Installation Instructions
Thin Brick Installation and Maintenance
P.O. Box 9240 Canton, Ohio 44711 1-800-325-3945 e-mail: info@ironrock.com www.metroceramics.com
Initial Cleaning and Seasoning
1. It is the installer’s responsibility to thoroughly clean and remove all grout or mortar residue from the new tile surface.
2. Because grout joints are porous and highly susceptible to staining, you may wish to protect them with an application of
a water - based penetrating sealer, such as Aqua Mix Penetrating Sealer.*
3. Season the floor by mopping thoroughly with a double strength application of Hillyard’s Super Shine-All®, Murphy’s Oil
Soap®, or other neutral liquid cleaner. *If the floor will be subject to frequent staining by fat, oil or grease spills, you may
wish to apply the penetrating sealer to the tile as well as the grout joints to enhance the tile’s soil resisting characteristics.
Make sure to apply the penetrating sealer before seasoning the floor. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully.
Wipe up all excess sealer immediately to prevent surface discoloration. NEVER USE A COATING (SURFACE TYPE)
SEALER because they do not adhere well to the tight dieskin surface.
Recommended Maintenance
1. Sweep, vacuum, or damp mop as necessary to remove dust, dirt and grit.
2. Remove heavy spills or spots immediately with a heavy detergent and stiff brush or a non-metallic scouring pad. Do
not use any cleaner containing Hydrofluoric acid which will attack both grout and tile.
3. Routinely mop the surface with a neutral liquid cleaner, such as Hillyard’s Super Shine-All®. Use a simple two-bucket
method. The first bucket should contain the neutral cleaner diluted per the manufacturer’s recommendations in hot water.
After mopping or scrubbing a small area of floor not to exceed 2-3 square feet, the mop should be rinsed in the second
bucket containing clean water. The rinse water in the second bucket should be changed regularly.
4. Mop up any dirty cleaning solution and allow floor to dry thoroughly. Under normal conditions, rinsing is not necessary.
However, if the surface is extremely dirty, it should be allowed to dry and mopped again. Over time a natural patina will
develop. It can be enhanced with a soft buffing.
5. For applications in restaurants/cafeteria service and dining areas, at least once per week – and more often if necessary
– the floor should be scrubbed with a solution of Hillyard’s Assurance® all-purpose cleaner or a comparable product and
a scrub brush. Contact us for complete instructions on maintaining a Metropolitan floor in food service areas.
See our web site for complete downloadable cleaning and maintenance information.
If you have any questions about maintaining your Metropolitan Ceramics® floor, call us at 1-800-325-3945.
Metropolitan Ceramics – PO Box 9240 – Canton, OH 44711
Fax: 330-484-3584 - E-mail: info@ironrock.com - www.metroceramics.com
Hillyard, Inc. Aqua Mix, Inc.
Phone: 800-365-1555 Phone: 562-946-6877
http://www.hillyard.com Technical Assistance: 800-366-6877
www.custombuildingproducts.com
CANTON, OHIO
®
®
INDOOR / OUTDOOR
A product of Metropolitan Ceramics
UNGLAZED CERAMIC QUARRY TILE
QUARRY TILE AND THIN BRICK
17 - Mix the Grout
Mix up the sanded grout of your choice. Use the same
sanded grout as is used for tile. Mix the grout a bit thinner
(somewhat like cake icing) when using a grout bag, Do not
mix more grout than you can easily use with a few fills of
your grout bag as it will harden. Always follow the
manufacturers instructions when mixing grout.
Note: Choose your grout color carefully because different
grout colors can change the appearance of the wall
18 - Using a Grout Bag
Wet the inside of a grout bag to help in starting the
process. Scoop grout into the bag using a small trowel.
Begin by scooping a small amount, two to three scoops,
until you know how much works best for you.
Twist the bag closed similar to how you would a cake icing
bag. Squeeze the bag into your grout bucket to get air out
and start the grout flowing.
If the gout is clogging the bag add a bit water to your
bucket to get the right consistency.
As you work on the wall, from time to time you may need to
rinse hardening grout out of the bag to keep it from
clogging.
Note: Some grout bags are designed to allow you to cut
more of the tip of the bag off to increase grout flow. Cutting
too much however could cause improper filling of the
joints and harder clean up.
19 - Fill the Joints
Place the tip of the mortar bag into the joint. Begin
squeezing grout into the joints between the bricks. Start at
the top of the wall and work your way down. Fill the vertical
joints first coming back to fill in the horizontal joints. Work
the bag across the joints as you are twisting the bag to
squeeze grout out. Fill the joints as neatly as possible and
completely fill (but don’t overfill) the joints. This will make
clean up much easier.
MET_TB_CM_11_15
20 - Strike the Joints
Use the joiner tool (you can also use a large dowel rod) to
strike the joints as shown at left. You may want to wait a
minute or two after grouting to strike an area of joints. If
you are doing a large wall you will do a section and then go
back and strike it. Waiting until the grout is slightly hard
will cause the grout to clump more and cause less
smearing.
Note: Pay close attention to the instructions provided by
the grout manufacturer for curing times as these will vary.
Waiting too long to strike the joints will make it difficult
even impossible to remove the excess grout. It is better to
strike them sooner than later.