Installation Guidelines

INSPECT UPON DELIVERY

Please open all boxes as soon as they arrive and inspect your tile. Confirm that all items are correct and accounted for, and that nothing is broken. Mistakes are infrequent, but if something is amiss it must be addressed immediately to avoid delays. If tiles are missing from your order or were damaged in transit, our shippers require a freight claim within five days of delivery.

RETURNS AND CANCELLATIONS

Returns are not accepted on made-to-order tiles unless defective or damaged in transit. Cancellations are not accepted on tile already in production. Installation signifies acceptance of this policy and no post-installation adjustments will be made.

GLAZE COLOR RANGE

Variations in hue, tone and surface quality are intrinsic to the beauty of Motawi tiles. We recommend that clients order a range sample for each glaze color in their project before the tile is made. By approving the range sample, clients acknowledge that all or part of their order may vary in appearance, just as the range sample varies.

SELECTING A TILE INSTALLER

We strongly recommend hiring a professional installer who will take extra time at the outset to check fit, spacing and glaze variation before gluing anything down! Motawi Tileworks or your building contractor may be able to recommend a professional tile installer.

INSTALLING YOUR TILE

Prior to installation, the entire design should be laid out to confirm that all tile is accounted for and that glaze variation is well-balanced. The manner of installation should follow industry guidelines for specific site conditions, which can be found in the Tile Council of North America’s Handbook of Ceramic Tile Installation (www.tcnatile.com).

If you are installing the tile yourself:

1. Make sure the installation surface is level.

2. Use a trowel to apply thin-set or mastic to the installation surface and adhere the tile.

3. Allow the area to dry.

4. Once dry, the tile is ready for sealing and/or grouting.

TESTING

Always test a sample before grouting, as dark grouts stain light-colored glazes and some light grouts may stain dark-colored glazes.

PROTECTING YOUR TILE

Before grouting, installers should apply masking tape or painter’s tape to all art tile and relief tile to prevent grout from adhering to the tile surface and/or staining.

SEALANT

All glossy and light glaze colors must be sealed before grouting, and any Motawi tile may be sealed with a penetrating sealer before grouting to help minimize staining. We like Stonetech BulletProof Sealer. We strongly recommend using two coats. Please note: Sealant may not completely prevent staining. Always test sealant (and any material you plan to use with your tile) on a sample to make sure you love the result.

GROUT SPACING

Recommended grout spacing is about 3/16". There is some size variation because our tiles are handmade. Your grout spacing may need to be adjusted to achieve a perfect fit.

GROUT TYPE

We recommend TEC Power Grout for virtually all installations. If TEC is not available, another sanded grout product may be substituted. Sanded grout is recommended for all Motawi tile installations.

GROUT COLORS

As a rule, grout should be darker than the tile being installed. Grout color recommendations vary depending on the installation and glaze colors.

Please consult the installation design department when selecting your grout color or check our color recommendations here.

Motawi tile features a rounded shoulder, designed to complement the dome of the tile and add dimensionality to your installation. Please keep grout below this shoulder during installation, as shown:

image|grout depth example |#

THICKNESS

Motawi tiles are generally 5/8” thick. The installed thickness depends on the underlayment.

DIMENSIONS

Motawi tiles are sized to fit together using a grout space of approximately 3/16". Therefore, the actual size of a Motawi tile is slightly smaller than the stated/ nominal size (a 4x4 tile is approximately 3 13/16" x 3 13/16"). As each Motawi tile is crafted by hand, dimensions may vary slightly by up to 1/16".

MODULARITY

Our tile line is modular. Two 2x2s can be substituted for one 2x4 and they will occupy the same amount of space.

WEIGHT

Motawi tile weighs approximately 8 pounds per square foot. When mounted and grouted, allow about 11 pounds per square foot.

Motawi tile is ideal for fireplaces, kitchen backsplashes and wet applications like bathrooms and residential floors. It will not be damaged by heat.

OUTDOOR USAGE

Motawi tile is designed for indoor use. Our tile has been successfully installed outdoors — in select applications and locales — with beautiful results. However, we offer no guarantee of suitability for outdoor installation, nor do we market our tile as an outdoor product.

CLEANING

To keep your Motawi tile looking its best, we recommend wiping with warm water and buffing dry with a soft towel or an old t-shirt. Not quite doing the job? Try any nonacidic cleaner (we like the Simple Green brand).

We are passionate about creating beautiful ceramic tile that withstands generations of use while striving to minimize our environmental impact. There are several reasons why Motawi is a greener choice:

• Long life cycle: Tile is a durable, cleanable surface with a useable life of more than 40 years.

• Air quality: Our lead-free glazes do not contain added volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Motawi tile is also chemically inert and inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and fungus.

• Energy efficiency: Tile helps with insulation, keeping heating and cooling costs low.

• Environmentally friendly maintenance: Our tile is best cleaned using pH-neutral cleaning products without toxic chemicals.

• Recycled water and raw materials: We repurpose our clay and utilize a water filtration system to capture and clarify the water used in our studio.

• Fire resistance: Due to its noncombustible composition, ceramic tile is fireproof at any temperature. It will not burn or fuel a fire.