Keeling House apartment

Built by Denys Lasdun (creator of the National Theatre) in 1957 originally as council housing, Keeling House is a cluster of 4 blocks of maisonettes in Bethnal Green.  These brutalist concrete blocks were Grade II listed in 1993 and the 2 storey apartments are now much sought after particularly by architecture lovers!  Architect Jenny Fleming’s bijou home has featured in Elle Decoration.  She stripped back and renovated the entire space, using Ketley red quarry tiles in her sunshine yellow kitchen.

Jesus College Cambridge

Architects Niall Mclaughlin are a practice that puts a strong emphasis on the inventive use of building materials, the qualities of light and the relationship between the building and its surroundings.  At Jesus College Cambridge, the project was to refurbish and extend a Grade II listed building and  staying within the historic footprint of the building was a key requirement.  Oak, stone, brick and quarry tiles were chosen as a consistent pallette of materials throughout the project, unifying the refurbished elements with the new build and all perfectly suiting the historical context of the site. Tom Mcglyn, the project architect explains  "there were already old terracotta square quarry tiles in use internally in the existing circulation areas and there was considerable brick used within the building.  Internally, we wanted to use a robust material for the floors in the circulation areas, a material that could even be external, and Ketley quarry tiles fitted this brief whilst also paying homage to the existing square quarries and the brick lined walls in the new design" 

Van Gogh House

A Grade II listed Georgian terrace, home to Vincent Van Gogh in 1873 has been meticulously restored over 6 years using original materials and traditional techniques.  Ketley Staffordshire red quarry tiles have been laid in the new kitchen extension as well as the new artists studio.  "It was important that these new additions complemented the house’s Victorian history and the original palette of clay, lime plaster, and timber, and using Staffordshire clay quarry tiles sourced from Ketley Brick was key to the design of the modern extensions", explains  designer Livia Wang.  

Draft House Milton Keynes

This new Draft House pub in Milton Keynes uses Staffordshire red brick sized quarry tiles in a herringbone pattern.  Naomi Doran from Relic Interiors London, who designs the Draft Houses explains, "I love these floor tiles as they give the impression that they are integral to the building, that they have always been there and have just been uncovered.  Unlike a lot of other floor tiles that have perfect regular finishes, these tiles are effectively thin bricks.  Their finish has imperfections and irregularities that can transform an interior and give the space a warmth and character from the moment they are laid.  The variety of colours and sizes available in the range  makes them very versatile and I find that I can achieve a very different look by using a different colour or laying pattern." 

Quarry Tile Fittings

These products shown here match our rectangular quarry tiles 102mm x 215mm.  Similar products are available to match our squares 100mm x 100mm and 150mm x 150mm.  Please contact us for further details.

Bullnose Stretcher

Bullnose Header
 

Bullnose Return
 

Ribbed Nosing
 

Download our third party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Place of Manufacture: Brierley Hill, UK
Environmental Management:       ISO 14001        Download Certificate 
Quality Management:                    ISO   9001       Download Certificate  
Life Cycle: BRE 'A+' rating
Freeze Thaw Testing to in excess of 400 cycles  Download Freeze Thaw Test Certificate >>
Energy: Fired in gas kilns to 1130 degrees
Raw materials: Etruria Marl Clay from our local quarry in Brierley Hill, sand
Lifespan: > 60 years. Second hand tiles that have been on roofs in excess of 100 years often sell for more than new tiles on the 2nd hand market
Recyclability: Can be crushed and used as aggregate and/or as an inert bulk fill
Packaging: We keep packaging to a minimum using wooden pallets. We do not shrink wrap or use plastic straps.

Find out more about Dreadnought Tiles approach to sustainability

Download our Quality and Environmental Policy

Download our Sustainbility Statement

Ketley Quarry Tiles for flooring

Standard: BS EN 14411:2012

Ketley Quarry Tiles are manufactured from the same clay, using the same processes as the Ketley 50mm and 65mm pavers and deliver the same technical characteristics of very low water absorption, very high strength and unrivalled frost resistance. 

