INSTALLATION
CERAMIC TILES
Industry Standards: All ADEX tiles are to be installed using the prevailing guidelines as set forth in the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook and the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications. Installation should be carried out by experienced personnel. The TCNA and ANSI A108 standards can be purchased at www.tcnatile.com
Tile Layout and Design confirmation: We strongly recommend dry laying prior to installation. Blending the ceramic tile glaze and laying out trim and decorative accent pieces is key to insuring a pleasing overall look. This will resolve potential color or size issues prior to installation and will serve as a validation of tile placement. The owner or owner’s representative is responsible for evaluating and approving the material prior to installation. Installation constitutes acceptance. ADEX USA assumes no responsibility for installation.
Substrate Preparation: The surface where the product is going to be installed must be clean and level. When preparing the substrate, the maximum allowable variation should be no more than 1/8” in 10 feet from the required plane from the high points in the substrate. Deviations in the framing of substrate should be corrected before installing the substrate. Do not use setting material to build up or level the substrate. This could cause stress on the tile and lead to cracking.
Mortar Thickness: An even setting bed of mortar no greater than 1/4”; best achieved by using a ¼” notch trowel.
Back buttering ceramic tiles: ADEX does not recommend this practice due to the varying and potential imprecise thickness that can be applied. ADEX fabricates various decorative pieces, and some have hollow areas and reliefs. Adhesive should not be used to fill gaps or hollow areas.
Soaking tiles prior to installation: ADEX does not recommend this practice
Expansion Joints: Strict adherence to the TCNA EJ171 guideline is mandatory. This standard defines mandatory movement joints as well as recommended sealants.
SETTING MATERIALS
ADEX recommends high-performance setting materials that meet ISO 13007 Standards: Product Classifications C2, F, and S1. Please see the example below.
CUSTOM BUILDING PRODUCTS ProLite, ProLite RS, or a similar-grade adhesive from another reputable manufacturer with comparable technical performance.
For mud installations, all setting materials and installation methods should follow the current guidelines in the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications. Use an even mortar bed no thicker than 1/4", ideally applied with a 1/4" notched trowel.
GROUT
UNSANDED grout is typically used for 1/8” grout joints or smaller
SANDED grout is recommended for grout joints larger than 1/8”, as long as the excess material is removed with a damp sponge. Using notched trowels or grout floats may scratch the tile. Special care should be exercised with high sheen surfaces to prevent scratching.
Grout Joint Accuracy: Spacers should be used for even grout joints.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND CONTRASTING COLOR GROUTS ON OUR CRACKLED GLAZED TILES.
SATIN FINISH: For Satin Finish tiles, due to the nature of some of the dark grout pigments, it is recommended to avoid dark color or contrasting color grout, to prevent potential staining and grout haze.
DIMENSIONAL PIECES: The surfaces of raised/dimensional decorative accents, borders or liners can be taped during grouting to facilitate cleanup.
METHOD
Follow the appropriate standard ceramic procedures provided by the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook and the ANSI (American National Standards
Institute) specifications.
CRACK ISOLATION / WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE
Unless required by the applicable TCNA method (example steam showers), a membrane is not needed for ADEX tile installation. If installing over a liquid-applied membrane, sheet membrane, or waterproof tile backerboard, use rapid-set thin-set or epoxy adhesive. Always correct framing/substrate deviations before installing the backerboard or membrane and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
SEALING
Solid Glazes: Sealing is not required for Solid Glazes
Crackle Glazes: The effect of crackle glaze on ceramic tiles occurs when the glaze and the body of the tile undergo differential shrinkage and cooling during the manufacturing process. This leads to the formation of delicate micro-fractures within the glaze.
Sealing is mandatory for crackle glaze. We recommend a solvent-based penetrating sealer before and after grouting . Sealing tiles should be performed by an experienced tile contractor.
The sealer penetrates the fine, hairline fissures in the glaze and prevents the crackle from darkening over time.
Sealing the crackled glaze makes it easier to maintain and clean.
Proper application of the sealer (wipe off any excess from glazed surface) will not harm or change the appearance of the tile.
