FAQ

No. Stegu marked as suitable for external use are made of concrete while Stegu marked as suitable for indoor use only are made of gypsum. Ivory, Rusty, Grey, Bianco, Nero, are tiles made of real stone. All products from wood collection are real wood.

Yes, you must prime the surface with Stegu primer prior to installing Stegu tiles.

Stegu recommends using their primer, sealer and adhesive as these products have been tested for compatibility with Stegu tiles and not using these products would void your warranty.

Stegu can be painted with a standard wall paint. One coat is sufficient and it is important to ensure that the paint is thoroughly rubbed into the Stegu tile structure. It is recommended to apply the STEGU primer prior to painting.

All concrete and natural stone tiles can be cut with any stone cutting disc. Best way to cut gypsum tiles is to use any cheap hand timber saw.

No, from my experience I know that the best way is to avoid painted surfaces, paint should be removed totally. There is more and more different paints on the market. People are choosing paints which are very easy to clean. Those kind of paints are usually with additives such as; silicone, latex, silicate, etc. Those additives creates on the surface of paint a barrier to prevent dirt or crayons or even kids paint to stick to the wall. This barrier is levering drastically bonding power of all kind adhesives. And that is one reason, second, Painters or at least most of them, are not using any primers before painting raw walls (painting with thinned paint is not a priming), and after that you can take off paint from the wall just using masking tape. This kind of surface have no chance to hold stone on the wall. Priming in this case will increase bonding power between paint and adhesive.

No; Stegu cannot be stuck to Plywood due to the excessive movement. Instead we recommend Permabase Fibre cement board or plasterboard.

Stegu suitable for external use is suitable for use around all stoves provided at least a 6 inch gap is maintained.

1. Recommended condition of use Stegu products:

• Concrete elevation tiles
  – use outdoors and indoors
  – permissible temperature of product exploitation: up to 120oC
• Gypsum decorative tiles
  – use indoors
  – permissible temperature of product exploitation: up to 70oC, allowed – relative humidity: max 50%

The use of the product in places with higher humidity than the recommended, is allowed only if adequate hydrophobic sealers and specialty adhesives are applied for such applications.

2. Fire Classification of Stegu products:

Due to the raw material composition and quality of concrete and gypsum products they were classified to Euroclass A1, which means „non-combustible and with a minimum incineration temperature.”

No; Stegu is not recommended for use in wet areas however it can be used in decorative areas within bathrooms.

If the tile has fresh dirt on it, remove the joint. If the joint hardens, it is virtually impossible to remove. There are products for dirt removal on tiles covered with the remains of cement-based mortar and are great for removing cement. However, such agents do not differentiate between unwanted cement dirt and the proper cement joint or a tile. Old joint should also be removed by scratching off.

14 days, however it is recommended to wait 4 weeks as it is the safest solution. During that time the facade cannot be subjected to heavy rain as efflorescence may appear in the powder adhesive and the joint that is not fully bound will change colour depending on the rain amount and frequency. It is especially important in case of jointing fences and free-standing poles.

