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The characteristics of our Natural Stone, Terra Cotta and other floor tiles vary enormously. The suitability of each stone and tile collection for different applications also varies. Floor tiles, in particular, may become very slippery when wet.
Always refer to our product data sheet or consult with our sales staff to check that the TILE you choose is suitable for the intended application. Many of our industrial floor tiles have been tested and the results are available in our showrooms on product data sheets.
The purchase of Country Floors™ Natural Stone, Terra Cotta and Floor TILE constitutes a rather significant investment and requires proper installation. Carefully select a professional installer after verifying and checking a minimum of three references. Make sure that the installer has read and understands the product installation specifications and the special blending that may be required on the job site. Natural Stone that is installed on a concrete SLAB at ground level requires the proper moisture or isolation membrane in place prior to installation.
Country Floors™ Product Data sheets and our sales staff will advise you on general installation topics. For accepted industry standards or specific questions, please refer to the following sources:
TILE Council of America, Inc.
100 Clemson Research Blvd.
Anderson, SC 29625
864.646.8453
www.tileusa.com
CERAMIC TILE Institute of America, Inc. (CTIOA)
www.ctioa.org
MARBLE Institute of America
MARBLE Institute of America
28901 Clemens Road, Suite 100
Westlake, Ohio 44145
info@ MARBLE-institute.com
ANSI SPECIFICATIONs
The American National Standards Institute
Headquarters
1819 L Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
202.293.8020
www. ANSI.org
Our glazed tiles, terra cottas and natural stone pavers all come in batches and despite every production control measure, colour and tonal variation will occur from dye lot to dye lot. A single sample should not be taken as an accurate indication of the range or a subsequent dye lot.
In addition to COLOUR VARIATION, some of our terra cottas may have minor chips, blemishes or tiny pop-outs. These imperfections are not to be considered a sign of poor craftsmanship.
Due to the rustic nature of our terra cottas, some variation in size and thickness can occur. This is especially the case with our reclaimed terra cottas from France and Spain. The number of tiles per square foot for a specific size of tile may vary from collection to collection and lot to lot.
Most of the terra cottas shown on this site have been sealed with products specifically designed for this purpose. Please consult with our sales staff for guidelines. The tiles that you may purchase from us will not look the same as those on this site or in our product brochure until they have been treated and sealed following installation.
Our stone collections have unique and natural variations, colour movement and inclusions that cannot be represented in a single sample. No two pieces will be exactly alike and some tiles will have more veining, pits, fossils or glass veins than others. Sometimes these areas are partially filled in at the factory but frequently this is completed on the job site during the GROUTING process.
Our product information sheets contain general guidelines for the application of stone products. Since jobsite conditions will vary, please review your requirements with a sales consultant. Architects and designers should contact our Marketing department to ensure material suitability prior to completion of the project specifications.
Our tiles are, to varying degrees, porous. If a porous tile is installed outside, there is a risk that moisture could be absorbed into the tile making it susceptible to damage from frost and freeze thaw cycles.
Please refer to our product data sheets to determine which tiles and natural stones may be used outside in areas that undergo freeze thaw conditions.
Natural stones are available from Country Floors in a wide spectrum of colours. MARBLE and Travertine can range from soft beiges, grey and whites, corals, golds, greens and rich browns. MARBLE traditionally has swirls and veins of colour moving over the surface. The naturally varied appearance and wonderful characteristics create a one-of–a-kind effect and distinguish an installation from the repetitive sameness of materials produced by machine.
To understand the appearance of a stone before selecting or specifying, look at a range of samples, such as full sizes. Ask your Country Floors representative about potential variation in order to understand what the stone will look like before your purchase or specify.
Our natural stone can be polished ( MOSAICS only), honed and brushed or antiqued/tumbled for a unique appearance.
- Polished stone has a glossy surface that reflects light, emphasizing the colour and veining within each TILE. This finish is used on walls and residential floors.
- A honed or brushed finish is silky smooth with relatively little light reflection. Depending on the stone, brushing accentuates the veining. This finish is preferred for floors, stair treads and other areas where heavy floor traffic will wear-off a polished finish.
- Antiqued and tumbled finishes are the most rustic and least reflective. Colours tend to be pale or soft unless treated with colour enhancing maintenance products. The surface is not honed or refined in anyway making them the most forgiving since scratches will rarely be visible.
The most common uses of stone include interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, fireplace facings and hearths, lavatory tops, residential and commercial counter tops and tub surrounds.
The hardest stones are most resistant to abrasion. One measurement of natural stone’s strength is it MOH (Measurement of Hardness) rating, with 1 being the softest and 10 the hardest. On the MOHS scale, most marbles rate 3, GRANITE being the hardest at 7. When using a softer stone, it simply means using gentle non-abrasive cleaners and keeping surfaces clean and free of abrasives to prevent scratching.
Certain SOUNDNESS classification C and D stones are manufactured with resin reinforcement backing. The primary purpose of the process is to minimize the waste factor of the more fragile marbles. When installing resin-backed stone, we recommend a modified THIN-SET approved by the setting material manufacturer for this type of installation, or a pure EPOXY, solid-setting adhesive, be used.
Green and black marbles have been known to warp and spall when installed with setting materials containing water. Currently, we recommend that pure EPOXY, solid-setting adhesives and grouts be used when installing these materials.
If natural stone is installed on concrete slabs at ground level, it is the responsibility of the buyer and installer to be certain the SUBSTRATE is dry and cured or damage to the stone can occur. A moisture barrier should be considered.
White THIN-SET cement mortar is recommended when installing coloured marbles, limestones and travertines. Always "burn" a coat of the THIN-SET into the back of light coloured or white marbles to provide 100% coverage and uniform white tone.
Natural Stone is an investment for your home or office that will give you many years of beautiful service. In many cases, it makes perfect sense to seal stone with a penetrating product. Most stones are porous and readily absorb liquids and moisture. Once properly treated, the surface will be protected against everyday dirt and spills. All spills should be wiped up as soon as possible, and coasters should be set when serving food and drinks on stone surfaces. Certain drinks, coffee, tea and fruit juices contain mild acids and can etch the surface of a stone and stain quite rapidly. These should be cleaned off immediately with a mild soap and warm water. Remember – do not use abrasive cleaners.
In other cases, it is best to leave the stone untreated. The type of stone, its finish, its location and how it is maintained all need to be considered when determining how to protect the stone. Since satisfaction is centered on maintenance, ask your Country Floors consultant for advice on choosing the appropriate sealing product.
This is a complex issue since natural stone cannot be accurately measured for slip resistance with current standard tests. Some stones have hard areas and soft areas that perform differently on each piece. Polished or semi-polished surfaces are not recommended in areas subject to standing water, oil or grease exposure. In general, “a wet floor is a slippery floor.”
It is important to be aware of the stone installation schedule to make sure that what you select or specify will be available when required. If the project is on the fast track and stone will be required within weeks or even sooner, check with your sales consultant to confirm that your selection is in stock now or due to arrive within the required time. Contact the contractor or purchaser and encourage them to place the order as soon as possible and within the necessary time frame.
For special orders or large projects, check availability to determine when the stone should be ordered from the factory for the material to arrive on schedule. Depending on a number of factors, there can be a very large time difference for production and delivery. Factors that influence delivery include the following: the time of year (most European factories close for August and religious holidays), the weather conditions at the quarries, the factory’s backlog, and availability of first choice stone. Availability of cargo containers and shipping time from the
Mediterranean
can
generally extend the shipping time.
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