Thanks to a special process, the surface of CeramicPlus is dirt-repellent, so that water and oily substances form droplets and run off the surface, conveying dirt and scale particles into the drain. If something should get stuck, then CeramicPlus is much easier to clean.

Standard all-purpose cleaners and a sponge with a soft, non-scratching surface or a microfibre cloth are best for the regular care of CeramicPlus. Abrasive cleaners should not be used as they could impair the beading effect.

All CeramicPlus products have a "Cplus" stamp. On some products the lettering and stamp are combined: A capital C with the supplement "CeramicPlus Villeroy & Boch".

CeramicPlus is resistant to all standard cleaning agents. This also applies to products that contain acids, solvents and tensides. Exceptions are scouring powder and prolonged contact with alkaline products (pipe cleaner, mould remover).

CeramicPlus is available for our entire range of bathroom ceramics and ceramic sinks. The colours Starwhite, Beige, Manhattan and Edelweiss are only available in the CeramicPlus version. White and Pergamon are available both with and without CeramicPlus.

CeramicPlus is resistant to solvents (alcohol, acetone) and chemicals, which are typical ingredients in cosmetic products.

CeramicPlus is resistant to disinfectants. The manufacturers' instructions for these products must be observed. Exceptions are products with pH 12 and chlorous products, which can impair the effect of the CeramicPlus surface after prolonged contact.

According to DIN 1387 and 1388, free standing toilets must have a height of 390 mm +/- 10 mm. There is no standard height for wall-mounted toilets. However, the above-mentioned standards are used as a basis. The recommended height, and standard height specified in the catalogue, is thus 400 mm, measured from the floor to the top edge of the toilet.

One reason for the occurrence of splash water is the size of the flushing channel. Each flushing process creates a gush of water, which traps air and entrains it. Due to the uplift, the air bubbles entrain water particles upwards, thus causing the splashing effect. A further reason lies in the surface tension of the flushing water, which is influenced by the water hardness. Cistern manufacturers offer flush flow restrictors, dependent on the model type, by means of which the dynamics of the flushing process can be optimised. Slight splashing, however, is unavoidable and by reason of the aforementioned causes not a defect.

The surface of the toilet seat is sealed and pore-free, which ensures optimum hygiene. Therefore, please do not use abrasive, chloric or acidic cleaners as they damage the surface and can cause yellowish discolourations and surface rust. Only use a mild, pH-neutral soap solution for cleaning. Should toilet cleaner and/or other aggressive cleaning agents come into contact with the toilet seat and/or hinges, then rinse it off with clear water. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe off any residual dampness on the seat and hinges. Make sure the toilet seat and lid remain open until all of the cleaning agent in the toilet bowl has been flushed away.

Toilet seats are usually subjected to frequent one and double-sided loads. The fastening on the ceramic surface is therefore highly stressed due to the regular dynamic load. The screw connections can thus possibly work loose due to regular use of the toilet. We therefore advise you to check the fastenings at regular intervals and to tighten them as required.

The valve cup and a suitable ceramic cover are also supplied on purchasing a Loop & Friends bathroom sink. This equipment is sufficient when using a non-lockable valve - additional accessories are not required. If you opt for a lockable valve, then a valve plug and the valve cup counter screw connection incl. eccentric rod are also required. They are usually included with the tap fitting.

Black lines on ceramic can be caused, e.g. by metallic abrasion from jewellery. These marks can be removed by using Etolit or Stahlfix. To do so, apply the cleaning substance on a dry cloth und rub the dry, dirty area. These cleaning agents, however, can damage the ceramic surface if used too often. Therefore, only treat the dirty area and not the entire basin.

The surface of the toilet seat is sealed and pore-free, which ensures optimum hygiene. Therefore, please do not use abrasive, chloric or acidic cleaners as they damage the surface and can cause yellowish discolourations and surface rust. Only use a mild, pH-neutral soap solution for cleaning. Should toilet cleaner and/or other aggressive cleaning agents come into contact with the toilet seat and/or hinges, then rinse it off with clear water. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe off any residual dampness on the seat and hinges. Make sure the toilet seat and lid remain open until all of the cleaning agent in the toilet bowl has been flushed away.

The hinges on our toilet seats are made of high-quality, rust-free stainless steel. Urine and abrasive, chloric or acidic cleaners attack the surface and can make the hinges oxidise. Surface rust forms, which can usually only be removed by grinding and polishing the surface.

In order to avoid cleaning errors, please observe the information in the cleaning instructions included in the delivery.

Little white spots can be seen on the toilet seat after its installation.

This is UREA powder, which can stick to the seat after the production process. It is harmless and can simply be wiped off after installation.

Limescale marks are best removed by means of commercially available descalers (distilled white vinegar or diluted vinegar essence). The effect is improved by using a soft, non-scratching sponge. Soap and grease residues can be easily removed by means of a fat-dissolving cleaner. For further care recommendations and instructions, please refer to our care instructions or our website.

There are various cleaning options depending on the type of dirt. Limescale marks are best removed by means of commercially available descalers (distilled white vinegar or diluted vinegar essence). The effect is improved by using a soft, non-scratching sponge. Soap and grease residues can be easily removed by means of a fat-dissolving cleaner. For further care recommendations and instructions, please refer to our care instructions or our website.

The joint widths are generally derived from the difference between the nominal size and the work size, or are specified as recommendations in the tiling standards.

Recommended joint widths:

Side length : up to 150 mm : 2 mm

more than 150 mm : from 2 to 8 mm

There are no restrictions on the choice of joint colour for glazed vitreous tiles. Unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles should not be jointed with coloured jointing mortar, as its colour pigments, in particular jointing compounds containing carbon and graphite, could stain the surface. Residual films are to be removed with care while still fresh. Test jointing is essential; please observe the instructions of the jointing material manufacturer.

