Polished Cement Tile Catalog

CLAY IMPORTS

exclusively handmade

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WE BRING THOUGHTFULLY-CRAFTED AND RESPONSIBLY-SOURCED MATERIALS FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO SHARE WITH YOU AT OUR COZY STUDIO+WAREHOUSE, NESTLED IN AUSTIN'S NORTH SIDE.

CLAY-ATX TEAM how cement tile is made

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Exclusive behind the Scenes with the

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 Cement Tile A History 02 Matte vs. Polished - The Difference

CLAYATX

03 Polished Cement Tile | The Collection 07 Polished Color Palette 08 Behind the Scene | Making of Cement Tile 10 How to Select your Perfect Tile + Create your Signature Look 12 Installation + Maintenance 14 Meet the Clay-Atx Crew

CLAY IMPORTS 12024 N Lamar BLvd , Austin TX 78753 +1-512-836-8500 | contact@clayimports.com www.clayimports.com

INSIDE SCOOP

WITH

CEMENT TILE ECO-FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE All of our cement tile is responsibly sourced from Turkey, Mexico and Morocco.

We carry a variety of shapes, sizes, patterns and finishes in stock but can also customize any tile based on your particular project!

Cement tiles are a very ornate and diverse covering that has been a favorite aesthetic element in architecture for centuries

HYDE PARK FIREPLACE Custom color cement hexagon tiles, responsibly sourced from Mexico

THE ORIGINS The primary ingredients are Portland cement and sand, and natural pigments to color the cement. There’s no “firing” in the production process, as the tiles are layered and compressed at 18,000 psi, usually with a hydraulic press, then soaked in water for two days.

As a result, these tiles have almost no “off-gassing” and are incredibly environmentally friendly.

OF THE STYLE GO BACK TO SOUTHERN FRANCE MORE THAN 210 YEARS AGO. PAGE 1

UNDERSTAND

THE DIFFERENCE MATTE VS. POLISHED

The primary ingredients of classic matte cement tiles are Portland cement and sand, and natural pigments to color the cement.

There’s no “firing” in the production process, as the tiles are layered and compressed at 18,000 psi, usually with a hydraulic press, then soaked in water for two days. As a result, these tiles have almost no “off-gassing” and are incredibly environmentally friendly.

Matte cement tiles are a porous product and need protective sealer

As opposed to matte cement tiles, terrazzo or polished cement tiles contain small pieces of marble. This gives the terrazzo tiles a special texture and a silk-like feel to the touch without causing any negative change in slip rates. These cement tiles are much denser concrete and far less susceptible to staining than standard cement tiles. the real advantage the terrazzo tiles offer is the thickness of the color layer (6-8 mm) which makes them suitable for grinding in 510 years if needed when any staining occurs.

A new layer of color appears after the grinding and the continual use of the tiles is possible.

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FROM ISTANBUL

POLISHED CEMENT

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FROM ISTANBUL

POLISHED CEMENT

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FROM ISTANBUL

POLISHED CEMENT

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FROM ISTANBUL

POLISHED CEMENT

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PICK AND CHOOSE

POLISHED COLORS

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BEHIND THE

SCENE

INSIDER MAGAZINE

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WE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERTS IN TILEMAKING Follow us on a tour of tile factories in Mexico, Morocco, and Turkey.

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sketching out patterns making metal molds creating the mold pattern meet the press: the metal plate

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pouring color removing the mold cover with portland cement pressing

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Making of...

HOW TO SELECT YOUR PERFECT TILE SHOPPING FOR TILE CAN BE OVERWHELMING. THERE ARE SO MANY PATTERNS, COLORS AND STYLES. LET US TRY TO HELP.

BROWSE THE INTERNET Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, ...whichever platform(s) you interact with, start there! If you come across your dream tile: perfect! We can make this one happen. You cannot just yet pinpoint down the exact pattern or color? Find out which style you are most drawn to, may it be geometric, floral, art deco, or minimalistic...

SELECT YOUR PATTERN Where will you use your decorative tile? When it comes to pattern selection, keep the space in mind. Small or continuing patterns

are great for small areas, like a range hood or small backsplash while you may use larger pattern on floors or accent walls.

PICK YOUR COLOR SCHEME Of course, only you can decide what color is right for you, but here are a few basic rules: Is your space rather small? Choose lighter colors to make it appear larger! Darker colors, can add warmth and can make a great appearance in a larger room. Shade variation will blend your tile and give the opportunity to use another object as focal point. And while neutral colors allow you to change your accessories, you should use vibrant colors to add a cheerful character to your space.

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VISUALIZE

ORDER A SAMPLE KIT

Now it's time bring it together. You can use our online design tool and play with our standard patterns and tools. If you prefer a personalized approach and/or like to match custom colors of patterns, contact us and we can work from there.

You have finally decided on a tile!

Depending on its customization, we are highly recommending ordering a sample kit. Yes, this will add to lead-time, but it will ensure that the final order will be *just* how you want it!

GET A PERSONALIZED RENDERING

Spend time with your samples. Do they look and feel right? Is there anything you want to change? We want to make sure you're happy, and will work out any pending details.

