Notes to Client, Architect, Designer, Contractor &/or Supervisor,

Table of Contents

1.0: GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1: Size, Length & Height Variation

1.2: Lengthwise Bowing & Surface Undulation

1.3: Crackle Glazes

2.0: INSTALLATION, PLANNING & PREPARATIONS:

2.1: Pre-Installation

2.2: Installation

2.3: Adhesives

2.4: Cutting

2.5: Polishing Cut Edges

2.6: Grout Release

2.7.Grout Application

2.8: Sealants

2.9: Grout Recipes

2.10: Cleaning & Caring



GENERAL INFORMATION:

VLVLK-VEELVLAK hand-craft ceramic products creating with semi-porcelaneous
off-white, vitrified stoneware or terracotta clay bodies. Our
surfaces are kiln-fired to approximately 1220–1240 °C, resulting in a
low-porosity surfaces of just 1–3%.

These ceramics are the result of artistic intent
combined with time-honoured craftsmanship. The inherent nuances in each piece
are a testament to our studio’s commitment to authenticity and detail.

VLVLK GROUP (PTY) LTD cannot provide guarantees/warrantees due to the
inherent and complex characteristics of the CREATIVE HAND-CRAFTED processes.
However our installations and our attention to detail over the decades can
attest to the durability of these surfaces and products, that will probably
outlive us all.

NOTE ON IMAGES AND SAMPLES:

Due to inherent characteristics of handcrafted ceramic products, size, shape,
colour, shade variations, bowing and lateral deformation are normal. You will
receive the same or a similar blend as the photographed images displayed, and or
the samples that were signed-off.

All our pieces are deemed “Wabi-Sabi”.

Wabi-sabi is the view or thought of finding beauty in every aspect of
imperfection in nature. It is about the aesthetic of things in existence, that
is “imperfect”.

Wabi-Sabi embraces the inherent defects & characteristics like cracks,
bowing and lateral deformation, size and colour differences, and irregular
grout lines. Texture plays with the light and shadows resulting in a harmonious
installation incomparable with commercial variants.

SIZE, LENGTH & HEIGHT VARIATION

During
firing, our products shrink approximately 12%, resulting in natural
variation—especially in longer pieces. Variation in length, height, or width is
part of the process, occurring especially on longer pieces. Planning for
some variation is the key to a beautiful installation. Pre-sort your pieces by
colour and size so you can distribute the range of variation throughout the
installation. (Generally we pre-sort and pack pieces as blends)

LENGTHWISE BOWING & SURFACE UNDULATION

Clay, being an elastic material, once forced into a mould or extruded, will
attempt to regain its original shape as it moves through the production
process. For this reason, you can expect your pieces to have what we deem to be
an acceptable amount of lengthwise bowing or lateral distortion especially in
our longer shapes.

Surface undulation can occur in all our products for the same reason that
bowing occurs. Undulation can be anything from a slightly raised corner or edge
to undulation across the entire surface.

Rather than fighting the form, our surfaces embrace it—allowing light to
play on every imperfection and giving your space depth and movement. In order to
achieve a level surface at installation, simply use a deeper comb with the
thin-set bonding,  adjusting each tile
depth as needed.

CRACKLE GLAZES

Our glazes are formulated from original VLVLK recipes, making them unique to
each of our projects. Some glazes are designed to crackle to give a specific
look to the surface, while other glazes crackle naturally over time. This ageing process
deepens character and creates movement in the glaze.

INSTALLATION, PLANNING & PREPARATIONS:

This document refers to the general precautions and recommendations on how our
surfaces should be installed and cared for.

PRE-INSTALLATION:

Our surfaces require a careful, considered approach.
These are not commercial plug-and-play tiles, installers should be experienced,
sensitive to handmade material, and briefed on the final design intent. Each
installation is a collaborative process between artisan and environment.

The true beauty of handmade and crafted pieces/products, is that no two
are identical. You are responsible for ensuring that the installer understands
the design and intended use of the product prior to installation. The time you
take with prep and placement of pieces will greatly impact the finished result.
We suggest meticulously planning your layout, pre-sorting the pieces by size
and colour variation (if needed and required by your design intent), and
strategically blending pieces. If you have received any diagrams/images from us
- please view and study them beforehand.

INSTALLATION:

Installation
begins with unpacking and laying out a sample area. Evaluate tonal balance,
piece variation, and grout – PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME - plan the installation –
think twice and work once.

Once packed out, you will be able to gauge the approximate grout spacing
required to fit your tile into the space. Packed out pieces enables a visual
reference and allows you to plan grout spacing to have a minimum, maximum or
even variable spacing around pieces. We manufacture our surfaces with a 1mm to
5mm grout space in mind, however a larger grout spacing is possible and remains
a personal choice, depending on the look and design required. Items purchased
from our website www.VLVLK.com. have several layouts presented to serve as
suggestions for installation.

Due to the Wabi Sabi nature of our surfaces, tiles can have large size
differences of 5mm or more. We recommend that you try to avoid placing 2 large
tiles next to each other, rather placing the large tiles in the corners with
smaller tiles filling in the gaps. In this case you should avoid even grout
spacing, using instead irregular grout spacing with those pieces. An irregular
grout spacing around that piece will ensure harmonization over the entire
surface just like a commercial regular grout spacing would.

All surfaces are pre sorted and packed as blends or according to the parameters
of the brief. In cases where a website order was placed, pieces are packed
according to the ratio as per the image relating to the website item ordered.
This means our surfaces will be ready for installation straight out of the box,
however we highly recommend the installer still pack out 1 square meter
to check tile size and determine grouting space so that the surface will fit in
the associated space. Please keep in mind the colour of the grout, which will
have a large impact on how the surface shows once installed.