Packing On pallets -  1350 pieces on a pallet for 215x102mm size   pallet weight (incl pallet) 1240kg
                                        1100 pieces on a pallet for 150x150mm size   pallet weight (incl pallet) 1010kg
                                        1890 pieces on a pallet for 215x 65mm size    pallet weight (incl pallet) 1155kg

Weight per unit          215x102mm size - 0.9kg   150x150mm size - 0.9kg   215x 65mm size  0.6kg

Download Ketley Quarry Tile Specification Sheet

Download Ketley Quarry Tile Specification clause as a word document

Laying Quarry tiles

Download our guide to laying and cleaning Quarry Tiles

Quarry tiles should be laid on a rigid base, with no voids underneath so that the load applied to them is transferred through to the base. In situations where heavy loads are involved, the strength of the installation can be improved by the use of a thicker paver as the transverse breaking load of a clay paving product is directly related to its thickness where all other factors are equal. It is advisable to select the material to resist the most arduous conditions likely to be imposed during the life of the product.
For a sand and cement base, allow at least 3 weeks before fixing the tiles. and for concrete, at least 6 weeks, preferably 12 weeks drying time should be allowed.
The surface should be hard, sound, clean, free from laitance and dust.  
It should also be flat with a tolerance of ≤3 mm under a 2m straight edge. Any deviations from this should be corrected using a levelling compound.

Under Floor Heating
Ketley Quarry Tiles are fully compatible with both water‑based (wet) and electric (dry) underfloor heating systems. Their dense, extruded clay body provides excellent thermal conductivity and heat retention, making them suitable for internal floors where UFH is installed beneath a screed or adhesive bed.

Fixing
Ketley recommends using a tile adhesive such as ARDEX X 7 R.  (Download Ardex guide to fixing Ketley Quarry Tiles) This adhesive is mixed with clean water and applied to the substrate with a suitably sized notched trowel to form straight, ribbed lines.  The quarry tiles are then pressed firmly into the adhesive bed at consistent joint widths (6-10mm).  The backs of the tiles should be regularly checked to ensure that solid bed fixing has been achieved.

Grouting

Board should be laid over the tiled area to spread the load of the tiler when carrying out the grouting operation. The grouting mortar should be adapted for the width of the joint with a lower ratio of cement for wider joints

Ketley recommends using a flexible grout which is available in a wide range of colours from companies like ARDEX.  This product is mixed with clean water to a creamy consistency and worked thoroughly into the joints using a rubber squeegee.  As the work proceeds, any excess grout should be removed, residues can be removed with a damp sponge for up to 30 minutes.  Any dry film can be polished off with a clean cloth afterwards. If, after this process, there is a hazy mist on the surface of the tiles, this can easily be cleaned off with a grout remover, diluted according to the maufacturer’s instructions. 

Movement Joints
These should be installed in accordance with BS 5385‑3:2007.  Any existing movement/structural  joints should be continued through to the surface of the tiling.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Download our guide to laying and cleaning Quarry Tiles

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Ketley Quarry Tiles require minimal routine maintenance. Floors can usually be kept clean by sweeping to remove loose dirt, followed by washing with warm water and a non‑soapy, neutral, sulphate‑free detergent. Clean, dry surfaces have a naturally low slip potential; most slip incidents occur when contaminants remain on the floor, so an effective cleaning regime is essential for both appearance and safety.

ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE CLEANING REGIME
- Identify contaminants so the correct cleaning agent can be selected.
- Use suitable tools, with dedicated equipment for specific areas if required.
- Schedule regular cleaning, assigning responsibility and timing around pedestrian traffic.
- Provide clear instructions on procedures, detergent use, disposal, spill response, and record‑keeping.
- Inspect floors routinely to identify wear, damage, debris, or contamination.

CLEANING METHOD
Cleaning methods vary depending on contamination, surface profile, available agents, and whether mechanical equipment can be used. Regardless of method, all residues must be removed. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly with clean water and leave the floor dry. Failure to rinse can leave detergent or contaminant residues that emulsify when re‑wetted and increase slip risk.

INITIAL CLEAN AFTER INSTALLATION
Once grout joints have hardened, tiles may require a light clean using a neutral, non‑soapy, sulphate‑free detergent, followed by rinsing. Strong detergents should be avoided as they can cause scumming. Tiles should be pre‑dampened before applying any cleaner to prevent absorption into the tile body.

REMOVING DIFFICULT STAINS
- Abrasive cleaners, avoiding steel wool, which can leave metal particles that cause rust staining.
- Chemical cleaning using an appropriate solvent; specialist advice may be required for specific stains.
- Bleaching, where suitable, to remove the colour of the stain.
NB The use of sealers and polishers on quarry tiles can make regular cleaning more difficult.

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