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Installation & Maintenance
Natural stone products often require a more specialist installation technique than man made equivalents, but if fitted correctly will last a lifetime.
Substrates
The solidity of the sub floor onto which tiles are intended to be laid, must be suitable for the purpose intended. The floor surface must be level, dry, clean and free of any dust, grease or loose material. This counts for both exterior and interior floors.
Sand & Cement Screeds
A dry, level screed is ideal to fix stone onto. For new screeds you must ensure that it is fully dry or cured before stone installation. A general recommended drying time is 20-30mm per week but possibly longer with adverse weather conditions.
Stone on Timber Floors
Timber floors must not flex and the extra load weight of the natural stone tiles must be accounted for. To guard against the damaging effect of movement fix 18mm plywood over the floor in a staggered pattern and screw down firmly at 140mm centres. A flexible adhesive and grout must be used when fixing onto timber floors.
Existing Glazed, Clay & Stone Flooring
All loose tiles should be removed and the remainder of the floor should be degreased and free of surface contaminants.
Stone on Cork, Vinyl & Wooden Flooring
Cork, vinyl and wooden flooring (i.e. parquet flooring) should be fully removed and any bitumen left on the floor should also be removed.
Stone on Under Floor Heating
There are two basic systems of under floor heating, an electric mat system and a water piped system. Both systems require flexible adhesive and flexible grout. Please check with your adhesive supplier about suitability.
Stone on Unlevelled Floors
A floor that has hollows and minor bumps can be levelled out by applying more or less adhesive to the underside of individual tiles during installation. In the case of a very uneven floor, a levelling compound should be used.
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