ADHESIVES:

All surfaces should be painted with either one to two coats of a base coat
primer or primed with a Key-it slurry. Timber surfaces must be well sanded before
primed. Once dry, tiles can then be applied to the surface using either a
porcelain based adhesive or a flexible tile adhesive. The fixing of dense,
impervious semi-porcelain or vitrified pieces with very low absorption rates,
requires a high strength, rapid setting adhesive. This will ensure a quick,
high strength bond onto the back of the tile that fixes it securely in place. VLVLK
recommends using tile adhesives from recognized premium brands, mixed with a
keying and/or bonding agent. However, for easier application you can use a
premixed adhesive, such as Tile Flex, take note that it is a slower drying
adhesive, which allows more time for minor adjustments. For tiles that are
slightly cupped, use extra adhesive behind the spots further away from the
surface (corners or centre) so there isn’t a void or gap behind the tile. Voids
can lead to breaks under pressure, or can weaken the tile’s bond to the wall.

CUTTING:

It is important to note that a fixed bed tile cutter with a new diamond blade
and continuous water will deliver the best results where cutting of tiles is
required. We recommend the use of a Mactool’s new diamond blade for wet tile
cutting of vitreous porcelain/ceramic tiles, along with safety glasses and
gloves (new cutting blades make cleaner cuts). Try to place tiles with cut
edges against the outside walls or ceiling where they are hidden. Faucet flange
covers should be used to cover any chipping on the edges of cut-outs. For
complicated cuts, our team can quote on custom/premium cutting services.



POLISHING CUT EDGES:

Softly finish/buff sharp edges by using a variable speed hand-held polisher
with a light blue 50# TOOL-CO 100mm Mactool polishing pad.

GROUT RELEASE:

All our products have 5% or less porosity due to the high firing we do between 1220-1240°C. However, it
is our recommendation, that a TFC (Tile & Floor Care), grout release/wax
sealer be used on tiles before filling the joints with grout. This will ease the
cleaning of low porosity unglazed terracotta, light coloured clay substrates
and tiles with crazing/crackle glazes after grout application. Applying grout
release will inhibit and prevent staining of vitrified or crackle/crazed tile
surfaces by the dark/light grout pigments. Please refer to the manufacturer’s
guidelines for specific details on the grout release and make sure the grout
release was tested on a small section of a tile before its application.

GROUT APPLICATION

Before grout application, all grout cement should be mixed with a bonding
liquid. Bonding liquids typically replace water allowing the grout to better
seal and making it more stain resistant, also preventing dirty water from
staining the grout. We, at VLVLK, recommend TFC Bonding Liquid or Bond-It from
Weber-TYLON or TAL. These are acrylic latex additives that can be used with all
cementitious based products in order to improve adhesion, flexibility and
waterproofing properties. It is used especially when extra bond strength is
required. Sanded grout is generally used for grout lines over 3mm wide, and is
recommended for most handmade tiles. Standard grouting instructions encourage grouting
to be tested on a small section first, to test the grout colour match with the
surface, as well as to ascertain weather the surface will be stained by the
grout.

SEALANTS:

To aid with cleaning, an invisible sealant can be applied to the surface once
installed. VLVLK recommends, the invisible Sealer from TFC (Tile & Floor
Care), which will seal unglazed low porosity tiles and crackle on crackle
glazed surfaces, and reduce the ability for dust, dirt, or dirty wate to find
traction on the tile. (This sealer does not change the colour of the material).
This sealant can also be used on pool/wet room tiles

GROUT RECIPES:

The recipes listed below were all mixed using Weber -Tylon grout, using varying
volumes of Tylon-White, Tylon-Light Grey, and Tylon-Ivory.

Any other brand or "Super White" or any other "Grey" used
for these recipes with give variable results.

We recommend that all blended grout colours be blended while dry and
then stored in a sealable container.

It is important to test a small batch of grout first and allow it to dry
completely in order to determine whether the particular grout blend will work
for your installation. The blend can then be adjusted to make the grout
lighter, darker or richer in colour, before applying to the tiled surface.


Option 1:

We recommend the mixtures below for a good white colour:

• TYLON WHITE for white pieces, this grout is slightly warmer than sanitary
white glazes.

• TYLON SUPER WHITE for very white pieces, for example when used with sanitary
white glazes.

Option 2:

Bone to off-white to use with our natural to off-white colours:

• 4 Parts Tylon " White"

• 1/2 Part Tylon " Ivory"

• 1/2 Part Tylon " Light Grey"


Option 3:

Off-white to yellow cream to use with our "French Yellow" and rich
creams:

• 2 Parts Tylon " White"

• 2 Part Tylon " Ivory"

• 1/2 Part Tylon " Light Grey"



Option 4:

Very light grey to use with our aqua green grey colours.

• 2 Parts Tylon " White"

• 1 Part Tylon " Light Grey"

CLEANING & CARING

Wall Tiles:

• Clean with a damp, lint-free cloth and mild soap.

• Avoid abrasive or acidic cleaners.

• Handle with care during installation and cleaning.

Floor Tiles:

• Sweep and mop with a neutral pH detergent.

• Avoid standing water.

• Apply protective felt pads to furniture.

• Use entry mats to reduce dirt.

• Reseal porous tiles periodically.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any
questions that have not been answered in this document.

NB: Once installed, claims regarding colour and size variation will not be
accepted. If additional pieces are needed for installation area, please refrain
from the installation until you have received them. Every tile order is
handmade to order and unique. Additional pieces may vary in all parameters, eg.
colour, shape, clay colour, etc. from your original order, these additional
pieces will need to be blended in with the existing pieces in order to provide
a seamless installation.