Care Tile

PRODUCT CARE TILES

To ensure that you receive leasing pleasure from Rocell Tiles with minimum effort, please observe the following advice on product care and maintenance.

They are based on our experience and judgement, but must not be regarded as amounting to be a legal liability on our part. These recommendations are intended to assist you; our customer.

Sweep or vacuum your glazed tile regularly.
Wash or mop your floors often to remove any dirt or grit. Use a mild, diluted detergent solution when cleaning.
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners as they may discolor some types of coloured grout.
After washing your floors with a mild detergent you should thoroughly rinse the tiles with clean, warm water.
Never wax a tile as it could affect the glazed ceramic finish.
Wipe spills immediately with an all-purpose cleaner and then mop. This will also prevent the grout joints from becoming discoloured.

Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are easy to clean using water and normal commercially available detergents. They do not require any polishing treatments or waxing, and do not easily retain dirt which, will most probably lead to the growth of bacteria.

On completion of laying, the first cleaning job is carried out to eliminate the residues of mortar, adhesives, and grout from the ceramic surface. Usually, an acid base solution is used which is left to act for a short time in contact with the tiled surface. It is very important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, keeping in mind the level of resistance to acids of the particular tile laid. It is advisable, therefore to make an initial test on a small area of the tile surface.

For routine cleaning, it is usually sufficient to pass over the tiled surface with a damp rag or mop to obtain the tile's natural sheen. Special cleaning is required for a floor that has been neglected for some time or one that has traces of stains on the tiles or the joints. For neglected floors, it is sufficient to clean the surface thoroughly with a suitable detergent used for stained floors. A special stain removal procedure must be carried out. This can be done by using physical or chemical means: in the first case, very fine abrasives are used to detach and remove stains or dirt from the tiles or joints: in the second case, there is a chemical reaction between the stain and the product, which dissolves it.

General maintenance and cleaning of porcelain tile varies depending on the surface texture and soil load. General cleaning should be performed with a neutral cleaner diluted to the manufacturer's recommendations. Non-oil, non-acidic and non-soap based cleaners should be used. General household cleaners that meet this specification include: Mr. Clean, Windex, Lysol and Spic 'N Span.

Once a suitable ceramic tile is properly installed, it is very difficult to damage. Tiles may be chipped or broken if a heavy object dropped on the floor. Structural deficiencies may lead to cracking or breaking, most commonly caused by substrate movement.
Do not combine ammonia and household bleaches.
Do not use harsh cleaning agents such as steel wool pads, which can scratch or damage the surface of the tile.
Use a test scouring pads in a small area first.
Use a silicone sealer on grout joints if continuous staining is a problem.
Read and follow label directions for all cleaners.
The sooner the cleaning is carried out, the easier the stain can be removed.
Protect the floor if decorating, construction or overhead work is taking place.
Locations which are permanently wet such as swimming pools and showers, may attract build up of blubber, oils, soap residue, hard water deposits and in humid conditions, organic growth (algae). To remove this, a more acidic cleaning material is regularly preferable. A plastic scouring pad is the most useful device for this kind of cleaning.
Powder cleansers should not be used as they leave stain particles which may later rust leaving brown stains.
Unglazed tiles should not be regularly cleaned with alkaline detergent of greater than pH9. These should be only used occasionally and then the residue should be thoroughly rinsed away with clean water, otherwise reactions can cause a glossy and potentially slippery surface.
The pH of a material is the measure of acidity or alkalinity. It is a logarithmic scale and pH7 is the neutral point. Below pH7 the material is more progressively more acidic, and above pH7 more alkaline (i.e. pH is ten times more alkaline than pH7).
The regular use of detergents and other cleaning agents which are excessively acidic or alkaline can cause irreversible damage to the tile surface.
Many degreasing agents which contain wax, solidum silicates or other additives which leave a sticky deposit on the floor and thus retain dirt on the surface, must also be avoided.

Unpolished:
No sealing is required, use natural ingredients when cleaning.

Polished:
Polishing of natural stones provides a high gloss to the surfaces of the material, which already grants a protection to an extent.

In order to maintain the finish, regular cleaning is needed. Mopping with warm water regularly will help the product from being opaque. After many years, the floor can be repolished.

Commercial Areas

Public areas such as lobbies, malls, shopping centers and corridors can be easily cleaned by a daily mopping with warm water and all purpose liquid cleaner.

Showers and Toilets

Where hygiene is of paramount importance, such as in commercial showers and toilets, a commercial cleaner is the best application where cleaning should be performed daily.

Kitchens

For commercial kitchens where the grease build up is constant, approximately ½ cup (0.12 litres) of industrial cleaner up to 15 litres maybe used to clean grease and oil spills. This method of cleaning is appropriate also for dining areas in fast food cafeterias and for food and beverage spills.

