May 30

How To Install Groutless Zellige Tile

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Want to easily update your space with an attainable DIY? Look no further than Riad Tile. I selected the Black Zellige 4x4 to complement the moody speakeasy vibes in our bar area and omitted grout for an easy install. Riad's official installation instructions can be found here , but below are my step-by-step guidelines based on my experience, paired with tips and tricks I learned along the way.

What are Zellige tiles?

These traditional, hand made tiles are made from raw clay in Morocco and have become quite popular due to the unique look and vintage imperfections. These tiles are finished with a unique glaze/texture and avaialble in different colors and sizes. Durable, heat and water resistant, these can be used in many places (showers, fireplaces, backsplashes, floors, etc.), but it's important to note that Zellige is thicker than traditional tile ranging from 1/2" to 3/8".

Step by step installation:

1.Inspect: It is best practice to inspect boxes upon arrival to make sure nothing was damaged in transit.

2. Sort: If everything looks good, sort and blend each box to achieve shade variation. Due to the raw material, natural imperfections are present, so it is recommended to order 20-30% more tile.

3. Soak: After sorting, briefly soak the tiles in water for 1-2 minutes. Zellige clay is pourous so if you don't soak them, they won't properly adhere to the wall. This also helps to remove any dust and debris that's common and it's fun to watch the air bubbles release while submerged. (I soaked mine for more than the recommended time since I'm easily distracted and this didn't damage anythnig.) Afterwards, set out on a towel to air dry, but they can also be installed immediately while wet if you're moving quickly.

4. Adhesive: To install, I used a u-notched trowell with a thin layer of adhesive on both the surface and the tile. These are what I purchased that can be found at most hardware stores. Make sure to remove excess adhesive along the way with a wet rag to eliminate difficult clean-up at the end once adhesive dries. Our tiles were installed in a dry area above the granite backsplash and shelf, but if you plan to install in a wet area near a sink, etc, silicone might be a good idea to apply at the bottom to seal any cracks where water could penetrate.

5. Install: Find your center and work out from there. I did not have a laser level so I used a manual level and marked out the center lines with chalk as a starting point. Since I installed without grout, an intense game of Tetris ensued to ensure limited spacing between tiles. Due to the nature of the natural clay, sizing varies so this is a trial and error process of elimination to find the best "puzzle piece" to adjacently install. I did not use wedge spacers and, instead, installed them as close to each other as possible. I intentionally avoided outlets on this focal wall, but would recommend receptacle spacers if you have outlets present.

6. Cut: To cut the tiles, I used this wet tile saw complete with stand and it was amazing, allowing me to make quick cuts and even intricate details around the crown moulding. Snapping the tiles with a tile cutter is also an approved install method by Riad.

Overall, this was a fairly quick and easy DIY that required a little patience, but did not take long and packs a punch on this focal wall. Below are finished photos for reference. Highly recommend this beautiful Zellige tile. Check out more of the before and after recap on my Instagram page!