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STONE IN THE WATER


How can contractors and specifiers avoid costly mistakes when installing natural stone in bathroom and wetroom environments? Robert Merry, Director at The Stone Consultants, discusses.


One of my biggest concerns has been the rising number of installation failures in bathrooms. The main culprits for which, I’ve found to be mesh backed stone and failed waterproofing.


There is still a lack of understanding about reinforcement mesh on natural stone tiles. Should it come off or should it stay on? How much of the mesh needs to be removed? Is it different for floors and walls, wet rooms and dry applications?


The current standards are clear. Floors in any application require 75% of the mesh to be removed. Walls the same, unless the wall slabs are fitted with restraint fixings. The reason is that adhesive needs to bond with the stone. Simply put, the mesh gets in the way.


Ah yes, you say, but the mesh is stuck to the back of the stone, it will never come off? In our experience if you leave the mesh-backed stone soaking in water, the stone expands, and the mesh can come off more easily. If you think about it, this could potentially happen in a shower after installation. No slab supplier we know will offer a written a guarantee for the resin glue used to adhere the mesh on the stone.


Another concern is the failure of the adhesion between the now popular linear shower gullies and the stone. The waterproofing used to seal over the joint between the subfloor and the gully flange is critical if leaks are to be avoided. Most gully manufacturer’s will recommend a waterproofing system or methodology. If this is ignored, warranties can be null and void.


I worked on a contract recently where the specification had not addressed this joint. The manufacturer of materials specified for the floor build-up in the shower wouldn’t provide a warranty for the joint between their floor and the gulley. The gulley manufacturer refused to warranty anything unless their system was used. The stone installer rightly asked the builder for an instruction and the builder turned to the design team who tried to persuade someone or anyone, to offer a warranty, rather than change their specification.


Stalemate ensued until the builder, assisted by the stone installer, found a compatible product whose manufacturer warranted the application. Then came the labourious task of recording and evidencing the application to satisfy the warranty in 300 showers. Big contract, big headache.


With increasing numbers of tile companies taking on the responsibility of waterproofing bathrooms, it is important that instructions are followed, materials are compatible and manufacturers’ warranties are not compromised.


If you are unsure or unclear I’d be happy to cast an eye over the specification for you and ask the right questions. I carry out a lot of inspections of work in progress, provide written reports and can quality manage a successful path through the build process.


www.stoneconsultants.co.uk 36 | FLOOR TILES


Shower gully – the joint between the sub floor and the gully flange is critical if leaks are to be avoided.


Popular linear gully – stone fixed on dabs, with waterproofing incompatible with the gully flange, which eventually leaked to the flat below.


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