Terrazzo tile - Series GRANIGLIE - 20 x 20 - light grey

Manufacture

Surface

Due to the manufacturing process, terrazzo tiles have their typical unmistakable characteristics: a silky smooth surface, slightly iridescent colours and slightly uneven edges. There may also be slight variations in pattern, colour and shape, as well as fine hairline cracks and salt and lime chips. The slab thickness may vary slightly, which can be compensated for during installation.

The slabs have an open-pored surface, similar to natural stone. They must be impregnated after installation (see below). Use and maintenance care with moisturising soft soap will create a protective patina over time, bringing the floor to life. Caution is advised with acidic products (red wine, vinegar, etc.). These should be removed immediately if necessary.

Maintenance care

For a period of around six months after installation, Precious Stone Soap P324 should be used to mop the tiled surfaces. The precious stone soap contains natural oils that supplement the protective layer each time it is cleaned. This can also be used for ongoing maintenance care. Alternatively, you can also use a good soft soap.

Good things take time - a patina only builds up over time and protects the floors maintained in this way.

Basic cleaning

Laying

Before the individual panels are inserted into the adhesive bed with as few joints as possible (joint width 1-2 mm), the packages should be mixed together to create a harmonious interplay of colours. Individual slabs may show stronger colour differences, this is part of the laying pattern. However, before laying tiles with very different colours, this should be agreed between the installer and the client. The narrow joint width is a special design and should also be explicitly agreed between the client and installer.

The substrate must be clean, level, load-bearing, dimensionally stable, dry and free from adhesion-reducing substances, stable and free from cracks. The substrate should be treated in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer's instructions. In order to bind the residual dust of the substrate and reduce the absorbency of highly absorbent substrates, the substrate should be pre-treated with a primer as required. (e.g. Oktamos UG 30 from Kiesel)

A particularly fast-setting and hardening, highly stable and mouldable mineral flexible mortar with crystalline water binding must be used as the tile adhesive. (e.g. Servoflex K-Schnell SuperTec from Kiesel). Firstly, a contact layer of the flexible mortar is applied to the substrate with the smooth side of the notched trowel. A layer of adhesive is then applied with a 10 mm notched trowel, which, when pressed down and carefully aligned, creates an even surface without any overhangs. The buttering-floating method should be used to ensure a fully saturated, void-free installation. The open time/correction time of the adhesive must be strictly adhered to: the boards must be pushed into the fresh adhesive bed and pressed into place. Care must be taken to ensure that no skin has formed on the surface of the adhesive. Never mix too much adhesive and do not apply more adhesive than can be processed in this time. Do not use leftover adhesive that has already thickened! During installation, care must also be taken to minimise the penetration of moisture into the boards. Rewetting of the tiles or an uneven moisture content in the covering, e.g. due to the surface drying too quickly, can lead to cupping.

Cement floor tiles are best cut with a diamond blade. Even
mitres can be designed so precisely that clean joints on outer edges are possible. Cutting should be done dry.

If the laid floor still needs to be covered, this should be done with a breathable material (no cardboard, as this can leave marks and discolouration).

Grouting

Before grouting, the flooring surface should be slightly pre-wetted to prevent the joints from burning out. The grouting mortar is mixed on site from trass cement 2:1 with the finest quartz sand (grain size 0 - 0.3 mm) with the addition of water to a yoghurt-like consistency and applied to the swept tile floor. The mortar is pressed into the joints with an epoxy resin grout board and worked in until the joint no longer falls (i.e. the mortar completely fills the joint.)

CARE: Do not use ready-made grouts that contain a plastic component, as these can form an irreversible grey haze! The required quartz sand and trass cement can be obtained from building materials stores.

Once a section that is easily accessible has been completed, the laying surface is completely cleaned by wiping with a slightly damp tiling sponge. However, the tiles should never be washed off! This could lead to cracking due to swelling and shrinkage.

Silicone joints should be applied after the impregnation has been applied. Use a natural stone silicone to avoid discolouration. Always use the smoothing agent specified by the respective natural stone silicone manufacturer. Remove excess smoothing agent immediately without disturbing the joint!