INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES, PIETRE NATIVE

Installation

The success of a good ceramic floor covering does not only depend from good quality of ceramic tiles.

In fact, ceramic tiles are only the upper part of a multilayer system that includes substrate, bonding and grouting materials, expansion joints etc. For this reason the installation is as much important as the tiles themselves.

The study of the floor covering should start at the very beginning according to the type of building, expected wear of the floor, expected static and dynamic weights the floor will have to stand etc.

GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES and PIETRE NATIVE porcelain tiles can be installed like all ceramic tiles and it is therefore possible to use either the traditional cement mortar or thinset system. Prior to commence any installations, we recommend to carefully check that grès porcelain tiles are available with necessary quantity and that shade and caliber of tiles do not differ.

It is then necessary to follow the normal practice that includes preparation of substrate and of adhesives, installation of expansion joints, respect of curing time etc. In case of large areas, it is necessary to foresee at regular distance the installation of expansion joints to absorb floor movements that would generate tiles cracks. In smaller areas it is sufficient to leave a small gap close to the walls and the installation of bullnoses and/or coved skirtings will then cover this gap and complete the aesthetic of tiling work.

It is important to avoid walking on the floor for 2/3 days time to allow proper curing of the multilayer system. When using the cement mortar system without curing additives it is necessary to wait even for one month before stressing the floor with weights. GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES and PIETRE NATIVE porcelain tiles, in spite of their high hardness, can be easily cut or drilled by using same machinery generally used for marble/granite or natural stones.

Maintenance and Cleaning

A floor or wall covering in GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES or PIETRE NATIVE, in the matt version as well as in the satin-finished or polished version, is synonymous with beauty, durability, and resistance over time, as well as providing easy cleaning and maintenance.

In fact, these materials do not require any special maintenance other than the cleaning procedures described below.

Initial cleaning

This needs to be carried out only once, before the floor is used.

The purpose is to eliminate any trace of lime, cement, or resin residues contained in the grouts used for the joints. In this phase, the floor must be washed using a solution of hydrochloric acid (2/3 water, 1/3 acid) or similar products specially designed for this purpose, such as DETERPRIMO (Ceramica Casalgrande Padana), DETERDEK (Fila), SERVICE SOLVACID (Geal), KERANET (Mapei), DELTAPLUS (Kerakoll), RAS CLINKER (Madras) or VIAKAL (Procter&Gamble).

To prevent the acid-based product used for the initial cleaning from corroding the cement-based joint filler, we recommend that you wet the floor prior to cleaning so that the joints are impregnated and thus protected from the corrosive action of the acid.

If the initial cleaning is carried out after the floor has been used, before applying the acid product it is advisable to first remove any greasy or similar substances using suitable cleaning products.

After cleaning, the floor should be rinsed thoroughly and the residual water collected.

Routine cleaning

For everyday cleaning, it is sufficient to wash the floor with water and normal cleaning products suitable for ceramic surfaces.

The GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES and PIETRE NATIVE surface is practically impervious and therefore does not require the application of wax and/or analogous protective products which, in fact, should never be used.

Grès does not retain stains or smudges of any type. Nonetheless, persistent stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning may be eliminated with the appropriate use of stronger and more concentrated cleaning products, capable of removing heavier dirt and restoring the original appearance of the tiles.

In this regard, we should point out that grès is resistant to all chemicals, with the exception of hydrofluoric acid, which is harmful to all ceramic products.

Polished surface

As is well known, all shiny surfaces become more opaque with use.

In the case of GRANITOGRES, MARMOGRES and PIETRE NATIVE, the particular technical features make this process slower than it is for any other natural material (marble, granite, stone…).

Nonetheless, to preserve the original sheen of the floor as long as possible, it is advisable to protect the entrance to the room, especially if it is in direct communication with outdoor areas, using a door mat that will as much as possible keep dust or other abrasive substances away from the floor.