zellige | platinum | bejmat

do i need to seal gold & platinum zellige tiles?
 
 for glazed zellige with visible crazing, or if using a contrasting grout, clé recommends sealing with stonetech heavy duty sealer from laticrete as a pre-grout treatment.
 
 dry applications of glazed zellige do not require sealing as the final step of installation.
 
 for all other sealing and protecting, clé recommends stonetech bulletproof sealer from laticrete.
 
 for more information about sealing please see our gold & platinum zellige material guidelines.

do you offer trim for your gold & platinum tile?
 
 at clé we follow the international model of no trim and highly recommend our clients to do the same. below are the trim alternatives we recommend for this collection.
 
 - if your project needs to turn a corner either inwardly or outwardly, mitering the tiles to meet seamlessly in a corner gives it the cleanest, crafted finish.
 - another way to complete your tiling is to run a bead of caulk or grout along the exposed tile edge.
 - if you have a painted surface next to your bejmat tile, you can choose to paint the outer edge of the tile to match the painted surface.
 - like with any of our tiles, you can also build out the sheetrock so that the surface of the finished sheetrock is flush with the surface of the tile.

for more detailed recommendations about trim, please see our trim guide.

how do i take care of my gold & platinum zellige tiles?
 
 over time, a natural patina will occur on floors as they are maintained and naturally wear. this inherent traffic pattern is a highlight of using zellige and should be both anticipated and favored.
 
 mild, pH neutral soaps should be sufficient for most cleaning—test before general use. for all other maintenance, clé recommends laticrete cleaning products. 
 
 see our gold & platinum zellige material guidelines for more information.

what type of finish should i expect with this collection?
 
 our gold & platinum zellige tiles are plated with metal and have a glossy finish with slight texture variation.

how much variation should i expect?
 
 zellige tiles are created from natural glazes, pigments and clay, are fired in handmade kilns using olive pits, and chiseled by hand into desired shapes and sizes. because of the natural materials and the artisan production methods, there will be noticeable variations in thickness, size, shade and color. there may even be differences in the same color across different sizes of zellige. if you want a uniform looking glazed tile, zellige may not be right for your project!

tiles may be exposed to moisture and/or condensation during production or shipping which may affect the color of the tiles once received.  setting tiles out to dry prior to installation will return return the color to normal. 
 
 due to the natural materials and production process of zellige tiles, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade and size in your order, therefore it is important to blend the tiles from all boxes once they arrive and place them in their installation area to ensure you have the layout you want before installing.
 
variation and imperfection ratings:
 
 gold & platinum zellige are rated 'level 2 slight' for color variation, 'level 2 slight' for texture variation, 'level 3 heavy' for size variation, 'level 1 will occur' for pits/chips, and 'level 1 light' for cracks/crazing.
 
see illustrations in the technical specifications section above, and read more about the ratings in our tile variation & imperfections guide.

what should i expect with my order of gold & platinum zellige?
 
 each gold & platinum zellige tile is wrapped in thin brown paper to protect the precious surface from scratches.
 
 dust and shipping residue are to be expected and should be cleaned prior to installing.

why do you suggest i order at least 15% more than my measurements?
 
 industry standard suggests adding at least 15% overage due to tile cuts, potential shipping breakage, or future repairs.

for more information related to ordering and shipping, please be sure to visit our shipping and returns and delivery information resource pages.

zellige is traditionally set without the use of any grout. in morocco the installations are done with a butt joint and no grout whatsoever–and they have withstood the test of time. however, at clé we recommend a slightly larger grout joint of ¹/₁₆"

clé recommends using mortar and unsanded cementitious grout that comply with the ANSI A118 or ISO 13007 classifications suitable for your project.  Please consult with your installation professional to make these determinations.

important: because of the precious glazed surface, gold & platinum zellige tiles require finger grouting. we recommend working in small areas and carefully finger grouting to keep grout in the joints and off the surface of the decorative tiles. 

grout color selection is always up to our client and/or their design professional. however, clé is often asked for our opinion on best grout selections for our tiles. and due to the large array of grout colors that are now available, clé would like to offer this general guideline on a foolproof grout color selection for any of your clé tiles:
 
first, have your professional tile contractor complete your tile installation, except for the grout portion.

next, when ready to grout, ask your contractor to bring ALL grout color charts from his preferred grout manufacturers, for your review.

lastly, choose a time of day when you are most pleased with the lighting in your space (either natural lighting, installed lighting or a blend of both). during that lighting and time of day, select the grout color that best matches your tile selection.

If you are working with highly color-variegated tiles or a combination of tiles, we recommend that you follow the above recommendations—but match your grout to the color in your installation that you would like to accentuate.

using a contrasting grout on zellige tiles may highlight any cracks or crazing on the surface of the tile.

for more information about grouting please see our gold & platinum zellige material guidelines.

square - 4” x 4" x ⅜"
bejmat* - 2” x 6” x ¾”
*bejmat actual measurements tend to be closer to 1¾" x 5½".

disclaimer: please note all dimensions are nominal. additionally, dimensions between tiles can vary +/-  ¼".