HELPFUL FACTS
Natural Stone
All natural stone tiles are exactly as the name suggests natural material. They have been formed over thousands of years of natural sediments compacting over time, under diverse temperatures and conditions to produce the many types of stone available today, including marble, granite, limestone, basalt, travertine, and sandstone.
Expect and Embrace Variation
Each and every natural stone tile is unique and varies from one tile to the next. That’s what gives natural stone its distinguishing beauty. The colour and veining will vary depending on where the blocks are cut from in the quarry, and also where the tile is cut from within the block. - This means that shade variation from tile to tile and batch to batch is to be expected and embraced as a unique characteristic of natural stone. The extent of the shift in colour and veining does differ according to the type of stone you select.
This natural characteristic means nobody else in the world will ever have the exact same tiles you receive.
If you do not want colour and veining variation within your space, and you prefer a more uniform consistant look, perhaps consider a porcelain tile. Porcelain tiles are machine manufactured, where the design constrains colour shifts and any veining is printed to a standard.
Remember all samples are to be used as an indication only, as they display only a small section of a tile or batch. Goods supplied will be subject to variation in veining and colour as explained above.
Before, During and After Installation
It’s imperative you check that you have sufficient tiles before fitting, as no guarantee is given that subsequent supplies of the same stone will match in shade. Ensure that adequate tiles are kept spares in case repairs are required after installation.
Before tiling, the installer needs to ensure suitability of substrate, grout and adhesive for this stone. For example; Some natural stone tiles have a resin backing, and different adhesives will be required to fix these to the substrate. Please check with your Surface Gallery consultant to see if this is relevant to your stone order, or refer to an adhesive manufacturer for the most appropriate adhesive for your project.
Variation in shade and veining can be minimised visually on site with professional blending by an experienced natural stone tiler. (A tiler should never take the tiles straight from the crate and install in the order they were removed) Any tiles with dramatic variation within each tile should be used for cutting.
All natural stone tiles are porous, even the most dense granites can be impervious to liquids.
Surface Gallery recommends that all natural stone is sealed with a penetrating sealer. The sealer will actually soak into the pores of the stone. The sealer will not make the stone completely resistant to stains, however it will make it easier to clean and maintain the surface.
The sealing process varies depending on the type of natural stone selected. Some stone requires pre-sealing and others require sealing once installed. Check with your Surface Gallery consultant as to which is the most suitable for the type of stone you have selected.
Regular cleaning and maintenance can add to the visual life span of stone installations. Refer to the Surface Gallery Natural Stone Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for further instructions on cleaning and sealing.
Surface Gallery Cleaning and Maintenance Guide – Natural Stone
All natural stones are exactly as the name suggests natural material. They have been formed over thousands of years of natural sediments compacting over time to produce the various types of stone available today, including marble, granite, limestone, basalt, travertine, sandstone to name a few.
All natural stones are porous, even the most dense granites can be impervious to liquids.
Surface Gallery recommends that all natural stone is sealed with a penetrating sealer. The sealer will actually soak into the pores of the stone. The sealer will not make the stone completely resistant to stains, however it will make it easier to clean and maintain the surface.
Regular cleaning and maintenance can add to the visual life span of stone installations. Stains and marks can be visually messy and extreme neglect can result in un-repairable damage on the surface.
In order to avoid damage we recommend you avoid Alkaline, Acidic, ammoniated abrasive cleaners and bleach, as these will break down the sealer properties and possibly harm the stone.
Use a Non Acidic Neutral Cleaner specially formulated for natural stone
Always read the entire label or directions of cleaning instructions prior to using.
- Test Cleaning solution in a small inconspicuous area of the surface (or on a spare sample tile you have left over) at least 24 hours before, to ensure it won’t discolour or adversely affect the surface.
- If you are satisfied with your cleaning test follow the remaining steps
- Sweep, vacuum or dust the surface.
- Mix solution with recommended quantity of concentrated solution
- Apply mixed solution with a sponge, mop or appropriate professional cleaning equipment.
- Clean entire area with mop, changing the mop and mixture as often as necessary to ensure soil is not re-deposited.
- Wipe or rinse cleaned area
- Allow area to completely dry before using.
PRE-INSTALLATION TIPS
• Ensure all Surface Gallery Natural Stone Tiles are dry, clean and free of debris.
• When installing Natural Stone Tiles it is best practice that all tiles are pre-sealed (6-sided seal or dip sealed where possible) with a high quality hydro repellent PRE-SEALER to protect against deterioration of Natural Stone tiles from hydrostatic water migration.
• Once installed it is best practice to complete a FINAL SEAL after grout.
• Testing of grouts on sample tiles should be undertaken to determine if tiles require pre-sealing to avoid picture framing phenomenon that occurs when using some proprietary grout blends.
• Expansion joint layouts should be set-out and approved prior to installation of tiles.
• Use of compatible Polymer Modified adhesive should be determined by adhesive manufacturer.
• Considerations should be made to use rapid setting adhesives prior to installations.
• All screeds, membranes, substrates should be cured and fully
prepared as per adhesive manufacturer’s instructions.
• It is the installers responsibility to ensure compatibility of sealers, membranes and adhesives.
INSTALLATION TIPS
• Ensure adequate adhesive coverage is maintained as per Australian Standards.
• Natural Stone tiles should be back-buttered with adhesive prior to installation to increase adhesive bond.
• Minimum grout joint width recommended is 2mm.
• Spacing crosses should be removed prior to grouting.
• Minimal water should be used when cleaning excess adhesive from tiles.
• A minimum of 5 days curing time should be observed prior to grouting.
• Tiles should be protected during this curing time to prevent debris, contaminants permeating the open joints.
• In external areas, un grouted tiles should be protected from the elements and wet events to prevent latex/polymer leaching from adhesives.
• Suitable sealant for use with natural stone should be used for joint sealing of Natural Stone tiles.
• Apply silicon jointing after final seal. Check with manufacturer that silicon is neutral cure and for use on natural stone.
POST INSTALLATION TIPS
• Natural Stone Tiles should be sealed with a suitable water and stain repellent sealer post installation.
• PH neutral cleaners should be used during cleaning phases.
• Products with high alkalinity or acid-based products should not be used on any Natural Stone Tiles.
• Tiles should be covered and protected from other trades during construction.
NOTES
• This document serves as tips surrounding best practice.
• Tiles should be installed following recommendations set down in Australian Standards.
• When cleaning, maintaining, installing Natural Stone Tiles, products suitable for use with Natural stone should be used.
When pre-sealing ensure that the product used is appropriate to work in conjunction with the selected tile adhesive.
DO NOT PRE-SEAL WITH FINAL SEALERS.
PRE-SEALING & POST SEALING
There are many reputable companies with a wide range of products available. Examples are available from: [email protected]
• GEAL – IDROBLOCK or ICR17 HYDRO REPELLENTS.
• GEAL – double dispersion TIO or double dispersion PREVENT2
MAINTENANCE
• GEAL – Concentrated CB90 PH neutral cleaner.
• General clean regime should be implemented.
ADEHSIVES AND GROUTS
Research and development of adhesives is continually improving. There are many reputable companies with a wide range of products available.
Examples are Kerakoll (Ph: 03 9448 8588 www.kerakoll.com.au ) and Mapei (Ph: 1800 652 666 www.mapei.com.au )
RECOMMENDED PROFFESSIONAL
Please contact Stone & Co Solutions for pre-sealing, cleaning, sealing and all on-going professional stone maintenance.
Contact: Mariano Bastone 0416 262 826
Web Site: www.stoneandcosolutions.com.au
Instagram: @stoneandcosolutions
