Warranty

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Resources
Rust, Efflorescence, Discoloration and Transformation
Presence of excessive moisture may affect the look of your stone. Efflorescence is a concentration of salt minerals trapped in the stone that become visible, similar in appearance to chalk or foam,
in hot and humid climates and wet applications when water passes through the stone taking traces of salt to the surface. Rust may also appear in certain stones that have metal minerals like iron
present in the body. When these minerals react with water, the water will pass through the stone bringing the oxidized metals to the surface. This is especially visible in slate, as well as lighter
colored stones. It is imperative that the stones be properly sealed before and aer installation and proper water proofing membranes are used to minimize and/or prevent these occurrences
from happening. Six-sided sealing may be recommended to prevent discoloration in certain applications.
Using Light Stones on Shower Floors
When using light colored stones on shower floors it is important to seal the product prior to installation, ensure all weep holes are kept open during installation and do not get clogged with
mortar, and proper waterproofing measures are taken. Even when installing these products correctly, many light stones have a tendency to rust or darken over time when used as a shower floor.
Sometimes these affects are immediate and other times they can take years to surface. Stone discoloration from a reaction to excessive moisture is not a defect but a natural occurrence of the
product.
Sealing Granite
As a general rule, it is important to seal any product that has any percentage of water absorption to protect the surface. This applies to natural stones including granite, however, the only stones
that typically go unsealed are black granites. When used as countertops or in wet applications, sealed black granites are known to show water marks and rings when exposed to moisture, or
acids for extended periods of time. These watermarks or etchings can be caused by a number of factors, the most common is a reaction of the sealer being exposed to water for prolonged
periods. The other reason may be a reaction of the mineral on the surface of the stone to acids. When using dark stones in wet applications, proper sealing and waterproofing methods must be
observed based on the scope of work.
Stone for Exterior Use
Certain stones, especially most slates and travertine, are not rated for exteriors or wet applications. Although some may do well in warm dry regions, they may be compromised when used
in wet freeze/thaw environments. Although you may see photos of these types of products used successfully around pool sand patios, they may not be suitable in all climates. When used
in inappropriate climates they can sometimes be maintained with additional maintenance, however, may ultimately fail if not installed or maintained correctly. Some stones can swell when
they absorb water and as a result may rust, become muddy, brile or flake excessively. Quartzite, although it looks like slate, is a completely different rock and is perfect for wet and exterior
applications as well as freeze/thaw climates. It is not uncommon for stones that look similar to have completely opposite types of performance characteristics. For this reason, it is important to
check manufacturer’s recommendations prior to specification.
Epoxy Mortars- Onyx, Marble, Sandstone
It is important to use epoxy based, solid seing adhesives and grouts when installing mesh, resin, epoxy or fiberglass backed stone to ensure proper adhesion. Stones requiring epoxy, even if they
are not mesh backed include; green marbles, serpentine stone, black marbles and some sandstones. These stones will typically warp or discolor from exposure to moisture during the installation
process when using a standard mortar.
Mortar Colors
Many light stones such as marble and limestone may react negatively to the ingredients contained in gray mortars. It is highly recommended to use white mortar on light stones and gray mortar
for darker ones.
Stone Lippage
The presence of lippage can be exaggerated by a number of factors: uneven subfloors, laying stone in a 50% brick joint offset, not back buering large format tiles, grout joint width being too
narrow and the lighting source making standard variances more noticeable through shadowing. Industry standards allow for a certain amount of lippage to be present based on various factors.
To eliminate lippage altogether, some stones may be altered by grinding and refinishing the surface aer install. This procedure is to be conducted by skilled professionals and is only possible
on select stones and finishes.
398
Resources