Laying or Fixing Stone
FAQ quicklinks
1. Do they need to be graded before laying or fixing?
2. Should I lay tiles randomly or sort them for colour?
3. What adhesives should be used to lay or fix?
4. What is the best way to cut natural stone?
5. Can natural stone and slate tiles be laid on backing panels?
1. Do they need to be graded before laying or fixing?
Products calibrated for depth make the laying much easier because of their uniformity. Natural cleft or un-calibrated products usually require grading – a process that matches the depth of one tile with another. This can be quite time consuming for big projects but the outcome is well worth the effort as the finished project looks far more professional.
2. Should I lay tiles randomly or sort them for colour?
All natural stone and slate products vary in colour and the way tiles or pavers are laid in relation to one another depends on personal taste. They may certainly be laid randomly however imbalances in colour on parts of the surface tend to occur due to the element of chance dealt by Mother Nature’s hand.. Some kind of sorting or grading is recommended if a more uniform and harmonious distribution of colour is desired.
3. What adhesives should be used to lay or fix?
Adhesives have made huge technological gains over the last few years and some excellent products and good technical advice are available through your local tile supplier. In general, the adhesive to be used will be determined by the surface. Two part rubber adhesives are generally used for timber surfaces whereas concrete and fibro surfaces require quite a different product, so as always, seek advice before you buy!
4. What is the best way to cut natural stone?
The most effective way to cut natural stone products is with a wet saw using the appropriate safety equipment.
5. Can natural stone and slate tiles be laid on backing panels?
Yes they can, providing (1) an appropriate adhesive is used and (2) joints are properly taped to prevent tiles lying above the seams from cracking.