How to install stone floor tiles, stone flooring and natural stone wall tiles

Stone Installation

How to install stone flooring and tile walls with stone from Stick2stone Stone. General Information on fixing tiles to Walls and Floors.

Introduction to Interior Natural Stone

These are usually naturally quarried products, so each stone, and therefore each floor, will have its own unique character and appearance. Sizes and thicknesses given are approximate and variations in colour will be apparent.
Delivery and Storage

Please ensure that suitable access is available. Product will arrive on 18-26 tonne vehicles (this is approximately the size of a fire engine). The driver will endeavour to offload the flagstones as close as possible to where you would like them but it is essential that we are informed of any access issues
(e.g.narrow lanes/overhead restrictions/difficult site conditions/restricted parking). If we do not have prior warning we cannot be held responsible for not offloading.

The stones will in the main arrive on shrink wrapped pallets approx 14m2 to 39m2 per pallet (dependant on stone type and thickness). Please ensure that the goods are checked and any items that may have been omitted from the delivery are reported to ensure that replacements are despatched in a timely manner in order to avoid delays. 

Packaging may experience condensation, which can damage the product surface. If extreme temperature changes are anticipated, remove outer plastic packaging and ensure stones are protected from adverse weather. Before laying the stones they should be transferred to the area in which they are to be laid to allow them to acclimatise for overnight at room temperature. 

Radiators/all heat sources in the room including Agas should be turned off during the laying and drying out process. This will prevent rapid drying which may lead to grout shrinkage and hairline surface fissures. However a minimum background temperature of 15ºC will be required for sealing. Please see under-floor heating section for details on preparation.

Preparation of internal areas and stones

Ensure the floor surface to be laid on is thoroughly clean and free of dust and loose debris.
Any bitumen on existing floors should be removed entirely or covered with a levelling compound.Remove all loose and friable material from the back of the stones.

It is recommended that the floor is primed prior to laying the products.A few flagstones may have small chips and blemishes; theseare generally used for cuts. You should allow 5% extra on your
room measurements for cuts and to cover reasonable breakages or mishandling.When the stones are completely dry they should be saturated with at least one coat of MN Stain-Stop prior to laying and grouting. 

Cutting should be done with a diamond cutter.As a general rule we do not recommend that our stones are fixed onto glazed, vinyl or other resilient surfaces. For further advice please ring us. 
NOTE: New screeds should be properly cured and allowed to air dry for at least three weeks before the stones are laid. New concrete bases should be allowed to dry for at least  six weeks before the stones are laid. The above drying times should be extended in low temperatures/humid or poorly ventilated conditions as these will delay drying. 

Please take the above into consideration when planning your floor installation.Installation and Laying – Movement jointsTo counteract movement stresses, which can result in tiles cracking and / or de-bonding. A movement joint should be provided around the perimeter of the room. A gap no less than 6mm wide and 6mm deep or the depth of the tile should be left at the junction between the walls and the floor. This should be filled with silicone sealant at the end of the job, or if being covered with skirting boards or kitchen units etc. may be left open. In large floor areas, intermediate movement joints should be provided at 8 to 10 metre intervals in both directions. We would normally recommend the fitting of an anti-fracture membrane in order to reduce the risk of floor cracking due to movement in the floor. Movement joints should be fitted in accordance with the recommendations as stated in BS 5385 Part 9: 2009.