POSA E PULIZIA

Laying and cleaning . Pose et lavage . Verlegung und Reinigung

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least 3 mm -

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8

” grout line between each tile.

10. Do not mark the upper part with pencils or felt pens.

11. Wait 48/72 hours before walking on the floor. A fine product laid in a bad way will not yield good aesthetic results.

12. When laying, you are recommended not to stagger the strips by more than 25% of the lenght.

GUIDELINES FOR LAYING RECTIFIED MATERIALS

Installation of ground, closed-joint products requires the installer’s full attention, with special reference to the level of the laying plane and to the continuity

of the joints.

For optimal installation results, Serenissima recommends maintaining a joint at least of 2 mm - ”

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16

for single format installations and combine mixed

formats.

No joint setting, especially in large size product, is strongly advised against by all major adhesive producers for the following reasons:

• difficulty in withstanding possible structural movement due to lack of joint;

• different shrink/expand behaviour, in case of high thermal excursion;

• difficulty in obtaining an effective and long lasting grouting.

Serenissima does not recommend closed joint tiling and is not liable if this method is employed.

Serenissima recommends a minimum 2 mm - ”

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16

joint when tiling with rectified edge tiles.

GROUTING

1. Ifthecementandsandgroutisnotused,itisadvisabletousegroutwiththesamecolourshades(itispreferablenottoemploydarkgroutsuchas

black, blue, red grout on light-coloured materials).

2. Fillthejointswithgroutonlywhenthe

floorcansafelybewalkedon,havingfirstremovedallkindsofresiduefromthejoints.

3. Carryoutgroutingtoaprofessionalstandard,followingtheinstructionsofthedesigner,thesitemanagerandthelayingspeci

fication.

4. Groutsmallsurfacesatatime(4/5sqm)andremovetheexceedingamountsbymeansofspongesorwetcloths(withcleanwateronly)oruse

suitable machines for removing the excess grout.

5. Cement-basedgroutswithoutadditives:attheendoftheday,cleanoffthegroutresiduewithaslightlydampsponge.Unlessotherwiseindicated

LAYING SUGGESTIONS

The success of a porcelain stoneware floor by Serenissima is due to the technical and aesthetical features of the materials as well as to a combination

of elements (bed, binding layer, expansion joints, etc.) which build up a real system. The laying operations, carried out in the correct sequence, are also

as important as the choice of tiles. When choosing the most suitable adhesive and the application method refer to the instructions of the manufacturer.

However, the designers has to establish the correct way of application of the tiles depending on the structure and the foreseen utilization of the floor.

The design of all tiled surfaces should be entrusted to an expert designer, who must calculate the dimensions of the sub-base, the cement-based layers,

the bedding layer, the falls and the entire laying system, taking into account the structure, the intended use of the spaces, the expected loads and the

mechanical, thermal, physical and chemical stresses which will impact on the tiled surface.

The designer must also determine in the laying specification every detail of the site, including type and method of laying , materials, particle size, mixing

proportions, size of joints, location of structural, expansion and perimeter joints, etc.

LAYING OPERATIONS

1. Carefullychoosetheaestheticandtechnicalrequirementsofthetiles(inrelationtothestyleandintendeduseofthespaces),thetileformatstobe

2.

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used, the laying scheme, and the width and colour of the joints.

Layingedge-to-edgewithoutjointsisstronglydiscouraged,indeeditisnotpracticableforexteriorapplications.Inthecaseofmodularlayingof

different formats, allow the following joint widths:

2 mm ”

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16

for rectified products;

4 or 5 mm ”

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16

or ”

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16

for NON-rectified products.

Notificationattimeofordering:alwaysspecifyifthematerialrequestedisintendedformultiformatlayingtoallowoursalesofficetosendtheclient

material with matching gauges and colouring.

Serenissimastonewaretilesmaybelaidwithtraditionalmortarorwithadhesive.

Carryoutlayingtoaprofessionalstandard,followingtheinstructionsofthedesigner,thesitemanagerandthelayingspecification.

Forbestmanagementofthesite,itisessentialtopaycarefulattentiontotheworkingtimesofthematerialsused,andfollowthemanufacturer’s

instructions.

Checkmaterialsbeforetheyarelaid-out.Claimsonmaterialsalreadyinstalledwillnotbeaccepted.

Laysomepiecesofproduct(atleast3sqm)tochecktheoveralleffect.Laythematerialtakingitfromseveralboxesandcarefullycheckitssize

accuracy, shade and material sorting.

The hight level of vitrification belonging to group Serenissima tiles bears modest caliber tolerances, therefore in the lay-out is advisable to leave at

by the manufacturer, “after-laying” cleaning if the flooring should be carried out after 4-5 days (to allow the necessary hardening of the grout, in

the joints), by first wetting the joints with water, then using suitable acid-based detergents. Do not wait too long before carrying out this cleaning:

after two weeks it already becomes too laborious. Do not do “after-laying” cleaning if the temperature of the tiles is high: in summer, do it in the cool

hours of the day.

6. Epoxygroutsandgroutscontainingadditives(withlatexetc.)followthemanufacturer’sinstructionscarefully,becausetherapidhardeningofthese

grouts can necessitate very laborious claning, especially if the tiles have a rough, anti-slip or structured surface.

CLEANING-PROTECTION AND ROUTINE CARE OF PORCELAIN TILES

The first cleaning after the tiles installation will influence the cleanability of the surface for its entire life.

Floors and wall installations well planned and correctly layed represent very durable surfaces.

Common-sense precautions are nevertheless necessary, as well as a good technical knowledge of the materials.

CLEANING AFTER LAYING

The cleaning after laying is an extremely important phase from which depends all the future applications and the maintenance of the floor.

With an acid base cleaning after the floor installation it is possible to remove the regular dirt that can be found on the jobsite: cement, glue, paint stains...

It is worth to know that more than 90% of the claims is due to a not proper cleaning after laying with acid base detergent. Sometimes this phase is even

missing.