Victorian mosaic floor tile designs are composed of various small geometric shapes to create repeating and tessellating patterns. We assemble the tiles by hand attaching a clear adhesive tape to the the surface enabling multiple tiles to be installed in one application. More details can be found on the Sheeted Tiles page.
A clear adhesive film is applied to the surface of the tiles holding them in place. Compared with other methods such as an underside mesh, our system has the following advantages:
1. Protects the tiles and grout lines from contamination
2. 100% contact with the adhesive used
3. Allows the fitter to fully view the design
4. Tape is easily removed without water
5. Easily cut with a craft knife for adjustments
6. Provides levelling, minimising the chance of exposed edges
7. Our sheets are waterproof and rugged so are easily stored
8. Easily transported
No residue is left on the surface of the tile even after long periods of storage.
Always use a grey grout, never use a coloured grout for floor tiles.
The tile spacing varies slightly but is never greater than 1.5mm. We understand that in order to achieve an authentic look the grout lines must be kept to a minimum, but wide enough to take a fine grout, which adds structural integrity to the finished floor.
These reproduction Victorian floor tiles are pre-moulded, unglazed fully vitrified (heat treated) ceramic (clay) and are made using a process called dust pressing, more details can be found on the Technical Details page.
We encourage you to send dimensions that are as accurate as possible. However, it is not necessary to be millimetre perfect, as there is always a tolerance in the outer-most border when installing our designs. For guidelines on sending us dimensions please see the How to Buy page.
Tiles are commonly and ideally fixed to cement bases. Timber bases are also possible and there are many adhesive manufactures offering products for this solution. Either way the recommended base should be sound, smooth and solid. The sheeted tiles respond particularly well to to a smooth flat base.
In general when installing tiles to an external path leading to a residential property, it is important to provide a substantial and reinforced cement base on which to bond the geometric tiles. The following process is recommended:
1. Remove all existing material in order to expose either earth or clay to an approximate depth of around 6-8 inches (150 – 205 mm).
2. Hard core should be installed and compacted as an initial layer.
3. A screed should then be installed incorporating a reinforcement of either a fibre additive or a steel mesh. This commonly will be composed of an initial layer of ballast, followed by a top layer of a sharp sand screed. Method and composition may vary but the screed should be reinforced as a good practice to minimise the potential for cracking, movement and subsidence.
4. The finished level should be the correct depth to allow for the thickness of the tiles as well as the adhesive used (11mm - 12mm).
5. The screed should also be as flat and as smooth as possible with the correct run off for water away from the property, to the pavement.
6. Once installed the screed should be covered with plastic for approximately 2 days to provide protection form the weather to allow the screed to harden. The recommended curing time required before tiles are fixed should be between 4-6 weeks.