Installation/Grouting/Sealing
We have learned over the years from our clients that our tiles
are pretty darn easy for anyone to put up themselves or to have a professional
installation. If the install and care
guidelines are followed as we have defined them, our Customers have easy and
flawless installations. We have our products installed in all kinds of locations
throughout the world, in commercial locations and everyplace imaginable in the
home. These instructions work and are easy to follow for anyone. BEFORE
you do though, please READ the information that comes with your mural. If you
are going to have a professional installer come in, make sure THEY read it as
well. [They contain the latest, best instructions. This page is a
general overview.] Along with this sheet, there is a picture grid of your mural that has
numbers that correspond with the numbers we have put on the back of your tiles. (IMPORTANT:
Once your art on tile is complete, the tiles should not be cut or drilled at
all. Please make sure you order the final size if you need a custom fit, and we
will cut to size before we manufacture!! [again within the tile size
variances]).
We do recommend a tile adhesive called “Liquid Nails”
or "Locktite" (comes in a small hand
held tube for little jobs…a larger tube for caulking guns for the bigger ones.).
Please get a 'construction grade, exterior and waterproof brand.
You can find it in any home improvement or hardware store. Just make sure that
your mural is held in place for 24 hours so no “slippage” of tiles occurs. (this
can be done by placing a thin, flat piece of wood under the bottom row of tiles
and temporarily nailing it into place until the adhesive is dry.) Do not use
tape on the face of the tile.
Due to the “spacers” that are
a part of the CERAMIC tiles…there will be a 1/8” grout line in-between each
tile that will need to be filled. We do NOT recommend the normal way of grouting
(putting grouting material all over the tiles and then taking a wet sponge and
wiping off the access.) After the mural dries…just get a tube of SAND LESS grout
and run it down the seams. Then, take a wet finger and smooth it out. Voila!
You’re done!
With the TUMBLED STONE…because of the
natural pitting that can occur along the sides and where four corners of the
tiles meet…there may be some mild gaping here and there along the seams/corners
of your mural. To keep from seeing the wall behind your mural in a grout-less
installation, you can paint the wall behind the mural a dark color using flat
paint. If you are not grouting,
we suggest using a clear silicone sealer (50 year no yellowing) in a small bead
between the tiles, very close to the wall as you install. This will prevent
water as you wash the mural from going through to your wall.
If you want a grouted install instead, we suggest that you get a tube of SAND LESS grout and just run it along
the seams. If you have a large space, use a 'grout bag' available at most home
improvement stores.
You may want to wait until your mural arrives to choose what color
grouting to use. Some people like to match one of the subtle colors used in the
artwork. That is easier to do once your mural is there vs. what you see on our
website.
DO NOT PUT ADDITIONAL SEALER on our
tiles!! There are already commercial grade protective coatings applied and with so many
different brands of sealers on the market, we don’t know how another product would interact
with ours coatings. Close to 98% of our tiles are used for backsplashes or
bathroom murals, we’ve taken care of you
with OUR coatings.
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