CEMENT TILE INSTALL GUIDE

Posted on April 5, 2019

If properly installed, cement tiles will result in a beautiful, durable, easy to maintain surface that can be enjoyed for many years. These instructions are provided as a helpful guide to installing your cement tiles. Presidio Tile is not responsible for the installation of your cement tile or specific jobsite conditions. Please consult a professional contractor who is familiar with installing cement tiles. You and your installer are responsible for ensuring proper installation and sealing of the tiles.

WARNING: Cement Tile is not suitable for submerged applications such as inside a pool. All clay and cementitious materials including cement tile can be susceptible to hard water and efflorescence. Proper sealing with a sealer that repels efflorescence should be considered. Cement Tile should never be exposed to exhaust, smoke, open flames or high heat above what is tolerable by human touch. Do not install near oven burners or the exhaust of a gas range or oven exhaust as discoloration may occur over time. Proper sealing with an oil resistant sealer will be required if installed near a cooking or food preparation area. White cement is susceptible to staining and may be impacted by hot grease, boiling liquids, or splatter from food preparation.

 

STEP 1 – INSPECTING AND PREPARING CEMENT TILE

1. Inspect your order carefully. Installation of your material, whether full or partial, constitutes acceptance. Presidio Tile is not be responsible for material that has been cut or installed. Throughout the installation process and handling of the tile, be careful not to damage the finished surface or corners of the tiles.
2. Do not let the cement tile boxes get wet! Store material in a dry area. Moisture or dampness can cause the tiles to get stained, have faded color, a damaged surface or effervescence causing a white powdery effect on the surface of the tile from moisture coming through from the bottom of the tile.
3. Cement Tile, as a product of natural materials, is subject to color and tonal variations and may require blending of tiles. Allow interior tiles to season in their final environment prior to installation.
4. Cement Tile is a cement-based product and may have residue on the surface. This will be removed during the cleaning, before grouting, and buffing process after installation and after implementation of an ongoing maintenance routine. It is recommended to wipe the back of the tiles with a damp sponge prior to placing in thin set to remove concrete dust residue and enable proper adhesion.
5. Install over flat, level and stable cured concrete surface or suitable stable sub-floor or wall surface. It is recommended to shuffle tile from different boxes during installation to achieve a uniform effect.

NOTE: Cutting Tiles – Tiles should be cut using a sharp diamond blade in conjunction with water to avoid chipping of edges.

 

STEP 2 – INSTALLATION

1. Floor Preparation is essential. Concrete subfloors should be clean and free of debris and dust. If there are cracks in the foundation or if settling cracks are anticipated, an underlayment or crack suppression barrier is recommended (Schluter Ditra or Proflex or Mapeguard are common solutions). Any subfloor cracking will result in tile cracking. Any improperly installed hardibacked that moves will result in tile cracking. It is imperative that the subfloor be constant and without movement to preserve the longevity of your tile.
2. Use a high quality thin-set adhesive, such as a Laticrete or Mapei product. Contact adhesive manufacturer to recommend the appropriate adhesive. NOTE: White thinset is recommended for lighter color tiles, using dark grout can stain the cement.
3. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. Cement Tiles are not intended for installation methods employing large quantities of water. Do not install during excessively hot weather or full direct hot sun.
4. Cement tile is very absorbent so PRE-WETTING THE BACK SIDE OF THE TILES PRIOR TO SETTING IS REQUIRED. Fill a bucket with water. Briefly dip the tiles in the water (3 to 5 seconds) let the excess drip away in a second bucket or vessel (a beer cooler works great). Avoid letting the tiles sit in water for long periods of time.
5. Make sure that adhesive is applied to the full back of each tile (100% coverage) using a large notch trowel (At least 1/2” notched trowel).
6. Spread floor and also back butter the tiles like a natural stone installation. Make sure all tiles are level. Do not beat with a mallet or rubber hammer to set tiles, level your tiles using hand pressure. Remove excess adhesive from the surface with a damp cloth or sponge while it is fresh. If there are any air pockets in the floor mortar under the tile, this will increase the chances of tile cracking.
7. Allow two (2) to three (3) days after tiles are laid before grouting of joints.

 

STEP 3 – CLEANING AND DRYING

Once the tiles are set, let stand/cure 24 hours until dry. Look for any surface dirt or dried mortar and remove with a razor blade carefully without scratching the surface. NOTE: DO NOT USE ACIDS, VINEGAR, OR BLEACH ON CEMENT TILE. A razor blade for scraping or medium sandpaper 220 with water is acceptable. Very fine sandpaper may polish instead of remove debris. It is acceptable to use drugstore Hydrogen Peroxide to remove some stains on cement tile.

