Cotto floor tiles can be laid with common mortar, but instead of the common type of cement you should use trass cement, as the produced lime hydrate will then be bound and efflorescence is prevented to a large degree. The socalled adhesice Cotto is thin bed tiled in the Floating-method with our Flex-grout FK 1002. It prevents further absorption of humidity to the floor without impeding vapor permeability; after curing it forms a flexible and waterproof grout bed.

FILLING-IN THE JOINTS:

The floor can be rejointed at the earliest 24 hours after tiling. In order to protect the surfaces of the tiles from soiling apply Tile Protection evenly on the clean Cotto floor before rejoining it. (Apply Ttile Protection in the evening and fill-in the joints the next morning!) The joints of a width of 6-12 mm are filled with a ready-for-use jointing mortar and ruled in neatly. The residual mortar can be wiped off cleanly with a sponge and water.

CURING OF THE FLOOR:

The Cotto floor must cure at least 2 weeks (thin bed method) to 4 weeks (mortar bed). Underfloor heating accelerates curing. In order to protect the floor from mechanical damage and other soiling (painters) do not hesitate to cover the floor completely with cardboard (no plastic sheets!).

CLEANING:

After mortar or grout bed and floor have completely cured soilings and efflorescences (lime salts) are removed thoroughly with Grout-Residue Remover and a scouring pad (wet floor first). After that the flooring must be immediately washed with fresh water. Then the floor must again dry completely; this can take up to 5 days (ventilate well). Underfloor heating accelerates drying. Warning: switch off underfloor heating 12 hours before application.

RETREATMENT AND UPKEEP:
Conventional Treatment Method:

The floor must be clean and dry. Now apply Cotto Stain Protection evenly by means of paint brush or a surface brush. Never apply more stain protection than the flooring can absorb. After a curing time of 3-5 hours the floor is protected against oily and watery stains. For outdoor surface treatment use only Cotto Stain Protection. Following the mentioned curing time, treat the floor with Wax-Based Finisher. Apply thinly and evenly with surface brush or paint brush and rub with a fluff-free cloth. If this was the first treatment repeat process after a curing time of 3-5 hours. Curing time of this treatment is approx. 12 hours. During this time do not step on the floor and avoid soilings. Afterwards polish thoroughly. In order to protect the wax layer against oily and greasy soilings and black soles, apply Cotto Coating Sealer as instructed after the waxing and polishing. For further upkeep add Cotto Cleaning Milk to the warm wiping water.

Natural Treatment Method:

The floor must be clean and dry. Now apply Cotto-Natural Resin Oil evenly by means of a paint brush or a surface brush. Never apply more Natural Resin Oil than the flooring can absorb. After a curing time of 12 hours apply Cotto Bio-Wax thinly and evenly with a surface brush or a paint brush and rub with a fluff-free cloth. If this was the first treatment repeat process after about 8 hours. Curing time of this treatment is 24-48 hours. During this time do not step on the floor and avoid soilings. Afterwards polish thoroughly. For further upkeep add Cotto Mild Cleaner to the warm wiping water.

Please regard for all working stages the instructions of the label.