Joint should be prepared in a clean bucket – that way you minimize the risk of efflorescence. It is recommended to prepare the joint in portions of approximately 2 kg in order to fully mix it within 15-20 minutes. During autumn weather, on overcast and windless days, the lifetime (the time when the joint can be applied without the loss of durability on the wall) is extended to 30 minutes. The joint should have the texture of wet sand, comparable to the sand from the bottom of a sandbox: after squeezing it should form a ball that does not leak water and breaks apart when dropped. If you comply with portion specifications provided on the package, no problems should occur. Adding water to fully prepared mortar after using some amount of joint is not recommended. Although it can be easily applied to the wall, its durability is dramatically reduced. Depending on the external temperature, sometimes it is necessary to add more water, but it should always be done at the beginning of mortar preparation process. The joint is applied to the wall with the use of joint trowel for jointing clinker or natural stone. Such a joint trowel is available in any construction materials shop, however not every joint trowel is appropriate. It is recommended to buy a joint trowel with the biggest hardness indicator. Such a tool is the least flexible and always returns to its original position. The standard width of the trowel is 10 mm. Apply small amount of mortar to a rectangle of approximately 30×15 cm made of non-permeable material, e.g. galvanized sheet metal or plastic, as small amount of water can be absorbed too quickly by the float made of cardboard or another absorbing material. Apply small amount of joint with joint trowel to gaps between tiles. The surface of application should not exceed 4 tiles vertically and 4 tiles horizontally. In case of irregular tile size, apply the joint to the maximum length of 50 cm of joint length. Hard-press the joint and at the same time remove its excessive amount. It is forbidden to press the joint more than 5 times in the same spot, as the joint will change its colour to metallic and lose its natural appearance. After approximately 10 minutes, you can softly wipe the joint with a rag glove, which will give it a rustic look. However, you must not violate the structure of the pressed joint as it will start to crumble. If you press the joint too hard, you may push it out of the gap. The joint that is applied and even softly pressed, but left for 24 hours, hardens and attaches to the surface. It gains full durability after at least 21 days. It is recommended to perform jointing during uniform conditions of temperature and humidity. Ideally, applying joint to entire wall should be carried out in one day in order to retain uniform colour of the joint. If the joint is white, this problem does not occur. The optimal results can be achieved by applying half-full joint with thickness equal to about half the thickness of a tile; that way the sun rays coming down from the side will create a „shadow play” on the wall and reflect the nature of the tiles.

The best and proven method is to take the cut tile with a colour that is the most representative out of all purchased tiles to the shop which has paint mixer. Select the paint from colour palette that resembles the tile colour the most and buy slightly darker paint. Paint with the use of a sponge – that ensures achieving the best result. If the tile is discoloured, you can also purchase dark paint. Bear in mind that any good pint is suitable for interior applications so all you need to buy is a sampler, i.e. a paint of 0.25 l capacity. When applied to the exterior, the paint must be adjusted to external walls and suitable for concrete plaster. After preparing the bas-relief on the stand (the maintenance should be carried out prior to applying adhesive), the paint should be applied only once, with one decisive spray. Do not respray painted spot. It will result in a damp patch that will be impossible to remove. This agent binds very quickly, co even if you cover another layer after 30 seconds, it will not be absorbed. It will remain on the surface and create glassy, gleaming layer. After using the resin the surface becomes harder and more resistant to shock. The colour of the bas-relief becomes darker but it is uniform and matt (it absorbs more easily and takes longer to bind). The surface prepared in this way can be wiped with a damp cloth.

In order to prepare the joint, you need a clean bucket, high-speed drill and a mixing spatula with blade alignment forcing the mortar up during mixing process (alternatively, you can change rpm speed in your drill). The most important element is a short jointing trowel. The optimal width is 10 mm (12 mm). You can also buy wider trowel and cut it. An alternative for small jointed surfaces is a spoon or a fork handle without any grooves or ornaments. It is a stainless, smooth material which can perfectly replace the jointing trowel. However, it is quite soft which makes work more difficult. You also need a rectangular sheet metal float for applying the joint. You can buy a new one made of sheet metal of the size of about 25 x 15 cm as a float used for jointing clinker (dry). Another alternative is a plastic bottle (1.5 l) cut lengthways in half but with the whole neck in the shape of a pen tray so that the applied joint will not fall out. The most important thing is to remember that the material, which the float is made of, must not absorb water. The joint is usually applied from bottom to top. This is the most convenient way.

The spraying method allows to impregnate the tiles with a large moisture absorption indicator, i.e. gypsum tiles, NF, DF, Rustik. This way it is possible to evenly reach every tile surface, as the brush loses the preservative too quickly and is unable to evenly cover the entire surface. The efficiency is higher when using the spray gun. When it comes to tiles that have low moisture absorption indicator, the preservation must be carried out with the use of a brush. This applies to concrete tiles not mentioned before. If the surface is porous, the process must be performed twice. In case of Country, Calabria, Toscana tiles one time will suffice. If you are preserving concrete tiles, you can also handle two methods at the same time. First, you spray the agent on a small surface with a spray gun and then use the brush to distribute the excessive amount in order to avoid damp patches.

Tiles can be painted with a standard wall paint. One layer is enough, but you should remember to properly rub the paint into the tile structure. It is recommended to apply the primer prior to painting.

