technical / installation / Textured /

1 / Store

• Handle consignment with care and inspect carefully.
• Store crates indoors, away from direct sunlight, and on a level surface.
• No more than one crate can be stacked on top of another.
• Where extreme climate differences are apparent between stored and installed environments, allow tiles to season in final installation environment in open crates for a period of four days.

2 / Prepare Substrate

• Ensure substrate is level and free from grease, wax, dirt, sealers, acids, curing compounds, and old adhesives.
• Slab and/or screed must be cured to a minimum 5.5% moisture content.
• Where water can penetrate tile from below, ensure water-proofing membranes are used in slab.
• To obtain a high bonding strength on a mortar bed or screed, use a latex-additive adhesive - contct us to specific project needs.
• For unusual installations, e.g. timber floor substrates, contact your Mapei representative for a short-form specification.

3 / Install

• Install over clean, level, cured substrate.
• Apply Sadlerstone recommended adhesive¾Mapei Granirapid¾a premium-quality, fast-setting, latex-based adhesive.
• Do not dilute with water
• Use a notch trowel (No. 6 is recommended)
• Ensure all adhesive is removed from the surface of the tile immediately.
• BLEND: always blend tiles to enhance natural tonal variations.
• Tiles should be cut using a wet saw.
• BACKBUTTER: always backbutter 100% of the back of all tiles using the side of the trowel.
• Handset tiles into position. Do not mallet as excessive force can cause fractures.
• Use a quality proprietary cement grout such as Mapei Ultracolour Plus. Grout joints should be 0.5% of the longest tile edge.
• Remove spills, adhesive and grout immediately. Do not allow to set or dry on surface.
• Cover installed tiles with hardboard or carpet underlay.
• Do not use duct or gaffer tape, bleached acids, plain water, or polysolvents on tiles.

4 / Clean

• Sweep excess dirt from surface.
• BUFF: Apply Neutral Detergent to surface in liberal quantities and in manageable sections. Using a buffing machine and a bassine or nylon bristle brush, work machine in all directions ensuring surface does not dry.
• Remove developed slurry from surface with a wet-vac or squeegee.
• For harder to remove residues, use a more aggressive wash utilizing a mixture of 20% phosphoric acid and water.
• Mop with clean mop to ensure all dirt is collected.
• Repeat mopping process until floor is clean.

5 / Seal

• Ensure tiles are clean, completely dry, and free of residue.
• Apply  2 coats of an enhancer sealer following the sealer manufacturers recommendations.
• The surface should be allowed 24 hours to fully cure and develop weather resistance.

6 / Maintain

• Maintain with regular sweeping and scrub with a stiff garden broom using warm water and a neutral detergent. Use a squeegee and mop to remove the detergent slurry.
• Clean up spills immediately and spot clean with a neutral detergent.
• Scrub with a stiff garden broom as required using a neutral detergent. (Do not use plain water.) Use a squeegee and mop to remove the detergent slurry.
• Periodic buffing with a floor-buffing machine and bassine or nylon brush can help remove dirt build up.
• Always use protectors on table legs, chairs, and other moveable furniture.
• For environments where regular professional cleaning is preferred, engage a finishing contractor to prepare a regular floor maintenance schedule and demonstrate procedures.
• Most stains can be removed with an all-purpose neutral cleaner and a scrubbing brush. For more difficult stains use a neutral spot cleaner (following manufacturer's instructions).
• Minor water spots or light acid etching will be diminished by scrubbing with a neutral detergent. Do not use acids or chemicals on the tiles—only neutral detergents. Acid aggression on tiles (e.g. from pool acid concentrate, lemon juice, vinegar etc) may require specialised procedures.