Page 9 - Demo

Slippery rOck Gazette OctOber 2020|9
Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around. –G.K. Chesterton
What is Professional Tile
Installation?
A custom Crema Marfil shower was installed in the same bathroom. All walls and columns had been flattened per in- dustry standards be- fore tile was installed. All resin-backed stone was primed with a single component primer suit- able for wet areas and in- stalled with minimum 95 percent mortar coverage per industry standards.
Photo courtesy Stoneman Construction LLC, Portland, Oregon.
Continued from page 8
The stone was installed without considering that it has resin-back- ing (fiberglass mesh adhered to the back of stone with either polyester or epoxy). Such coating is used to reinforce unstable stone slabs and tile to reduce the likelihood of fracture. The main complica- tion arising from this method is that the ability of most (if not all) modified/unmodified mortars (that are mostly Portland-cement based) is severely compromised because the resin forms a non-absorbent coating on the back of the tile that regular thin-set mortar will not properly bond to (even with presence of coarse sand in the backing).
Not long ago the only mortar that would properly bond to res- in-backed stone was epoxy but in recent years, after the introduction of new primers specifically de- signed for non-porous substrates, installers can choose between a wide range of adhesives to install such tile.
Problem #5: Failure to understand how to install natural stone in wet areas
Potential risks: stone moisture discoloration due to lack of proper water evacuation and moisture management.
The marble shower floor was prepared and set in the same man- ner as porcelain or ceramic tile without deep consideration about how carefully and even uniquely light marble must be installed in wet areas to avoid blotchy mois- ture discoloration.
Problem #6: Lack of providing movement accommodation
Potential risks: continuous cracks in stone assembly caused by stress and lack of soft joints in changes of plane, stone tenting when tiles start lifting, forming an upside-down V or a tent shape.
The entire tile assembly doesn’t have adequate movement
accommodation due to the lack of properly prepared and installed soft/movement joints around the perimeter, and in the changes of plane. All such joints weren’t free of “debris,” but were par- tially filled with dried thin-set and grout before caulking. A cheap siliconized acrylic caulk was used instead of 100 percent silicone sealant corresponding with the grout color.
Some tiles in the backsplash were installed directly over ex- posed wall board seams that were not taped with an alkali-resistant or crack-isolation mesh.
As you can see, after investigat- ing the foundation of such a royal- looking Crema Marfil bathroom, we have detected some very seri- ous technical errors. Looking like a real masterpiece upon the com- pletion of work, it would even- tually turn into a tremendously expensive and sad failure.
Such a story is not just a fantasy made by an exaggerating imagi- nation. Similar failures that result from ignoring the industry stan- dards seem to happen more and more often. Good intentions and love of tile aren’t enough when it comes to technical knowledge that you can only get through se- rious education.
I am not saying this as an ar- rogant, self-proclaimed “ex- pert” who is trying to “bash” the hard-working installers. I once have been in the same spot when I had good intentions, love of tile, great looking finished tile & stone work but I seriously lacked real understanding of standards and proper methods.
Had I done such a project back then, it would have failed, sooner or later, resulting in tremendous
Natural stone must always be installed with minimum 95 percent mortar coverage. Photo courtesy of Star Tile & Stone LLC, Portland, Oregon.
problems for the homeowners and most likely casting me out of business with a ruined reputation.
My Message to Tile and Stone Installers
“Don’t follow such a path!”
For me personally, the life-changing experience was to meet active members of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), to become an NTCA member, then to be- come a Certified Tile Installer (CTI) through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), then to attend Stone & Tile Inspection class by Fred Hueston (also known as The Stone & Tile Troubleshooting Seminar), and so on.
With so many trade associ- ations, classes, courses, work- shops, seminars, and online resources available today we, as tile & stone professionals, have no excuse if we don’t try to be- come true experts in our trade.
If you are a stranger to the tile and stone industry standards today, don’t hesitate to take steps toward education and research. You are more than welcome to do so! There is room for you! Please come in, stay in and invite others!
Pavlo (a.k.a. Pasha) Starykov is owner of Star Tile & Stone LLC, a certified stone and tile in- spector, a certified tile installer (CTI #1480), and NTCA Region 9 State Ambassador. Contact the author at pavlo@startile.us with questions.
Training & Education
Ultimate Stain
Removal Kit
Continued from page 7
The kit includes:
• Dr. Fred’s Stain Removal Guide (ebook)
• Three special stain reagents: 1. Organic
2. Oil, Grease and Ink
3. Rust and Metal
The kit comes with the re- agents you need to diagnose and remove most stains on stone, tile, concrete, terrazzo, and al- most all hard-porous surfaces. Many of these chemicals are hard to find and are professional strength. Just add your favorite poultice powder (sold sepa- rately) to remove the stain. The entire kit is reasonably priced, with distributor pricing and re- quired quantities available on request.
For more information or to order, contact Dr. Fred at fhueston@gmail.com or call 321-514-6845 for a list of dis- tributors. See Dr. Fred’s video presentation on stain removal on youtube.