Adhesive durability range (if the recommended amount of cement has been added) is -25ºC to +85ºC.

It is not recommended. Our offer includes white, cream, grey and graphite joints.

Żywy kolor is a water-soluble agent. However, watering it down for economical reasons is not recommended. Adding water in a 1:1 ratio severely weakens the characteristics of the product and makes its use pointless. Water solubility helps to keep clean other elements which can be accidentally splashed during the facade maintenance process, yet such splashes must be reduced as much as possible. Multielastik adhesive is a semi-flexible cement-based mortar. It is prepared by adding appropriate amount of water. Its lifetime is 20-30 minutes. It offers both interior and exterior applications and is used to mount concrete and natural stone tiles. The adhesive is less resistant in the initial phase of application (up to 5 days), does not stick to the surface as much as Elastik, so slightly thicker layer should be applied (it pays off in case of uneven walls), is less flexible and it is always required to mix the same amount as prepared – its advantage is that it is generally cheaper.

We recommend assembly adhesive for wooden skirtings. The paint should be removed prior to panel installation.

We recommend „Żywy kolor do kamienia” to apply to Parma tiles. Spray gun method is the most convenient, but it is also possible to apply the impregnant with a brush. However, you must pay attention to avoid making damp patches.

The tiles can be painted straight away, following the impregnation process.

Pure panels can be mounted in two ways: 1. Mechanically – with the use of dowels. 2. With the use of adhesive. It is possible to glue the panels with the use of assembly adhesive from silicone tube of the following type: MAMUT by „Bawer” or FIX by „Tytan”. Surface preparation: painted and primed wall with deep-penetration primer offers approximately 95-98% of durability. Unpainted wall that has been primed with deep-penetration primer offers 100% durability.

We recommend Elastik adhesive in 7 kg packing. 1 pack is enough to cover 4 m² of the surface.

We do not recommend using the impregnant with blue cap with RUSTIK tiles. We recommend to use „Żywy kolor” with red cap, as it is stronger which is important in case of Rustik tiles. In order to avoid breaking the pebbles off the tile, you must apply the „Żywy kolor” impregnant with a red cap twice.

All our brick tiles can be painted. Indeed, in case of LOFT and PARMA tiles the easiest solution is to apply normal paint, as they are gypsum products which are usually covered with regular wall paint. It is important to apply primer to the tiles prior to painting (in exactly the same way as when painting walls).

Elastik is a thin-layered adhesive so it should not be applied to fill in such big gaps. The uneven surface can be filled out with Knauf plaster and after letting it dry the surface can be covered with a suitable layer of adhesive. If the surface is particularly exposed to high temperature, you can use it along with Elastik adhesive.

Yes, provided that the primed surface is not dirty or dusted. Otherwise you need to remove the dust and apply the primer again.

Yes, you can – by applying less impregnant to darker tiles and more to brighter ones.

Add more water than recommended on the package.

It is best to wait until the adhesive is completely dry and then use a knife to cut it off.

2-3 months provided that the lid is sealed.

All tiles installed near fireplaces should be glued with ELASTIK adhesive. Multielastik is not designed for application in extremely hot temperature.

Pure panels can be mounted in two ways: 1. Mechanically – with the use of dowels. 2. With the use of adhesive. It is possible to glue the panels with the use of assembly adhesive from silicone tube of the following type: MAMUT by „Bawer” or FIX by „Tytan”. Surface preparation: painted and primed wall with deep-penetration primer offers approximately 95-98% of durability. Unpainted wall that has been primed with deep-penetration primer offers 100% durability.

We do not accept any warranty claims resulting from the use of adhesive that is not recommended by our company.

Yes, but it is better to squeeze out rustic joint as it offers higher granulation, meaning that it is not as dense as the smooth joint and does not clog the gun.

Yes, you can apply lime-cement mortar to glue Mexicana. All surface gaps should be filled out with the same mortar.

