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Many of our wall tiles are hand-made and hand decorated. The type and density of the clay used as well as the GLAZE type determine the strength of a tile. Our offerings include an array of clay and GLAZE types, making some of our tiles stronger than others. The strength of the tile will determine its suitability for different applications. Please check our usage guidelines or confer with one of our sales staff to confirm that the tile you choose is suitable for the intended use. Kitchen counters and showers are examples of applications for which some of our wall tiles are not suitable.
Most of our glazed tiles can be successfully used in domestic showers but there are certain types that should be avoided due to the nature of clear and transparent glazes. Those tiles that are unsuitable will be indicated in our product literature.
The purchase of CERAMIC or GLASS TILE for your home or commercial project represents a significant investment and requires proper installation. Country Floors™ recommends the following steps to ensure a proper installation:
• When selecting a professional installer, request several references from past jobs for evaluation.
• Make sure that the installer has read and understands all special installation instructions and procedures.
• See that your installer understands the layout requirements of the job or special blending of all TILE products.
• The customer or his/her representative should inspect and approve all materials prior to installation. Installation of the product signifies acceptance.
• The customer or his/her representative should supervise and approve every step of the installation.
Our wall tiles are easy to install but as many are rustic and made by hand, their installation requires more care than mechanically made tiles. Whenever possible, use a professional tile installation service that excels at custom installation work.
Particular care is required when installing metal or glass tiles; as metal is prone to scratching during the GROUTING process and glass is transparent, requiring a smooth and even application of setting materials. Please be aware, glass and metal tiles require special installation instructions that are different from CERAMICS or stone. Guidelines for installing glass tile will be available with your purchase from our showroom sales staff.
The installation of mosaic tiles requires a much higher degree of experience as mesh backed tile sheets must be placed so that the sheet outline cannot be seen and GROUT joints are consistent. Additional care and attention to detail is required to ensure a satisfactory installation of all mosaic field tiles, borders and medallions.
All of our tiles come in batches or lots and despite every effort to control the consistency, may be subject to colour, tone and variation in size and thickness from batch to batch. A single sample should not be taken as an accurate indication of a subsequent or future GLAZE batch. In addition to COLOUR VARIATION, some of our glazed tiles may have minor pin holes, chips or blemishes. These imperfections are characteristic of some rustic tiles and not the result of poor workmanship.
Some tiles are intentionally crazed or crackled to make them appear centuries old. Glazed tiles sometimes craze before or after installation, sometimes many years later. As CRAZING normally appears in some types of glazes, it will not be accepted as a cause for failure by the company. It is impossible to guarantee against CRAZING of certain types of glazes since it can be caused by the slightest tension between the glaze and the body of the tile, resulting from sudden changes in temperature or stress on the SUBSTRATE. CRAZING does not usually affect the tile’s performance unless the job site conditions are subject to potential STAINING. As a precaution, all crazed or crackled tile should be treated with a penetrating sealer prior to GROUTING.
ASTM C-424 describes the test method for evaluating the ability of glazed CERAMIC TILE to withstand exposure to high pressure steam (such as from steam cleaning) without CRAZING. This determines the glaze’s ability to remain stable during thermo-shock. Glazes that resist CRAZING by this test will usually not craze.
Please check our product data to confirm which tiles are suitable for use on work surfaces. CERAMIC tile provides a decorative, functional and durable surface finish for countertops providing that the proper material is selected. Bar or kitchen areas require the hardest and most impervious materials possible to survive the highest level of wear and adverse conditions, including liquid spills of all types, excessive temperature, abrasion from cooking utensils and glassware, ACID attack from wine, carbonated drinks, citrus juices and certain cleaning agents. The ideal surface should be very hard, scratch resistant, not visually damaged by food acids and resistant to oil or food stains. All spills should be cleaned up promptly. The use of a cutting board along with common sense is recommended and the installation will remain beautiful year after year.
When tiles are not uniform in shape or thickness, it is essential that the edges are entirely protected with GROUT. Heavy pots and pans may chip the exposed edges if this is not the case.
The different shapes of various trim pieces may cause many of the glazes to run when they melt in the KILN. For this reason, the shading or the effect of the glaze on the trim pieces may be different from that of flat tiles, even though they were made at the same time.
When using borders or ogees we generally recommend that they are staggered and not aligned with the field tiles. In addition to being historically correct, the staggered border or trim piece eliminates the problem of unnecessary cutting and uneven GROUT joints. Within a single installation, all GROUT lines should be exactly the same width and as narrow as possible.
Some grouts may accentuate small irregularities in an unattractive way or stain the CRAZING in the tiles. Always have the installer prepare a small test of the grout on a tile or a small mock up for approval before applying to the whole area.
Take care not to scratch the surface of soft glazed or glass tiles.
We do not recommend the use of glazed wall tiles externally in areas subject to freeze thaw cycles and harsh climatic conditions.
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