Installation Guide

20mm Porcelain Installation

Porcelain Tiles with a thickness of 20mm guarantee a high resistance to stress and loads. Are Frost-proof, resistances to chemicals and atmospheric agents, easy to clean, making them an ideal choice for residential and commercial outdoor spaces and colour match your internal tiles.

You also have the versatility of four fixing methods on the outside area meaning there is now no reason to not install the beautiful looking ranges available in 20mm Porcelain.

Installation on Type 1 MOT/GSB

Simple and rapid. 4 parts of Sharp Sand to 1 part of Cement and add the SBR additive to the mix to assist in the bonding process. The mortar should be a firm consistency and not sloppy or runny. Porcelain will absorb almost nothing from the bedding mortar so In order to ensure a good, strong bond each paving element needs to be primed just before laying with Porcelain Priming Slurry

Conventional Installation on Adhesive

For environments that are subject to traffic or heavy loads, slabs 20mm can be installed on a screed with adhesive, using the conventional tile installation method. For an optimal installation, make sure the screed is perfectly levelled.

Raised Installation on supports

Easy to install and immediately transitable, raised installation creates an underlying gap between the upper surface and the substrate that can be easily inspected, this allows for effective water drainage and offers space for electrical equipment and plumbing facilities. This installation is suitable both for existing floors and new screeds. .

Dry Installation on Grass

For gardens and green areas, this type of installation makes it possible to create pathways and add a personal, stylish touch to common areas. The installation procedure consists of preparations of the bed and application of a layer of gravel, on to which the slabs of 20mm will be placed. The gravel bed grants more stability and compensates for any differences in level. It is recommended to leave an enough gap between the slabs to allow grass to grow through.

Watch our easy dry/ pathway installation video below.

Cutting Porcelain Tiles

We only recommend a bench saw with a diamond blade should be used to cut 20mm porcelain tiles for example the Raimondi ZOE 150 or Rubi DC-250 850 Wet Tile Saw or tools of a similar standard all of which can be sourced from many tool hire outlets. We do not recommend over reliance on hand tools for cutting 20mm porcelain due to the gyroscopic effect that may be caused by the spinning blade.

The diamond blade used is of equal importance 20mm porcelain is an extremely hard and durable material and requires a good standard continuous-rim porcelain-cutting blade. After every few cuts, the blade itself should be ‘cleaned’ using a suitable dressing stone to remove any residue that has accumulated on the cutting edge from the substrate that has been cut.

External porcelain paving is a very hard material the high tensile strength of external porcelain means it is very important that the correct cutter and blade are used to avoid damages of both the tiles and cutting blade.

Sealing

Porcelain tiles are UV, scratch, stain and thermal-shock resistant and 100% non-porous and therefore do not require sealing products. But while porcelain tiles are non-absorbent and stain resistant, the grout that surrounds the tile may not be. Cement based grout is a porous product that can absorb water and stain. We therefore advise that all cement based grout joints are protected using a dedicated grout sealer – please see our paving essentials range

Cleaning

Porcelain paving is an extremely strong and durable material with extremely low levels of water absorption and post-laying cleaning is critical. Inadequate removal of the grouting used on the joints can leave marks that are difficult to remove and creates a cement film that can absorb all types of dirt, giving the impression that the tile surface has become dirty.

To remove cement based grouts, wash the floor with specialist cleaning detergent which is aimed at removing excess grout residue, post-application deposits and building grime. Always follow the manufacturers instructions.

General cleaning of porcelain tiles is a relatively simple process. Regular cleaning is the best way of preventing a build-up of dirt and unsightly stains. This can be accomplished with a simple sweep followed by mopping sparingly with warm water.

For more stubborn dirt or pre installation or post installation maintenance we have several products to help maintain porcelain tiles see our paving essentials range or review our pre and post maintenance guide below:

Before using any new cleaning product or method, make sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of tiling first.