Cement Tile Fitting, Sealing, and Maintenance Advice

Cement, Terrazzo and Zellige tiles are individually hand made and slight variations are normal, such as shade, slight imperfections, crazing and irregular/chipped edges. Small chips are rare, and can easily be sanded out with fine paper. These characteristics are part of the appeal of these tiles and do not compromise the durability and look of the tile, but add to it.

How cement tiles are made

The life of a handcrafted cement tile begins with colour and design, when the first layer of colours is poured into the intricate patterns of the handmade metal mould.

The shimmering hues that make walls and floors shine are created with a mixture of white cement, marble dust, sand and mineral pigments.

After the colour layer, cement and sand is added until the mould is full. Under the pressure of a hydraulic press excess water is pushed out and the tiles is left to dry naturally. No firing is required, making the creation of encaustic cement tiles environmentally friendly.

Please Note

It is advisable to seal these tiles PRIOR to fitting.

Dark coloured grouts contain potent dye which will stain cement tiles no matter how well sealed they are. We DO NOT recommend using dark coloured grouts for this reason. However, if you insist on using such a grout, try a test patch first.

Fitting

Cement and Terrazzo tiles are fitted in a very similar manner to any ceramic type tile. They can be fitted on concrete, timber floors and in conjunction with underfloor heating. There are a few points to note:

Keep the tiles very clean when fitting, use water and a sponge.
Cutting is with a Bellota Diamond Disc, usually on a mini grinder or a wet saw.
The concrete must be dry/cured.
We recommend priming all surfaces prior to tiling use D1 primer.
On timber floors and for floors with underfloor heating there are systems that ensure little movement and a good bond, your tiling contractor should have this knowledge.
Always use a Flexible tile adhesive such as C2 slow set or Benferflex Rapid Set.
It is important to get good contact when using adhesive, it is recommended to trowel the floor or wall and the back of the tile. Hollow points can cause tiles to crack. This is especially important outdoors as cavities can fill with water then expand when frozen and crack the tile.
Use a small grout joint, large joints will disrupt a pattern.
Do not use a rubber mallet when fitting this can cause cracks that might only appear after time.

Cement and Terrazzo Tile Sealing and Grouting

Dark and coloured grouts contain lots of colour dye these will usually stain cement tiles no matter how well sealed they are, we do not recommend these but if you insist on using such a grout try a test patch first.
Clean the tile thoroughly using water and a non metal scouring pad such as Sigma Cellulose Sponge, and heavy scratches can be sanded using a fine sandpaper, it is good practice to use our Monestir Residue Cleaner prior to sealing as it takes any salts and cement elements from the tile, make sure this is rinsed off well and the tile must be allowed to dry properly before sealing.
The cement tiles can be soaked in water or given a good wetting with a sponge prior to fixing. This step prevents them absorbing moisture from the adhesive which would lessen the quality of the adhesive bond. The same is true for the floor or wall surface, if it is too absorbent it will need priming to avoid the adhesive curing incorrectly. If a surface absorbs moisture too quickly from the adhesive it will lessen the quality of the adhesive bond. To avoid moisture from the adhesive to be absorbed by the tiling substrate it is advised to prime it first with a primer such as our Botament D1.
When applying a coat of sealer, please be liberal with the coat, it is important to use enough sealer to waterproof the tile. This will require 2 to 4 coats normally. Do not simply skim over the tile, make sure the tile has absorbed plenty of sealer.
Ensure the tiles are completely dry and spotlessly clean before sealing, as sealing tiles that are damp or dirty will leave staining or streaking on the surface. Any cement residue left on at this stage is very difficult to remove after sealing.
To know when the tiles are sealed adequately, when applying the final coat the tiles will not darken in colour.
A circular rubbing motion with the cloth helps distribute the sealer better. When applying the sealer pour on cloth first then apply, pouring the sealer directly onto the tile can cause uneven distribution. Please note that too much sealant can cause staining. This is due to excess sealant sitting on top of the tile and absorbing dirt and stains. It is important that the sealant is applied thinly and evenly and allowed to absorb into the tile.
Another way of sealing the cement tiles is to lay them out before fixing and use a roller, or a sprayer such as our Bellota Sprayer, and apply as much sealer as will leave liquid on the surface. They should then be allowed to soak for two hours at least. After this any remaining liquid can be squeezed off. As a final step after fixing a coat of Monestir Wet Effect Protector will add further protection.
We recommend using a grey or light grey grout such as Deko Flex Grey or Manhattan. Darker grouts stain a light tile easily and usually contain dyes that can stain the tile when grouting. Lighter grouts can stain darker tiles also so it is very important to seal the tile properly. When grouting work in small sections, do not grout a large area and then come back on it to wash off the grout.
When grouting, work in small sections. Grouting a large area will leave the grout on the surface of the tile for longer, which is not advisable.
Sometimes there can be some small marks on these tiles as they are handmade. These may appear after sealing the tiles. It is advisable to use a very light sandpaper to help remove these marks. The area can then be resealed.
If the tile becomes stained with grout and other building materials our Monestir Residue Cleaner is especially designed for cement tiles and is very effective at cleaning these stains. Do not use any other grout cleaners as they contain acids that will destroy the cement tile. Remove sealer first if the grout stains have been sealed over.
For removing oily stains and old sealer our Monestir Degreaser stain remover is especially designed for cement tiles and is very effective at cleaning these stains.

Sealers

Faber Hidro 150 professional grade is our sealer of choice for encaustic cement tiles.
Laticrete Stonetech heavy duty sealer which leaves a natural finish and is water based with very little odour.
Laticrete Bulletproof Sealer which leaves a natural finish and is water based with very little odour. This is Laticrete’s premier sealer with longer lasting effectiveness.
Monestir Wet Effect Protector is as it says a wet/glossy effect that will enhance the tile, this leave a finish that makes cleaning easier.
Monestir Ecologic Liquid Wax is a traditional method of sealing that gives a soft finish that is very durable and for those with allergies is very good. When deciding on this sealer the tiles will need a seal first with the Laticrete Stonetech heavy duty sealer or Laticrete Bulletproof Sealer, the Liquid wax is a finish coat. The liquid wax when mixed with water is great product to use periodically when cleaning to keep the natural sheen.

Troubleshooting

If the tile has a cloudy appearance after grouting this is usually caused by grout getting into the pores of the cement tile because they are not perfectly sealed, this is a particular problem when using a black or anthracite grout on a light coloured tile. If this problem occurs our Monestir Residue Cleaner is very effective at removing these stains. NB: any other tile grout remover will destroy the tile as they are not designed for cement tiles. When cleaned, rinsed, and perfectly dry, re-seal.

Maintenance

Clean with neutral soap such as our Monestir Liquid Wax / Waxwash this helps preserve the sealers enhancing properties.
Do not use any acid or aggressive cleaners.
Stains can be cleaned with a scouring pad or solvent.

Outdoor Areas

Outdoor areas will require sealing with a product that contains a UV protection such as our Laticrete and Monestir ranges, and a freshen up with sealer every 1 to 2 years will keep the tiles looking their best.
** Please Note ** Failure to maintain the products outdoors can cause colour fading and frost damage. When sealing outdoors make sure it occurs in dry conditions as if the sealer is rained on this can cause the sealer to bloom leaving cloudy patches.