Zellige Tile Online Orders: Grout and Lippage Explained
Zellige is uneven by nature. Here is what lippage, joint width and grout color mean for zellige you order online, so the finished wall matches what you pictured.
Photos of zellige walls show a rippling, glossy surface that catches the light. What they do not show is how that surface is created: tiles of slightly different thickness, soft edges, and grout joints that behave differently from uniform porcelain. If you are buying zellige tile online, understanding lippage and grout before you order helps you pick the right product and set realistic expectations with your installer.
This guide covers what to expect during installation, how grout choices change the look, and what to discuss with your installer before the first tile goes up.
What lippage means for zellige
Lippage is the height difference between the edges of neighboring tiles. With porcelain, installers work hard to eliminate it, and visible lippage is considered a defect.
With handmade zellige, some lippage is part of the look. Tiles vary in thickness and are not perfectly flat, so edges will not sit perfectly level. That is what creates the shimmer as light hits each tile at a slightly different angle.
The goal is controlled lippage, not none at all:
- No sharp edges that catch a cloth or finger
- No tiles sticking out far enough to look like mistakes
- An overall plane that reads as flat from a normal viewing distance
Machine-made zellige-look tiles are much more uniform, so lippage is closer to what you would expect from ordinary ceramic.
Installation basics that affect the finish
Installers use different methods for zellige, but common practices include:
- Back-buttering each tile to account for thickness differences
- Sorting tiles before starting to separate chipped pieces for cuts and ends
- Blending from several boxes so color variation is spread evenly
- Adjusting tile by tile rather than setting large sections quickly
This takes longer than a typical tile job. Ask your installer how they approach zellige and whether they have set it before.
Grout joint width for zellige tile online orders
Joint width is a design choice as much as a technical one.
- Tight joints give a more continuous, glossy surface. Chipped edges are more visible and the grout line may be irregular.
- Wider joints make each tile read individually, more like a traditional Moroccan installation, and hide edge irregularities.
Most zellige is set with fairly narrow joints, but the right width depends on the product and how uneven the tiles are. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation and discuss it with your installer.
Grout color changes the look
- Matching grout (white with white tile, for example) keeps attention on the tile's color and gloss.
- Contrasting grout outlines each tile and emphasizes the irregular shapes.
- Slightly darker grout in a kitchen hides splatter and ages more gracefully than bright white.
Test a few grout colors against sample tiles before committing. Zellige glazes are translucent in places, and grout color can change how the tile reads more than you might expect.
Sealing and grout protection
Many glazed zellige tiles have small pinholes, crazing or unglazed edges that can absorb grout pigment. Some manufacturers recommend sealing the tile before grouting to prevent haze or staining. Check the product's installation instructions and ask your installer.
In wet areas, a stain-resistant grout helps protect the joints from soap and mildew.
What to check before you order
When you are comparing zellige tile online, look for:
- Whether the product is handmade or machine-made
- Recommended grout joint width
- Any sealing requirements before or after grouting
- Suggested overage for sorting and cuts
- Whether matching trim pieces are available
All of our zellige, about 40 products, comes from Bedrosians, including the Zagora line. You can review the details for each product in our tile category.
Where zellige works best
Zellige is most at home on walls: kitchen backsplashes, shower walls, fireplace surrounds and accent walls. The glossy glaze and uneven surface are usually not recommended for floors, especially wet ones.
Think about where the tile ends, too. Zellige is often thicker than the drywall or paint beside it, and the edge will be visible wherever the tile stops. On a backsplash that ends at the side of a window or at the end of a countertop, decide early whether you want a trim piece, a metal edge or simply a carefully finished edge tile, and order accordingly.
If you want a similar color and gloss with less variation, a glazed ceramic or porcelain may be a better fit, particularly in a busy family bathroom.
In and around Bellingham, WA, where rooms often rely on soft winter light, zellige can bring a lot of life to a wall. Call (360) 255-8377 with your measurements and preferred grout look, and we can help you choose a product and quantity that suit the space.