General Instruction

The company strongly advise you to use the only experienced Contractor / Tile Mason for laying Natural Stone Products.
The entire Tiling activity must be supervised by either the Architect, Project Manager or the contractor.
Use the Adhesive / Grout / Sealant /Floor Cleaner first on Small Areas for testing and if you like the colour, then proceed for final installation.
Please follow Instructions of Manufacturer for Adhesive / Grout / Sealant /Floor Cleaner.
All the boxes should be opened and inspected before installation.
Natural stone contain differences in shades of the same colour. Tiles must be examined prior to installation to ensure that proper blending of all the tiles.
The surface should be cleaned to ensure that it is free from all types of surface contaminants.
It is recommended that stain free grout should be used on all the stone products.
It is also advised that one coat of sealer should be done on all the stone products before installation and grouting.
Grout should be applied in a diagonally motion with a hard sponge and allowed to set for about 10 to 15 minutes before washing the excess away.
Grouting level should be at least 3-4 mm below the tile level.
Clean up the grout completely, otherwise it will set on the tiles surface.
In case grout settles on the surface, remove it using any tile cleaner.
Refrain from using acid on tiles.
If in Doubt, Contact the nearest Natural Stone Dealer

Step to be followed for installation:

Surface Preparation

Protection from the weather: It is essential to consider all extreme of weather during entire installation including the grouting. Cold weather condition and /or frost can retard or even circumvent the curing process. Rain can cause serious damage before, during or immediately after grouting. Very hot / dry exposure adversely affects the curing of fresh adhesive or grout.
Different type of surfaces: The surface preparation must be done according to various surfaces. The product may be applied to concrete, screeds, wooden board, ceramic tile or stone wall surface etc . Please follow following instruction :
- Allow all the concrete and screeds ( Fresh Plaster) to cure for at least 28 days before proceeds
- All new concrete or screeds must have a moisture content of 5 % or less before tiling can be commenced.
- Please ensure that the surfaces are clean and free from all types of surface contaminants. It should be removed by scaling or sand blasting.
- Pl ensure that all the screeds (Plaster work) should be firmly attached with the concrete or brick wall and there should not be any crumbling or cracking.
- Deflection should be a maximum of 1/360th of the span for walls or floors.
- All the defective areas must be removed and floor / wall must be made good.
- Don't stick the product to an existing ceramic or stone surface. It is recommended to remove the existing ceramic or stone product from the surface.
Substrate: All substrates should be firmly fixed, flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants. Deflection should be a maximum of 1/360th of the span for walls or floors. Wet areas require special attention involving appropriate substrates (e.g concrete, compressed sheet, gib aqualine, H3 treated plywood), the use of reinforced waterproof membranes and, in the case of floors, a fall of the drainage point of not less than 1:60.
Wet areas: All the areas like showers, balconies should be waterproofed with Dr fixit or any other water proofing compound prior to tiling. We recommend to use waterproofing membrane to prevent leakage of water through sub floor framing or habitable space.

Fixing procedure of The Tiles

There are two procedure of fixing the tiles one is Thin set method and other is thick bed. The thin set method is suitable for mosaic, pebbles, randoms or all mesh back products.

