Installation

It is not unusual to find veins and lines of separation in the pebbles and stones. The pebbles and stones are a natural product meaning that no two pieces are exactly alike. This is generally a desired feature of the product.

BEFORE INSTALLING TILES:
Please inspect your tiles for algae or yellow discoloration. This is a result of climate change and can be simply remedied by wetting the tiles and placing them outside in direct sun for eight hours.

SUBSTRATES
All substrates should be flat, clean, dry, and free of any contaminants and firmly fixed in place. Deflections should be a maximum of 1/360 of the span for walls and floors. Use in wet areas require special attention involving appropriate substrates E.g. concrete, cement boards (compressed sheet) and treated plywood. Use reinforced waterproof membranes and when used for floors, make sure the fall to a drainage point is not less than 2 inches.

WATERPROOF MEMBRANES
Waterproof membranes prevent the leakage of water through to sub-floor framing and/or habitable spaces below. Attention must be paid to carrying the membrane up the wall, outside of shower boxes, installation of bond breakers and sealing around penetrations. It is strongly recommended that membrane systems are used in all wet areas, including exterior suspended decking. Some systems involve the use of a primer.

ADHESIVE
Use a product that is suitable for your project. The manufacturer's literature will explain if the adhesive is to be used for interior or exterior use, or for walls and floors. Generally, a cement based adhesive is suitable on masonry substrates where no movement is anticipated. If slight movement could occur because of pedestrian or thermal loads, a modified cement adhesive should be used as a minimum (probably 2-part). It is important that each pebble be imbedded in the adhesive. Use a product suitable for application with a 1/4” notched trowel, and apply no more than 3 square feet of the adhesive at a time.

LAYING
For best results, butt tiles together and do not leave the traditional 1/4” to 3/8” grout gap that is left for laying traditional ceramic tiles.

 

 

GROUTING
The grout should be suitable for joints up to 1/2” wide whether it is for internal or external use. Generally, grouts are mixed with water, but an acrylic or latex grout is recommended to prevent cracking in case of slight movement in the tiled area. Wait no longer than the period recommended by the adhesive manufacturer before grouting to minimize dirt ingress between the pebbles, and the possible dislodgement of the pebbles. It is recommended that the grout level not be much higher than that the maximum girth of the pebble to ensure that as much of the pebble as possible is seen.

JOINT HIDING
Interlocking pebble tiles are designed to create a seamless look. Before grouting, inspect tiles to make sure all pebbles are properly installed. Remove and re-adhere any pebbles that may have been placed incorrectly.

CONTROL JOINTS
Control joints divide a larger tiled area into a series of smaller ones. They are an effective way of minimizing potential damage due to building movement. Joints can be easily formed with two angles, sealant and bond breaker between them. Control joints are required where tiles join walls or some other building material in the substrate.

CURVED SURFACES
The pebble tiles can be easily fitted around a gently curved surface such as a column. If the sheet is turned around a right angle, some pebbles will need to be plucked off the mat where they are distorted and replaced with smaller pebbles to maintain uniformity of the pebble tile. For vertical and contoured surfaces it is recommended to use a smaller pebble size and a polymer based adhesive with a quick drying time.

SEALING
To protect the application, and to bring out the true color of the stone, it is recommended that the pebble tiles be sealed with a quality clear gloss or flat-stone non yellowing professional acrylic grade sealant following grouting. The porosity, or water absorption in the pebbles varies and therefore staining may occur in areas that are subjected to water if the tiles are left unsealed.

CLEANING YOUR PEBBLE TILE
The pebbles may be cleaned with a neutral, mild detergent, a vinegar solution, or a 10% hydrochloric acid solution mixed with water. Apply with a stiff bristled broom and then rinse off with water.