tarnished silver zellige 2"x6"x3/4" subway sample
product description + credits
* this product makes up pieces per and comes in pieces per box
the dulling of heirloom silver is perhaps the most regal of greys. our tarnished silver zellige is inspired by these same varying shades providing your projects with a cast of the perfect glow of gray.
a zellige in the subway shape is a 2"x6" (nominal) size that, though traditional in morroco, is a new and adventurous take on the subway tile trend. if you are in search of subway tiles with an exotic twist- zellige subway is the perfect format for you.
please note that when you order a sample of this tile, you will receive a 4x4 to showcase the color and a 2x6 of weathered white to show size and shape.
please note that subway zellige is thicker than standard zellige! instead of 3/8" thickness, anticipate 3/4" thickness for your subway zellige.
about this collection
zellige are terracotta tiles from morocco. zellige (pronounced zill-eejh') acquires its coloring from the historic clay body that is a rich terra cotta, inherently forcing it's hue through all the glazes.
if you're tired of the same-ol same-ol, then this tile born from a 10th century tile-making craft has arrived just in time for you! clé zellige is handmade in morocco. formed from the moroccan earth, and baked in kilns fired by burning olive pits.
available sizes? 2"x2", 4"x4", 3.5" hex, 2"x6" (nominal size)"
color variations? it isn't authentic zellige without wild variations of color and shade!
glaze variations? the zellige glazes have a lovely gloss surface that will have specks, pits, chips and flaws, as well as, undulations of surface. this varying and glossy finish can best be described as a "sequin-like" surface.
faq
what grout joint size, type, and color do you recommend?
zellige is traditionally set without the use of any grout. in morocco the installations are done with a butt joint and no grout whatsoever–and they have withstood the test of time. however, at clé we recommend as tight of a grout joint as possible: butt joint or 1/16", with mapei flexcolor cq grout for unglazed zellige, and mapei ultracolor plus fa grout for glazed zellige.
important: we do not generally recommend using a contrasting grout color with zellige, as it will highlight the thin hairline cracks/crazing found on the tiles, and fill in any pits, and/or chips. if you choose to use a contrasting grout (i.e. white grout with black tile) please order 20-30% overage in order to cherry-pick the tile of the imperfections that are standard to zellige. additionally, you must make sure to apply a penetrating sealant or grout release prior to grouting in order to minimize the possibility of the contrasting grout curing in the inherent hairline cracks, pits, and/or chips.
grout color selection is always up to our client and/or their design professional. however, clé is often asked for our opinion on best grout selections for our tiles. and due to the large array of grout colors that are now available, clé would like to offer this general guideline on a foolproof grout color selection for any of your clé tiles.
- first, have your professional tile contractor complete your tile installation, except for the grout portion.
- next, when ready to grout, ask your contractor to bring ALL grout color charts from his preferred grout manufacturers, for your review.
- lastly, choose a time of day when you are most pleased with the lighting in your space (either natural lighting, installed lighting or a blend of both). during that lighting and time of day, select the grout color that best matches your tile selection.
note that the full mapei ultracolor plus fa & flexcolor cq color catalogue contains 40 colors to choose from. visit the mapei website to view.
what is the standard grout joint size for zellige?
because all zellige is hand cut after firing into the individual tiles, they are crafted to allow for a very tight grout joint. in order to increase dcof in wet area applications of 4”x4” zellige (especially shower floors), we recommend broadening the grout joint size on the setting of the pan tiles, vertical staggering of the tile layout or cutting the tiles into 2”x2” squares. for hexes we recommend at least a 1/8” grout joint for shower floors.
for more information about grouting please see our zellige installation & maintenance guide.
usage
interior floor, exterior floor (bejmat only), interior wall, exterior wall, shower floor, shower wall, steam shower, residential low traffic, residential high traffic, commercial low traffic, backsplash, kitchen, fireplace surround, pool & fountain waterline (GLAZED zellige tiles only) for non-freeze thaw locations only. Limit all exterior usage to locations not affected by freeze thaw.