Installing ceramic tiles: get it right from the start

Application and techniques / By Team ROMFIX

ROMFIX keeps even the thinnest patio tiles stable

Ceramic tiles should be installed by a professional. Installers committed to quality know that ceramic tiles must be bonded into place. ROMFIX and Trivium have developed a durable system that gives professionals a five-year system warranty they can pass on to their customers.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles have become popular in the Netherlands since 2011, with Trivium the first company to sell them there. They are generally 2–3 cm thick and require a specialist approach. Thin, precisely finished tiles are brittle and can become unstable. Even a millimetre of settlement is visible and can lead to broken tiles and cracked joints. Ceramic tiles do not stain, scratch or fade, making them a popular garden choice.

Installing ceramic tiles demands precision. “Install them correctly or do not install them at all.” Combining the tiles with ROMFIX drainage bedding mortar and ROMFIX Bonding Agent ensures correct installation. Using a ROMFIX two-component epoxy jointing mortar as well qualifies for a five-year system warranty. The system’s proven quality is why many professionals work with us. ROMFIX prevents settlement and loose tiles and makes edging kerbs unnecessary.

Ceramic tiles on peat

A patio on peat normally settles by 5–6 cm per year. The ROMFIX system keeps it stable so it can be enjoyed for longer. Many professionals have switched to thicker ceramic tiles with a 2–3 cm concrete backing, laid in sand. This is closer to familiar installation methods and costs less initially. Professionals focused on quality and lasting customer relationships know that ceramic tiles do not remain stable in sand. Over time, movement leads to damage. Keeping tiles stable protects the joints and prevents problems with ants and weeds. ROMFIX encourages professionals to choose quality.

Drainage bedding mortar instead of a sand bed

ROMFIX drainage bedding mortar replaces traditional bedding sand. We recommend a minimum thickness of 6 cm for pedestrian patios and 8 cm for driveways. ROMFIX Bonding Agent bonds the tiles to the mortar. This combination removes the need for edging kerbs, saving time and money. An unstable driveway base often uses 25 cm of crushed aggregate. ROMFIX reinforcement grid halves the aggregate thickness while retaining strength, reducing earthwork and material transport.

Weak subgrades

Any added weight on peat can cause settlement, including traditional sand foundations, since sand is heavier than peat. Depending on local conditions, we install a lightweight system approximately 25 cm deep. It combines a geotextile, reinforcement grid and ROMFIX cellular structure filled with lightweight material. This reduces loading so the paving can be installed without putting pressure on the peat. The permeable system also handles high groundwater levels. Installation by ROMFIX professionals ensures recognised workmanship.

Instruction and advice

Professionals value ROMFIX advice on every part of the patio build-up. “Professionals prefer working outdoors to sitting inside reading books.” We aim to provide instruction on site or during demonstration days. “It is appreciated when you arrive on site at 07:00 to help solve an installer’s challenge. Our advice goes beyond our YouTube videos and detailed product descriptions. When professionals use our products correctly, we can confidently provide our five-year system warranty.”

Durable, weed-free joints

All ROMFIX weed-inhibiting joints are extremely permeable. “We offer the complete package,” from polymer-bound jointing sand for 1 mm paving joints to two-component epoxy mortar favoured by professionals and jointing products for paving carrying very heavy commercial traffic.

< Reduce earthworks with ROMFIX drainage bedding mortar ROMFIX jointing tips: eight tips for perfect joints >

T-shaped paving spacers

Tall paving spacers

Installation tools

General cleaning

Cement haze and jointing residue removal

Stain removers

Specialist cleaners

Outdoor cleaning

Daily / periodic maintenance

Maintenance kits

Jointing

Specialist cleaners PRO

Maintenance (regular use)

Heavy-duty & deep cleaners

Cement haze removal & post-construction cleaning