eastern earthenware | ancestral iron | baguette | february 2023

do i need to seal eastern earthenware tiles?

for exterior sealing, clé recommends stonetech heavy duty exterior sealer from laticrete.

if your tiles have visible crazing, or if are using a contrasting grout, clé recommends sealing with stonetech heavy duty sealer from laticrete as a pre-grout treatment.

dry applications of eastern earthenware 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 eastern earthenware material guidelines.

do you offer trim for your eastern earthenware 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.
- 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 about trim, please see our trim guide.

how do i take care of my eastern earthenware 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 eastern earthenware 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 eastern earthenware material guidelines for more information.

how much variation should i expect?

because eastern earthenware tiles are made by hand, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade, size and texture across batches, and feature unexpected, noticeable variations in thickness, depth, color, shade, texture, size and crazing.

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 eastern earthenware 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.

each kiln load is rated individually, please see ratings and illustrations in the technical specifications section above, and read more about the ratings in our tile variation and imperfections guide.

what's crazing, and should this be expected with eastern earthenware tiles?

eastern earthenware tiles are made by hand and will show visible crazing. crazing refers to the hairline cracks which may occur in the glaze surface of tile after firing and is common in handcrafted tile.

do you offer samples for your eastern earthenware tile?

we do not offer samples for our eastern earthenware collection. as there is generally a lag time between sampling and purchase we would not be able to guarantee that you would be sampling from the same kiln batch you are purchasing from, and this makes sampling redundant. additionally, each firing produces a wide degree of variation which is not able to be demonstrated by sampling just one or two pieces. instead of sampling, with each kiln load we take new photos showing the variation found within that batch and provide a detailed description of the colors and qualities to be expected.

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.

However, Eastern Earthenware tiles are made by hand and will feature degrees of variation in color, shade, size, and texture.  If these features do not fit your project's needs, we recommend ordering 20-30% overage.

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

clé recommends a ¹/₁₆” grout joint with this collection.

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.

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.

we recommend applying sealant or using a grout release prior to grouting if the tile has visible crazing.

important: we do not generally recommend using a contrasting grout color with eastern earthenware, as it will highlight the thin hairline cracks/crazing found on the tiles, and fill in any pits, and/or chips. if you choose to use a contrasting grout (i.e. white grout with black tile) please order 20-30% overage in order to cherry-pick the tile of the imperfections that are standard to eastern earthenware. additionally, you must make sure to apply stonetech heavy duty sealer from laticrete as a pre-grout treatment to minimize the possibility of the contrasting grout curing in the inherent hairline cracks, pits, and/or chips.

for more information about grouting please see our eastern earthenware material guidelines.

square - 4" x 4" x ⅜"
rectangle - 2" x 6" x ⅜"
square - 2" x 2" x ⅜"

disclaimer: please note all dimensions are nominal. additionally, dimensions between tiles can vary +/- ⅛".