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General specification for fixing white or light-coloured marble, travertine or granite tiles onto interior rendered walls, and onto interior surface beds and suspended slabs

Please note that ‘general’ specifications are issued for information purposes and should not be used as project specifications.

As each and every project needs to be assessed individually on its own merits and characteristics please contact the TAL Technical Advice Centre for a project-specific detailed materials and methods specification for specific projects.

 

It is important that the tile selected is suitable for the application, preferably against a written Supplier’s specification. Factors such as water absorption, irreversible moisture expansion, MOR and PEI ratings, chemical resistance and overall stability of the product need to meet the requirements of the service conditions.

The backs of all tiles must be clean and free from dust and contaminants.

 

Please note that any “wet” areas, such as showers or balconies, should be waterproofed using TAL SUPERFLEX I or TAL SUREPROOF waterproofing compounds prior to commencing tiling. Please feel free to contact us for a specification for waterproofing and tiling these areas, as well as for technical literature on any of our products.

 

TAL PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS

The TAL products required for this installation are as follows:

TAL KEYCOAT
TAL MARBLEFIX
TAL BOND /  TAL BOND POWDER
TAL WALL & FLOOR GROUT
NOTCHED FLOOR TROWEL
SPACERS
TAL SEALMASTER CORD
TAL GOLDSTAR SEALMASTER 1000

 

Special note must be taken of the following:

Tiles:
Certain marble and travertine products have a reinforcing mesh or resin backing on the backs of the tiles which, due to the nature of the fixative / resin used to bond the mesh onto the back of the tile, is not compatible with cementitious tile adhesives. Please contact TAL if the marble or travertine product to be used for your installation has a reinforcing mesh or resin backing, so that we can advise on the correct adhesive system.

Surface Beds: All surface beds should have a damp proof membrane (DPM / DPC). Should there be no damp proof membrane below a surface bed or if prevailing moisture levels do not attain 5% (75% RH) or less, it is recommended that TAL X-CALIBUR X-SHIELD VAPORSTOP HB (vapour barrier) be applied prior to tiling to eliminate potential problems associated with excessive moisture in the substrate (such as slow- or non-curing of the adhesive, efflorescence on grout and porous tiles, etc). 
TAL X-CALIBUR X-SHIELD VAPORSTOP HB is a moisture tolerant, 100% solids epoxy barrier coat that prevents the passage of water vapour and moisture through concrete slabs. 

Please contact TAL for more information on the application of VAPORSTOP HB. 

Suspended Applications:
Tiling onto SUSPENDED concrete slabs require special precautions to be taken as the installation is prone to increased movement caused by slab deflection and creep, loading on the slab, etc. TAL BOND or TAL BOND POWDER needs to be incorporated in the adhesive and grout mix, or a single part flexible adhesive such as  TAL MARBLEFLEX needs to be used to allow for the increased movement.
NOTE: All Ground Floor levels with Basement / Parking levels below should be construed as SUSPENDED slabs. 

Tile Panel Movement Joints & Perimeter Joints: 
It should be noted that the lack of movement joints in a tile panel, or poorly constructed joints, is a major cause of tile failure. Joints must be created at the required spacing and must be well raked out to remove all traces of adhesive residues, debris, contamination, etc, ie the joint must extend through the tile and tile adhesive layers. These joints must be filled with TAL GOLDSTAR SEALMASTER 1000 Polyurethane Joint Sealant (and suitable backing cord where applicable) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (See later detail of correctly constructed tile panel movement joint and perimeter joint.) 

 

GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR FIXING WHITE OR LIGHT-COLOURED MARBLE OR TRAVERTINE TILES ONTO INTERIOR RENDERED WALLS

 

    • BACKGROUND PREPERATION
      • Allow all new wall rendering to cure for at least 14 days. The rendering must be firmly attached to the substrate, must be integrally sound (no crumbling, cracking, etc) and must be of a quality and consistency suitable for tiling. All damaged, defective, deteriorated or hollow sounding areas must be removed and made good before proceeding. The surface must be clean, dry, firm and sound and free from all traces of dust, loose particles and surface contaminants before proceeding. Renders should be left with a woodfloat finish and should not be skimcoated with gypsum plaster.
      • If the surface has been woodfloated (rough) it is possible to commence tiling. However, if the surface has been steelfloated (smooth, dense) it will be necessary to first key the surface with a slurry consisting of 1 part  TAL KEYCOAT to 2 parts TAL KEYMIX powder or 2 parts TAL MARBLEFIX powder (by volume), which is applied by block brush.  Allow this slurry coat to dry for 4 – 6 hours before applying the adhesive. *

 

