le sol | grand | plank

do i need to seal le sol tiles?
 
 le sol tiles are porous and should be sealed as the final step of installation for all applications (dry and wet) to maintain their appearance and avoid staining. both the tile surface and grouted areas should be sealed. you must apply sealant or a grout release prior to grouting, then seal as the final step of installation.
 
 if you are installing le sol on a busy kitchen backsplash where heavy staining is a concern, we recommend applying the clé top coat kit to the tile surface and grouted areas instead of using laticrete sealing products. the clé top coat kit can provide even more protection against stains on backsplashes. apply the top coat kit as the final step of installation. please note that this product is only a top coat and should only be applied as the final step of installation. please do not use this as a pre-grout treatment and be careful during the grouting process, using a grout bag and cleaning up as you go.
 
 for exterior sealing, clé recommends stonetech heavy duty exterior sealer from laticrete.
 
 for all other sealing and protecting, clé recommends stonetech bulletproof sealer from laticrete.
 
 for more information about sealing please see our le sol material guidelines.

do you offer trim for your le sol 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.
 - a visible tile edge can be honed/polished/sanded to make the side match the main surface of the tile.
 - 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 le sol tiles? 
 
 over time, a natural patina will occur on floors as they are maintained and naturally wear.
 
 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 le sol material guidelines for more information.

what type of finish should i expect with this collection?
 
 le sol tiles are porous unglazed terracotta tiles with medium texture variation.

what types and levels of variation and imperfections should i expect?
 
 due to the natural materials and production process of le sol tiles, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade, size, and texture in your order. additionally, flashing or firing marks as well as white calcium deposits on the surface of the tiles are normal and to be expected. 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:
 
 le sol tiles are rated 'level 4 heavy' for color variation, 'level 3 medium' for texture variation, 'level 3 heavy' for size variation, and 'level 2 prevalent' for chips, and cracks.
 
see illustrations in the technical specifications section above, and read more about the ratings in our tile variation & imperfections guide.

how will my le sol tile samples compare to my actual order?
 
 due to the handmade craftsmanship of our tiles and the variety of materials used, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade, size and texture across production lots or batches. additionally, flashing or firing marks as well as white calcium deposits on the surface of the tiles are normal and to be expected. this means that your sample may not be a perfect match with your actual order, and that your add-on order may not be a perfect match to either.

what should i expect with my order of le sol?
 
 le sol tiles travel a long distance and are packed in the traditional way with sawdust to protect the tiles from breaking.
 
 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. 
 
 is it possible to purchase more of the same material after my initial order (i.e. place an add on order)?
 
 keep in mind there can be variation in color and texture between batches of le sol that can make add on orders difficult. remember to take this into account when calculating your order, and be sure to purchase enough material.
 
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 ⅛” grout joint for le sol tile installations. for design purposes a larger grout joint can also be used - please refer to our le sol installation blueprints for inspiration.

clé recommends using mortar and sanded 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.

le sol installations with a grout joint size ¾” or larger will require the use of a pointing mortar, which will need to be applied and two steps:

• grout the joints and push them down with a striking tool so they don’t shrink.
• after the initial application dries, regrout the joints as needed to keep the surface flush.

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.

for more information about grouting please see our le sol material guidelines.