R E FE R E N CE G U I D E
TILE & STONE INSTALLATION SYSTEMS
Tiling and grouting instructions
Cutting your tiles 3. Follow immediately with more
• When cutting tiles, always wear mortar and “comb” the mortar
protective eyewear. in one direction, parallel to the
shortest tile dimension, using
• Remember to cut all tiles before the trowel’s notched side to
you begin to apply the mortar. achieve an even-setting bed.
• Try to avoid cuts that result in 4. Apply mortar to the back of the
a tile less than half of its tiles (back-buttering) when you
original size. are installing tiles measuring
• To make straight cuts, score the 15" x 15" (38 x 38 cm) or larger,
tile surface with a tile cutter and when tiles are concave beneath
snap the pieces apart. or when tiles are wet from the
use of a wet saw.
• For curved or rounded cuts, use
a wet saw or mechanical cutting 5. Spread only as much material as can be covered with tiles before the mortar
tools with recommended bits or dries or loses tackiness to the touch.
cut-off wheels. Step 2 – Set tiles
• Do not dry-cut with power tools. • Place tiles in position and firmly apply pressure to the face of the tiles while
moving tiles back and forth perpendicular to the trowel ridges. This helps to
• For circular holes, use a ensure that the mortar transfers to the back of the tiles and that each tile is
carbide-tipped hole saw or in an even plane with adjacent tiles.
mechanical cutting tools.
• Check several of the set tiles for
• When cutting against walls, adequate mortar coverage by
be sure to leave room for lifting them up. Make sure that
expansion. Keep this expansion at least 80% of the tile back is
joint free of mortar and grout covered with mortar for interior,
throughout the entire application. dry applications and at least
95% for exterior or wet area
Setting your tiles in 3 easy steps
applications.
Step 1 – Spread mortar
1. Use the trowel’s straight edge to apply a thin, even coat to the surface. • Tile spacers, which can ensure
straight and even grout lines,
2. Use the trowel’s notched edge to spread mortar while holding the trowel should be placed vertically
at a 45-degree angle to the floor or wall surface. against the face of the tile and
not laid flat in the grout joint at
the corners.
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• Keep a damp cloth or sponge nearby for quick cleanup in case you drop 2. Before applying the grout,
mortar or adhesive on the tiles or any other surfaces. moisten the tile surface with a
damp cloth or sponge, using a
• Keep at least 2/3 of the tile thickness clear in the grout joints for application
minimal amount of water so that
of the grouting material.
the grout joints remain dry.
Step 3 – Allow for curing/drying
3. Work in small, manageable
• Do not disturb or walk on tiles
areas of no more than 20 square
while they are drying.
feet (1,86 m2) at a time.
• Follow the setting material
4. Holding a rubber float at a
manufacturer’s directions on
45-degree angle, force grout
curing time before grouting.
into the joints to completely fill
• In addition to the tile size and the joints with no voids.
the setting material used,
5. Remove excess grout from the tile surface by holding the rubber float at a
curing or drying times will vary
90-degree angle (perpendicular to the tile surface) while moving it across
due to temperature, humidity,
the tile in a diagonal direction.
the porosity of the tile and the
substrate. Step 3 – Cleanup
1. Cleaning should begin after the surface develops a dry, skinned-over
Grouting in 3 easy steps with MAPEI Flexcolor™ CQ appearance – within 5 to 10 minutes, depending upon the temperature,
or MAPEI Flexcolor 3D humidity and tile’s absorption rate.
Step 1 – Surface preparation
• Certain tiles with high absorption, surface porosity or rough surfaces may 2. Never allow grout to remain on the tile surface for an extended length of
require sealing before grouting to prevent permanent staining. time before completing the initial cleaning.
• The application of a grout release over certain types of porcelain or textured 3. Use a lightly dampened sponge
surface tiles or stone may be needed to lessen the chances of a residual or white scrubpad to wipe in a
grout haze and to avoid staining the tile. circular motion across the tile
surface, removing the bulk of
• Caution: Some types of glazed ceramic, glass, and natural-stone tiles can grout haze.
be permanently stained, scratched, dulled or damaged when grouted with
pigmented grout or sanded grout formulas. 4. Use a clean, lightly dampened
sponge to wipe in a diagonal
• Take all the necessary precautions to ensure that the tiles are compatible motion across the tile surface,
with colored grouts. Check the tile or marble manufacturer’s literature removing any excess grout.
and test grout in a separate sample area before grouting to determine the Avoid wiping in the same
product’s suitability with colored and/or sanded grouts. direction as the grout joints.
• Before grouting, make sure that the tiles or stones are firmly set and that the 5. Grout and clean one section at a
mortar or adhesive is completely dry. time rather than applying grout
over the entire area.
• Wipe, brush and vacuum grout joints so that they are clean and free of
standing water, dust, dirt and foreign matter. Ensure that excess mortar/ 6. After each wipe-down, rinse and wring out the sponge to prevent adding
adhesive as well as tile spacers have been removed from the joint area. excess water to the tile surface or grout joints.
• Clean the tile or stone surface thoroughly to remove dust, dirt and other 7. Change the rinse water frequently. Having multiple buckets of clean water
contaminants that may cause grout discoloration. and sponges on hand will simplify this process.
Step 2 – Application 8. Make sure that all tiles are thoroughly cleaned before the grout dries.
1. Both MAPEI Flexcolor CQ and MAPEI Flexcolor 3D require no mixing and
are ready to use straight from the packaging. If the material seems stiff, mix Caulking
by hand with a margin trowel to a smooth paste. Once the grout is dry, use one of MAPEI’s color-matched caulks – Keracaulk ®
S, Keracaulk U, Mapesil ™ T or Mapesil 3D – to fill empty joint areas around
molding, sinks, movement joints and more. Selection of the correct caulk will
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depend on the application area and
grout products used. Call MAPEI’s
Technical Services Department for
help in choosing the right products
for your application.
Sealing
Sealing of MAPEI Flexcolor CQ and
MAPEI Flexcolor 3D is not required,
but doing so may be helpful in
cleaning the grout and maintaining its
life and beauty. A sealer will protect
the grout from absorbing water and
from many types of stains.
Jobsite conditions vary and may present circumstances not covered in this
document. For the most current product information, visit www.mapei.com or
contact MAPEI’s Technical Services Product Support Team.
MAPEI Headquarters of North America
1144 East Newport Center Drive
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442
MKT: 18-1802 1-888-US-MAPEI (1-888-876-2734) /
Edition Date: August 10, 2018 (954) 246-8888
Technical Services: 1-800-992-6273 (U.S. and Puerto Rico) / 1-800-361-9309 (Canada) Services in Mexico: 0-1-800-MX-MAPEI (0-1-800-696-2734)
Customer Service: 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734)
