All substrates should be firmly fixed, flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants. Deflection should be a maximum of 1/360th of the span for walls or floors. Concrete substrates and the mortar in bricks or blocks must be allowed to cure for 28 days minimum, cement render for 7 days minimum.

Painted surfaces must be sound after roughening with sand paper or wire brush. water based paints are not suitable substrates for tiling. Previously tiled surfaces should be firmly adhered, acid etched and roughened before over-tiling.

Wet areas require special attention involving appropriate substrates (e.g. concrete, compressed sheet, water resistant plasterboard, treated plywood) the use of reinforced waterproof membranes and in the case of floors a fall to the drainage point of not less than 1:60.