Crazing In common with all handmade tiles Royce Wood tiles may display crazing. This is a naturally occurring process and does not affect the intended suitability of the tiles in any way. Crazing takes the appearance of fine lines running across the tile surface  in a random pattern. It should be noted that it is only the glaze layer (surface coating) which may show crazing and not the clay tile body itself.  Sometimes tiles may craze before, after or during installation. Certain glazes are more prone to craze than others. Moss, Autumn and Mirage and other green coloured glazes are more likely to craze than Wheat and Earth which are not susceptible to crazing. We cannot guarantee crazing from happening and it should be viewed as a characteristic of handmade tiles rather than a flaw.

Shade Variations Variations in shade and/or colour is inherent in all fired clay products and especially those which are handmade. It is one of the many natural characteristics that enhance handmade tiles. It is important therefore to pull tiles from different boxes during installation in order to blend the tiles better. In addition as all the tiles are hand cut slight variations in size is usual in the tiles. This is usually only around one or two millimeters. The best way to fix the tiles therefore is to allow a grout width of at least 4 or 5 millimeters.

Other Characteristics Minor blemishes may be seen in handmade tiles such as ferrous spots, surface spots or markings where the clay has been handled. Again, this is a naturally occurring characteristic of all handmade tiles which should be seen as a desirable feature indicating that  the tiles have indeed been made by hand. It is important to reassure clients that if any tile is found to have a serious defect  such as a major crack or split then naturally it will be replaced.

Caring for your handmade tiles Royce Wood handmade tiles are very strong and resilient as they are fired to high temperatures of around 1150 degrees centigrade, and so will last a lifetime. They  need to be cut using an electric, diamond wheel tile cutter. It is best to fix them to the wall with a proprietary brand tile cement. Royce Wood also recommends grouting the tiles with a good quality wide joint grout such as Mapei Ultracolour. Modern grouts often have the additional benefit of containing an additive such as Microban which helps to prevent mould build up on the grout. Once fixed the tiles can be cleaned with a mild detergent or warm soapy water.