Multielastik is a ready white dispersion mass, acryl-based for interior and exterior applications (after adding cement). Elastik is designed to glue virtually every type of material (gypsum, concrete and natural stone tiles) with compliance to the joint thickness. The adhesive dries and binds quickly, is semi-flexible (never hardens), efficient (thin-layered) and does not encumber the facade in a significant way. After opening the box, you use required amount and then seal the bucket. Multielastik adhesive is a semi-flexible cement-based mortar. It is prepared by adding appropriate amount of water. Its lifetime is 20-30 minutes. It offers both interior and exterior applications and is used to mount concrete and natural stone tiles. The adhesive is less resistant in the initial phase of application (up to 5 days), does not stick to the surface as much as Elastik, so slightly thicker layer should be applied (it pays off in case of uneven walls), is less flexible and it is always required to mix the same amount as prepared – its advantage is that it is generally cheaper.

If the tile has fresh dirt on it, remove the joint. If the joint hardens, it is virtually impossible to remove. There are products for dirt removal on tiles covered with the remains of cement-based mortar and are great for removing cement. However, such agents do not differentiate between unwanted cement dirt and the proper cement joint or a tile. Old joint should also be removed by scratching off.

The optimal width is about 10-12 mm as this presents the closest view to a natural view. It is best to apply joint to half the thickness of the tiles. The joint thickness of 5 mm is enough to provide strong adhesion to the wall and tiles. It is also economical and can be given a rustic structure.

The temperature that is the most forgiving during tile application process is 10-15ºC. Under such circumstances cement adhesives (also Elastik with cement) offer the best grip and in this temperature range they gain the best characteristics when fully bound. It is worth adding that lack of wind and sun, not to mention the rain, is also required during installation process.

Joint should be prepared in a clean bucket – that way you minimize the risk of efflorescence. It is recommended to prepare the joint in portions of approximately 2 kg in order to fully mix it within 15-20 minutes. During autumn weather, on overcast and windless days, the lifetime (the time when the joint can be applied without the loss of durability on the wall) is extended to 30 minutes. The joint should have the texture of wet sand, comparable to the sand from the bottom of a sandbox: after squeezing it should form a ball that does not leak water and breaks apart when dropped. If you comply with portion specifications provided on the package, no problems should occur. Adding water to fully prepared mortar after using some amount of joint is not recommended. Although it can be easily applied to the wall, its durability is dramatically reduced. Depending on the external temperature, sometimes it is necessary to add more water, but it should always be done at the beginning of mortar preparation process. The joint is applied to the wall with the use of joint trowel for jointing clinker or natural stone. Such a joint trowel is available in any construction materials shop, however not every joint trowel is appropriate. It is recommended to buy a joint trowel with the biggest hardness indicator. Such a tool is the least flexible and always returns to its original position. The standard width of the trowel is 10 mm. Apply small amount of mortar to a rectangle of approximately 30×15 cm made of non-permeable material, e.g. galvanized sheet metal or plastic, as small amount of water can be absorbed too quickly by the float made of cardboard or another absorbing material. Apply small amount of joint with joint trowel to gaps between tiles. The surface of application should not exceed 4 tiles vertically and 4 tiles horizontally. In case of irregular tile size, apply the joint to the maximum length of 50 cm of joint length. Hard-press the joint and at the same time remove its excessive amount. It is forbidden to press the joint more than 5 times in the same spot, as the joint will change its colour to metallic and lose its natural appearance. After approximately 10 minutes, you can softly wipe the joint with a rag glove, which will give it a rustic look. However, you must not violate the structure of the pressed joint as it will start to crumble. If you press the joint too hard, you may push it out of the gap. The joint that is applied and even softly pressed, but left for 24 hours, hardens and attaches to the surface. It gains full durability after at least 21 days. It is recommended to perform jointing during uniform conditions of temperature and humidity. Ideally, applying joint to entire wall should be carried out in one day in order to retain uniform colour of the joint. If the joint is white, this problem does not occur. The optimal results can be achieved by applying half-full joint with thickness equal to about half the thickness of a tile; that way the sun rays coming down from the side will create a „shadow play” on the wall and reflect the nature of the tiles.

You should choose a tile that has pebbles aligned in one plane that do not stick out and are not recessed too much. Cut the tile in half. Use a knife or a chisel to reshape the tile so that it has direct contact with another tile. The tiles can be attached at a 45º angle, overlapped or laced. The method of application depends on the final result you wish to achieve.

