Our Unglazed Natural zellige is the only zellige tile that requires sealing. Pool installers should always seal pool and spa waterline grout lines after any tile install is complete, including zellige, due to continuous water exposure. Use adhesive cement and grout appropriate for use in wet areas. Ensure that the surface of each area is stable and waterproof prior to starting the installation. Zellige tiles are commonly used in pools, shower walls, fountains, spas, and bathrooms. Particular attention should be paid to the application of the adhesive on the floor and back of the tiles to ensure perfect bonding between the tiles and concrete slab. All unglazed zellige shapes can be used in floor applications due to their higher COF. For Unglazed Natural Zellige only we recommend using a penetrating sealer to protect the tile prior to grout and again after grout as unglazed terracotta is porous and absorbent.Ģ×6 glazed zellige are the preferred size and shape for floor installations. Zellige is a glazed terracotta that does not need to be sealed. Polish the tiles afterward to remove any remaining grout film.Īll grout should be sealed after installation. The grout color should be matched as closely as possible to the color of the tile.Īfter a brief drying, carefully remove the excess grout with a damp sponge. Unglazed zellige requires MapeiFlexcolor CQ grout. The preferred grout specification is Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA grout. Once the tiles are placed, spread grout with a rubber spatula, filling all spaces and gaps between the tiles and any surface pits, chips and cracks. Grout open, uneven edges or gaps where they appear. Wedge spacers may be needed in areas to align naturally uneven edges. A diamond disc can be used for more exact cuts and mitered edges. Zellige tiles can be easily cut as needed with a traditional tile cutter and snapped apart. The traditional (and recommended) method for installation does not use standard grout joints 4×4 tiles are instead laid edge to edge while other shapes are laid by hand with minimal grout spacing. Zellige tile can be spaced in several ways based on design preference. Place tiles one by one into wall adhesive. Do not soak our Unglazed Natural zellige in advance.Įvenly apply a layer of thin set to the tiling surface.īutter the back of each tile with another layer of thinset. Soak glazed zellige tiles in water for 1-2 minutes to ensure tiles properly adhere to tiling surface. The surface should be well prepared and leveled before placing the zellige. The final result is Moroccan zellige tile with both tonal and size variation, along with small chips, pits and cracks that are to be cherished and celebrated. This intricate process involves great patience and skill. Once fired, a skilled artisan will use a medieval tool called a ‘menkach’, a combination of an axe and hammer, to cut and shape each tile into the desired shape. This perfect imperfection is what sets Moroccan zellige apart from every other tile on Earth. In these traditional Moroccan kilns heat circulates unevenly, imbuing each handmade tile with its own unique tone, texture, and color. Once dried, the tiles are meticulously stacked in a natural olive-pit fired kiln. The square raw clay tiles are then sun-dried on a rooftop.Īfter the tiles are well dried, another skilled craftsmen applies the glaze colors by hand, one-by-one, to only one side of the tiles. After filtering, a skilled craftsmen flattens the clay into square shapes by hand, ensuring it is compact and with no air bubbles in it. The clay is then filtered by hand to extract impurities like rocks and branches. Once found, in underground mines or open pits, this clay is soaked in water until it reaches a soft texture. For zellige, the highest quality of clay must be used and is found in the Fez region of Morocco.
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