Technical Information
Call us
+1 773 784-2628
Technical Information
Usage
Foundry Art bronze is extremely durable. Our tiles can be used in a wide variety of applications:
- wall and floor
- indoor and outdoor
- wet and dry: kitchen backsplash, shower, steam shower, swimming pool (see Patina information)
- residential and commercial
- high-traffic locations
Materials
Foundry Art inset tiles, liners, and cabinet hardware are cast in solid bronze and finished by hand.
We offer two types of bronze:
- Traditional Bronze – deep, warm tone; used by sculptors for generations
- White Bronze – lighter, cooler tone; similar to nickel silver
All solid bronze tiles consist entirely of 99% post-consumer recycled material
Installation
Cutting
You can cut Foundry Art tiles with any saw suitable for cutting metal. On a job site, using a hacksaw is often the most practical. Lubricating the saw blade will ease the cutting.
Adhesive
In most applications, tiles can be installed using the same setting compound as the adjacent field material. Thinset mortar is typically suitable, but the installer should always follow the guidelines of the Tile Council of America
To ensure a good bond, we recommend roughing the backs of the tiles with coarse sandpaper (60 or 80 grit).
Grout
Sanded or unsanded grout may be used, depending on width of spaces between tiles. Spacing should be per designer’s and grout manufacture’s specifications.
During final cleanup make sure all grout residue is removed from the recesses of the tiles.
No grout release is necessary.
Sealing
Sealing is not necessary.
If a sealer is used on surrounding materials, do not let it pool or stand on the surface of the bronze.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Foundry Art bronze requires no special maintenance. You can clean your tiles, liners, knobs and pulls with most common household cleaning agents, the milder the better.
Avoid acid-based cleaners, including vinegar. Acids may temporarily alter the tiles’ patina.
In general, simply keep the tiles clean and dry.
Variations
No two Foundry Art tiles are exactly alike, which to us is a good thing!
Texture
- Our tiles and hardware are cast and finished by hand, so variation in the tile’s surface naturally occurs.
- Our proprietary casting and finishing process is designed to emphasize textural variations from tile to tile. In particular, the degree of roughness will vary.
Color
- Initially, some tiles may appear darker or lighter than others. During installation, grout will polish the tiles, lessening the variation.
Foundry Art bronze is extremely durable. Our tiles can be used in a wide variety of applications:
- wall and floor
- indoor and outdoor
- wet and dry: kitchen backsplash, shower, steam shower, swimming pool (see Patina information)
- residential and commercial
- high-traffic locations
Foundry Art inset tiles, liners, and cabinet hardware are cast in solid bronze and finished by hand.
We offer two types of bronze:
- Traditional Bronze – deep, warm tone; used by sculptors for generations
- White Bronze – lighter, cooler tone; similar to nickel silver
All solid bronze tiles consist entirely of 99% post-consumer recycled material
Cutting
You can cut Foundry Art tiles with any saw suitable for cutting metal. On a job site, using a hacksaw is often the most practical. Lubricating the saw blade will ease the cutting.
Adhesive
In most applications, tiles can be installed using the same setting compound as the adjacent field material. Thinset mortar is typically suitable, but the installer should always follow the guidelines of the Tile Council of America
To ensure a good bond, we recommend roughing the backs of the tiles with coarse sandpaper (60 or 80 grit).
Grout
Sanded or unsanded grout may be used, depending on width of spaces between tiles. Spacing should be per designer’s and grout manufacture’s specifications.
During final cleanup make sure all grout residue is removed from the recesses of the tiles.
No grout release is necessary.
Sealing
Sealing is not necessary.
If a sealer is used on surrounding materials, do not let it pool or stand on the surface of the bronze.
Foundry Art bronze requires no special maintenance. You can clean your tiles, liners, knobs and pulls with most common household cleaning agents, the milder the better.
Avoid acid-based cleaners, including vinegar. Acids may temporarily alter the tiles’ patina.
In general, simply keep the tiles clean and dry.
Learn more about the natural patina process >
No two Foundry Art tiles are exactly alike, which to us is a good thing!
Texture
- Our tiles and hardware are cast and finished by hand, so variation in the tile’s surface naturally occurs.
- Our proprietary casting and finishing process is designed to emphasize textural variations from tile to tile. In particular, the degree of roughness will vary.
Color
- Initially, some tiles may appear darker or lighter than others. During installation, grout will polish the tiles, lessening the variation.
Recycled Content and Sustainability
Our cast bronze tiles consist entirely of 99% post-consumer recycled material. All of our tiles are made with an ecological awareness.
We do not use any toxic patina chemicals. The patina on Foundry Art bronze is entirely natural, created passively by the atmosphere surrounding the tiles.
The molds for our cast bronze tiles are made of sand which is continuously cleaned and reused. The small amount of waste sand that is generated is reclaimed, cleaned, and sold as a consumer product.
No metal is wasted or discarded in manufacturing. Waste metal and finished tiles not meeting our quality standards are melted down and the metal is reused.
No off-gassing.
All packing cartons are recyclable.
“Cradle to Grave” impact: Upon ultimate demolition of a home or installation, Foundry Art tiles can be removed without breakage or harm, and reused or recycled.
Choosing Metal Tiles
A Word of Caution about Metal Accent Tiles
Please be careful when you choose metal tiles. Many tiles identified as bronze are not actually bronze.
Many metal tiles are made of pewter, a very soft metal which melts at a low temperature and scratches easily. Some pewter tiles may be identified as “bronze” because they have been plated with a thin layer of bronze.
Most “metal” tiles sold in big box stores and from mass online retailers contain little or no actual metal.
The so-called metal tiles that appear to be carved are typically lightweight plastic resin that has been colored with a powdered metal. These tiles are easy to identify because they are light weight and easily scratched.
Most flat metal mosaic are simply a thin layer of metal or metal composite wrapped around or sprayed onto a plastic or ceramic base. You can identify these tiles by their backs, which reveal that they are mostly ceramic or plastic.
Foundry Art bronze tiles are 100% solid bronze, through and through, a difference you can see and feel.
Call us
+1 773 784-2628