Laying and Maintenance Tips
Recommended equipment and substrate preparation for laying
The first useful tip for installing ceramic mosaic on concrete, cement-based plaster, masonry and plasterboard is to use a trowel with 3×3 mm and/or 4×4 mm teeth.
It will be perfect for interior environments such as common areas, sauna and hammam wall coverings, bathroom coverings.
The walls on which the mosaic is to be laid must be structurally rigid, homogeneous and absolutely clean. If necessary, we recommend the use of a suitable smoothing product in order to create a laying surface that is as flat and smooth as possible.
Application and laying methods for single-firing mosaic.
Once the walls have been prepared for gluing the mosaic, use a glue with zero vertical slip, which is recommended as suitable for laying on walls.
Apply the adhesive with the straight side of the notched trowel and work it well into contact with the wall.
For vertical laying, it is advisable to draw a reference line with the bubble.
Always check that the adhesive mix is consistent, so that the sheets made from the small tiles do not slip down when laid.
When laying, carefully check the distance between the mosaic sheets so that it is the same as between tile and tile.
The laid sheets should be tapped and, if necessary, corrected using a Teflon and/or wooden board.
Grouting
For the grouting operation, we recommend waiting at least one day after laying.
After placing a suitable amount of the chosen grout on the rubber trowel, and then on the laid mosaic, press the mixture against the ceramic with continuous movements both diagonally and upwards from the joints, so that the grout penetrates evenly between the spaces of the tiles.
Remove any excess grout that overflows from the joints using the soft sponge applied to the grout, rinsing it in the aschette of water.
Wash the sponge often and repeat the operation several times in order to remove as much grout residue as possible.
Appiani ceramic mosaic cleaning and maintenance
After an initial cleaning as soon as you have finished laying, we recommend that you thoroughly clean the grouted mosaic again within a few days after laying, using clean sponges to remove any remaining grout marks.
Wash the ceramic surfaces with water and/or a very mild acid-based product, taking care to rinse again immediately afterwards with pure water.
Make diagonal movements with respect to the joints and do not use abrasive materials or machinery that can cause mechanical removal.
Once the laying, grouting and initial cleaning operations have been carried out, it is important to use normal products available on the market for the cleaning and maintenance of ceramic surfaces.
But if you want to go a more ecological route, an excellent ally against stubborn dirt on the mosaic in your home is wine vinegar.
Simply dilute it with warm water and pour it over the area to be treated. Wait a few hours and then wipe the ceramic surface with a cloth.
You will thus obtain a thorough cleaning of both the mosaic tiles and the joints.
Always take care to finish cleaning by simply using pure water in order to avoid residues of the cleaning agents remaining on the glazed surface.
Take special care with polished and/or gold mosaics to avoid damage that will alter the visual and tactile appearance.
Remove excess grout that overflows from the joints using the soft sponge applied to the grout, rinsing it in the water bath.
Wash the sponge often and repeat the operation several times in order to remove as much grout residue as possible.
