FAQ s WANNA KNOW THE WHY BEFORE YOU BUY? CEMENT TILE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUETISONS

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1 FAQ s WANNA KNOW THE WHY BEFORE YOU BUY? CEMENT TILE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUETISONS here s clé s most frequently asked questions when selecting cement tiles.

2 SHOPPING FOR CEMENT TILES? HERE ARE THE TOP QUESTIONS SHOPPERS ARE ASKING many tile shoppers are just discovering encaustic cement tiles for the first time. and along with a fascination for all the beauty these tiles evoke comes a myriad of questions regarding a material that, though new to many, has been captivating us for over 100 years. cover photo: architect/designer: ellis architect: photography: kat alves over 100 years? but you thought this was a new material? not quite! that means that your encaustic cement tile discovery is actually a re-discovery. in fact, since the late 1800 s many of the worlds finest and certainly most memorable landmarks (civic centers, museums, villas, hotels, cafes, family homes etc). if you ve traveled through Europe, Latin America and certain parts of Asia, you have undoubtedly been enchanted by these tiles. but how about also discovering (or rediscovering) that encaustic cement tiles are not only the most luxuriously beautiful tile surfaces to reemerge, but also amongst the most durable. they wouldn t have existed for more than a century unless they were built to last! so what s the secret to this tile s success? besides looking good there are a host of other great encaustic cement attributes. since you ve asked, we ve answered! here are the top 10 questions new clients to encaustic cement tiles are asking.

3 1. CAN CEMENT TILES BE USED IN WET AREAS? of course, they re cement! so shower floors, walls, decks etc can now look lovely and lively. if you re an architect you ll want to know the COF stats. but for us mere mortals- suffice it to say that those technical COF figures officially show that cement tiles pass the slipresistant requirements with flying colors, and then some. When using any surface, including cement tiles for your shower floors, pool surrounds etc, always use caution, especially if wearing rubber slippers.

4 2. ARE CEMENT TILES SUITABLE FOR HEATED FLOORS? MADE BY HAND CEMENT TILES CALL FOR QUESTIONS yes, not a problem. if you ve been considering heated floors- encaustic cement tiles work perfectly with heated flooring- electric, plumbed, etc. and what could be better than toasty warm cement tiles underfoot on a cold morning?

5 3. HOW MUCH DO THE TILES VARY IN SIZE AND COLOR? MADE BY HAND CEMENT TILES CALL FOR QUESTIONS the beauty of cement tiles comes from their hand crafted origins. each and every tile is made by hand and therefore variations of size and colors are inherent features. expect a slight variation in size and an even broader variation in color. with cement tiles the beauty is only half the story because it s the color and shade variations that give these tiles their gorgeous good looks.

6 4. CAN CEMENT TILES BE USED OUTDOORS? by now you ve heard that the fastest growing trend in architecture is the flow of interior to exterior spaces and vice versa. But what to use on those surfaces? it s great to know you can enjoy cement tiles inside as well as out. that s because with the proper sealants cement tiles can weather the cold, wet and the sun s rays. be sure to contact clé so we can put you in touch with the sealant folks that will help your cement tiles thrive in the great outdoors.

7 5. CAN YOU USE CEMENT TILES FOR BACK- SPLASHES? with broad strokes of color and/or pattern, cement tiles provide decorative charm and wall protection at amazing affordable prices! so yesplease feel free to fall in love with the most popular tiles to enhance kitchen splashes in a long time! cement tiles are the ideal backsplash material. if you ve been encouraged to avoid using them for backsplashescheck out clé! our tiles are pre-polished and pre-sealed! for extra messy splashes we have created a special backsplash kit! so now you can splash away with confidence!

8 6. HOW MUCH EXTRA SHOULD I ADD TO MY CEMENT TILE ORDER? 10% 15% when ordering any tile you should always order 10% extra. however, with patterned tiles- 10%-15% could be necessary especially if you have a space that requires a lot of cuts!

9 7. HOW DO I PROTECT MY NEW CEMENT TILES FROM WEAR AND TEAR? cement tiles are similar to stone tiles.and with the proper care and support they will last generations and even improve with time. the density and quality of our clé cement tiles are of the highest quality. Add to this, the fact that our tiles are both pre-polished and pre-sealed, which means your new cement tiles will have the best start to any new surface. after installation, clé provides a complete maintenance guide and sealing and cleansing products for any application. (pre-polish and seal graphics). MADE BY HAND CEMENT TILES CALL FOR QUESTIONS

10 8. ARE CEMENT TILE COLORS HAND PAINTED AND LIKELY TO WEAR OFF? Though each and every cement tile is hand made, many wrongly believe that cement tiles get their colors and patterns by hand painting them onto the surface. MADE BY HAND CEMENT TILES CALL FOR QUESTIONS However, this is not correct. Instead, cement tiles are made through a very unique process whereby the top 1/8 layer of the tiles is specially pigmented and mixed with stone and cement powders then poured into their individual shapes. This process assures that the tiles will hold up under heavy wear and tear for generations.

11 9. ARE CEMENT TILES SUITABLE FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS? cement has long been well regarded for it s durability in many construction applications, including commercial floors and walls. due to it s production process, cement tiles are made up of 3 individual layers that come together to form a very solid, dense and hard tile. This is why you can often find cement tiles available through antique shops, because they have withstood the test of time.

12 10. IF I USE CEMENT TILES ON MY FLOORS, WHAT IS THE BEST TILE TO USE FOR THE WALLS? MADE BY HAND CEMENT TILES CALL FOR QUESTIONS this last question is perhaps the one most frequently asked. And of course, it will depend on the project- however, clé has found that our clients using cement tiles for the floors, will most often use the following wall tiles - subway tiles - glazed brick tiles - zellige tiles