do i need to seal cement tiles?
for sealing cement tiles, clé recommends a 3-coat application of stonetech impregnator pro sealer from laticrete. an acceptable alternative is a 4-coat application stonetech bulletproof sealer from laticrete.
we recommended sealing the grout lines and tile surface in all applications of cement (dry and wet) as the final step of installation.
for more information about sealing please see our encaustic cement material guidelines.
do you offer trim for your cement tile?
at clé we follow the international model of no trim and highly recommend our clients to do the same. below are the trim alternatives we recommend for this collection.
- if your project needs to turn a corner either inwardly or outwardly, mitering the tiles to meet seamlessly in a corner gives it the cleanest, crafted finish.
- another way to complete your tiling is to run a bead of caulk or grout along the exposed tile edge.
- if you have a painted surface next to your tile, you can choose to paint the outer edge of the tile to match the painted surface.
- like with any of our tiles, you can also build out the sheetrock so that the surface of the finished sheetrock is flush with the surface of the tile.
for more detailed recommendations about trim, please see our trim guide.
how do i take care of my encaustic cement tiles?
mild, ph neutral soaps should be sufficient for most cleaning—test before general use. for all other maintenance, clé recommends laticrete cleaning products.
are cement tiles uv resistant? how will my cement tiles age over time?
cement tiles are not uv resistant and will fade over time from sun exposure. dark colors such as black, dark blue, purple and green colors will fade faster than other colors.
over time, a natural patina will occur on floors as they are maintained and naturally wear creating a softer appearance in both color and character.
patina is an inherent part of cement tile installations and the reason why cement tiles are specified for so many projects requiring a surface that will beautifully age with the structure it protects.
what type of finish should i expect with this collection?
our cement tiles come pre-polished with a smooth matte surface. polishing is a process where the cement surface "tooth" has been polished away and it allows the tiles to resist surface dirt. it also helps to begin their inherent patina right away.
what are encaustic cement tiles?
each encaustic cement tile is painstakingly hand crafted, one tile at a time, to create solid or patterned tiles formed from pigmented cement. these tiles do not use kilns or other firing processes, therefore no fossil fuels are burned during production.
clé 100% guarantees that no two encaustic cement tiles will be