Facade tiles can be mounted to styrofoam, but you need to dowel it properly and apply adhesive with a high-density mesh (over 180 g) prior to tile installation.

It is up to the customer, depending on the surface of application. If the tiles are installed from the floor to the ceiling, the best solution is to mount them lug up and also to glue them in the same way. If there are any variations in the middle of the wall, it is best to apply them lug up. The tile is easier to process and offers more appealing look.

Generally, it is not recommended to apply gypsum tiles and elements, as moist gypsum retains only 35% of its original durability. However, if you really want to apply the tiles, you should avoid installing them in places exposed to water. The only adhesive appropriate in this situation is Elastik and it is also recommended to preserve the tiles with Żywy Kolor (with a red cap).

We recommend assembly adhesive for wooden skirtings. The paint should be removed prior to panel installation.

We recommend „Żywy kolor do kamienia” to apply to Parma tiles. Spray gun method is the most convenient, but it is also possible to apply the impregnant with a brush. However, you must pay attention to avoid making damp patches.

Yes, the paint must be removed prior to tile installation.

We recommend Elastik adhesive in 7 kg packing. 1 pack is enough to cover 4 m² of the surface.

It is possible to install COUNTRY tiles on a drywall in a vertical alignment. However, we do not recommend using our products on sloped walls or ceilings. If you choose to do so, you are doing it at your own responsibility. 🙂

RUSTY tiles are designed for exterior applications. There is no height limit for the installation of these tiles.

The only solution is to repaint the tiles with standard wall paint. If you prefer the original colour, then use white paint. If you want to change colour, use any paint you see fit.

Yes, provided that the primed surface is not dirty or dusted. Otherwise you need to remove the dust and apply the primer again.

It is best to wait until the adhesive is completely dry and then use a knife to cut it off.

5 cm/ 5 cm.

All tiles installed near fireplaces should be glued with ELASTIK adhesive. Multielastik is not designed for application in extremely hot temperature.

Pure panels can be mounted in two ways: 1. Mechanically – with the use of dowels. 2. With the use of adhesive. It is possible to glue the panels with the use of assembly adhesive from silicone tube of the following type: MAMUT by „Bawer” or FIX by „Tytan”. Surface preparation: painted and primed wall with deep-penetration primer offers approximately 95-98% of durability. Unpainted wall that has been primed with deep-penetration primer offers 100% durability.

There are 2 ways to fix this: 1. Take down the tiles, file the joint and apply the tiles again. 2. Buy white adhesive and glue the tiles only where the joints are connected. This will fix the tiles in a secure position.

The best and proven method is to take the cut tile with a colour that is the most representative out of all purchased tiles to the shop which has paint mixer. Select the paint from colour palette that resembles the tile colour the most and buy slightly darker paint. Paint with the use of a sponge – that ensures achieving the best result. If the tile is discoloured, you can also purchase dark paint. Bear in mind that any good pint is suitable for interior applications so all you need to buy is a sampler, i.e. a paint of 0.25 l capacity. When applied to the exterior, the paint must be adjusted to external walls and suitable for concrete plaster. After preparing the bas-relief on the stand (the maintenance should be carried out prior to applying adhesive), the paint should be applied only once, with one decisive spray. Do not respray painted spot. It will result in a damp patch that will be impossible to remove. This agent binds very quickly, co even if you cover another layer after 30 seconds, it will not be absorbed. It will remain on the surface and create glassy, gleaming layer. After using the resin the surface becomes harder and more resistant to shock. The colour of the bas-relief becomes darker but it is uniform and matt (it absorbs more easily and takes longer to bind). The surface prepared in this way can be wiped with a damp cloth.

Facade tiles can be mounted to styrofoam, but you need to dowel it properly and apply adhesive with a high-density mesh (over 180 g) prior to tile installation.