Exterior Areas

Although exterior tile surfaces do not often require cleaning, they can be washed with a soapless detergent and rinsed with fresh water. Where harder grime occurs, a soft bristle brush can remove build-up.

Hygiene

Due to the nature of ceramic tiles, their surfaces , glazed or unglazed are perfectly hygienic. In this way, they are excellent for domestic applications where hygiene is essential and where dirt and hard water are inevitable and thus are an easy floor surface to clean. In commercial applications, this hygiene is imperative for bathrooms, kitchens, hospitals, schools, toilets and their ease of maintenance essential for lobbies, shopping malls, eating areas, and industrial areas.

TILE INSTALLATION


Introducing Rocell Tile Adhesives and Grouts

FAQs

  1. What sizes Rocell Tiles available in?

    Currently, Rocell Tiles are available in the sizes below -
    - 600x300mm(2x1ft)
    - 600x600mm(2x2ft)
    - 450x900mm(1.5x3ft)
    - 600x1200mm
    - 150x900mm
    - 200x1200mm
    - 400x400mm

  2. What are the prices for Rocell Tiles?

    Please visit the nearest showroom or call Rocell Contact Centre on 076 622 3344 for more information.

  3. What are the types of Finishes available for Rocell Tiles?

    Rocell Tiles are available in Matt, Satin Matt, Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Polished, Lappato, Metallic, Anti Slip & Sugar finishes.

  4. What is the difference between ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles?

    The main difference is the rate of absorption. Porcelain tiles have a lower rate of absorption than ceramic tiles.

  5. What is meant by the shade and calibre of a tile?

    Ceramic products are made from natural materials which are fired at very high temperatures. This process can cause slight differences in the shades of colour and actual dimensions of a tile between one batch and the next. Therefore, tiles are grouped before packaging according to their shade and calibre. These features are indicated on the label of every pack. When laying tiles on a surface, it is recommended to use the same shade and calibre for a uniform finish.

  6. How to lay tiles properly?

    Follow the Rocell tile-laying guide on YouTube for step by step instructions on how to lay tiles the right way. Please refer to the link . If additional support is needed, you may call the Rocell Contact Centre on 076 622 3344.
    Please Visit

  7. How to grout tile properly?

    Joints should be grouted only after the tiles are firmly bonded to the floor. You should wait for approximately 24 hours after tiles have been laid to start grouting. We recommend that you use Rocell Tile Grout for your surface. Clean the joints thoroughly to remove any dust or dirt and apply the grout between the joints using a rubber trowel. Make sure to leave the grout to dry for about 20-30 minutes before cleaning the surface with a wet sponge. Do not allow the grout to dry for a long time as it can be difficult to clean off the surface. Please refer to the link for a step by step guide. If additional support is needed, you may call the Rocell Contact Centre on 076 622 3344.
    Please Visit

  8. Can floor tiles be installed on walls? Or wall tiles on floors?

    Floor tiles can be used on walls. However, it is not recommended to use wall tiles on the floor.

  9. What is the best way to select bathroom tiles?

    Consider the colour theme or design that you want in your bathroom. Having lighter hues will make the room appear larger than it is. Darker colours are good for bathrooms with a larger area and good lighting. You can choose colours to match the mood that you want in your bathroom. Having the right color palette can make a powerful stamen for your room. Don’t be afraid to mix and match tiles to find the combination that works for you.

  10. Do you provide a warranty for tiles?

    A warranty is not currently available for tiles. However, Rocell Tiles are manufactured in compliance with ISO 13006 quality standards to ensure a high-quality product. If a manufacturing defect is found, the tiles can be replaced. Please call the Rocell Contact Centre on 076 622 3344 for more information.

  11. Will the colour of Rocell floor tiles and wall tiles fade over time?

    The colour will not fade in tiles that are under normal use. However, if strong chemical cleaners are used in routine maintenance, Metallic finish tiles have the potential to react and fade.

  12. Is it possible to lay tiles without applying grout?

    In practice, tiling without applying grout is not recommended. Even for rectified products, a minimum of 1 mm and better yet, 2 mm of grouting is recommended.

  13. How to clean my floor tiles?

    Sweep or vacuum your floor regularly. Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are easy to clean using water and regular, commercially available detergents. They do not require any special polishing or waxing treatments. Also, they do not retain dirt easily which reduces the probability of bacterial growth. Avoid using any cleaners which contain acid or bleach for routine maintenance. Avoid wax-based cleaners, oil-based detergents and use sealants on grout joints only. Harsh cleaning aids like steel wool pads or any scouring pads containing metal shouldn’t be used on tiles. This could scratch the surface. Unglazed tiles should not be cleaned with an agent that contains color.