HOW TO LAY CLINKER PROPERLY?
Differences in colour shades
Differences in colour shades of clinker products are a natural occurrence of the manufacturing process. They give the surface covered with clinker a natural appearance. However, to obtain this effect, it is worth remembering, especially when laying the facade or floors, to mix tiles from different packages. It is also advisable to purchase the goods from the same batch. The clinker purchased 6 or 12 months later, may considerably differ in shade from the previous ones.
Facade laying
The surface that tiles and profiles are laid on should be even, solid and dry. Tiles should not be laid on wet plaster. The binding and settling processes should also be completed in the substrate. Do not forget about the curvatures of tiles. To minimize their influence on the final appearance of the facade and to get a better aesthetic effect it is advisable to use 12 mm joints.
Adhesive mortar
For mounting the clinker products use the relevant mortars, especially assigned for that purpose. You should always use frost-resistant for outdoors. It is recommended to use flexible adhesive mortar in case of floor and stair tiles, profiles, fencepost caps and sills. While laying, you should always keep to the mortar manufacturer’s recommendations, particularly taking care that mortar thickness does not exceed 5 mm. As the surface of the substrate prepared for cementing should not be smooth, one may scratch it with a sharp tool to increase its adhesion.
Joints
Joints should be left between the tiles. Their most commonly used widths are from 8 to 14 mm (we recommend 12 mm). The joints should always be filled with commercially available mortars meant for pointing clinker. Mortar in the joints should be levelled to the front of the facing, giving them a slightly concave profile. On the facade, the clinker facing should be vertically flushed with the plaster on the wall. If the facing sticks out over the plaster, it needs to be protected against rising damp. Pointing by the semi-dry method is recommended. Sludging in not advisable.
