Below, we provide some recommendations for enhancing the features of our products during laying.

Before laying, we recommend that you check the colour, size and quality. The use of materials that are different than you ordered, or defective, indicates acceptance of the quality of the materials and rules out claims. We will not accept claims regarding installed materials with defects that were visible before laying. Our materials are deliberately produced and selected with slight tonal variations that enhance the effects of the graphics and colours. On basic technique for installing our products is to carefully alternate different tones by picking tiles in groups of 3 or 4 from at least five different boxes and, especially, the use of series with a degree of tonal variation and chromatic mixing equal to, or greater than, a value of V2. We recommend that you orient the grain of the tiles to obtain the best aesthetic and chromatic effect by harmoniously distributing the different colour nuances that can be seen by checking the results from time to time, looking at a portion of the floor from a suitable distance. During laying and especially when laying mixed sizes, use minimum joint spacing of 7 mm.

When installing rectified materials it is indispensable, in any case, to maintain a minimum joint space of 2-3 mm between tiles, using stuccos and sealants whose colour is coordinated with that of the material. When installing rectangular rectified materials, it is important to avoid placing the vertex of one tile near the middle of the others in order to compensate for any imperfections of planarity that are, in any case, present in all the large sizes. Since this is cut and rectified material, to avoid this problem, we recommend that you lay the material longitudinally, with a space of 6 to 15 cm between each tile, as shown below (see drawing). We strongly recommend that laying be performed by expert personnel who, after checking the correct planarity of the concrete slab and the quality of the material, will be able to install it in the best way possible.

As for an outside laying, we recommend that you carefully use several techniques:

1) Divide the floor into “grids” of smaller surface areas using dilation joints; we recommend placing a joint every 5-10 m² following the most probable lines for discharging the tensions of thermal dilations.

2) Create suitable drainages in the foundation as well as a slope (of at least 1%) and a flat surface in order to avoid pools of water on both the foundation and the surface.

3) The concrete slab must be cast on a waterproofing layer at least 5 cm thick.

4) Before laying, make sure there are no areas with large infiltrations of humidity, that pipes and channels and well-protected and that the larger construction works have been completed.

5) You must use mastics and grouts that are suitable for external use and, thus, waterproof. The joint space between tiles must not be less than 7 mm.

6) To avoid water infiltrating the grout, it is a good idea to impregnate it with waterproofing liquid.

We recommend care in the use of grouts because their colourings can stain glazed surfaces. During laying, the surface of the material must not be marked with pencil (graphite) or indelible marker, especially honed products.

Warnings

Semipolishing
Semipolishgin process consists in removing the strongest and most vetrified part of the surface of the tile. Rectification of the edges removes the stongest and most vetrified part of sides. These process increase the "porosity" of the surface and reduces its ability to resist staining. There is no long-term protective treatment on the market. We recommend installing honed material only in residential (private) environments and, in any case, with little traffic. After laying, you must cover the floor with sawdust and/or other materials to avoid rubbing by dirty shoes and moving furniture during the decorating step. Lapping tends to create tonal variations and, for this reason, you must accept a higher degree of tonal variations than average.

Aluminium profile
This product is made of anodised aluminium. Its satin finish is suitable for both floors and wall-coverings and is corrosion resistant. You can use any ceramic glue for applying the borders and we recommend a fine-grained grout for the joints. We recommend iron hand or rotating saws. For cleaning, we recommend lukewarm water and liquid soap with a soft sponge. DO NOT USE abrasive products or acids.

Washing after laying
Washing after laying is of fundamental importance for all subsequent steps and maintenance. The inadequate or late removal of the grout used for joints can leave difficult to remove halos and create a cement film on the floor that can absorb all types of dirt, leaving the impression that the material is dirty.

Washing after laying:
1) Eliminates laying residues (grout, glue, varnish and various kinds of job site dirt).
2) Removes any surface residues of the material. You should know that over 90% of job site complaints are due to poor, or actually non-existent, washing after laying.