1. Allow tiles to dry out completely. If tiles are sealed and/or waxed when wet, it can impede evaporation and result in ghosting under the sealant.
2. During drying protect tile at all times from construction traffic, workmen, foot traffic, etc. Ramboard is a breathable product on a roll made for this purpose.
3. For best results, you can test that your tiles are thoroughly dry by using painter’s tape to cover a small area of tile with plastic wrap, and allowing it to sit overnight. If the underside of the plastic has any moisture on it in the morning, the tiles are still not dry enough. Let dry/cure for at least 24 hours before grouting. For maximum hardness let cure for 48 hours.

NOTE: Presidio Tile uses an initial coat of penetrating sealer on all cement tile unless otherwise specified. This is only a pre-seal application and does not constitute a protective seal or imply that the tile is protected from staining in any way. Additional sealer may be required before and after grouting. Multiple coats may be needed as per manufacturer’s instructions.

 

STEP 4 – GROUTING

Warning: Take special care when using dark grout. Dark grouts can stain lighter colors on the tile and be impossible to remove after installation. Any grout left to dry on the surface of a cement tile will be impossible to remove.

Dark colored cement-based grouts have loose pigments that can stain and bleed into a white cement tile. Professional Grade Grouts include the following brands of non-cement grout when grouting contrasting colored tile and grout: Mapei Flexcolor CQ grout, Custom FusionPro Single, Component Grout Designer Series, TEC InColor Advanced Performance Grout, Bostik TruColor RapidCure Grout. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Recommended grout joint width is a tight joint of 1/16″ – 1/8″. Joints should be full and free of all voids and pits. Grout should be applied in small areas and immediately cleaned. Do not spread the entire floor with grout like a porcelain or ceramic tile.

 

1. Once grout has been applied and starts to dry, remove excess grout immediately. Allowing grout to dry on the surface of the tile may be impossible to remove without damaging the tile. Do not affix duct tape, gaffer tape or acid tape directly onto cement tiles surface. Tape can discolor or stain your cement tiles.
2. Typically cement tile is grouted with white or light-colored grout. If you decide to use colored grout, use one of the brands listed above and that it be a color that is the same, or lighter than, the lightest color used in the pattern. Use a dark grout at your own risk.
3. After installation, wash floor with a neutral detergent. Any extra residue or mortar should be removed immediately. Do not allow water or other liquids to spot, pond or ring on the surface of smooth tiles (ie: Do not leave spillages, drips or wet buckets, cups, foot marks, etc. on the surface at any time). For hard to remove residue, a single disc floor machine with a white pad may be used.
4. Seal grout, with a penetrating sealer. Miracle Porous Plus and Dry Treat Stain Proof are best for areas where oil splatter/stains and general spills are a concern (kitchen areas, high traffic, laundry and bathrooms) Multiple coats may be required for proper protection. Professional Grade sealers include Miracle 511 Sealer, Miracle Sealer Enhancer, Dry Treat Stain Proof, Fila FOB Extreme Sealer or comparable product, and let dry completely. Raw and unsealed cement tile is porous and susceptible to staining from all stains including soils, organic stains, inorganic, and oils. Presidio Tile does not warranty tile staining. To ensure proper stain resistance, consult the sealer manufacturer for procedures and proper care or consult your tile installation expert.

 

MAINTENANCE

1. Never use acidic or alkaline cleaners on cement tiles. A PH neutral mild floor cleaner should always be used to maintain and mop your tile. Miracle Tile & Stone Cleaner, Bona Stone Tile Cleaner, Meyer’s Multi-surface Concentrate, YL Thieves Household Concentrated Cleaner (diluted to recommended concentration), Zep Neutral Floor cleaner is are available at both Lowe’s and Home Depot. NOTE: Use of harsh abrasives including Comet, Ajax, Pine Sol, Lysol, or any solvent stripper, acid based or alkaline based cleaner of any kind can damage or etch the finish of your floor.
2. Mopping or applying Miracle Mira Soap cleaner or a commercial grade liquid wax is recommended for daily or weekly maintenance of a cement tile floor and vertical applications. The wax coating that will build up is a natural non-toxic ‘sacrificial’ finish that will prevent scuff marks and scratching of both your sealer and your tile. It will also provide additional stain barriers to keep your tile looking beautiful.  If needed, re-apply sealant to high traffic areas.
3. Many stains can be removed with inexpensive drug store Hydrogen Peroxide. Saturate a clean cloth or white paper towel and let it sit on the stain. It does not harm the tile and is similar to teeth bleaching. You may also try Meyer’s Cream Cleaner.

 

Web Reference Guides:

 

Dry Treat Cement Tile Guide:

http://www.drytreat.com/assets/pdf/Surface%20Care%20for%20Sealing%20Cement%20Tiles.pdf

 

Miracle Sealants Encaustic Tile Stain Removal Guide:

https://miraclesealants.com/careguides/MiracleSealants-Encaustic-Tile-Care_2017.pdf

 

Fila FOB Extreme Sealer

https://www.filasolutions.com/spa/productos/cemento-decorado-mosaico-hidraulico/proteccion/antimanchas-efecto-natural/filafob

 

 

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