In principle, certainly!

We recommend the following procedure:

the tile covering must first of all be tapped, loose tiles must be removed and the resultant gaps levelled out with mortar. After cleaning the covering of any soiling, a special primer coat is applied. The tile adhesive is then applied with a toothed trowel and the tiles subsequently attached. The instructions issued by Deutsche Bauchemie must be observed.

Within a ceramic covering, joints have to compensate for unavoidable material tolerances caused by the manufacturing process. Furthermore, these also dissipate tension from the substrate, particularly with heated floor structures. In addition to compensating for the above-mentioned tolerances, joints also have the advantage of preventing water and dirt from penetrating into the tile covering. A cement-based joint prevents the penetration of bacteria, mould, etc. The alkaline cement-based environment in the joint impedes the growth of such organisms. This is why we do not recommend laying tiles without grouting material in between.

Cutting

Scoring must be carried out swiftly, applying even, gentle pressure, whereby only high-quality machines should be used for cutting purposes, in order to ensure the best possible results (both dry and wet cutting machines are available from retailers in various price categories). The wet cutting method is recommended for porcelain stoneware tiles.

Drilling

Due to the dense structure of the material, it is not possible to use conventional hard-metal drills on vitreous and porcelain stoneware tiles.

Drilled holes with smaller diameters, for example, for dowel fastenings, can only be drilled in a dry state using specially hardened carbide drills or with a glass ceramics drill. The tile must be placed on a non-elastic base without any cavities.

The most effective method is to cut exact drill holes on all substrates by wet drilling with a hollow drill with a diamond bit. As there is no brad point, these drills require a bore gauge.

Due to the full-body colouring of the mass of vilbostone porcelain stoneware tiles, corners can be created with ease.

In addition, with vitreous and glazed porcelain stoneware tiles, Villeroy & Boch is one of the few manufacturers to offer one or two glazed edges for the majority of ranges for formats 5x5cm and larger.

Furthermore, special colour-coordinated ceramic beading systems are available for various ranges; these can be used to create perfectly hygienic and aesthetically appealing corner and edge designs.

Matt, non-polished vilbostone porcelain stoneware tiles do not have to be subsequently treated with an impregnating agent! The surface of matt vilbostone porcelain tiles features the vilbostoneplus ceramic surface finish, which greatly improves the tiles' resistance to staining and soiling.

After basic cleaning, polished porcelain stoneware tiles have to be subsequently sealed with a suitable stain preventer. We recommend use of the Carrogard stain preventer. Carrogard is an oil-, grease- and water-repellent stain preventer (containing solvents) that gives polished porcelain stoneware tiles lasting protection and that only has to be applied once.

Villeroy & Boch tile ranges are normally modular, i.e. tiles of different formats can be laid together in a modular format, if the nominal dimension is taken into account. Tiles of the same calibre can be laid with a uniform joint width.

Wall and floor tiles of different calibres can be laid in line with different joint widths if the nominal dimension is taken into account. Tiles of different thicknesses can normally be combined. We recommend that differences in tile thickness of more than 1 mm be compensated.

No. The manufacturing process is free of toxic substances. Tiles consist of mineral raw materials, primarily silicon and aluminium. Plastic raw materials are clays and kaolin, hard materials are feldspar, quartz, chalk and dolomite. As a result of the firing process the tiles no longer contain any organic compounds, which means that they do not represent a health risk (the ideal covering for people who suffer from allergies). Tiles from Villeroy & Boch comply with the quality requirements of European quality standards DIN EN 159 and DIN EN 176.

Yes.

Abrasion, i.e. surface wear, occurs on floor coverings as a result of subjection to grinding and scraping, and can lead to visible changes to the high-gloss finish of glazed tiles.

Glazed vitreous tiles are classified with regard to their wear resistance. The wear resistance groups range from group 1, indicating very light wear resistance, to wear group 5, indicating heavy duty wear resistance.

Villeroy & Boch also offers slip-resistant tiles. Special tiles with surfaces featuring varying degrees of profiling or roughness provide the tile covering with anti-slip properties (accident prevention). Accident insurance companies require slip resistance in work rooms, in public areas which are subject to an increased risk of slipping and in barefoot areas. In the commercial sector, slip resistance is classified according to rating groups R9 to R12. The higher the R group, the greater the slip resistance. In barefoot areas, slip resistance is rated according to groups A, B and C.

Every tile covering with a high water absorption capacity - including vitreous group BIII as per DIN EN 14411 E > 10% - will absorb moisture if the installed tiling is exposed to water. As a result, the tile body acquires a darker appearance in the middle than at the edge. This discoloration is promoted by water-permeable joints, by layers forming moisture barriers in the substrate (water becomes trapped between the moisture barrier and the glaze), and by high humidity in bathrooms with inadequate ventilation or air circulation. In principle, the ceramic body will always dry out again. The greater the extent to which a room is used, the more important it is to ensure thorough and regular airing.

Yes. Our fine ceramic vitreous and porcelain stoneware tiles are classified as frost-resistant in accordance with the standard EN 14411, group BIa and BIb, which stipulates requirements relating to water absorption and freeze-thaw cycling in accordance with DIN EN ISO 510545-12.Despite continual quality control and compliance with the above-stated criteria, frost damage may nevertheless occur if the tiling is not installed in the correct manner or laid on defective substrates. We cannot be made liable for any such damage as the manufacturer of the tiling.