Trencadís Gaudí Hydraulic Tile (A-C-D-Z)

- READ THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING THE INSTALLATION -

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PAVING THE BASE

• If there is no sanitary floor slab, and in order to prevent subsequent moisture seepage, the concrete floor must be insulated with plastic or conventional insulating material.
• Prepare a perfectly level concrete floor and wait until it is completely dry before laying the tiles.
• After having laid the subfloor, it is important to check for cracks, as this could later have repercussions on the tiles to be laid. 

Placement

• Apply flexible adhesive cement (preferably white) on the floor, make the mixture not too soft to avoid movement of the pieces and spread it with a trowel with short teeth. Apply tile adhesive to the underside of the piece in the same way ("double gluing"). Place the pieces and level them carefully, trying to avoid any protrusions, as the pieces cannot be lowered later on.
• Do not use a rubber hammer as this could mark the parts and also cause micro cracks.
• After installation, wait 72 hours before driving over it.
• For dark colours we recommend the use of a quick-setting tile adhesive in order to minimise the appearance of the classic lime stains, which are the result of the evaporation of the soluble salts in the mixture used to lay the tiles.
• A gap of 1 to 2 mm must be left between pieces, using "plastic crosspieces" to obtain the indicated joint space.
• Appropriate expansion joints must be left in the screed (consult your technical department responsible for site management).
• It is advisable to soak the pieces in water before installation for a better grip.
• In order to lay our mosaics on underfloor heating, it is necessary to use a special cement.
• Lay the hydraulic tile on a well levelled, clean and dry surface. A wet basement will cause limescale stains to appear on the surface of the tile.
• It is recommended to cover the material with a breathable protection sheet such as Geotextile or similar once it has been installed to protect it from the industrialists who continue working on the site. Avoid cardboard as it could stain the piece or plastic as the pieces would not transpire.
• Do not use self-levelling shims as they may mark the parts.

Waterproofing treatment

When the flooring is completely clean and dry, it is advisable to apply the waterproofing treatment with our product Torra Sealer. This waterproofing reduces the porosity of the pieces, protecting them from possible stains. It should be noted that this waterproofing will prevent the liquid from penetrating the piece as long as it is removed as soon as possible.

Before applying the grout to the floor, it is advisable to apply a first coat of TORRA SEALER waterproofing on the clean and dry surface, it is important to leave 72 hours after cleaning the mosaic to ensure that the water used for cleaning will be completely evaporated and the waterproofing that will be applied can penetrate properly throughout the pore of the tile, it is also important to observe that the remains of moisture have completely disappeared, as a result of the material used in its placement. Apply a thin layer of sealant using a 20 cm brush, horizontally and vertically (do not apply too much, as the remains of the unabsorbed product will leave shiny stains on the hydraulic tiles). 24 hours after the application of the waterproofing product, the grout corresponding to the hydraulic tiles must be applied (see following section: Application of the grout). When the paving is completely CLEAN AND DRY of any remains of grout or dirt that may remain on the surface, the second coat of waterproofing product must be applied.

• Torra Sealer is a waterproofing product, it is not a finishing product for hydraulic mosaic.
• For a more satin, glossy or crystallised finish of our hydraulic tiles, please consult our technical department where we can recommend a professional for this type of work.
• For a better protection of our mosaics in the professional use of our hydraulic tiles (restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, etc.) it is also advisable to have them treated by a professional.
• ATTENTION: It is recommended to do a test on a loose piece before applying the treatment on the whole floor.

Grouting

• Once the tiles have been laid, fill the joints with a flexible plastic grout (always use light colours as dark colours could stain the tiles). The mixture should be fairly liquid and with a rubber trowel until it fills the entire joint, repeat this process until the joint is completely full of material. Excess material should be cleaned immediately with a damp cloth or sponge, in tiles with relief it is important to make sure that the tile is completely clean before applying the waterproofing. Acids should not be used to remove excess cement or to clean the tiles as this may damage them. Our Torra Floor Cleaner can be used to clean up any residue from the end of the work, cement, etc.
• Once the entire tile installation process has been completed, in some cases and for a certain period of time, it is possible to observe the appearance of some white stains (efflorescence) produced by the solidification of soluble salts contained in the water. This behaviour is quite common in this type of material. The stains will disappear with daily use and as the flooring is washed with water and neutral soap.

Material Finishing and Maintenance

• Do not use strong detergents, acids or alkaline detergents. These could irreversibly damage the parts. For optimum care of your hydraulic tiles, we recommend that you clean the floor once a month with our Torra Wax Tile Plus.
• For a shinier or aged floor finish we recommend the use of our Torra wax tile wax.
• For daily cleaning and maintenance of your hydraulic tiles, use our Torra maintenance product.

VERY IMPORTANT: 

• No claims can be made on the product once it has been installed.
• We are not responsible for the use of other products not recommended by our brand.
• Installation of the product constitutes acceptance of the product.
• Material will not be exchanged or returned.
• Under no circumstances may the hydraulic mosaic tile be lowered.
• Our hydraulic mosaics should not be polished with steel wool as this may cause staining of the tiles.
• It is very important to store the hydraulic mosaic in a dry and covered place, as humidity or contact with water could stain the pieces, which is an irreversible problem.