Installation Guide

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Best Practices - Installation

PREP:

Pattern Installations

Before selecting a multi-size, multi-finish, or multi-product pattern, it is important to understand the nuances of pattern assembly and installation. Having the distribution center dry

lay prior to ordering is absolutely necessary to ensure a pattern will work. Grout joint width must be taken into consideration in order for the final pattern design to align properly.

Proper overages should be ordered to ensure the entire project is being ordered from appropriate size and shade calibers. When doing a checkerboard pattern, for example, with two

tiles that are the same nominal size, from the same series, it may not work if the actual dimensions of the product are not the same. Each color, finish and size may be from a different

production run. Selecting tiles from the same series or even the same color does not guarantee that a pattern will work correctly.

Dry Lay Prior to Setting in Mortar

It is standard practice to dry lay all tiles with a pattern as well as mosaic products, especially those with an interlock prior to setting them in mortar. This is especially critical with

natural stones that may display V2 Shade variation or higher. Dry laying ensures the interlock is tight, the tiles can be blended properly and the sheet placement and cuts can be

planned accordingly.

Gauged Porcelain

It is important to understand gauged porcelain standards for interior installations (ANSI A108.19) prior to beginning any work. Special tools and procedures must be observed to ensure

a successful install. There are many things to consider from transportation of A-frames on flat-bed trucks, A-frames to move materials around the jobsite, carrying material up elevators

and stair wells, suction cups and special tools for handling, additional surface prep to ensure floor flatness, appropriate tables and tools for cutting, corner protectors, additional labor

and the like. Emser Tile, in partnership with its adhesive manufacturers, offers training and information on how to achieve a successful installation in this product category prior to

purchasing. As of the publication of this catalog there are no industry standards for exterior use. As such, manufacturer’s recommendations prevail. A mortar method can be used for

horizontal exterior applications, while a mortar and mortar/fastener method should be considered for vertical exterior applications.

SET:

Finishing High Relief Edges

3D, textured, split-face and high relief products may be challenging to trim out when coming to a sudden stop in the middle of a wall, when tiling around an outlet, mitering a corner,

or butting them up to an adjacent wall covering. Due to the nature of these products, it is best to tile from end to end both vertically and horizontally whenever possible. Where a

stop is necessary, some series may come with a flat field tile that can be used to trim out the desired edges. Otherwise, it may be necessary to simply leave the edge grouted,

coordinate bullnose and flat pieces from other series, or install metal profiles. In the case of natural stone split faced edges, hand chiseling may be required. Additional options should

be discussed and may be available prior to material specification.

Knocking Down Ridges

Before pressing glass tiles and mosaics into adhesive, it is important to knock down the ridges and smooth them out with the flat edge of your trowel, to prevent them from showing

through the glass lens, or coming up through thinner mosaic products. In some cases, where back buttering tiles is necessary, it is important these ridges be knocked down as well as

not to create stripes or unintentional voids. For glass lens products, any mortar or adhesive that comes up between the tiles may be visible post install.

Leveling Clip System

A leveling clip system is recommended to achieve narrow grout widths and minimize lippage with planks and large format tiles (those with a single edge being >18”). The clip system

will not only allow for a tighter joint, but will minimize the visibility of any inherent warping, or lippage, that may be prevalent in the finished application. Often times a clip system

will allow a joint to be narrower than the manufacturer’s recommendation and should be discussed with a sales associate prior to specification.

Summary of content (3 pages)

PAGE 1
Best Practices - Installation PREP: Pattern Installations Before selecting a multi-size, multi-finish, or multi-product pattern, it is important to understand the nuances of pattern assembly and installation. Having the distribution center dry lay prior to ordering is absolutely necessary to ensure a pattern will work. Grout joint width must be taken into consideration in order for the final pattern design to align properly.
PAGE 2
Large Format Shower Floor Field tiles larger than 6”x6”, that meet appropriate DCOF values based on final use, that cannot be sloped towards a center drain on a shower floor, may be sloped to one side using a linear drain. For proper sloping, reference to ANSI installation standards is required. Joint Width ANSI standards recommend that the actual grout joint size be at least three times the actual variation of facial dimensions of the tile supplied.
PAGE 3
Brushing During Grouting For the best results during grouting, a medium bristle brush may be required to expose the edge of the pebbles or high relief modules to a desired level and expose any that may have been buried using a standard rubber float. Forceful Grouting and Sanded Grout Forceful grouting with sanded and non-sanded grout may scratch the surface of metal, glass, resin, and polished finishes.