Rectified.
Rectified tiles have their edges mechanically squared to emulate real marble. Great care must be taken when fixing to ensure tiles are fixed flat and not lipped.
We would strongly recommend the use of a professional tiling contractor.

Shade variation.
It is common practise to check batch numbers on wallpaper. Please apply the same care before fixing ceramic tiles. Shade variation is an inherent feature of some ceramics and it is therefore imperative that you visually check blends prior to fixing. Care should be taken to ensure that sufficient tiles are purchased within the same batch to complete the job, as no claims for variations or quality can be entertained after fixing.

F.B.P full bodied Porcelain falls outside the PEI wear rating categories and is considered suitable for all domestic and most commercial applications.  Porcelain tiles should be fixed with specialist cement based adhesive, consult your fixer or retailer for specific applications.  Porcelain tiles can be extremely difficult to drill through when fixing accessories. Specialist drill bits will be required. Frost resistant floor tiles fixed
outdoors must be fixed with a solid bed of adhesive to protect against frost damage.
Tiling to timber floors requires particular attention. Please discuss your specific requirements with your supplier prior to fixing.  Co-ordinating floor tiles are made using differing glazes to the corresponding wall tile and will be different in appearance. Please check acceptability prior to fixing.

Crazing. Glazed tiles cannot be guaranteed against crazing. 

Glass and Metal Tiles.
Glass and metal tiles featured within this web site will require differing fixing procedures. You must ensure that these surfaces are protected prior to grouting.  Clean tiles with a neutral detergent and soft cloth; never use abrasives which may result in unsightly scratches.

Natural Products

Tilebase offer a wide range of natural stone products.  Their beauty and versatility has made them an increasingly popular choice.  We offer the following guidance towards the successful choice and installation of natural stone materials.
 
Types of Natural Stone available: Granite  • Slate  • Travertine • Polished Marble • Limestone 

Selection of Stone and General Fixing Guidance
Before purchasing your stone, please check that it is suitable for the application you wish to use it for.

Ensure that the walls and floors are structurally sound and are able to support the weight of the natural stone and its adhesive bed.

Surfaces must be clean, dry, sound and free of contamination. 

Wet areas such as showers should be tanked with BAL WP1 Shower Kit or Tanking System prior to tiling. 

All Natural stone has a varying degree of porosity, it is advisable to seal the tiles with the appropriate LITHOFIN product PRIOR TO GROUTING this will protect the stone from staining during the installation.  

Use the solid bed fixing method, incorporating an appropriate notched trowel and fill any voids in the back of the tile prior to applying the tile to the adhesive bed..

Assuming the wall is structurally sound, it is advisable when fixing to skimmed plaster or gypsum plasterboard that the wall is primed prior to tiling with BAL APD PRIMER.  Ideally fix natural stone with a rapid setting cement based adhesive. Due to the porosity of certain stones, staining can occur if a normal setting adhesive is used. 

White adhesive should always be used with pale stones and when using a light coloured grout. Either BAL RAPID SET WHITE OR BAL RAPID SET FLEXIBLE can be considered as suitable adhesives for most backgrounds on floors and walls.

It is advisable that BAL FAST FLEX is used for overlaid timber floors.

Assuming the tiles have been suitably protected, then grouting of stone can be done in the same way as any other tile.

Standard cement based or polymer modified grouts, BAL WIDE JOINT GROUT,BAL SUPERFLEX, BAL MICROFLEX, or BAL MICROCOLOUR can all be used.

To avoid damaging the surface finish of the tile, care should be taken not to use any abrasive or corrosive substances. It is advisable to check to see which is most appropriate for your application.

Ensure that any grout residue is removed from the surface before washing the tiles with the manufacturers recommended solution of LITHOFIN POWER CLEAN.  Further sealing maybe required after grouting to achieve the desired finish to the installation, it should be noted that the use of sealants may change the final look of any natural stone and it is advisable to do a small sample test before completing the whole installation. 

In order to maintain your natural stone tiles it is important to use the correct cleaning solutions, products with a detergent, abrasive or acidic content should be avoided.
 
When installing natural stone we recommend using a professional tile fixer.