A successful tile specification connects the design idea to a buildable system. Colour and pattern matter, but so do the exact application, selected finish, substrate, joints, cleaning regime, programme and evidence required for approval.
CLEM recycled mineral tiles are made from selected recovered material that is processed, combined with cement and wet-pressed into modular surfaces. Their fine mineral grain and colour-led formats can support distinctive commercial interiors, but the product should still be specified for the conditions of the individual project rather than treated as a universal finish.
This guide sets out a practical route from early sample review to an installation-ready material schedule.
1. Begin with the application, not the colour
Define where the tile will be used before choosing a palette. A reception wall, restaurant floor, retail counter, bathroom surface and sheltered terrace do not create the same demands. Record whether the surface is horizontal or vertical, internal or external, dry or regularly wet, exposed to direct sun, subject to wheeled traffic, or likely to encounter food, cosmetics or cleaning chemicals.
This first decision controls the questions that follow. The project team can then confirm which CLEM product, finish, thickness and installation method are appropriate for that location. If performance evidence is required by the brief or local regulations, request it for the exact product and finish being considered.
2. Decide what role the tile plays in the interior
A material can act as a quiet field, a directional element, a threshold, a border or a concentrated point of colour. Establishing that role prevents a specification from becoming a list of attractive samples without a clear spatial purpose.
For a large floor, a restrained field colour may carry most of the area while a contrasting module defines a counter or circulation route. On a wall, a small-format repeat can add scale without competing with signage, lighting or merchandise. At transitions, a change in colour or orientation can mark a shift between public and private zones.
CLEM includes field tiles, linear modules, mosaics and special shapes. The most useful selection is the one that supports the architecture and can be set out consistently across real dimensions, corners and junctions.
3. Review physical samples under project lighting
Screen colour is not a specification. Digital images help narrow a direction, but perceived colour changes with daylight, artificial lighting, surrounding materials and the viewing angle. Matte mineral surfaces can also reveal fine aggregate and tonal variation differently under grazing light.
Review several physical pieces beside the proposed timber, metal, paint, stone and textile finishes. Check them in the morning and evening if the space receives daylight, and under the actual colour temperature planned for the interior. For custom-colour enquiries, agree which approved sample becomes the reference for production.
The objective is not to remove every natural variation. It is to define an acceptable visual range and make sure the design team, client, supplier and installer are approving the same material character.
4. Coordinate format, pattern and grout as one composition
Tile size cannot be separated from grout width, orientation and the cutting plan. A narrow rectangular module creates a different rhythm from a square field tile even when both use the same colour. The grout can either soften that rhythm with a close tonal match or make it more graphic through contrast.
Draw the actual module and joint into elevations and floor plans. Resolve centre lines, borders, thresholds, columns, niches, drains and changes of material before ordering. Avoid leaving very small cuts at visible edges. Where the design uses a weave, checkerboard or geometric repeat, prepare a numbered setting-out diagram rather than relying on a reference image alone.
Joint width also needs to accommodate the dimensions and edge character of the selected tile. The Tile Council of North America notes that joint planning should consider tile-to-tile variation, edge regularity, tile size and the surface itself. The project installer and setting-material supplier should confirm the final joint and grout system.
5. Specify the exact finish and required performance
The same colour can read differently across surface finishes, and performance cannot be inferred from colour names or recycled content. Identify the selected finish in the schedule and state the project requirements that need confirmation. These may include slip resistance, water absorption, abrasion, stain response, wet-area suitability, exterior exposure, thickness, weight or compatibility with cleaning chemicals.
Do not transfer a result from one product or finish to another without confirmation. Ask for current technical information, available test reports and project-specific advice. Where a statutory classification is required, the architect or relevant consultant should verify that the submitted evidence is appropriate for the jurisdiction and intended use.
6. Build a sample board or small mock-up
A useful approval sample includes more than one loose tile. Combine several pieces with the proposed grout colour and joint width, and include a corner, cut edge or transition when those details are important. A larger mock-up is especially valuable for patterned layouts, high-visibility reception areas and custom colours.
Use the mock-up to assess:
- tonal variation across multiple pieces;
- the relationship between tile and grout;
- alignment and visual rhythm;
- edge treatment and exposed thickness;
- junctions with adjacent finishes;
- appearance under the final lighting;
- the proposed cleaning method.
Photograph and label the approved sample, but retain the physical reference until installation is complete.
7. Coordinate the substrate and movement strategy
Tile is part of an assembly. The substrate, waterproofing where required, adhesive, grout, sealant, movement joints and perimeter details all contribute to the result. Flatness, deflection, moisture and existing control joints should be reviewed before the installation method is finalised.
Movement joints are not simply a visual interruption that can be removed from the drawing. TCNA guidance explains that tile assemblies need provision for expansion and contraction, with exact placement influenced by site conditions including moisture, direct sunlight, temperature and substrate movement. Coordinate these joints early so they align with the architecture wherever possible.
The final installation method should be prepared or confirmed by suitably qualified project professionals and the relevant setting-material manufacturers.
8. Plan quantities, approval and replacement stock
Calculate quantities from the resolved layout rather than floor area alone. Allow for cuts, pattern repeats, breakage, future repairs and any project-specific minimums. Complex geometry, diagonal layouts and multiple colours can change the waste allowance considerably.
Record product codes, colours, formats, finishes, quantities and approved samples in one schedule. Confirm programme, production lead time and delivery sequence before the installation date is fixed. When visual continuity matters, discuss batch approval and retain clearly labelled replacement stock for the client.
9. Define cleaning and maintenance before handover
Commercial projects often involve several cleaning products and contractors. Confirm the initial clean, routine cleaning method, compatible chemicals and any sealing or resealing requirement for the selected finish and grout. Test unfamiliar products on a discreet sample before general use.
Include the final maintenance information in the handover package. A durable material can only perform as intended when the cleaning regime matches the installed system.
A concise specification checklist
Before issuing the material schedule, confirm:
- the exact CLEM product code, colour, format and finish;
- the intended location and environmental exposure;
- required technical evidence and current test documentation;
- approved physical sample or mock-up;
- layout, orientation, grout colour and joint width;
- substrate, waterproofing, adhesive and movement-joint coordination;
- edge, corner, threshold and transition details;
- quantity, waste allowance, batch approval and replacement stock;
- installation responsibilities and programme;
- cleaning and maintenance instructions.
A clear specification protects the original design intent while giving the contractor and supplier enough information to build it accurately. Explore the CLEM product collection and request samples early enough to review colour, format and finish as part of the complete commercial interior.
Research notes
Sources & verification
- CLEM product pages, current product data and material test reports.
- https://tcnatile.com/resource-center/faq/placement/
- https://tcnatile.com/resource-center/faq/grout/
- https://www.mapei.com/us/en-us/training-and-technical-service/tech-talk-blog/detail/mapei-blog/2016/02/05/-mapeitechtip-specifying-the-right-grout-for-the-right-application-
Technical suitability and current availability should be confirmed for each project.
