What you need to know about craquelé
8 February 2022
What is craquelé?
Craquelé or craquelure refers to the appearance of small hairline cracks in a material such as earthenware or tiles. In our Spanish tile collection some tiles have intentionally been given a craquelé finish for a playful effect. With certain glaze colours and finishes, craquelé may also only develop when the tile is installed. The cracks only occur in the top layer of the glaze and do not affect the hardness of the tile.
What should you bear in mind when using tiles with craquelé?
Have you chosen a contrasting grout colour for your tile? Think of a white tile with black grout, or a green tile with white grout. Grout can get into the hairline cracks in the glaze and you will not be able to remove it. You can prevent this by sealing the tiles with Vlekstop before grouting. This seals the hairline cracks, keeping out dirt, water and therefore grout. You can then use whatever grout colour you like. In any case, we recommend sealing tiles with craquelé using Vlekstop to protect them against dirt and water.
Read the installation and treatment plan here to find out how to install Spanish tiles with craquelé.
Cleaning tip:
Always clean Spanish tiles, both with and without craquelé, using an acid-free, non-corrosive cleaning product. The colour pigments are made from natural materials, and the colour can fade or disappear completely if repeatedly exposed to corrosive substances. To remove limescale, you can use Azule cement haze remover; this product is acid-free. To remove dirt, you can use Azule floor soap or another green soap.