METHOD AND RECOMMENDED SEALER – STEP BY STEP
1. Pre-Grout Clean: Mount tiles to the wall. Ensure the surface is free of dirt, dust, and debris.
2. Initial Seal: Apply an even coat of solvent based sealer. ADEX recommends FILA MP90 Natural Look Penetrating Sealer using a paintbrush or lambswool applicator pad.
3. Cure: Wait 24 hours for the initial coat of sealer to cure completely.
4. Grout Application: Apply grout using a clean sponge, distributing it evenly over the joints. Do not use a grout float.
5. Post-Grout Clean: Once the grout is dry, clean the surface using FILA Cleaner (Neutral Cleaner) diluted at a 1:30 ratio. Scrub with a cloth and scrubbing brush, remove residue, and rinse thoroughly.
6. Secondary Seal: Reapply an even coat of FILA MP90 with a paintbrush or lambswool pad.
7. Excess Removal: Wait 15 minutes for the sealer to set, then wipe away any excess from the glazed surface to ensure accurate material absorption.
8. Final Cure: Allow 24 hours for the product to cure completely before exposing the area to moisture.
9. Alternative Brands: If using a non-FILA solvent based sealer, verify compatibility with the alternative sealer manufacturers
10. Re-Sealing: Reapply to grout joints and crackle glazes periodically as needed. When water no longer beads on the surface of the joints, resealing is required.
MAINTENANCE
Clean the tiles regularly with a nonabrasive/non-acidic, mild and PH neutral cleaner.
We recommend FILA CLEANER – Neutral Cleaner (Available in our Price List) for all cleaning purposes of our tile. Sealer: Reapply to grout joints and crackle glazes periodically as needed. When water no longer beads on the surface of the joints, resealing is required.
GLAZED PORCELAIN TILES
Install with any high-quality adhesive recommended for porcelain tiles. This must also be suitable for the environment they will have to withstand. Fitting with traditional mortars does not ensure good adhesion.
For Mud Installations, all setting materials and installation methods should be performed using the prevailing guidelines set by the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook and the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Specifications.
GROUT
For Porcelain tiles, we recommend using a minimum of 5/64-inch (0.08” or 2mm) spacers for a perfect alignment of the tiles. It will also be necessary to make small adjustments by hand to compensate for the natural dimensional variations of the tiles. The joints should be filled in with appropriate materials according to the specifications given by the grout manufacturer. We do not recommend the installation of porcelain tiles without grout joints.
METHOD
Follow the appropriate standard ceramic, porcelain and glass tile installation procedures provided by the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook and
the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications.
MAINTENANCE
Clean the tile regularly with a non-abrasive/non-acidic, mild and PH neutral cleaner.
We recommend FILA CLEANER – Neutral Cleaner (Available in our Price List) for all cleaning purposes of our tile.
Use products which are suitable to eliminate the remains of mortar, cement, etc. Never use an acidic cleaning agent on newly installed flooring as the acid reacts
with the unset cement and can damage the seals, or insoluble compounds can be deposited on the surface of the paving.
Do not use metal scrapers or abrasive pads.
Daily cleaning, after use, only requires clean water and a well-wrung cloth. In areas where the tile could be especially messy (kitchens), a detergent with, vinegar, bleach or ammonia can be added to water, although in this case a final rinse with clear water is recommended. Do not use waxes, oils or similar products. In cases of very dry and specific stains, which cannot be removed with a damp cloth, apply concentrated bleach (the one for floors, not the one used for clothes) and leave it to dry. You may need to repeat this process for especially resistant stains.
For floor surfaces; water, grease, oil, etc. create slippery conditions. Floor applications with exposure to these conditions require extra caution in product selection and maintenance.
SEALING
Sealing is not required for Solid Glazes.
Sealing is mandatory for Crackle Glazes. We recommend to seal our tiles with a penetrating sealer before and after grouting.
The effect of crackle glaze on ceramic tile occurs when the glaze and the body of the tile undergo differential shrinkage and cooling. This process leads to surface tension and the formation of cracks. Varying levels of contraction in the glaze and clay creates delicate micro-fractures within the glaze.
