Moroccan Encaustic Tiles Care Instructions

Traditional Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tiles

Our Encaustic (pressed cement) tiles are hand-made in Morocco using centuries-old Traditional techniques the coloured surface is made from natural materials including crushed marble/granite, colour pigment & cement and the finished result is an Almost-chalky appearance when they are new that will wear beautifully to a smooth patina over time.

This adds character particularly if the customer appreciates a vintage or ‘lived’ look & feel.
Subtle colour variations and irregularities from tile to tile are normal characteristics and do not compromise the performance of the tiles, yet simply adds to their handcrafted nature and appeal.

These tiles are well suited to internal floors & walls including residential kitchens & bathrooms and when correctly installed & treated, selected commercial decor.

We currently carry 6 variations in pattern and colour in Traditional Moroccan encaustic tiles,

These tiles measure 20 cm x 20 cm depth is 1.6 cm

Weight - 1.2 Kilograms

Encaustic tiles may also be used in covered, external areas when correctly installed & treated however some colours may possibly fade over time with exposure to high levels of UV light. Using an appropriate UV-resistant sealer may assist in maintaining longer colour life.

The following Information is our basic seller's guide to laying and caring for your special tiles, please take into account that we are simply importers of boutique tiles and not installation professionals, all actual tiling work and installation should be undertaken by a qualified tradesperson in accordance with current Australian Standards & safe- work practices.

The following Companies provide, great products to use in installation and care of Encaustic Cement Tiles.

Parex Davco Adhesives: www.davco.com.au Aqua Mix Sealers: www.aquamix.com.au Slip Stop Australia: www.slipstop.com.au

Laying Your Beautiful Encaustic Tiles

Before installation, please store tile boxes in a dry location. Encaustic cement tile installation is a straight forward process, however, care should be taken during handling, cutting & placement of the tiles to avoid damage to the tile surface or edges.
Remember that when you are laying a floor or wall with encaustic tiles it is like creating a work of art, so plan the layout carefully before starting the installation process
When installing, it’s a good idea to mix tiles from several boxes at a time to give the best possible distribution & blending of the variations in the material. Clean the base and top of the tiles of any dust and or excess production material, using a very lightly damp cloth, ensure all tiles are very clean and dry, before installation
A substrate-appropriate proprietary tile adhesive must be used and the substrate (and tiles) must be cool, clean, level, dry and be prepared in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations. (Concrete slabs subject to rising damp should have a waterproofing membrane installed prior to tiling). Any dust or residue on the substrate or on the back of the tiles must be removed before installation.
Suggested allowance for a level substrate surface is approx. 21mm below the line of the intended floor (i.e.16mm for tile and 5mm for adhesive).
The adhesive mixture must be applied evenly to the substrate using an 8-10mm notched trowel and then tiles carefully positioned & pressed into the adhesive by hand.

Additional Information about tile adhesive, grout & waterproofing systems can be found at www.davco.com.au
It is important you do not ‘spot fix’ the tiles – each individual tile must be properly supported by an even bed of adhesive without gaps.
You must not use a hard rubber mallet to hit & set the tiles as this may cause micro-cracks in the tiles and leave scuff marks on the tile surface.
Tiles are best cut with a wet saw and diamond blade, however, a segmented dry blade may also be suitable.
Appropriate personal protective gear must be used when using cutting machinery.
The appropriate joint width between tiles is approximately 2mm. It is important to ‘work clean’ to ensure any residue of tile adhesive that finds its way onto tile surfaces is cleaned immediately,
As dried adhesive residue may not be possible to remove from the tile surface. Tile adhesive must be left to cure for at least 24 hours before grouting.

Grouting Recommendations

It is important to choose a grout suitable for a 2mm tile joint width
NOTE: Many dark-coloured grouts e.g. black, dark grey,
Will contain strong pigments, which may permanently discolour the edges of tiles, so it is important to test the grout colour you choose on some loose tiles before proceeding.
A popular grout colour is Davco Colour grout #49 Light Grey for its neutral tone.
Use clean water to wet the tile surface via a damp sponge or spray bottle then apply the grout mixture with a rubber squeegee.

Work only a small area at a time and remove all excess grout from the tile surface immediately with a damp sponge. Regularly change the water in your bucket while sponging.
Do not allow excess grout to harden on the tile surface. After drying & curing, any minor grout residue can be removed using a product such as Aqua Mix Nano Scrub & water.
Never use strong acidic or alkaline products to clean grout residue (e.g. Hydrochloric Acid, cement remover, strong detergents, bleach or oils) as they could irreparably damage or attack the surface of the tiles.

Drying after install

• Allow the grouted tiles to completely dry before sealing. During the drying stage, it is possible that evaporation of moisture within the adhesive & grout system may leave white salt deposits (efflorescence) on the tile surface.

This will usually ‘walk-off’ on floors or can be cleaned with a product such as Aqua Mix Eff-Ex.

Sealing

It is important to seek further information and advise when looking at a commercial installation or when a specific slip-resistance rating is required, encaustic cement tiles can certainly be surface-treated to achieve this, Consult with a company such as ‘Slip Stop’ before applying any sealers if you will be using their treatment.
After the tiles are completely clean & dry, you will need to apply an appropriate penetrating sealer, which allows moisture-vapour transmission.
A good option is Aqua Mix Sealer’s Choice Gold Rapid Cure this is a premium, natural look water-based penetrating sealer to provide maximum stain protection (especially in food preparation & serving areas).
Use sealers according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer if required. In areas with extremely high possibility of contamination from spills, as an alternative option for surface-coating sealer, Aqua Mix Seal & Finish Low Sheen could be used.
Sealers may need to be re-applied at intervals recommended by the manufacturer depending on quantity of foot traffic, cleaning frequency/method and amount of UV light exposure. Before use, always read the product directions and carry out a test seal on some un-laid pieces to determine desired effect and ease of application. Where tiles have been installed and further construction is taking place on/around the area, protecting the newly installed encaustic cement tiles with appropriate clean drop sheets.

Maintenance and Care of your Encaustic Tiles

Regular normal maintenance cleaning is recommended using an appropriate pH-neutral cleaner (e.g. cleaners ordinarily suitable for natural stone & terracotta tile floors).
Never use abrasive cleaners, chemicals or bleach as over time these may affect the natural colour pigments of the tiles’ surface. ‘Aqua mix’ carries some great cleaning products for both regular and more heavy duty cleaning.
Before cleaning, always read the product directions and test clean on sample/not installed tiles or in an inconspicuous area