Tiling: schemes and tips

CAUTION

Cleaning after tiling
Cleaning surfaces after tiling is vitally important to guarantee results after cleaning and maintenance in the future. Failure to remove any residue promptly after grouting the joints can leave marks that are hard to remove and leaves a thin layer of cement on the finished floor that will absorb dirt, making the floor itself look dirty.
Cleaning after tiling:
1) Eliminates tiling residue (mortar, adhesive, paint and dirt created on the job);
2) Removes surface residue from the material.
Over 90% of tiling-related complaints are because of failure to clean after tiling or insufficient cleaning.

TILING TIPS

Here are some tips on getting the best out of our products when tiling. When preparing for a job, check the colour tone, the gauge and the grade of the tiles. Using material that is faulty or different to the material ordered implies acceptance of its quality and no subsequent complaints will be allowed. Claims will not be accepted for material that has been fitted with faults that were visible prior to tiling.
Our material is manufactured and sorted to guarantee slight differences in the colour tone, as this emphasises the look of the patterns and colours. When fitting our tiles, it is good practice to alternate different colour tones with care, taking 3 or 4 tiles at a time out at least five different boxes, especially when fitting collections whose shading and colour mix is V2 or higher. Arrange any veins on the tiles to get the best aesthetic and chromatic effect, taking care to distribute the different shades of colour evenly, standing back from time to time to check the end result of the portion of the area you are working on. During tiling, leave a minimum gap of 7 mm between the tiles, especially when tiling with combinations of shapes. When tiling materials with rectified edges, it is essential to leave a minimum gap of 2/3 mm between the tiles and to use grouts and sealants in a coordinating colour with the material. When fitting rectangular tiles with rectified edges, it is important to check that the top edges of one tile do not coincide midway with the others in order to compensate for any imperfections in flatness found with all large shapes. As this material is cut and rectified, we recommend fitting the tiles lengthwise in order to avoid this problem, staggering each tile 6 to 15 cm as shown in the layout below (see diagram). For an impeccable end result, the tiles should be fitted by an experienced tile fitter, who will check the flatness of the concrete slab and the quality of the material.

When tiling out-of-doors, here are some tips to follow with care:
1) Divide the floor area up into a grid of smaller “sections” using spacers; we recommend placing the joint every 5/10 m2 following the most probable lines for discharging the stress caused by thermal dilation.

2) Create adequate drainage for the bed, and an even sloping (at least 1%) surface so that water will not stagnate within the bed and on the surface.

3) The slab must be at least 5 cm thick and must be poured over a moisture barrier.

4) Before tiling, make sure there are no areas with large infiltrations of humidity; that pipe work and ducting are protected and fastened down properly, and all major work on site has been completed.

5) Only use adhesives and grouting materials for filling gaps between the tiles that is suitable for outdoor applications, i.e. water repellent. The gap between the tiles must be no less than 7 mm.

6) To prevent infiltration of water in the grouted gaps, they should be impregnated with a waterproofing liquid. Pay particular attention when using grouting materials, as they may contain pigments that could stain the glazed surfaces. During tiling, be careful not to mark the upper surface of the material with pencils (graphite) or permanent markers, especially with lapped products.

We suggest using the R.L.S. tiling system (Raimondi Levelling System), as instructed below.

R.L.S.
R.L.S. has revolutionised tiling as it guarantees a perfectly level floor quickly and simply, eliminating any uneven areas between the tiles. R.L.S. is perfect for large sizes and for “ultra slim” tiles (3/5 mm). R.L.S. consists of 3 elements: the base, the wedge, and the gripper. There are two versions of the base: for tiles that are between 3 and 12 mm thick and for tiles that are between 12 and 20 mm thick. The same wedge is used for both versions of the base and can be used again an infinite number of times. The adjustable gripper is available in a version for tiling floors and a version for tiling walls, and is recommended as the wedges can be inserted easily into the bases, while optimising the pressure on the tile. The gripper is the same for all tile thicknesses.

How to use the RLS
Putting the support into position:

1) After spreading out the adhesive, insert the support underneath the tiles on all 4 sides.

2) Depending on the shape of the tile, put one or more of the supports into position on each side of the tile.

3) Put the tile into position and tap it down with a rubber mallet.

Inserting the wedge:

1) Insert the wedge into the slot on the support, taking care not to go past its breaking point.

2) To facilitate insertion of the wedge, we recommend using the gripper with adjustable traction.

Eliminating the support:

When the tiled area is ready for use, eliminate the protruding part of the support from the base by hitting it in the same direction as the gap between the tiles, using a rubber mallet or your foot.

For more information, there is a useful video describing the R.L.S. system in the Video section of the website: www.raimondiutensili.it