- The sealer penetrates the fine, hairline fissures in the glaze and prevents dirt and dusk darkening the crackle over a period of time.
- Sealing the crackled glaze makes it easier to maintain and clean.
- Proper application of the sealer (wipe off any excess from glazed surface) will not harm or change the appearance of the tile.
- Reapply to grout joints and crackle glazes periodically as needed. When water no longer beads on the surface of the joints, resealing is required.
We recommend the following products and procedures:
Once the tile is mounted on the wall and before grouting, the tile surface must be clean and free of dirt and dust. Use the FILAMP90 – Natural Look Penetrating Sealer (available from your ADEX USA DEALERS) which is a solvent based sealer. Apply an even coat of FILAMP90 with a paintbrush or lambs wool applicator pad. Wait 24 Hours to allow the product to cure. Apply grout with a sponge evenly distributing grout over joints. Do not use a grout float.
NOTE: Although not recommended, if you choose to use Contrasting Color Grouts, it is imperative that the tiles are thoroughly sealed to avoid the discoloration from the grout pigment. Please follow the mixing grouting instructions of the Grout Manufacturer.
Once the grouting is completed and allowed to dry, the surface of the tiles must be cleaned using FILA CLEANER – Neutral Cleaner (available from your ADEX USA DEALERS): Dilute to 1:30. Clean the surface with a cloth and scrubbing brush. Remove any residue and rinse thoroughly.
After the thorough cleaning of the surface and grout residue, the tile will need to be resealed using the FILAMP90 – Natural Look Penetrating Sealer (available from your ADEX USA DEALERS) observing the following guidelines: Apply an even coat of FILAMP90 with a paintbrush or lambs wool applicator pad. Wipe off product excess after 15 minutes, making sure to rub the product and help its complete penetration into the material. Wait 24 Hours to allow the product to cure.
NOTE: Future Sealing of the product should be done if you see any discoloration/darkening in the body of the tile. This will vary by end usage, care and maintenance products and tools used.
If you use any other sealer, please check with the manufacturer for the proper instructions and products to use for sealing crackled glaze ceramic tile.
MAINTENANCE
CERAMIC TILES
Clean the tiles regularly with a non-abrasive/non-acidic, mild and PH neutral cleaner.
We recommend FILA CLEANER – Neutral Cleaner (available in our Price List) for all cleaning purposes of our tile.
Reapply sealer to grout joints and crackle glazes periodically as needed. When water no longer beads on the surface of the joints, resealing is required.
GLAZED PORCELAIN TILES
Clean the tile regularly with a non-abrasive/non-acidic, mild and PH neutral cleaner.
We recommend FILA CLEANER – Neutral Cleaner (Available in our Price List) for all cleaning purposes of our tile.
Use products which are suitable to eliminate the remains of mortar, cement, etc. Never use an acidic cleaning agent on newly installed flooring because the acid reacts with the unset cement and can damage the seals, or insoluble compounds can be deposited on the surface of the paving.
Do not use metal scrapers or abrasive pads.
Daily cleaning, after use, will be made particularly easy as it only requires clean water and a very well-wrung cloth. In areas where the tile could be especially messy (kitchens), a detergent with bleach or ammonia can be added to water, although in this case we always recommend giving a final rinse with clear water. Do not use waxes, oils or similar products. In some cases, we can find ourselves in the situation of having to clean very dry and specific stains, which cannot be removed with a damp cloth, but that will disappear if we apply concentrated bleach (the one for floors, not the one used for clothes) and leave it to dry. For especially resistant stains it may be necessary to repeat the process.
For floor surfaces; water, grease, oil, etc. create slippery conditions. Floor applications with exposure to these
conditions require extra caution in product selection and maintenance.
APPLICATION CHART
FLOOR TECHNICAL DATA
PLEASE NOTE
Due to the nature of our tile, a certain amount of variation in color, shading, surface and texture are to be expected.
Use of the tile constitutes acceptance. We assume no responsibility for installation.
The installation information provided is to be used as a guideline only and should be discussed with an accredited professional tile installer.