Stone floors are installed in the same way as tile floors. Stone flooring can be installed over some existing flooring types, including vinyl, stone, and tile, as long as these surfaces are structurally sound. Before installing, always make sure it is approved by the manufacturer. Otherwise, you run the risk of voiding the warranty on your floors. Note that if there is evidence of the presence of asbestos, you should not remove the old flooring without professional supervision. Some flooring professionals may recommend that you install a plywood underlayment over the floor before laying your new stone floors.
One tip when laying stone floors is to use sanded grout when installing tiles that have grout joints greater than 1/8 “. If grout joints are less than 1/8”, use unsanded grout. In order for the stone tiles to fit within the installation area, you will most likely have to cut the tiles. Use pliers or a rail saw when making curved cuts. Wet and dry tile saws are used for diagonal and straight cuts. Flooring professionals suggest using multi-case stone tile during installation. The end result will be a floor with a balanced color variation.
Before you can tile stone, you will first need to prepare the subfloor. This means making sure the subfloor is free of holes and sags. You can sand the wood subfloors to level them. A concrete back unit (CBU) with wood subfloors must be installed prior to installing new stone floors.
Laying stone can be relatively simple if you have the right tools and a detailed manual from a flooring professional. The stones should be installed starting in the center of the room and working your way up to each wall. The stone tiles should be laid before you glue them in place, just to see how they fit into the room. Once you have established the design, you can begin mixing the mortar. Always mix the mortar according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spread the mortar over the subfloor with a notched trowel and then place the tiles in the mortar, adding spacers if necessary. Mortar can flake, so set stone tiles as quickly as possible.
Once the mortar has had time to set properly, you can begin grouting the stone floor joints. Before beginning the grouting process, sweep and vacuum stone floors until they are free of dirt and debris. Like mortar, grout has a quick set time and must be mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Grout can be spread over the face of newly installed stone floors.
