Usage Guide

This installation guide applies to the following stones for horizontal and vertical
applications:
Matterhorn Limestone L011
Chadwick Charcoal Limestone L015
Lagos Blue Limestone L983
Limestones are natural stone products and due to their natural characteristics
it is important that the proper installation materials and methods are used.
We recommend that the installation materials are specified by a single source/
manufacturer of natural stone installation products. All installation materials
should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The stone is to be
installed per industry standards and applicable building codes.
MATERIALS:
These stones can be moisture sensitive during the installation process;
therefore, the thin-set adhesive must be an ANSI A118.4 or ANSI A118.15
Rapid Setting Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar that will allow the stone
to achieve a “Class A rating,” when tested according to the Modified
British Standards (BS) EN 14617-12 Dimensional Stability Test within
the first 24 hours. For exterior applications, use an ANSI A118.3 Epoxy
adhesive to achieve a Class A rating. Follow the Stone Usage Guide to
determine if the stone is suitable for Exterior Residential and/or Exterior
Commercial Usage.
SUBSTRATE:
It is recommended to install these Limestone over a clean and sound
concrete substrate, which is flat, with a steel trowel and fine broom
finish. The concrete substrate should readily absorb water and be free
of contaminates; including curing compounds, which may prevent a good
bond. Deflection of a concrete substrate should not exceed L/360 for
horizontal surfaces or more than L/600 for vertical applications. For
wood subfloors deflection is not to exceed L/720. Floor configurations
shall be in conformance with the IRC for residential applications, and IBC
for commercial applications. Mortar bed applications must comply with
ANSI A108.1. Tiles installed using a wet-set mortar method, must only use
dry-pack mortars that are fully compacted, and reinforced for unbonded
mortar beds. Substrates should be free of cracks. Use the installation
material manufacturer’s membrane for crack isolation and waterproofing
protection.
PREPARATION:
Prior to installation the installer shall examine the areas to be covered,
and notify the general contractor or owner representative of any
visually obvious defects or conditions that will prevent a satisfactory
tile installation. Installation work shall not proceed until satisfactory
conditions are provided. Before starting, the surface to be tiled shall be
cleaned/scarified to remove curing compounds, sealers, soil, mortar, or
any type of contaminate that would interfere with bonding. All rough,
uneven or “out-of-plumb” surfaces shall be made flat, “plumb and true”
to within 1/8” in 10’ (3mm in 3m) and 1/16” in 24” (1.6mm in 600mm).
High spots should be ground down and low spots should be filled. If
necessary, use a cementitious self-leveling underlayment to bring floor
into tolerance for flatness.
MOVEMENT JOINTS:
Locate, design, and install movement joints per TCNA EJ171-(Current Year)
Industry recommendations. Existing joints in subsurface must be carried
through tile work. Movement joints should be installed at all “changes of
plane” in the tile work and where tile abuts restraining surfaces, at every
20’ to 25’ for interiors and 8’ to 12’ for all exteriors and interior areas
exposed to direct sunlight or moisture, in each direction.
WATERPROOFING AND CRACK ISOLATION MEMBRANES:
Follow the Stone Usage Guide to determine if the stone is suitable to be
installed in wet applications and/or in exterior areas.
A waterproof membrane should always be applied over the substrate prior
to installing the stone to minimize the risk of efflorescence and spalling.
Additional waterproofing protection is required in all wet applications
and exterior areas. Where necessary, a crack isolation membrane should
be used to either isolate existing cracks in the substrate or to provide
protection against future substrate cracking. When using Limestone in
showers get approval by installation product’s manufacturer. Use only
membranes as supplied by the installation manufacturer for single
source responsibility that is part of their labor and material warranty.
For stone to be used successfully in wet areas, it must be installed in
a manner so there are no voids behind the tile for water to collect, and
surface and sub-surface water must be able to readily drain away from
the stone. Surfaces and sub-surfaces in wet areas must have a slope to
drain between ¼” per foot to ½” per foot. Exterior applications must have
a waterproof membrane beneath the tile.
INSTALLATION OF TILE:
Install stone tiles per installation product manufacturer’s instructions and to meet
industry standards per ANSI A108, TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone
Tile Installation, and Marble Institute of America Dimension Stone Design Manual
Standards. It is necessary to contact the manufacturer of installation products to
qualify which products to use for the intended application. The thin-set adhesive
should be an ANSI A118.4 or ANSI A118.15 Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar, or a
Rapid Setting Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar if accelerated curing is required.
White thin-set should be used for light color tiles and when using light color
grouts. For concerns with dimensional stability the rapid thin-set selected for
installing this stone must achieve a “Class A rating,” when tested according to the
Modified British Standards (BS) EN 14617-12 Dimensional Stability Test within the
first 24 hours. Use an epoxy adhesive if necessary. For exterior applications an
epoxy must be utilized.
SPECIAL LIMESTONE INSTALLATION GUIDE
DALTILE.COM
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