Natural Stone Installation Guide
What To Expect
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to installing natural stone. It’s good to have a sense of what the process entails before you buy. At The Floor Store, we have years of experience and are happy to answer any of your specific installation questions. In the meantime, here’s a brief overview of what to expect.
Natural Stone Installation
Stone installation is a labor-intensive process. We highly recommend leaving the work to seasoned professionals with the skill, know-how and tools to ensure that your stone tile is installed correctly. If you do decide on natural stone flooring, it’s important to understand a bit about the installation process.
Before
Your installation experts will want to take a look at the floor substrate, which is the surface they will be installing the tile on. If your substrate is cement, they may be able to tile right over it. However, if you have a wood subfloor, they will likely need to lay down an additional layer for support and to prevent moisture from coming through. Once this is complete, they will be able to put down mortar and lay the tile.
During
To ensure that the tile is well-laid and the room is symmetrical, the installation team will measure the area and use a chalk line to set the pattern for the room. Some tiles may need to be cut at this point. Thin set mortar will be applied and then the tiles will be laid and pressed into place. Once the tiles have set, the installers will apply grout between the tiles. With stone, un-sanded grout is commonly used so there is less possibility of scratching the stone surface.
After
After installation, if you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation to make sure that dust from the installation settles. From there, routine care and maintenance are up to you!