ENJOY YOU

MAKE IT HAPPEN! Ready to pull the trigger? Let us know and we'll start production tight away! We'll keep you updated on the production process with process shots and updated schedules.

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You have now decided on a tile, or at least narrowed it down to less than three designs. Provide a picture of the space to be transformed. Our graphic designers will create a personalized rendering that will give you the perfect visualization of your future space!

As soon as your tiles are ready, we're shipping them to our warehouse in Austin, Texas and will notify you as soon as your order has made it to us. Then we will inspect all tile and repack it for your convenience. Now: pick it up or have it shipped. And now:

Installation & Maintenance 1

Installing handmade tile requires some special skills: diligence, patience, accuracy, an artistic eye and appreciation for the beauty of handcrafted materials. We want you to enjoy your cement tile floors and walls for many many years! In other words, make sure that your tile is installed right.

Required Materials for installing tiles: Primer Flexible tile glue, suitable for natural stone Flexible grout, suitable for natural stone Tile spacers, 2mm Water-cooled tile saw Grout trowel, glue trowel glue pot Breathable foil or colorless drapery Required Materials for cleaning, impregnating and maintaining cement tiles:

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Grout stain remover (cleaner) Sealant (impregnation) Tile oil or color intensifier (impregnation) Soap (maintenance product) Paint roller, paint tray, sponge and water bucket Lint-free cotton cloth

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Do not let cases or cement tiles get wet. Store material in a dry area because moisture or dampness can cause tiles to get stain, color fades or damage the surface tile showing cracks and pitting.

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Inspect your order carefully. Clay Imports will not be responsible for material that has been cut or installed. Throughout the installation process and handling of the tile, be careful not to damage the finished surface, edges, and corners of the tiles.

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Color and shade variations are characteristics of cement tile, a product of cement and natural materials. Hence, we recommended mixing the tiles from the different cases. In addition, allow tiles to get dried in their final environment prior to installation.

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Cement Tile is a cement-based product and may have residue on the surface. Before starting the installation, we highly recommended cleaning all tiles with clean cloth to remove any residue and get a clean tile surface.

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Step by Step 1

Glue the tiles on a flat, dry surface with a flexible tile adhesive of your choice. A primer will help amplify the adhesion. Use a trowel with recesses of 10-20 mm (½ - ¾ in). Use 2 mm thick tile spacers for best results. Remove excess glue and dirt from the tile quickly since glue will require at least 24 hours to dry properly.

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Clean the floor with water after bonding using a sponge and/or cloth. (Mix a small amount of select tile stain remover through water- 3 bottle tops for best results). Also, wring the sponge every time while cleaning the floor. Avoid getting tiles too wet because this may affect later steps. Allow the floor to dry completely.

Sealing 3

Impregnate the tiles at least once (we recommend to seal twice) with tile sealer before grouting and ensure the floor space is clean. Use a paint roller to apply the sealer and follow with a sponge to remove any excess bubbles. Do not perform any pressure.

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Repeat this step (3). Then leave the sealer treatment to dry for 6 hours before you proceed to the next step.

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Use a waterproof grout. Avoid the use of charcoal or black colored grouts on cement tiles (may stain cement tiles). Remove any excess grout while grouting. Clean tile with tile stain remover after the top of the grout has hardened (occurs after 1 hour usually).

Then, wring your sponge frequently and renew your cleaning water regularly while cleaning your tiles. Allow the grout to dry for at least 12 hours.

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Impregnate the tile at least 2 more times for best results. Please note for a matte finish, rub indirectly with a cotton cloth. For a satin finish, leave as is when rolled Finally, maintain your tiles periodically (recommended once a week) with soap and water or cement tile specific cleaner.

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Grouting

REMEMBER

Please be sure to read all instructions on the products used. | For safety purposes, always work in a well-ventilated area. | Remove heating sources that may affect the temperature of the floor. | Mixing tiles from different boxes leads to the best results. | During a renovation, covering the floor with a breathable foil for best results. | Avoid the use of plastic or cardboard (nonbreathable materials). | Avoid cleaning agents that contain acids.

If you are uncertain about what steps to take for your installation, contact Clay Imports where we can provide our expertise.

MEET THE CLAY-ATX

CREW

Nick Barreiro

Co-Founder and Chief Tile Scout nick@clayimports.com

Gaby Hernandez

Project Management+Design gaby@clayimports.com

Zac Barreiro

Co-founder+Installation Supervisor zac@clayimports.com

Canan Kaba

Communications canan@utexas.edu

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Miguel Hernandez

International Purchase Agent miguel@clayimports.com

Clay Imports is devoted to celebrating innovation while honoring tradition; we have a heartfelt reverence for the unique art and history that each tile bears. Every handcrafted tile we source represents part of a beautiful mosaic of people and places, society and community; all of which we want to remember and relay to our clients.

CLAY IMPORTS 12024 N Lamar BLvd , Austin TX 78753 +1-512-836-8500 | contact@clayimports.com www.clayimports.com