Tips On Laying A Stone Floor

• Make sure that your subfloor is clean, level and suitable for installation of a stone floor. In most cases, this will involve removing existing product and any residue glue.
• Get the right tools for the job. These should include a suitable trowel, tile cutter, profile gauge, Stanley knife, tile nipper, scribe and spacers.
• Make sure that your adhesive is compatible with your sub floor, e.g. timber sub floors will require a flexible adhesive. Also, white adhesives should be used with paler coloured stones, to prevent discolouration.
• Before laying, consider the size of your grout joint and colour of grout carefully. Generally, a honed stone with a square edge will look better with a very narrow grout joint, whilst an aged looking stone with a pillowed edge will suit with a slightly larger grout joint. The grout colour should also complement the stone.
• Always lay tiles without adhesive first and mix them before laying. Being a natural product, stone tiles vary from batch to batch and this will ensure an even spread of colour.
• To prevent the grout from staining the tile and to seal it after laying, apply one coat of sealant before grouting and a second coat afterwards.
• All stone tiles should be treated with an impregnator or sealant, such as Lithofin Stain Stop, which should be re-applied every 3-5 years, depending on traffic.
• Stone floors should be cleaned with a mild cleaning product, such as

Lithofin Easy Care, which will help to maintain the sealant. Avoid acidic cleaners, which can damage the sealant.

Indigenous offers a wide range of terracotta, slate and stone products, which are individually sourced by its founder, Joss Thomas, from around the world.