In order to prepare the joint, you need a clean bucket, high-speed drill and a mixing spatula with blade alignment forcing the mortar up during mixing process (alternatively, you can change rpm speed in your drill). The most important element is a short jointing trowel. The optimal width is 10 mm (12 mm). You can also buy wider trowel and cut it. An alternative for small jointed surfaces is a spoon or a fork handle without any grooves or ornaments. It is a stainless, smooth material which can perfectly replace the jointing trowel. However, it is quite soft which makes work more difficult. You also need a rectangular sheet metal float for applying the joint. You can buy a new one made of sheet metal of the size of about 25 x 15 cm as a float used for jointing clinker (dry). Another alternative is a plastic bottle (1.5 l) cut lengthways in half but with the whole neck in the shape of a pen tray so that the applied joint will not fall out. The most important thing is to remember that the material, which the float is made of, must not absorb water. The joint is usually applied from bottom to top. This is the most convenient way.

The spraying method allows to impregnate the tiles with a large moisture absorption indicator, i.e. gypsum tiles, NF, DF, Rustik. This way it is possible to evenly reach every tile surface, as the brush loses the preservative too quickly and is unable to evenly cover the entire surface. The efficiency is higher when using the spray gun. When it comes to tiles that have low moisture absorption indicator, the preservation must be carried out with the use of a brush. This applies to concrete tiles not mentioned before. If the surface is porous, the process must be performed twice. In case of Country, Calabria, Toscana tiles one time will suffice. If you are preserving concrete tiles, you can also handle two methods at the same time. First, you spray the agent on a small surface with a spray gun and then use the brush to distribute the excessive amount in order to avoid damp patches.

All concrete tiles designed for exterior applications are suitable for kitchen and bathroom after applying Żywy kolor do kamienia impregnant, but you need to avoid their direct contact with water. The surface prepared in this way can be wiped with a damp cloth with soap. When it comes to the kitchen, particularly surfaces between the cupboard and the worktop, you can also cover them with a clear plexiglass, e.g. where spacers occur. It provides beautiful visual effect and at the same time very effective protection.

Yes, you can. All STEGU tiles can be painted with standard wall paint. If the tiles are a few years old, they need to be dusted and primed prior to painting. The more time passed from the maintenance process (if the tiles were impregnated with Żywy Kolor), the lower quality paint can be applied. Generally, the best type of paint is latex-silicone paint, covering paint and its derivatives. However, sometimes applying primer to the surface is necessary, but it depends on individual approach.

We cannot guarantee that such an action will make the room quieter but it is certain that the sound will bounce off the walls in a different way compared to the surface that does not have any tiles.

The tiles can be painted straight away, following the impregnation process.

The colour of PARMA tiles can be levelled out by applying standard wall paint to the entire surface. However, you must first apply primer to the surface. Everything can be done using the spraying method. When the painting is finished and entire surface is dry, apply „Żywy kolor do kamienia” impregnant.

It is possible to install COUNTRY tiles on a drywall in a vertical alignment. However, we do not recommend using our products on sloped walls or ceilings. If you choose to do so, you are doing it at your own responsibility. 🙂

RUSTY tiles are designed for exterior applications. There is no height limit for the installation of these tiles.

We do not recommend using the impregnant with blue cap with RUSTIK tiles. We recommend to use „Żywy kolor” with red cap, as it is stronger which is important in case of Rustik tiles. In order to avoid breaking the pebbles off the tile, you must apply the „Żywy kolor” impregnant with a red cap twice.

All our brick tiles can be painted. Indeed, in case of LOFT and PARMA tiles the easiest solution is to apply normal paint, as they are gypsum products which are usually covered with regular wall paint. It is important to apply primer to the tiles prior to painting (in exactly the same way as when painting walls).

Elastik is a thin-layered adhesive so it should not be applied to fill in such big gaps. The uneven surface can be filled out with Knauf plaster and after letting it dry the surface can be covered with a suitable layer of adhesive. If the surface is particularly exposed to high temperature, you can use it along with Elastik adhesive.

The only solution is to repaint the tiles with standard wall paint. If you prefer the original colour, then use white paint. If you want to change colour, use any paint you see fit.

Yes, you can. All STEGU tiles can be painted with standard wall paint. If the tiles are a few years old, they need to be dusted and primed prior to painting. The more time passed from the maintenance process (if the tiles were impregnated with Żywy Kolor), the lower quality paint can be applied. Generally, the best type of paint is latex-silicone paint, covering paint and its derivatives. However, sometimes applying primer to the surface is necessary, but it depends on individual approach.