Reclaimed Tiles Installation Guide

These recommendations are not a comprehensive fitting guide. You should always seek the advice of a professional tiler.

General

The nature of reclaimed tiles means that no two tiles are quite the same, and variation in thickness and size are to be expected. There will also be variation in colour and pattern between the tiles, and some may have missing corners or chipped edges. We, therefore, recommend dry laying the tiles to ensure you are completely happy with the layout before committing to sticking them down. Use a full bed of adhesive to stick the tiles down, not a ‘dot and dab’ method.

Cleaning

Once stuck down with adhesive, thoroughly wash the tiles with FOS Stone & Tile Intensive Cleaner at a ratio 1:10 in order to clean the tiles and remove any grease, grime or wax finishes. Apply the Intensive Cleaner with a scrubbing brush or light abrasion cloth to agitate the cleaner into the tiles. Leave for up to 5 minutes, then thoroughly wash off with water.

Following this, all the moisture must be released from the body and surface of the tiles prior to sealing. We recommend the tiles are left to dry for a minimum of 7 days. Once the tiles have completely dried, use FOS Natural Stone Sealer to apply one coat of sealer. The first coat should be applied a little at a time, working it into the surface of the tiles using a clean, dry paintbrush to prevent streaks being left on the surface of the tiles once it has dried. After sealing, leave the tiles to cure for at least 12 hours.

For everyday cleaning, use FOS Stone & Tile Aftercare Cleaner. Approximately 1 capful of cleaning solution should be used per litre of water, following the instructions on the bottle.

Disclaimer: Always test for suitability first, especially as the tiles are reclaimed, as there is no way of knowing what chemicals have been applied to the tiles previously.

Grouting

We recommend using a light coloured grout on light coloured tiles and a minimum grout joint of 4mm. Before grouting, ensure the surface of the tiles are completely clean and free from dust and adhesive. Sponge the area to be grouted with clean water before applying the grout, working in small areas. Replace the water regularly, as it’s essential the sponge and water are always clean. Keep the tiles clean throughout the process and remove any grout residue immediately, using water to avoid any staining or marks on the face of the tiles.

We recommend point grouting, as spread grouting is more likely to soak into the tiles and cause staining. The grout should be left to dry fully. Once the grout has completely dried, apply a final coat of FOS Natural Stone Sealer. To ensure the tiles are completely sealed, place a few drops of water on the tiles. If the water beads, the sealer is working. If the tiles absorb the water, then the sealing process needs to be repeated.