 10% in
anticipation of any occasional wastage due to cutting.

Size Variation

Our unglazed tiles are non-rectified, dry pressed and have a low water
absorption rate. Our tile sizes can therefore vary according to tolerances
determined by recognized standards (French Cahiers du CSTB and NF
EN 14411 standard in force).
Consequently, it is essential to use a 2 to 3mm grout width for all tiles
supplied loose, and potential adjustments to grout width may be
necessary due to this constraint.

Shade Variation

Because our tiles are made from natural raw materials, some slight
shade variations may occur from one batch to another for tiles of the
same color. Therefore, the availability of identical shades in cases of
replenishment or additions to previous projects cannot be guaranteed.
Storage conditions
All our products, especially those assembled on paper or fiber mesh,
must be kept dry