Natural Stone | Installation

Use a professional

• this type of floor is heavy, difficult work
• it’s labor intensive and extremely exacting
• not for the do-it-yourselfer
• installing stone flooring is a skill that is developed through years of experience 

Process

• prepare the substrate
• cement subfloors can apply the mortar directly to it to lay the tile
• wood subfloors require a CBU (cement backer unit)
• movement in the substrate material can sometimes occur
• for example, water penetrating the grout and/or freezing and thawing temperatures can sometimes cause tile to rise, crack or chip
• area gets measured
• snap chalk lines for an accurate layout
• determine which pieces of tile will need to be cut to fit the area
• tiles that need to be cut are measured and marked with a pencil
• then use a wet saw with a diamond blade to cut through
• begin setting the tile
• thinset mortar, which is a cement-based adhesive, is applied to the surface with a trowel
• tile then placed into the thinset and pressed firmly into place
• imperfections in your subfloor will require differing amounts of mortar to be applied
• this installation, known as a medium bed installation, is more time consuming and costly

Grout, wedge or butter

• depending on the type of tile, may be installed with narrow grout joints
• larger area - wedges or spacers may be used to maintain consistent spacing
• installers may also back butter the back of the tile with thinset mortar to strengthen the bond

Grout

• after tiles are set and the thinset mortar has fully cured, joints are filled with grout
• sanded and un-sanded grouts are used
• type of grout used is determined by the tile, grout joint and width
• mixture is spread over the tiled area to fill in all the joints
• sponge is used to remove excess grout from the surface of the tile

Before installation day

• relocate furniture
• empty china cabinets and closets
• consider removal and disposal of old floorcovering
• remove it yourself and leave 1 day before install
• moldings and baseboards need to be removed for stone installation
• installers not responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood
• painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching (this is your responsibility)
• existing sub floor may need to be prepared to receive the stone

Door plan

• possibility that doors may not clear the new floor and swing free
• installers may remove doors and rehang for an additional cost.
• for clearance issues, arrange for a qualified carpenter to shave or cut down

Clean-up

• waste will be produced
• waste collected and disposed of by installers at an additional cost

Installation day

• be home and available
• be prepared for questions
• presence insures the right wood is installed in the right areas
• exact time of arrival cannot be guaranteed, only a time frame

Safety

• installers use tools and techniques that can be hazardous
• make sure that children and pets are out of the work area
• follow through with a walk-through
• prior to completion walk through to ask questions and be clear on any final details

After installation day

• establish good ventilation for 48 to 72 hours
• be prepared