top installation tips for cement tile: trim, grout, and sealant

(left) clé tile pattern cement squares in new west pattern one. design: natalie myers / photo: charlotte lea. (right) clé tile solid cement hexes in black. design: veronica valencia / photo: megan welker

we receive a great many questions when it comes to installing cement tile, and ultimately, our advice is this: remember three things.

• that our cement tile is artisan tile (and thus full of delightful variation which only enhances its beauty) that will wear and patina with use (also delightfully)
• your cement tile installation is only as good as your installer. (sound familiar?)
• before choosing cement tiles for your next project, make sure you understand everything you need to know, such as where it can be installed and what you can expect in terms of maintenance.

how to install cement tile

as long as you find the right contactor for your tile project, you can defer to them for the most important decisions, such as tile placement, edging, and grouting. here are the key things your tile installer should keep in mind.

pre-installation preparation

one of the most important aspects of pre-installation is ordering the correct amount of tile from the start. because artisan cement tile is handmade in small batches, color and texture will vary from batch to batch. our advice: have your contractor measure (twice) and have them tell exactly you how much tile you need, building at least 15% overage into the order (many of the contractors we work with will want more than 20%). this will help you avoid the dreaded add-on order because matching another order of tile to your order will be nearly impossible. take it from us: the failure to order enough tile ends in tears and tantrums. best to avoid all that by taking due care.

surface preparation

not only does a good installation require the right installer, but it will require the right substrate and surface. the substrate is literally the supporting layer beneath your tile that determines the short- and long-term success of the tile installation (and your tile investment). but substrates are complicated. they can flex or warp over time, causing tiles to shift, crack, or loosen. because of this, it’s easy to see that the wrong preparation can not only put your entire installation at risk, but it can be a safety hazard as well.

your contractor is in charge of preparing your space for installation. every install should start with the right substrate and a level, dry surface that is free of paint, adhesive, and debris. emphasis on dry — any moisture underneath your tile will surface over time and damage the tile.

cutting cement tile

any cutting will be done with a water-cooled tile saw. this is a notoriously messy and intricate process best handled by an experienced professional.

tile placement

blending is the careful process of laying out exactly which tile goes where, and it’s an essential step when working with any handmade tile including cement. any professional with experience installing artisan tile will carefully place your tiles — and have you sign off on placement — before installing them. this will take time — but it’s worth it.

cement tile edging and trim

at clé we follow the international model of no trim and highly recommend our clients do the same. here are our recommendations for trim alternatives for cement.

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 tile, you can choose to paint the outer edge of the tile to match the painted surface. our cement paint pairing guide includes paint color suggestions for every cement tile color and finish we offer.as 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 information on trim, read our blog on trim alternatives.

grouting cement tile

always check the product page for our latest recommendations on the right grout to use, and a 1/16″ grout joint width with the cement collection.

grout color selection is best left to the design professional. however, clé is often asked for our opinion on best grout selections for our tiles. 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.

have your professional tile contractor complete your tile installation, except for the grout portion.

when ready to grout, ask your contractor to bring all grout color charts from their preferred grout manufacturers, for your review.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.

cutting cement tile

any cutting will be done with a water-cooled tile saw. this is a notoriously messy and intricate process best handled by an experienced professional.