Materials and Tools

• Chalk line
• Trowel
• Tile Spacers
• Vinyl Tile Cutter: Robert's Tile Cutter
• Utility Knife
• Vice Grips
• Square or Straight Edge
• Grout Float
• Sponges
• Buckets
• Haze Cleaner

Setting Materials
See Stonecraft Recommended Setting Material for Products and Trowel Sizes.

Grouting Materials
• Commercial grade polymer modified grout with latex admixture

Suitable Substrates
• Concrete
• Terrazzo and other monolithic subfloors
• Wood Subfloors
• Radiant Heat Subfloors Maximum Surface Temperature of 85? Fahrenheit / 29? Celcius

Substrate Requirements
• A proper underlyament is required to insure the continuing performance of Stonecraft Tile.
• Slab substrates must be dry and free of curing compounds, sealers, hardeners, gypsum residues and other materials that may interfere with adhesive bond.
• Subfloors must be free of cracks, ridges, depressions, scales and foreign deposits.
• Cracks must be filled with a high compression strength cementitious filler.
• Surface of the concrete should be finished or abraded to a texture similar to 80 grit sandpaper.
• Concrete slabs should be wire reinforced and a minimum of 4" thick.
• If the slab is being poured over a wood subfloor, the slab should be a minimum of 1" thick with wire mesh reinforcement.
• If a concrete underlayment board is used over a concrete slab, the board should be adhered to the slab with a thinset as the setting material. Check underlayment board manufacturer's recommendations.

Installing on Wood Floors
• A proper underlayment is required to insure the continuing performance of the Stonecraft Tile.
• The underlayment should be selected and installed in accordance with the APA-The Engineered Wood Association Data File, “Installation and Preparation of Plywood underlayment of resilient floor covering.” This is available on the internet at: www.apawood.org. Free downloads or hardcopies are also available.

A Brief Summary of APA Installation and Preparation Requirements
• A minimum of 1/4” thick APA underlayment, , APAGC plugged, APA underlayment A-C OR APA underlayment B-C all with sanded face.
• Floor joists must be a maximum of 16" on center. Deflection will result in an unsatisfactory installation.
• The underlayment must be 1/4” thick, nailed with 3D, (1 1/4”) ring or screwshank nails, a minimum 12 1/2” gauge (0.099) shank diameter, and must be a maximum of 8” on center.
• Underlayment must comply with Table 2 recommended fastening schedules for APA Plywood underlayment.
• Where floors may be exposed to unusual moisture, use exterior grade plywood (Ex. Bathrooms, Utility Rooms, etc.)
• Underlayment over subfloor complies with requirements speified in Division 6 Section “Rough Carpentry”
• Underlayment surface is free of irregularities and substances that may show and interfere with adhesive bond.
• Failure to remove debris could allow irregularities.
• Underlayment should be installed on a dry subfloor, to avoid nail pops and squaks caused from a damp subfloor.
• The underlayment should be at room temperature prior to installation.
• The underlayment should be installed smooth side up.
• For best results, the underlayment should be placed with the face grain oriented across the floor joists.
• The end joints should be staggered. Offset end and edge joints of underlayment panels by at least two inches from joints of subfloor panels.
• 1/32” spacing is recommended at panel edges and ends.
• Before the tile is installed, fill all edge gaps, splits, damaged areas and rough spots in the pywood underlayment with a hard, quick-setting filler (allowing time to cure).
• Refer to the APA or the Engineered Wood Association to be certain that the underlayment complies with the APA Standards for underlayment for tile.
• Stonecraft does not recommend using thinset with a wood subloor. Adhesive should be used when installing tile over a wood subfloor. Thinset should only be used with a concrete subfloor while installing Stonecraft Tile.

Preparation
• Sweep, vauum and wash all of the surfaces to be covered by tile.
• Remove all adhesive residue, paint, dust, wax, oil or any other foreign matter.
• Maintain a minimum temperature of 55? F FOR 48 hours prior to installation.
• Use a tape measure to determine the center of the floor.
• Snap a chalk line vertically and another line horizontally through the center of the floor. The intersecting lines should form four 90 Degree angles.
• It is important that there are equal amounts on either side of the chalk line for aesthetic purposes.
• Minor offsets should not be taken into consideration.
• Store setting materials in the location of installation to ensure that the setting material is at room termperature.
• Maintain a minimum termperature of 55? F FOR 48 hours prior to installation, during installation, and 7 days after complettion of installation.
• Maintain a minimum temperature of 50? F thereafter.
• Determine the locations of all movement (expansion) joints before installation and do not bridge joints with installed tile.
• Do not proceed with the installation until unsuitable conditions are corrected.
• Do not install Stonecraft Tiles directly over existing resilient floor materials or floor coatings.
• Comply with the requirements of all applicable local, stte and national code jurisdictions.

Installation
• Due to the natural color shading and pattern, to achieve a natural look it is recommended to blend the tiles by working from two or more cartons at one time.
• Begin by using recommended trowel and work from your center line.
• Spread enough adhesive/thinset to cover a 3'x3' area.
• Use tile spacers to maintain straight lines and overall uniform installation.
• 1/8" spacers are recommended by Stonecraft to achieve the recommended 1/8" grout line.
• 1/8" is recommended by Stonecraft, but is not required. This simply is useful when multiple sizes of tile are used, so that the grout lines will match up with the various sizes used.
• Press the tiles down into the adhesive/thinset between the spacers.
• Press or tap the face of the tile to remove any air pockets that may have formed between the tile and the adhesive.
• Maintain clean and reee grout spaces, avoiding post-installation clean out. This can be difficult when thinset or adhesive has dried or hardened.
• Wipe off any adhesive from the face of the tile.
• Tiles will need to set up for 24 hours before grouting.
• Remove the spacers once the adhesive has cured for 24 hours.
• Remove any excess adhesive that may have collected in the grout line. The line needs to be virtually clear of adhesive as not to impair proper grouting.
• When using adhesive, tiles must be rolled with a hand roller, waiting at least 1 hour after installation.

Grouting
• Use only latex modified grouts.
• Mix the grout with a latex admxture – Do not mix with water.
• Tiles may be damp sponged before grouting. this may make the cleanup easier.
• Use a rubber grout float to push grout into lines. If preferred, grout may be pushed into lines by hand.
• It is very important that the grout is flush with the top of the tile, leaving very little void.
• Do not allow the grout material to completely dry on the face of the tile. It may be difficult to remove, and could damage the face of the tile if not removed prior to drying.

Clean Up
• Begin wiping the tiles down with a wet sponge.
• Place the sponges in clear, clean water in several buckets. Wring out the sponge and begin wiping down the tiles.
• Use special attention when wiping over the grout line, avoid removing grout from this line so that it remains flush with the top of the tile.
• Wipe off a couple of tiles at a time and follow by wiping until dry with a paper towel removing the excess grout from the face of the tile.
• Minimum haze may occcur, and may be removed by simply mopping with water. This may need to be repeated several times.
• Should any haze remain on the tile, a haze cleaner may be used.
• Grout sealant should be used in accordance with sealant manufacturer's recommendation.

To download these specifications, please download the pdf file

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