clé has also partnered with fornace brioni to create a collection of traditional cotto (or terracotta) designed for the everyday. the resulting traditional cotto rosato and cotto grigio tiles are a tribute to fornace's roots which will lend any space a minimalist but warm rustic look.

what grout joint size should i use?

we recommend a 3/8" grout joint with our traditional cotto tavellas which allows for 1.91 pieces per square foot. should your project require a smaller joint, keep in mind that additional tiles will need to be ordered as our checkout calculations are all based on 1.91 tiles per square foot.

pieces per square foot comes to 2 when no grout joint is taken into account

what grout type and colors do you recommend?

clé recommends the use of mapei flexcolor cq grout for this collection.

for all applications of traditional cotto tavellas, you will need to apply a sealant or a grout release prior to grouting (for easier clean up and to reduce the risk of grout haze). if you are using these tiles on floors or in wet applications (shower wall, shower floor, backsplash), grouting is required. you will need to seal the tile surface before grouting and then seal both the tile surface and grouted areas as the final step of installation.

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.

do i need to seal fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas?

fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas are extremely porous and should be sealed before and after grouting to maintain their appearance and avoid staining.
exterior walls require vertical weather flashing and waterproof, penetrating sealant. exterior floors must be installed above grade with waterproof, penetrating sealant.

for more information about sealing please see our fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto installation & maintenance guide.

do you offer trim for your fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas?

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 tile edge can be sanded to make the side match the main surface of the tile.
- another way to complete your tiling is to run a bead of caulk or grout along the exposed tile edge.
- 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.

how do i take care of my fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas?

over time, a natural patina will occur on floors as they are maintained and naturally wear. mild, pH neutral soaps should be sufficient for most cleaning—test before general use. clean using soft materials, like a cloth, instead of coarse materials. always avoid harsh chemicals and acidic or alkaline cleaning products. grout lines can be cleaned with warm water and a soft bristled cleaning brush. immediately clean up spills—do not allow liquids to sit on the tile surface. most stains can be removed with a pH neutral dish soap, hot water and the scrub side of a sponge. miracle tile & stone cleaner is effective as an ongoing maintenance cleaner and is gentle for everyday use.

IMPORTANT: the more foot traffic there is, the more wear and tear you will have and the more maintenance the floor will require. maintenance will include periodic stripping and re-application of sealant, especially for low commercial traffic floors. single coat reapplication of the penetrating sealant is required at least once a year in shower applications due to the continuous exposure to water.

see our fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto installation & maintenance guide for more information.

what type of finish should i expect with these tiles?

our fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas are porous and unglazed, and they have a matte surface. their texture variation ranges from smooth to medium.

how much variation should i expect?

all fornace brioni tiles are made by hand, therefore variations in thickness, depth, color, shade, size, texture and finish are to be expected. due to the noticeable color and shade variations, it is very 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. do not install without blending tiles from all boxes.

fornace brioni + clé traditional cotto tavellas are rated 'level 3 medium' for color variation, 'level 3 medium' for texture variation, and 'level 3 heavy' for size variation as outlined in our tile variation guide.

why do you suggest i order at least 15% more than my measurements?

industry standard suggests adding at least 15% overage due to tile cuts, potential breakage, or future repairs.

for more information related to ordering and shipping, please be sure to visit our shipping and returns and delivery information resource pages.

dimensions:

traditional cotto tavella - 6"x12"x1"

disclaimer: please note all dimensions are nominal. additionally, dimensions between tiles can vary +/- 1/4 inch.

interior floor, exterior floor, interior wall, exterior wall, shower floor, shower wall, residential low traffic, residential high traffic, commercial low traffic, sink backsplash, kitchen, fireplace surround. Limit all exterior usage to locations not affected by freeze thaw. 

installation & maintenance guides