Introducing the types of modular tile +The purchase price
Prior to ordering and installing modular tiles ensure the tiles are suitable for the right pattern
If not fitting yourself make sure your tiler is familiar with fixing modular tile sets and that you fully discuss your requirements and expectations
A wastage factor should be taken into account for each project prior to ordering
This is normally a minimum of 10%-15% which should allow for cuts and any minor tile imperfections
For installing the modular tile patterns Keep everything meticulously clean and orderly as work progresses
No complaints regarding the appearance of the product will be accepted by The Stone and tile company
Natural Stone Tiles – Select your modular tile surface finish
The perfect choice for high-traffic areas of the home such as entrance halls, utilities, kitchens, and conservatories
Slate is a natural riven finish that can provide excellent slip resistance, so perfect for any area of the home where additional slip resistance is required
Riven stones are very rustic in nature with contrasting depths within the surface of the tile, so not usually recommended for barefoot traffic
Brushed – Has a unique soft riven surface, which is achieved by gently machining the top of the tile, resulting in a sleeker, contemporary effect that is perfect for all areas of the home
Perfect for barefoot traffic so we also recommend this finish for bathroom areas
If you have queries regarding the suitability of a stone, please contact one of our team who will be pleased to advise you prior to purchasing
Calibration: Un-calibrated tiles: are not processed through a machine which means they have a naturally riven surface on both sides of the tile
Calibrated tiles: have the riven surface removed from one side of the tile creating a flatter surface on which to fit
Riven Stones: there may be some slight layers still to the back of the tile after calibration owing to the nature of the riven stone
You will still find small variations of thickness from tile to tile so riven stones will still require a degree of grading owing to the dimensional tolerance
Brushed & Honed stones: are processed through a calibration machine a number of times to create their beautiful, authentic finishes so have flatter machined back with smaller tolerances from tile to tile
We suggest referring to the ‘specification’ section of each product for thickness tolerances prior to ordering
Surface Preparation: Check your substrate’s suitability for tiling before proceeding
The surface must be properly prepared, suitably level, sound, clean, dry, and free of dust, grease, or any loose material
All surfaces must be completely secure without any obvious deflection and capable of carrying the additional load
Please refer to further substrate information on our General Installation Guide
Underfloor Heating: Natural Stone tiles actually retain heat so you’ll find tiling with them an affordable solution and such a great way to add that extra element of luxury
A cement-based tile adhesive is recommended with Natural Stone tiles so you may need to check if your substrate requires sealing prior to fitting
Grading: modular tile patterns will require grading for thickness prior to installation, this will mean opening all crates or pallets of materials supplied
Please refer to the nominal dimensions listed for your chosen product as variation in size and thickness can occur
Once graded select the thicker tiles as these will dictate the floor level and should be installed first
Grading can be easily done by eye and once completed you can commence tiling with the thickest first and ‘bedding up’ your adhesive as required as you work to the edges of your project so as to create a flat finish with no raised edges from tile to tile
Dry Laying: Laying out your tiles before fixing will also ensure you get a good mix of color shades across the area too as all-natural stones will have a certain degree of natural color variation
Each of our stones has slight, moderate, or highly varied details on our website for your reference
Planning: The pattern guide supplied is a suggested fitting pattern, as the tiles have dimensional tolerance it is required that you flex your grout widths accordingly to accommodate the size differences
The beauty of a modular pattern is its bespoke nature and rustic effect
Tiling should also start from the center of the room and tiles should be dry laid first to avoid any unsightly cuts and to determine the optimum grout width for your product
Grout Widths: We recommend between 6mm-10mm for Modular Sets to allow for any dimensional tolerance and movement of the tiles
It is not possible to ‘butt-joint’ stone tiles
The rustic nature of natural stone tiles means that these subtle differences in the grout just blend in seamlessly when grouted
Modular Set Tile Pattern Guide
Tile Pattern 4 – Modular Set – Repeating two full sets
Cutting: Prepare all your cuts after dry laying and prior to fixing
The design and quality of the cutting tool selected will always determine how successful the cut through the tile will be
We recommend a Wet Tile Saw
Fixing: Natural Stone tiles must be solidly bedded; cement-based tile adhesives are the most appropriate for this method
Using a suitable notched trowel apply the adhesive onto the substrate, spreading only enough adhesive that remains workable
Take the flat side of the trowel and smooth over the adhesive to produce a uniform, ridge-free bed
We also recommend ‘back buttering’ each tile so you achieve a strong bond with the whole tile
Grouting: We recommend using a flexible grout that is suitable for all areas of the home or commercial environment and it’s specifically designed for areas where movement or vibration is likely
‘Slurry’ grouting with the appropriate color of Wall & Floor Grout is necessary with unfilled travertine and some limestone in order to fill naturally occurring pits and crevices
Grouting Process: After fitting your stone we advise grouting a small area at a time, especially with a riven stone as dried grout can be difficult to remove
When removing the grout residue, keep your water clean to avoid further distribution of the grout residue
If you continue to have a cloudy appearance on your tiles
