Transport and storage

• for transport, put the loading units tightly one next to another in one layer, with the tiles always in vertical position, and secure any free spaces so as to prevent the load from moving about during transportation;
• store the tiles in dry places to protect them against dampness or wetness.

Before fitting

• prior to fitting the tiles, check the whole lot for the face quality, shade, and size. Do this by comparing the tiles from different cartons. Also, prior to fitting, check the packaging whether the calibre, shade, and production dates are the same.

Surface preparation

• the surface must be even, load-bearing, and solid; if on percussion test any debonding is found - „hollow sounds”, hack it off and replace. The surface should be free of any dirt, paints, dust, or grease;
• for surfaces covered with, e.g. wallpaper, oil or emulsion paint coatings, remove these mechanically, and smoothen any rough areas with smoothing mortar. For larger surfaces, make vertical and horizontal grooves to lessen the tensions arising as the mortar sets hard;
• prime the surfaces with priming emulsions. In particular, this is required for plaster, gas concrete surfaces, or „Suporex”-type blocks;
• prior to fitting the tiles, prime and smoothen the sub-flooring, e.g. with self-levelling mortars.

Fitting

• prepare the adhesive strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions, using a slow-speed drill with agitator, and apply before the indicated time lapses. Spread the adhesive on the wall using a notched trowel with the notch size adjusted to the tile size, in one direction, if possible;
• spread the adhesive on a surface not larger than 1m2 at a time. Fit the tiles until the adhesive adheres to your hands, remove any excess adhesive (do not mix it with that already mixed in the bucket). The adhesive layer thickness cannot exceed 5mm;
• the use of spacer crosses is not necessary, but it does help to keep the required joint width;
• for floor tiles, you can strike the tile home with a rubber hammer.
  You can correct the tile’s position directly after fitting it;
• at the edges, in the corners, and at the joint with the floor make dilations or apply dilation cords;
• do not fill with the adhesive the hollows in the potsherds (e.g. sigma, echo, or cigar-shaped hollows in the wall sections);
• avoid filling the joints with the adhesive. Remove any excess adhesive and the spacer crosses from the joints before the adhesive sets hard;
• on terraces, balconies, stairs, and wherever the tiles are exposed to dampness and frost, apply dilation and water drainage systems, to prevent damp accumulation;
• prior to fitting the tiles on heated surfaces, it is recommended to turn on the floor heating system and gradually increase its temperature up to the maximum level, then turn it off 24 hours before tiling. You can turn on the heating system again at least 28 days after fitting the flooring.

Grouting

• you can grout the joints after the time indicated in the instructions for the adhesive material used to fit the tiles;
• apply the grout with a rubber trowel by squeezing it into the spaces between the tiles (first perpendicularly to the edges, then transversely);
• when dry, clean the tile surfaces with frequently rinsed and squeezed-dry sponge. At a time, grout a surface not greater than that you can clean;
• for high ambient temperatures and low humidity, it is recommended to slightly moisten the grout with a sponge, which will prevent it from drying too fast;
• remove any dry grout dust with a soft dry cloth.

Useful tips

• appropriately prepared substrate will prevent the tiles from cracking;
• prime absorptive substrates with a priming emulsion;
• do not smoothen any surfaces with the adhesive;
• use the right size notched trowel to apply the adhesive;
• having applied the adhesive on the wall, watch for its proper adhesive properties;
• do not mix adhesives with other materials;
• the maximum adhesive layer cannot exceed 5mm;
• grout the joints not earlier than two days after fitting the tiles.

Floor tiles

The Domino brand floor tiles are frost-resistant glazed porcelain stoneware, which can be well applied outdoors. They are easy to clean and resistant to chemical agents. They are characterised by high resistance to bending and abrasion (as per the declared abrasion grade). Below please find the general characteristics and suggested applications of selected grades:

Grade 2 – for use on surfaces not exposed to contact with abrasive materials. Good for soft-soled footwear or barefoot. Can be applied in bathrooms, bedrooms, or living rooms, wherever traffic is low.
Grade 3 – for use on surfaces exposed to slight and incidental contamination with abrasive particles. Good for footwear with standard soles. Recommended for use in the rooms with moderate traffic, e.g.: kitchens, halls, corridors, terraces in residential buildings. Not good for non-standard footwear. e.g. hobnail boots.
Grade 4 – for use on surfaces exposed to normal traffic and contact with abrasive materials. May be applied in sales rooms, hotels, shops, etc.
Grade 5 – for use on surfaces not particularly exposed to increased continuous traffic, where abrasive particles are brought in. Meet the more discriminating requirements, as found e.g. in department stores, shops, hotel halls, etc.

In order to protect the tiles’ top glaze layer, at the entrance to the building apply doormats to protect the flooring against abrasive materials, which will greatly extend the tiles’ service life and good appearance.