Product FAQs

How do I determine how much I need?
Determine the square footage of the area by multiplying the length in feet times the width in feet. Then multiply this figure by 4.5 (since there are 4.5 pieces to the square foot) to get the number of pieces you need.

Important: These computations will give you the actual amount of material that you will need to cover your area. There is no figure included for waste. Normally waste can be figured by adding 5% to your end figure. This percentage should take care of normal installations; intricate patterns will require a larger waste factor.

Can BrickTile be installed in sand?
No. The Marion Ceramic’s BrickTile pavers, 9/16” and 15/16” require methods similar to the installation of ceramic tile to adequately support and bond them. We would suggest referring to the “Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation” published by “The Tile Council of North America” for further recommendations of installation for these products.

Can I seal your BrickTile pavers?
Yes, a breathable penetrating sealer designed for brick pavers will help to maintain your installation. This product is available at most places that sell brick and/or tile products.

How can I keep the mortar or grout from filling up the “pores” of the brick?
Before grouting your project, use a “grout release” product (available at most tile and brick stores) By using grout release it will ensure that all the mortar/grout can be removed. Also, the use of a penetrating sealer applied to the brick before grouting will help but not eliminate the mortar getting trapped in these “pores.”

Can your BrickTile be installed interior?
Yes, BrickTile may be installed interior.

Is your BrickTile suitable for vehicular traffic?
Our 15/16” BrickTile is suitable for vehicular traffic as long as the substrate is a concrete slab that is at least 4” thick and reinforced-with-steel. The substrate needs to be in good condition.

How about installing the 15/16” thickness over my existing driveway?
As long as the concrete is in good condition and meets the above criteria. To restate, the existing driveway would have to be a concrete slab at least 4” thick and reinforced with steel.

I have installed your BrickTile in my kitchen, what can I seal the material with to help protect it from dirt and grease?
Any penetrating sealer that is recommended for brick or quarry tile that protects against grease and water penetration. Several of the chemical companies have such a product. Be careful in making sure that the product you choose does repel grease because some penetrating sealers only repel water.

Are your BrickTiles available in a smooth texture?
No. Even though our BrickTile raw materials are ground fine to give the smoothest wire-cut texture available, they are still a wire-cut texture. If a smooth texture is what you are looking for, you may try quarry tile.

Can BrickTile be installed on a wall?
Yes. BrickTile can be installed on a wall, but if you want more of a standard brick size, you may be more interested in our Vee Brick line of material.

How do I determine how much I need?
Figure the number of lineal feet of area that you want to cover and then multiply by 3 to get the number of pieces you will need. Please keep in mind if the area is raised and you need bullnose for both the outside edge and the inside edge (as in a raised spa area) you will need double the amount of coping to cover this area.

Important: These computations will give you the actual amount of material that you will need to cover your area. There is no figure included for waste. Normally waste can be figured by adding 5% to your end figure. This percentage should take care of normal installations; intricate patterns and curves will require a larger waste factor.

Can I seal your Coping material?
Yes, a breathable penetrating sealer designed for brick will help to maintain your installation. This product is available at most places that sell brick and/or tile products.

Can your Coping be used as step nosing?
Yes, our Coping is ideal for steps.

How is your material installed on my pool?
Please refer to the Marion Pool Coping Installation Requirements guide to learn about this subject.

Can your BrickTile be used as pavers behind the Coping?
Yes, our BrickTile and our Coping can be used together. The coping would have to be laid first, and then the BrickTile would need to be laid up to the Coping with the proper expansion joint between the two. With the BrickTile being thinner than the Coping, a mortar bed should be placed under the BrickTile to bring it up to the same plane as the Coping.

How do I clean the coping after installation is complete?
Care should be taken to remove most of the mortar or grout during the installation process before it has a chance to set up. If there is still a cement film on your installation, the use of either sulfamic acid crystals or a pre-mixed brick and tile cleaner from a brick distributor or tile distributor should remove it without harming the new coping. Please be sure to follow the directions on these cleaners. One critical item is to wet the Coping with clean water before applying the cleaner.

Do you offer pre-cut corners for your Coping?
No. Corners can easily be cut on the jobsite. Most installers have the equipment to cut custom corners or free form wedges.

How do I determine how much I need?
Modular Flats: Determine the square footage of the area. This is accomplished by multiplying the height of the area in feet by the length in feet. Be sure to subtract out for window and door openings. Then multiply by 6.86 to come up with the pieces that you would require.

Modular Outside Corners: Measure the height of the area where you would require corners in feet and then multiply by 4.6 to compute how many pieces you will need. Repeat this procedure for every area where you will use corner brick.

Closure Flats: Multiply the square footage of the area by 4.5 to get the number of pieces required.

Closure Outside Corners: Multiply the height of the area to be covered by 3.0 to compute how many pieces you will need. Repeat this procedure for every area where you will use corner brick.

Important: These computations will give you the actual amount of material that you will need to cover your area. There is no figure included for waste. Normally waste can be figured by adding 5% to your end figure. This percentage should take care of normal installations; intricate patterns will require a larger waste factor.

How can I keep the mortar or grout from filling up the “pores” of the brick?
Before grouting your project, use a “grout release” product (available at most tile and brick stores) By using grout release it will ensure that all the mortar/grout can be removed. Also, the use of a penetrating sealer applied to the brick before grouting will help but not eliminate the mortar getting trapped in these “pores”.

Make sure that the grout release or sealer stays on the face of the brick and does not run down into the area where your mortar will be installed.

Can your Vee Brick be installed over sheetrock on an interior installation?
Yes, Vee Brick can be installed over properly secured drywall via ceramic tile mastic in a totally dry and normal temperature area. Special precautions have to be made if the area is around a high heat source like a wood stove or a fireplace. Please refer to ULI listings (Underwriters Laboratory Inc.) for more information on fire rated preparation of walls.

I have an unfinished chimney chase protruding out of my roof; can I use your Vee Brick to cover this area?
Yes, please refer to the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) “Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation.” guide for installation of tile-exterior. This publication will show you how to install tile in such an area and our Vee Brick can be installed like tile. The most important thing is to make sure you have adequate flashing to make sure that you have no leaks from rainwater.

Our Vee Brick is an excellent material for this purpose. The installation of Vee Brick will give you the appearance of full face brick but without the weight of a full face brick.

Can Vee Brick be used as flooring material?
Yes, Vee Brick is manufactured the same way as our BrickTile. Just be aware that the Vee Brick would be narrower than the BrickTile.

When Vee Brick is set on a vertical substrate, how do I maintain a horizontal mortar joint?
Rope, of the same thickness as you want the joint to be, can be laid in the joint and then Vee Brick stacked on top of the rope. Also, tile spacers can be used to maintain this spacing. Leave the rope or spacers in place until the next day, then remove and reuse.

Do you recommend a panel system for Marion Ceramic’s Vee Brick?
Our Vee Brick will work with all of the many panel systems available in the market.

Is your Vee Brick heat-resistant?
Vee Brick is fired at approximately 1980 degrees F, the product itself holds up fine around most ordinary heat sources. (i.e., Fireplaces, wood stoves, ovens.) The part of the installation that you need to be concerned about is the setting material and the substrate. These two items have to be able to hold up to the heat, also, to maintain a safe installation.

However, Vee Brick should not be used in place of firebrick in the firebox of a fireplace.

How do I get the mortar or grout into the joint?
A mortar bag, which is similar to a cake decorating bag, is the most efficient way. Squeeze the mortar into the joint, filling the joint. Let the mortar set up for a few minutes and then tool the joint to the desired shape. Tools to accomplish this are available at most brick and masonry supply stores.