Properties
radiant heating compatible *
uv resistant *
Usage
interior wall *
exterior wall *
interior floor *
light residential *
heavy residential *
light commercial *
shower floor *
shower wall *
steam shower floor *
steam shower wall *
fountain waterline *
pool waterline *
fireplace surround + hearth *
backsplash *
Overview
| description | rating |
|---|---|
| surface type | Glazed |
| finish type | Gloss |
color variation
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 3: medium |
texture variation
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 3: medium |
size variation
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 3: heavy |
iron spots
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 1: will occur |
cracks / crazing
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 2: prevalent |
pits / chips
for more information, see our tile variation & imperfections guide |
level 2: prevalent |
| dimensions | 4" x 4" x ⅜" |
| water absorption | avg. 22.9%; non-vitreous |
| dcof | avg. 0.25 |
| Pieces per sqft | 9pcs/sqft |
| Weight per sqft | 3.96 lbs |
| Pieces per box | 100 pcs/box |
Read before you buy
do i need to seal clé lapidary tiles?
like most natural stone, clé lapidary tiles require sealing (before & after grouting) to prevent staining and help with repelling water.
if your tile is porous or if using a dark grout, clé recommends stonetech heavy duty sealer from laticrete as a pre-grout treatment.
for all other sealing and protecting, clé recommends stonetech bulletproof sealer from laticrete.
for more information about sealing please see our clé lapidary material guidelines.
do you offer trim for your clé lapidary 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.
- a visible stone tile edge can be honed to make the side match the main surface of the tile.
- 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 clé lapidary tiles?
marble is chemically sensitive so only mild ph neutral cleaners should be used.
clé recommends laticrete cleaning products, please see our clé lapidary material guidelines for more information.
what type of finish should i expect with this collection?
our clé lapidary: smooth-cut oval tiles come with a smooth-matte, honed surface. honing is a process in which the surface is grinded to the level that gives the tile a smooth matte finish.
what types and levels of variation and imperfections should i expect?
all stones in clé lapidary collection are natural stones and will exhibit variation in color and shade.
due to the natural materials and production process of clé lapidary tiles, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade and size in your order, therefore it is important to blend the tiles from all boxes once they arrive and place them in their installation area to ensure you have the layout you want before installing.
variation and imperfection ratings:
color variation for clé lapidary ranges from ‘level 2 slight’ to ‘level 4 heavy’. texture variation ranges ‘level 1 smooth’ to 'level 2 slight' and ‘level 1 slight’ for size variation.
see illustrations in the technical specifications section above, and read more about the ratings in our tile variation & imperfections guide.
how will my clé lapidary samples compare to my actual order?
as noted in the variation and add on orders sections of our faq, clé lapidary collection are natural stones which will exhibit degrees of variation in color and shade. our tiles are cut from large blocks of various stones, therefore there will be variation in color and shade across production lots or batches depending on the area of the quarry a particular lot was pulled from. this means that your sample may not be a perfect match with your actual order, and that your add-on order may not be a perfect match to either.
what should i expect with my order of clé lapidary tile?
dust and shipping residue are to be expected and should be cleaned prior to installing.
why do you suggest i order at least 15% more than my measurements?
industry standard suggests adding at least 15% overage due to brick cuts, potential shipping breakage, or future repairs. However, if the variation in color, shade, and veining inherent to natural stone does not fit your project's needs we recommend ordering 25-35% overage, particularly when ordering larger format tiles as blending these can be more challenging. Sufficient overage allows your contractor to cherry-pick the tiles most desirable for your project.
is it possible to purchase more of the same material after my initial order (i.e. place an add on order)?
clé lapidary is comprised of natural stones and will exhibit variation in color and shade. as the tiles are cut in blocks from a stone quarry formed by nature, there are significant differences between batches of the tiles when it comes to the shade and pattern depending on the area of the quarry a particular lot was pulled from. please keep this in mind when calculating your order, and be sure to purchase enough material.
for more information related to ordering and shipping, please be sure to visit our shipping and returns and delivery information resource pages.
Grout Recommendations
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 a slightly larger grout joint of 1/16".
clé recommends using mortar and unsanded cementitious grout that comply with the ANSI A118 or ISO 13007 classifications suitable for your project. Please consult with your installation professional to make these determinations.
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.
if you are working with highly color-variegated tiles or a combination of tiles, we recommend that you follow the above recommendations—but match your grout to the color in your installation that you would like to accentuate.
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 Stonetech Heavy Duty Sealer from Laticrete as a pre-grout treatment to minimize the possibility of the contrasting grout curing in the inherent hairline cracks, pits, and/or chips.
are there any cases where you recommend a grout joint size larger than 1/16"?
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 material guidelines.
Dimensions
square - 4” x 4" x ⅜"
square - 2” x 2” x ⅜"
hexagon - 3½” x 4" x ⅜"
bejmat* - 2” x 6” x ¾”
*bejmat actual measurements tend to be closer to 1¾" x 5½".
disclaimer: please note all dimensions are nominal. additionally, dimensions between tiles can vary +/- ¼ inch.