    • ADHESIVE SYSTEM
      • Apply   TAL MARBLEFIX  rapid-setting light-coloured adhesive to the background using a notched trowel.
      • In this tiling situation it is imperative that there is a solid bed of adhesive at least 5mm thick behind each tile. We would recommend the use of a   NOTCHED FLOOR TROWEL .
      • At no time spread more adhesive than can be tiled onto in 10 – 15 minutes.  Depending on atmospheric conditions, this will normally be around 1 square metre.  This prevents the adhesive from drying or “skinning” before the tiles are applied.
      • Bed dry tiles (do not soak) firmly into the wet adhesive with a twisting action to ensure full contact between the background, tiles and adhesive.  Tiles should be well tapped home with a rubber mallet or the wooden handle of a trowel.  It is sound practice to remove the occasional tile to ensure that good contact has been achieved.
      • Clean off any surplus adhesive remaining on the face of tiles and between the joints with a damp sponge before the adhesive dries.
      • Never butt joint tiles.  Joints are required to allow the individual tiles to move with respect to each other and thus avoid a compressive stress build-up.  They are also required as vents for the tile adhesive to cure.  The joints between these tiles must be a minimum of 3mm wide. 
      • Pot life of the adhesive will vary with climatic conditions.  Under no circumstances should adhesive which has been left standing for too long be reconstituted by adding more liquid.
      • Do not tile over structural, expansion or cold joints in the background.  These joints must be extended through the various layers to the surface.
      • NOTE: Ensure that heavy and/or large format wall tiles are well supported by means of a batten or some type of mechanical device until such time that the adhesive has set sufficiently.  In this situation it will be 6 hours.

 

  • GROUTING
    • Grouting must not be carried out until sufficient bond has developed between the bedding mix and the tiles to preclude disturbance of the tiles during the grouting operation. Allow a minimum of 4 hours before grouting.
    • ‘Dry’ Areas
    • ‘Wet’ Areas, ie Splashbacks
    • General / WARNING:
      • Particular care must be taken to clean the grout off the tile face before it hardens completely. This is especially important when an additive such as  TAL BOND or  TAL BOND POWDER has been used.
      • A sample of the tiles to be used should be tested beforehand to ensure that no grout is absorbed into the tile body, causing permanent staining of the tiles.
      • It is important to use the stipulated amount of liquid in the TAL Grout mixture. When cleaning, a  damp, not wet,  sponge must be used. Over hydration (too much water) of the mix, or in cleaning, causes colour variations in the grout joints, and also affects the integrity of the grout, resulting in a friable product.

GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR FIXING WHITE OR LIGHT-COLOURED MARBLE OR TRAVERTINE TILES ONTO INTERIOR RENDERED WALLS (CONTINUED)

 

  • MOVEMENT JOINTS
    • It should be noted that the lack of movement joints in a tile panel is a major cause of tile failure.  They should be specified at the design stage to avoid placing  them in heavy traffic areas and spoiling the visual effect of the tiles.
    • Movement joints should be located in both directions at maximum 5 metre centres for interior wall applications.
    • Movement joints should also be made in all internal corners and interfaces, against obstructions fixed to the structural background and over all discontinuities in building materials, eg at interfaces of concrete and brickwork.  In addition, movement joints must be located around any fixtures protruding through the tiled surface.
    • The joints should be at least 5mm wide and extend through the adhesive and  tile layers.  All construction / cold joints and structural joints in the background must be extended through the adhesive and tile layers to the surface in the form of tile panel movement joints.  With regards to structural joints, the full width of the structural joints must be respected and extended through the adhesive and tile layers to the surface. 
    • Seal the joint using  TAL GOLDSTAR SEALMASTER 1000 polyurethane joint sealant in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. It is important that the joint sealant bonds only to the sides of the movement joint.
    • For the key requirements common to all tiling situations please refer to SANS 10107-2011, Code of Practice for the Design and Installation of Ceramic Tiling.

 

GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR FIXING WHITE OR LIGHT-COLOURED MARBLE, TRAVERTINE OR GRANITE TILES ONTO INTERIOR SURFACE BEDS AND SUSPENDED SLABS

 

    • BACKGROUND
      • Allow all new concrete work and screeds to cure for at least 6 weeks and 4 weeks respectively before proceeding.  All new concrete work and screeds must have a moisture content of 5% or less before tiling can be commenced. When tiling directly onto concrete, ensure that the surfaces are clean and free of all traces of curing agents, laitance and any other surface contaminants, preferably by scarifying.
      • Any screeding must be firmly attached to the underlying concrete, must be integrally sound (no crumbling, cracking, etc) and must be of a quality and consistency suitable for tiling.  All damaged, defective, deteriorated or hollow sounding areas must be removed and the floor made good before proceeding.  The surface must be clean and dry and free of all traces of dust, debris, loose particles and surface contaminants.
      • If the surface has been woodfloated (rough) it is possible to commence tiling. However, if the surface has been steelfloated (smooth, dense) it will be necessary to first key the surface with a slurry consisting of 1 part   TAL KEYCOAT to 2 parts  TAL KEYMIX powder or 2 parts  TAL MARBLEFIX powder (by volume), which is applied by block brush.  Allow this slurry coat to dry for 4 – 6 hours before applying the adhesive. *

