Elon® ALWAYS recommends that all installations be done in accordance with local building codes and adheres to Tile Council of North America specifications.
Grey Basalt is a durable volcanic stone with smooth and homogeneous shades of grey and charcoal, featuring a subtle honed texture. Grey Basalt is extremely porous, requiring careful handling before sealing.
With Grey Basalt, Elon® recommends doing a mockup of grout color and sealer finish prior to installation.
Preparation
Prior to installation of Natural Grey Basalt:
- Open and inspect all cartons.
- Pre-Sealing is required before installation begins to prevent staining caused by handling and setting materials.
- Elon® recommends laying out all Grey Basalt and applying a minimum of 3 coats of products like:
- Aqua Mix® Enrich ‘N' Seal™ for a darker colored stone.
- Aqua Mix® Sealer's Choice® Gold for the natural stone color.
- Multi-sided or 6-sided sealing option of material 48 hours before installation will help minimize darkening on shower floors caused by water absorption and reduce the formation of effervescence and rust as well as preventing grout pigments and thinset from getting absorbed into the pores of the stone during installation.
- Use in areas with excessive moisture exposure: shower floors, walls along the base of the shower or tub flange, soap niches.
- As per National Tile Contractors Association Reference Manual, Custom, or Mapei technical articles.
All cartons should be opened, and material should be separated to allow the installer to layout all pieces and blend them together to give the final installation a uniform color blend, known as "Dry Laid."
- On large jobs, blend material from multiple pallets during Dry Laying.
- When laying out the installation, DO NOT set Grey Basalt with a “Butt Joint”; Tile Council of North America recommends a minimum 1/16" grout joint.
- For grout joints 1/16”- 1/8” width, use Unsanded Grout.
- For grout joints 1/8”- 5/8" width, use Sanded Grout.
Installation
When installing Natural Grey Basalt:
- Use a high-quality grey latex-modified thinset for both walls and floors instead of mastic to avoid staining and discoloration.
- Always follow manufacturers' Limitations and Instructions.
- When used in showers or tubs, Grey Basalt should never be set with the bottom course extending into the shower base or tight to tub lip. Always leave a minimum gap of 1/4" above and perpendicular to the floor or lip of the tub or shower base and use a waterproof flexible sealant where they meet per TCNA specification B412-23.
- This prevents water from wicking up the body of the Grey Basalt, preventing discoloration.
- For Grey Basalt shower floors, recommend installations with a Complete Water Management System such as Bonded Waterproof Tiled Shower Assemblies (Schluter) instead of Traditional Shower installations (Mud job).
Grouting
Grouting Natural Grey Basalt:
- Be cautious about choosing a grout color; a contrasting grout color may become trapped in the surface texture of Grey Basalt, causing discoloration.
- Pre-treating the already sealed Grey Basalt before grouting is a MUST, applying 2 coats of products like Aqua Mix's Grout Release help to further minimize pigments in grout from lodging in the pores of the stone and causing staining of the natural stone. This is critical when using a contrasting grout color.
- Pre-sealing facilitates easier installation cleanup of grout residue.
Sealing after grouted
Sealing Natural Grey Basalt and Grout Joints after installation:
- Elon® recommends applying additional coats of a product like Aqua Mix® Sealer's Choice® Gold to leave the material looking natural, or a product like Aqua Mix® Enrich ‘N' Seal™ to protect and enhance the natural color of Grey Basalt.
- When sealing natural Grey Basalt, apply each coat in a different direction (e.g., first coat Left to Right, Second coat Front to Back).
Common Problems
Common problems in Natural Grey Basalt:
- Stain Removal:
- Sealing Grey Basalt will help reduce staining.
- Always clean up spills promptly.
- Etching in natural stone:
- Sealing Grey Basalt after installation will help minimize etching.
- Enhancing Sealers may help hide the dullness of some etched stones, but professional refinishing may be required to eliminate it.
- Lippage or uneven surface height issues are often a result of improper installation.
- Always inspect material for uniform thickness before installation.
Overview
Grey Basalt Surface Sealing and Pre-Grout Treating:
- Prior to installing the Gray Basalt with thinset, apply 3 coats of a product like Aqua Mix® Sealer's Choice® Gold for the natural stone color, or a product like Aqua Mix® Enrich ‘N' Seal™ for a darker colored stone to prevent staining during the installation process.
- Before Grouting Re-Treat, the already sealed Gray Basalt with 2 coats of a product like Aqua Mix's Grout Release, this will further minimize grout pigments from discoloring the finished stone. This is a critical step when grouting with a contrasting grout color.
- After the installation is complete, apply additional coats of sealer until stone becomes non-porous conduct a water test on the stone between coats to determine if additional sealer is required.
- Place a teaspoon of water on the Grey Basalt and let it sit for 5 minutes. If any dark discoloration shows where the water had sat, additional coats of sealer should be applied.
Installation is Acceptance
This Tile Installation Guide provided by Elon® Tile & Stone is intended solely for educational purposes. Users must understand that the information herein is not a substitute for professional advice. Elon® Tile & Stone does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or outcomes resulting from the application of the guidelines provided. Users utilize this guide at their own risk. It is imperative to consult with qualified professionals and adhere to specific product guidelines for optimal results. Elon® Tile & Stone, its employees, and affiliates expressly disclaim any liability for direct, indirect, or consequential damages arising from the use of this guide.
For more information, visit www.elontile.com.
