Laying zellige tile: irregularity, fine joints and layout

By covering type · 6 min read · updated 5 November 2026 · Written by Tilelico

Zellige owes its charm to its irregularities: size, thickness and shade vary from tile to tile. The job is to keep that shimmer without letting the floor become uncomfortable.

Real example · calculated by Tilelico

Bathroom of 3.50 × 3.00 m, 10 × 10 cm, 2 mm joint

WholeCutCut under 25 mmFreestanding bath

The plan has many tiles and, with a cut threshold lowered for this small size, still a few narrow cuts to check. The margin here is higher than usual: with a handmade product, you also set tiles aside when sorting.

Calculated result

Room area: 10.50 m²
Area covered: 9.01 m²
Whole pieces: 804
Cut pieces: 168
Actual need: 972
To order (+15%): 1,118
Waste with no offcut reuse: 7.3 %
Narrow cuts: 12

Most frequent cuts

168 cuts in 13 different sizes.

C01 · 100 × 72 mm× 33
C02 · 100 × 70 mm× 33
C03 · 67 × 100 mm× 28
C04 · 65 × 100 mm× 28

Setting out and products

Starting point 67 mm from the west wall and 72 mm from the north wall, then a 102 × 102 mm repeat. Estimated products: 32 kg of adhesive and 4.6 kg of grout.

Reproduce it in Tilelico

1Draw a 3.50 × 3.00 m rectangle, then add in the centre: Freestanding bath.
2Choose the covering: 10 × 10 cm, 2 mm joint.
3Select the “Straight” pattern.
4Set the distribution to “Balanced cuts” and the margin to 15%.

Open this example in the editor

When to choose it

It mainly suits low-traffic floors and rooms where you want a shimmering material, provided the product is made for floor use.

Best forA bathroom, wet corner or small room, using a floor-rated version.
Avoid ifThe area sees heavy traffic, or you want a perfectly flat surface.

Continue with: Laying small-format tile: a bathroom as the example →

Preparing the job

Check that your zellige is approved for floors and wet rooms: many products are made first for walls.

Open several boxes and mix them dry, to spread the shades and set aside badly damaged tiles.

Continue with: Laying cement tile: layout, protection and grout →

Step by step

Step 1 — Mark the axesCentre the grid on the most visible area, allowing for the real joint.
Step 2 — Dry-lay an areaSpread the shades and spot size differences before applying adhesive.
Step 3 — Apply adhesive as the sheet saysThe spreading method and adhesive depend on the tile. A thick, irregular tile needs particular care.
Step 4 — Lay with a fine, even jointSet the joint by eye as much as with spacers: it must absorb size differences without highlighting them.
Step 5 — Protect, then groutFollow the sheet for pre-grout protection: some porous surfaces stain easily.

Continue with: Straight tile laying: the complete guide, with a real example →

Mistakes to avoid

Chasing perfect alignmentThe product is handmade: forcing regularity creates uneven joints and a strained look.
Skipping the manufacturer’s protectionGrout or a cleaning product can permanently mark a porous surface.

These pointers describe common practice, not imposed rules. The data sheet for your covering and for your installation products always takes precedence, and measurements taken on site are the reference.

Frequently asked questions

Can zellige be laid with no joint?

A very tight lay is sometimes advertised, but it depends on the product. An irregular tile needs a joint to absorb its differences: follow the sheet.

Do I need a larger margin?

Often, because sorting sets tiles aside on top of the cuts. The example uses a higher margin: adjust it to your batch.

Technical references

This guide describes common installation practices. It does not replace applicable technical documents, manufacturer instructions or measurements taken on site.