Technical

Decorative ceramics have been used for centuries to add the finishing touches to buildings both internally and externally due to the inherent properties of the product. Ceramics are moisture resistant, fade resistant, and hard wearing.

If in doubt about the suitability of a product for a given installation, or if you have a query concerning any of our products or services, then please do contact us for further advice.

Performance Criteria

We aim to supply tiles which are suitable for the most demanding of environments. From accurately manufactured historical schemes to kitchens, bathrooms, swimming pools and external glazed brick slips. Our technical team will help you select the most appropriate product for your project. Before installing any ceramics it is important to take a few steps:

  • Shading and variations in size are inherent characteristics of all wall and floor tiles; therefore before fixing it is essential to lay them out in good light, to ensure an acceptable blend of colour and size
  • Rich oxide glazed tiles will craze over time and is a typical characteristic of traditionally manufactured ceramics
  • If traditional oxide based glazed tiles are to be used in wet areas such as showers we recommend waterproofing; only tiles of this type that have been treated with a sealant are recommended for use in very wet areas. The waterproofing of tiles is an optional service available at the time of order
  • Written specifications are available on request by contacting our Technical Advisory Service

Setting Out

Tiles should be randomly mixed from a number of boxes to ensure that a uniform colour and shade is achieved in the installation.

Check the joint width that is specified before any setting out proceeds. Manufacturer’s tolerances should be taken into account, especially when fixing metric modular tiles with modular spacing. Tiling should be set out to joints of a constant width ensuring that the joints are both horizontal and vertical or to specific requirements. Ensure that tiles on different planes (around wall corners) align. Try to avoid cut courses as far as possible, where this is impractical position the cut in the least prominent position possible (at the floor, ceiling or internal corner) if a raking cut is required due to a slope in the floor or ceiling try to ensure this cut falls in one course of tiles only. Before beginning the tiling layout ensure that the position of any movement joints is ascertained and taken into account in the setting out procedure.

Cleaning & Sealing

Wall Tiles – Tiled surfaces should be washed down using either clean water or a nonabrasive, neutral (i.e. not acidic or alkaline) detergent. Dry off and polish with a clean dry cloth. Great care should be taken whilst cleaning any metallic print and lustre products due to their precious metal content.

Floor Tiles – Prior to fixing we recommend that a suitable impregnating sealant be applied to all Encaustic and geometric tiles to prevent staining. Some floors may be enhanced by the use of a sealant. Such products can enhance the normally matt appearance of the tiles. Please contact us for further information in regards to suitable cleaning and sealing products.

Maintenance

Ceramic tiles require little maintenance. Ceramic floor finishes are easily kept clean by regular sweeping and washing with warm water with an added soap free detergent. Please contact us for further information in regards to more intensive cleaning methods.

Digital Surface Conservation

Every restoration project is unique, requiring the application of specialist ceramic modelling
skills to faithfully manufacture accurate replacements.
Existing artworks and architectural features are surveyed, with working models and moulds created to interpret the complex 3D shape of the item beneath the glaze layers of an original sample. Recent advancements in our production capabilities now allow Craven Dunnill Jackfield to 3D-scan ceramic artworks in situ – without the need to remove them from the wall – and subsequently reproduce new models and moulds for faithful reproduction which cannot be achieved using photography.

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