 

    • ADHESIVE SYSTEM
      • Surface Beds
        • Apply  TAL MARBLEFIX light-coloured rapid-setting adhesive to the background using a notched trowel.
      • Suspended Slabs
        • Apply  TAL MARBLEFIX light-coloured rapid-setting adhesive mixed 20kg with  5.5 litres of  TAL BOND  (replacing the water in the mix) to the background using a notched trowel.
          Alternatively,  TAL BOND POWDER may be added to the adhesive mixing water at a ratio of 1 x 1kg sachet per 20kg TAL MARBLEFIX, or  TAL MARBLEFLEX single-part flexible lightcoloured rapid-setting adhesive may be used. When using  TAL MARBLEFLEX no additives are required, simply mix with clean water, alleviating possible mixing errors on site.
      • General:
        • In this tiling situation it is imperative that there is a solid bed of adhesive at least 6mm thick beneath each tile. We would recommend the use of a  notched FLOOR  TROWEL .
        • At no time spread more adhesive than can be tiled onto in 10 – 15 minutes.  Depending on atmospheric conditions, this will normally be around 1 square metre.  This prevents the adhesive from drying or “skinning” before the tiles are applied.
        • Bed dry tiles (do not soak) firmly into the wet adhesive with a twisting action to ensure full contact between the background, tiles and adhesive.  Tiles should be well tapped home with a rubber mallet or the wooden handle of a trowel.  It is sound practice to remove the occasional tile to ensure that good contact has been achieved.
        • Clean off any surplus adhesive remaining on the face of tiles and between the joints with a damp sponge before the adhesive dries.
        • Never butt joint tiles.  Joints are required to allow the individual tiles to move with respect to each other and thus avoid a compressive stress build-up.  They are also required as vents for the tile adhesive to cure.  The joints between these tiles must be a minimum of 3mm wide. 
        • Pot life of the adhesive will vary with climatic conditions.  Under no circumstances should adhesive which has been left standing for too long be reconstituted by adding more liquid.
        • Do not tile over structural, expansion or cold joints in the background.  These joints must be extended through the various layers to the surface.

 

    • GROUTING
      • Grouting must not be carried out until sufficient bond has developed between the bedding mix and the tiles to preclude disturbance of the tiles during the grouting operation.  Allow a minimum of 4 hours before grouting.
      • Surface Beds
      • Suspended Slabs:
      • WARNING:
        • Particular care must be taken to clean the grout off the tile face before it hardens completely. This is especially important when an additive such as  TAL BOND or  TAL BOND POWDER has been used.
        • A sample of the tiles to be used should be tested beforehand to ensure that no grout is absorbed into the tile body, causing permanent staining of the tiles.
        • It is important to use the stipulated amount of liquid in the TAL Grout mixture.  When cleaning, a damp, not wet , sponge must be used.  Over hydration (too much water) of the mix, or in cleaning, causes colour variations in the grout joints, and also affects the integrity of the grout, resulting in a friable product.

 

  • MOVEMENT JOINTS
    • It should be noted that the lack of movement joints in a tile panel is a major cause of tile failure.  They should be specified at the design stage to avoid placing  them in heavy traffic areas and spoiling the visual effect of the tiles.
    • Movement joints should be located in both directions at maximum 5 metre centres for interior surface bed applications, and maximum 3 metre centres for suspended applications. 
    • Movement joints should also be located around the perimeter of all floors, in all vertical corners, against obstructions fixed to the structural background and over all discontinuities in building materials, e.g. at interfaces of concrete and brickwork.  In addition, movement joints should be located around any fixtures protruding through the tiled surface such as columns or stairs.
    • The joints should be at least 5mm wide and extend through the adhesive and  tile layers.  All construction / cold joints and structural joints in the background must be extended through the adhesive and tile layers to the surface in the form of  tile panel movement joints.  With regards to structural joints, the full width of the structural joints must be respected and extended through the adhesive and tile layers to the surface.
    • Where practical, the bulk of the depth of the movement joint can be filled with TAL SEALMASTER CORD.
    • Seal the joint using TAL GOLDSTAR SEALMASTER 1000 polyurethane joint sealant in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.  It is important that the joint sealant bonds only to the sides of the movement joint.
    • For the key requirements common to all tiling situations please refer to SANS 10107-2011, Code of Practice for the Design and Installation of Ceramic Tiling.

Should you require any further assistance or have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.  Assuring you of our best attention at all times.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

SHARON MARGON

TECHNICAL ADVICE SUPERVISOR

 ©TAL 1972 & 1984