Installation & Maintenance Information

Himalayan Sandstone tiles, pavers, bullnoses and random slabs are extremely versatile flooring & landscaping products. Due to the large range of potential applications, we have developed the following recommended installation & maintenance procedures.

 

Laying

For best results, tiling work should be undertaken by a qualified tradesperson in accordance with prevailing Australian Standards & safe-work practices. We require that the purchaser, installer/user and final intended owner of the tiles inspect and approve the tiles before installation. All natural stone products are sold subject to our standard conditions published in details at www.tilemob.com.au/conditions.

 

Being a natural product, each piece of Himalayan Sandstone is totally unique in colour & surface texture. When installing, please mix tiles from several boxes & crates at a time to have the best possible distribution & blending of the variations in the material. A substrate-appropriate proprietary tile adhesive must be used and the substrate (and tiles) must be cool, clean, level, dry and be prepared in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations. (Concrete slabs subject to rising damp should have a waterproofing membrane installed prior to tiling). Any dust or residue on the substrate or on the back of the tiles must be removed before installation.

 

Information about tile adhesive, grout & waterproofing systems can be found at www.davco.com.au or via the Davco Freecall Technical Advice Line 1800 653 347. The adhesive mixture must be applied evenly to the substrate using an 10-12mm notched trowel and then tiles carefully positioned & pressed into the adhesive by hand. Do not use a hard rubber mallet to hit & set the tiles as this may cause micro-cracks in the tiles. Do not ‘spot fix’ the tiles – each tile must be properly supported by an even bed of adhesive without voids. Tiles are best cut with a wet saw and diamond blade, however a segmented dry blade may also be suitable. Correct personal protective gear must be used when operating cutting machinery.The appropriate joint width between tiles is approximately 10mm. It is important to ‘work clean’ to ensure any residue of tile adhesive that finds its way onto tile surfaces is cleaned immediately as dried adhesive residue may not be possible to remove from the tile surface. Tile adhesive must be left to cure for at least 24 hours before grouting.

 

Pre-grouting Sealing

Natural stone, including Himalayan Sandstone, is porous in its natural state. To make the grouting task simpler, we recommend that the sandstone is sealed prior to grouting. After the tiles are completely clean & dry, apply an appropriate penetrating sealer which allows moisture-vapour transmission. We recommend Tasman Heritage Finish -- a premium, natural look solvent-based penetrating sealer. Where maximum stain protection is required (especially in food preparation & serving areas) we recommend Aqua Mix Sealer’s Choice Gold Rapid Cure. Always use sealers in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer if required. In areas with extremely high possibility of contamination from spills, we alternatively recommend a surface-coating sealer (e.g. Aqua Mix Seal & Finish Low Sheen). Sealers will need to be re-applied at intervals recommended by the manufacturer depending on quantity of foot traffic, cleaning frequency/method and amount of UV light exposure. Before use, always read the product directions and carry-out a test seal on some unlaid pieces to determine desired effect and ease of application.

 

it is important to choose a grout suitable for a 10mm tile joint width (refer to Davco contact info above for assistance). NOTE: Many dark-coloured grouts (e.g. black, gunmetal grey) contain strong pigments of a very small particle size which may permanently discolour the edges of natural stone, so it is important to test your chosen grout colour on some loose tiles before proceeding. One of the most popular grout colour choices is Davco Slate & Quarry Grout Off White for its tonal neutrality. Use clean water to wet the tile surface via a damp sponge or spray bottle then apply the grout mixture with a rubber squeegee. Work only a small area at a time and remove all excess grout from the tile surface immediately with a damp sponge. Regularly change the water in your bucket while sponging. Do not allow excess grout to harden on the tile surface. After drying & curing, any minor grout haze residue can be removed using Aqua Mix Nano Scrub & water. Never use strong acidic or alkaline products to clean grout haze (e.g. Hydrochloric Acid, cement remover, strong detergents, bleach or oils) as they could irreparably damage or attack the surface of the stone.

 

Drying

Allow the grouted sandstone to completely dry before sealing. During the drying stage, it is possible that evaporation of moisture within the adhesive & grout system may leave white salt deposits (efflorescence) on the tile surface. This will usually ‘walk-off’ on floors or can be cleaned with Aqua Mix Eff-Ex.

 

Post-grouting Sealing

Himalayan Sandstone should be sealed immediately after the grouted installation is cleaned & dried. See the above section (Pre-grouting Sealing) regarding application.  Where tiles have been installed and further construction is taking place on/around the area, protect the newly-installed encaustic cement tiles with appropriate clean drop sheets. Do not use newspapers.

 

Maintenance

Regular normal maintenance cleaning is recommended using an appropriate pH-neutral cleaner (e.g. cleaners ordinarily suitable for natural stone & terrazzo floors). Never use abrasive cleaners, chemicals or bleach as over time these may affect the natural colour pigments of the tiles’ surface. We recommend Aqua Mix Concentrated Stone & Tile Cleaner for ‘everyday’ cleaning and when Spring cleaning or degreasing is necessary, use Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner. Before use, always read the product directions and carry-out a test clean on some unlaid pieces or in an inconspicuous area to determine desired effect and ease of application.

 

Parex Davco adhesives and Tasman Chemicals Sealers and Aqua Mix sealers & cleaners are available from The Tile Mob Pty Ltd Mitchelton showroom. Contact them on (07) 3355 5055 or

 

Technical Contacts

Parex Davco Adhesives: www.davco.com.au Ph: 1800 653 347

Tasman Chemicals: www.tasmanchemicals.com.au Ph: (03) 9587 6777

Aqua Mix Sealers: www.aquamix.com.au Ph: 0409 189 960 info@aquamix.com.au

 

E&OE