Rapolano Stones are natural products and as such may exhibit color variations that add value and uniqueness to the product.

This information aims to provide guidelines to prevent errors and offer execution lines to perform a work of art, which can only be carried out by professional installers capable of enhancing the beauty of the natural materials to be laid.

Rapolano Stones are suitable for use both indoors and outdoors as flooring, cladding. Mosaics, sinks and bathroom accessories, architectural elements, stairs, windowsills, kitchen countertops, etc.

This guide aims to provide technical advice for laying mosaics for flooring, cladding, and decorations. For laying other types of products, the fixing methods may vary depending on the type of products and the experience of the professionals used for their installation.

Our Technical Office is available for advice on the installation of all other products we supply: Mosaics, Sinks, Shower Trays, and more.
Our floors and claddings are produced with automated and modern machinery, with calibrated thicknesses. However, there may always be a difference of ±1 mm in thickness.

Choice of installer

Given the chromatic peculiarities and the value of our materials, it is highly recommended to choose experienced companies in laying stone mosaics. We advise against entrusting companies that do not inspire maximum confidence for laying our materials. Many times defects are attributed to the production quality of the stone when instead it is the installer who was not able to perform a work of art.

Recommended laying method

Adhesive laying: installation using pre-mixed adhesives available on the market.

Preliminary indications for installation

Rapolano Stones are a natural material and specifically a sedimentary limestone, one of its predominant features is the veins and color variations due to the mineral and organic sediments present within it.

Given these characteristics, it is necessary to carry out a dry pre-laying of the material, taking pieces from all the boxes, to find the desired combination of tones and natural veins of the material, combining them to the customer’s final preference.

Particular attention must also be paid to ensure that the material is laid on the correct side, verifying that the surface has the required finish (polished or tumbled).
It is recommended to handle the material with utmost care when unpacking to avoid scratches.

Laying mosaics with pre-mixed adhesives for floors, claddings, and decorations

Introduction

Before starting the installation of the material, the installer must ensure that the surfaces to be covered are perfectly flat and that the stability, residual moisture, and consistency of the substrate are adequate for installation.

Substrates: screeds and plasters

The surfaces to be covered must be smooth and flat, without depressions or parts in the process of detachment; for claddings, it must also be checked that the walls are plumb.

To ensure the adhesive adheres properly, also check that they are clean and free from cement lumps or smoothing, oils, waxes, or anything else.

Finally, ensure that the screeds and plasters have the right degree of drying and maturation to prevent moisture loss due to drying from causing halos and efflorescence on the finished surfaces.

If there are tight deadlines, it is advisable to have the screeds made with quick-setting compounds.

Our mosaics can also be laid on other types of substrates such as plasterboard panels, old ceramic and stone floors, etc.

It is always recommended to check that the surfaces where our tiles will be applied are flat, clean, and so on, and to use pre-mixed adhesives suitable for the surface to be covered.

Adhesives for laying

Choice of adhesive

Nowadays there are many products on the market suitable for laying marble and stones. We suggest, in case of uncertainty about the specific product to use, to consult with the adhesive supplier to determine the most appropriate one based on the environment (floor, cladding, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) and the atmospheric conditions (indoor, outdoor) in which the cladding will be installed.

There are specific products on the market from various manufacturers for: internal floors and claddings; external floors and claddings; more or less elastic.
It is advisable, if possible, to carry out tests on the actual performance of the adhesives in the environment to be covered.

Practical advice

Preparation for laying

The first thing to do is to draw orthogonal horizontal and vertical lines with a pencil that will serve as a guide for laying the mosaic.

Installation

Unpack the mosaic sheets from the boxes by removing the separator sheets. Spread the adhesive with the smooth side of the “American” trowel evenly over about 1 square meter of surface, then go over it with the notched side (recommended 5mm teeth) applying constant pressure.

Once this operation is completed, the adhesive should appear uniform and homogeneous. Proceed to apply the sheets on the prepared surface, taking care to align them well and leaving the same joint size between sheet and sheet equal to that between tile and tile of the mosaic.

Once the sheets are applied, they must be tapped with a wide flat rubber trowel to make the covered surface completely flat. Remove any excess adhesive that has come out between the joints with a brush or a brush.

Once the surface is covered, it should appear uniform, and if the work is well done, the individual sheets should not be visible.

Cuts

On each surface to be covered, the installer will have to make cuts on the mosaics to cover the surfaces “glove-like” (it is rare for the pieces to perfectly cover the wall or cladding). Ensure that the installation company has the appropriate tools to work the material: flexible with a cutting disc, preferably diamond, pliers, etc.

Finishes

Ensure that the installer is able to carry out the finishes. Many times in claddings it will be necessary to create corners. There are two methods to make them with a 45° cut or with an exposed edge, so make sure they can be done on-site with appropriate tools.

Holes

Where the mosaic must be laid near pipes or drains and the hole must be covered precisely, it is advisable to cut the tiles with pliers.

Finishes

Rapolano Stone mosaics usually have a matte finish (polished or tumbled) so that slight “chips”, breaks, or scratches that may occur on-site can be easily remedied.

Grouting of joints and pores

It is generally recommended to grout the joints between the tiles with a color as close as possible to the tone of the installed stone, although in some applications these can be highlighted with colors below or above tone or even contrasting.

There are many pre-mixed colors on the market from various manufacturers, with specific characteristics based on the size of the joints and the environment in which they will be made. There are also high elasticity products especially suitable for certain applications.

We recommend that excess grout be cleaned before it dries and becomes difficult to remove.
As with other grouts, it is always recommended to do a color test to ensure it is satisfactory. Once applied, it cannot be removed!

Surface treatment

It is always recommended that after laying and grouting the joints, a stripping wash and a protective hydro-oil repellent treatment be carried out to reduce the absorption of the stone and prevent it from staining with products commonly used in homes such as coffee, oil, wine, and other substances that may affect the natural color of the material.

There are two main families of treatments: water-based (lighter and more natural) or chemical-based (more durable). They can then be tone-enhancing (highlighting the color) or neutral.

As is customary for wooden furniture with wax, with terracotta floors it is advisable to repeat the treatment once a year to keep your surfaces always shining!