Cement tile manufacturer for 25 years, the Cimenterie de la Tour offers advice on laying and treatment of cement tiles to guide you as best you can.
The laying of cement tiles
Our cement tiles are authentic, handcrafted tiles that do not require firing. We strongly recommend to entrust the installation to a professional who will do it in the rules of the art. A quality implementation will contribute to the beauty of your soil. Storage must be done in a dry place. You will find below our advice on installation:
Installation of cement tiles
Place the tiles dry to properly position the decorations or friezes, and harmoniously distribute the solid shades that can vary significantly (mix the tiles of each carton).
The rough tiles are covered with efflorescence due to a rise in cement during drying. This is normal and disappears after a light polishing with a very fine sandpaper with water which will instantly make it clean and smooth. The joints will be easier to make.
The different types of laying cement tiles
Traditional pose:
It must be done on a very thin (150kg / m3) mortar screed. The tiles must be wet to get rid of dust, and are laid directly on the screed, then gently leveled by pressure. Above all, do not tap them with a black mallet, use an old-fashioned bat allowing you to tap 4 tiles at a time. They must be cleaned as the installation progresses.
Glue-down installation, see the steps below:
Using a powdered adhesive mortar, make a sufficiently thick mixture (photo 1). Use a wide-tooth comb.
Using the wide-tooth comb, spread the resulting mixture in a layer slightly larger than the width of the tile and over a sufficient length to allow the laying of several tiles (photo 2)
Also coat each tile with a layer of the same mixture, then apply it to the floor
Provide a joint the thickness of a trowel between each tile of 2 mm.
Press the tile by tapping it with your hand while making sure that it is level with the tiles already laid
The joints are made, either with a slip, or with dry cement swept and moistened. Colored and / or pigmented joints are prohibited
Clean the burrs of adhesive mortar as you go
IMPORTANT: never tap with a hammer or plastic mallet directly on the surface of the tile. Use a bat (about 50cm / 50cm piece of wood).
Cement tile treatment
To provide our customers with quality service, La Cimenterie de la Tour offers its range of products for the treatment of cement tiles.
Before you start
A week after a glued installation or a month after a screed installation, make sure the floor is dry and clean. Let it be dusted.
STEP 1 – The Cleaner.
The necessary protections:
rubber gloves
Protective glasses
mask
The necessary accessories:
bucket
brush broom
swab
Dilute 300 to 400 ml of cleaner for 1 liter of water. Apply the cleaner with a brush. Leave to act for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse with clear water with a soggy mop
Let dry 24 to 48 hours depending on the weather
STEP 2 – The micro-porous / water-repellent – oil-repellent:
Make sure your floor is dry and clean, dust free before proceeding to this step. The moisture content of the soil should not exceed 1.5%.
The necessary protections:
rubber gloves
Protective glasses
mask
The necessary accessories:
container for waterproofing
lint-free cloth (prefer white cotton)
Apply the undiluted waterproofing agent to the cloth small surface by small surface (m² / m²) in 2 layers spaced 4 h.
Attention, remember to remove the excess as you go along and allow it to dry 24 to 48 hours depending on the weather.
STEP 3 – Wax
Just like the first two steps, make sure your floor is dry and clean, dust free before proceeding to this step.
The necessary accessories:
clean bucket
clean, lint-free cloth
Dilute 1 liter of Wax dilute 100 to 200 ml of odorless white spirit and apply everything with a cloth small surface by small surface (m² / m²). Once dry to the touch, you can polish the floor.
Attention, remember to remove the excess as you go along and allow it to dry 24 to 48 hours before walking depending on the weather.
Daily maintenance of cement tiles
With neutral, non-acidic cleaning products, such as liquid Marseille soap for example, we advise you to clean your tiles from time to time with the waxing shampoo (Cimenterie de la tour). Your floors will then patina over time.
IMPORTANT: Do not use soap containing linseed oil.