The Thin Set method is used when the surface is rigid, sound and smooth. Also it should be used for all pre-sealed tiles.
- Thoroughly dust tile surface by rubbing with clean cloth or brush. Wetting of tiles is not necessary.
- Use only thin set tile adhesive (i.e. LATICRETE/UNITILE/ROFFE/BAL JOHNSON) for its installation. Read manufacturer's instructions carefully.
- Prepare area on which tile is to be set by thoroughly cleaning to allow bonding of thin set adhesive to the floor.
- Remove tiles from several boxes and mix them together to have a good mixture of colors for each grid.
- Begin installation making sure each tile has at least 90 percent coverage of the thin set adhesive.
- Thin set tile adhesive should be trawled (using a 'notched trowel') on a small area of floor at a time.
- Place tile on the trawled section with a twisting motion while pressing down with hand and spacing to desired joint (1 mm to 10 mm)
- With the wooden handle of tool tap over the tile surface. If a hollow sound is heard pick up the tile and butter with more thin set tile adhesive to the area where coverage was not initially attained.
- After tiles are installed allow a 24-hour period before grouting.
THICK BED ( can be used only for the products without mesh backing)
The thick bed method is used when the surface to be tiled is uneven and also when the tiles are heavy in nature.
- Thoroughly dust the tile surface by rubbing with a clean cloth or brush.
- The tiles are to be soaked in water before starting fixing.
- For thick bed installation of tiles cement mortar is recommended in ratio of 1 part cement 2 parts sand.
- Level the area on which tile is to be fixed and start laying tiles. If any pattern has to be worked out, make drawing on the floor before starting laying of the tiles.
- It is suggested to mix tiles from various boxes to get a good mixture of colour variation, if any.
- Cement mortar should be trawled on the back portion of tile and firmly pressed down and space to desired joint (1 mm to 10 mm). Beat on top of tiles surface with the wooden handle of the tool to assure 100% bond coverage and contact.
- Allow the tile on the floor to cure for 48 hours prior to grouting. DO NOT WALK on the tiles during curing.
ADHESIVE SELECTION: Cement-based adhesives (thin-set) are generally suitable on masonry substrates where no movement is anticipated. Where slight movement could occur through thermal or pedestrian loads, a modified cement adhesive (probably 2-part) should be used as a minimum. It is important that each pieces of tile is embedded in the adhesive. Select a product suitable for application with a 1/4' notched trowel.

Grouting must not be carried out until sufficient bond has developed between the bedding mix and tiles to avoid any disturbance to the installed tiles. Allow a minimum of 4 hours setting time before grouting.

It is recommended that stain free grout should be used on all the sand stone products. It is also advisable that one coat of sealer should be done on all the products specially sand stone products before installation and grouting.

Before grouting all the tiles must be firmly set and all spacers, strings and ropes should be removed.
E NATURAL STONE recommend to use the readymade colored grouts available from many good companies (Laticrete/Roffe/ Bal Endura) for floor as well as wall walling and then follow manufacturer's instructions.
Grout in a diagonally motion with a hard sponge and let set for about 10 to 15 minutes before washing the excess away.
Grouting level should be atleast 3-4 mm below the tile level.
Use a good quality grout from a standard company
After clean up allow grout to cure for above 72 hours before use.
Where there is excessive movement or extreme temperature changes , we strongly recommend to use the flexible adhesive based grouts

Cleaning

DO NOT LET GROUT SET ON TILE.
DO NOT USE ACID ON TILES.
Use a damp sponge and water in a circular motion to wash excess grout away.
Clean up the grout completely, otherwise it will set on the tiles surface.
Please follow manufacturers instruction carefully.

Sealing

Island Stone and mosaic tiles are manufactured from a variety of natural stones with differing compositions. We recommend to use the sealer on all the products . There are two types of sealer one is wet look and other is dry look. Application and maintenance should be as per the manufacturer's directions. Under normal conditions, sealants will normally last for three to four years. It is recommended to put minimum 3 coated on flooring and 2 coated on walling applications. In case the surface is to much exposed to weather additional coats should be provided as per recommendation of manufcaturer.

The tile surface should be cleaned properly with a cotton cloth. Before applying sealant make sure that the surface is also bone dry. Sealer can be applied by sponge or cotton cloth. The second or third coating can be applied after a gap of 3-4 hours of each coat. DO NOT WALK ON THE TILE UNTIL THE SEALER IS DRY.

After Care

All tiles should be periodically cleaned with water and commercially available 'floor cleaners'.
Please follow manufacturers instruction carefully.
Soap and detergents like SURF or VIM should NOT be used. NEVER USE ACID TO CLEAN TILES.
For maintenance of tiles and glass mosaics installed in swimming pools, a water Softening plant is recommended to avoid any hard water deposits on the tile surface.

Instructions for removing 'yellowing' on Stone surface

On occasion, a subtle yellow hue will appear on the surface of certain stones. This yellow hue will naturally disappear. over time UNLESS it gets sealed into the stone via installation and or sealing. To remove yellowing follow either of the below approaches:

Natural Drying; Remove tiles from box and place in direct sunlight. Generally 15---30 minutes is sufficient time for the color to disappear. Note, times may vary depending on weather
Cleaning: a. Create a part mixture of 1/3 bleach, 2/3 water. Remove tiles from box and spray tile with mixture. Allow tile to completely dry. Repeat if necessary.

* Always use proper safety equipment in a ventilated area

Beside the general instruction we are providing you that additional information on the various E NATURAL STONE products.

INSTALLATION GUIDE