TREATMENT OF NEW BUILD QUARRY/UNGLAZED TILES.

Lithofin - Technical Support Tel - 01962 732126 ; Fax - 01962 735373. TOWER 020 7485 7192

New Build Method Statement for Unglazed Ceramic Tiles and Quarry Tiles

(i) Installation

This material is usually stain resistant and hard wearing; with normal practice, installation problems should be rare.

For best results and minimum problems, we recommend the use of cleaners, impregnators and sealants. Most of these tiles are extremely hard-wearing in their own right. We do not recommend using surface polishes, as they significantly increase the maintenance workload - and cost -for the client. If the client requires a shiny finished floor, there are many suitable designs and manufactured tiles.

(ii) Cleaning

All these surfaces will generally be clean and dry on arrival. Their low porosity means that little cleaning should be needed before or during fixing, unless the tiles have been inadequately stored (outside, for instance). At the worst, if the site is busy and the floor has become dotted with surface blemishes, tyre marks, footprints etc., use Lithofin Wexa in combination with a slow speed scrubbing machine and a wet-and-dry vac to clean the surface effectively.

(iii) Protection

Most unglazed tiles are fairly hardy and stain resistant, except perhaps against oil and grease. Lighter tiles may be prone to staining from red wine, foodstuffs etc. It is not in the best interests of either the client or the tile to apply a polish finish. Initially it may well enhance and increase the lustre of the tila but eventually it will mark heavily and be difficult to maintain.

We therefore recommend the use of Lithofin KF Stain-Stop, an exceptionally efficient and hard wearing impregnator which will reduce the porosity of the individual tiles to nil and significantly reduce the chances of staining. You should keep saturating the tiles with the product until no more will sink in. Ideally the tile surface should be cool and sheltered from direct sunlight, as warmth will dry the impregnator prematurely before it has had a chance to sink in to the pores and capillaries of the tiles.

Coverage will be approximately 5 square metres to 20 square metres per litre, depending on the porosity of the tiles being used.

(iv) Grouting

Spread the grouting material liberally over the entire floor area. To clean the tiles following grouting, you will need to use Lithofin Cement-Away or Lithofin Cement Remover the former is a great deal stronger and designed for professional use, while the latter is designed for domestic applications. Either product will dissolve grout residues, smears, etc. and remove them from the surface, allowing any impregnators to penetrate the tile surface thoroughly. We recommend rinsing the tiles thoroughly following the use of any cleaners which - like these - contain an alkaline or acid blend.

(v) Final Protection

Depending on how much Lithofin KF Stain-Stop was used initially, a final application may not be required. However, if the grouting is particularly porous or wide-bodied, you may need to apply more Lithofin KF Stain Stop to reduce its porosity.

(vi) Maintenance

Unglazed ceramic tiles treated with this method will need minimal maintenance: just use a neutral detergent such as Lithofin Easy-Cara Because of the impregnation and the surface constitution of the tila alkaline maintenance products are no longer needed. The only times where a deeper clean might be required are on refurbishment, or where the tile itself is slightly rough and scuffing has occurred. In these cases, you can use Lithofin Wexa, following the instructions on the tin. Where the client insists that a sheen is required on the tile surface, Lithofin Tile Polish may be used thinly, although its stain resistance and general wearability will require a little more maintenance than leaving the tiles in their natural state. Again, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Please note : This section is constantly in development. As a result, 
modifications to the guidelines may be made at any time without 
prior notice. Any information contained herein or given by our employees 
is given in good faith and is based upon current knowledge and 
historic experience.