Stone does not always lend itself to the easy answers that people want to hear, but the makers of products for fixing, sealing and cleaning stone would still rather you asked the question because they are working hard to provide the right solutions.

However many versions of adhesives, polishes, stain removers, cleaning products, sealers, mastics or any other chemicals you have looked at for any area of the stone industry, from cladding and conservation to worktops and memorials, there will be a lot more you have not seen. And more are being added all the time.

It can become confusing. Some people just give up and use what they have always used.

That is not necessarily a good idea. It is worth finding out what works and what doesn’t or you could end up with a high profile disaster like the one at probably the highest profile job of them all, The Shard in London.

Natural stone defies easy explanations in all sorts of ways. It has had millions of years to develop interesting mineral combinations that can vary considerably from one bed to another and from quarry to quarry. That can mean chemical products that work well on one kind of stone do not work on another. It is always a good idea to trial anything you are going to use with stone on a scrap first to make sure it does what you expect without any unforeseen and unwanted consequences.

There are plenty of established and respected products in the stone industry available from the various wholesalers. Some even have their own brands – Harbro, for example, are not alone in own-branding adhesives and resins. Many of the wholesalers have their preferred brands –

D Zambelis goes with Sprint supplemented by Coor & Kleever’s specialist floor maintenance products that complement the Coor & Kleever floor maintenance machines Zambelis also sells; Combined Masonry Supplies offers Akemi and Jolly; LPE Tooling, set up last year by Carl Sharkey and Simon Bradbury as part of their LPE Group, majors on General; The Marble & Granite Centre offers DryTreat.

Waters Group has Bellinzoni treatments and Integra adhesives – and a new UV resistant adhseive called Ultra was introduced by Integra at Marmomacc in Verona last month (September) colour-matched for use with Dekton surfaces from Cosentina, in particular.

There is a lot to choose from, but to help you try to make some sense of what can be a bewildering confusion of products, NSS invited some of the suppliers to put their products into context for the various uses of these chemicals with stone. We start with the market leader of stone care products, Lithofin, sold in the UK by Casdron.

Lithofin from Casdron

Keeping your stone and tile surfaces in optimum condition is easy with the market-leading Lithofin brand of scientifically advanced products.

As sole UK importer of the extensive Lithofin range, Casdron offers products to clean, seal and maintain natural and artificial stone, as well as porcelain, quarry and ceramic tiles.

Our technical helpline is available 8.30am until 5pm on weekdays, with technical experts on hand to advise on all stone cleaning, protection and maintenance issues.

Lithofin MN Wash & Clean can be used on natural stones of all finishes – honed, polished, whatever. This high yielding concentrate contains active maintenance components and mildly alkaline cleaning agents specifically designed to support and enhance the effect of protective treatments, leaving stone beautifully clean and fresh.

Lithofin MN Power Clean is highly effective for deeper cleaning of stone areas. Simply dilute with water and use a white emulsifying pad to remove ingrained contamination and efflorescence build up.

Lithofin MN Stain-Stop ECO represents the next generation in water based protective treatments. Easy and safe to apply, this high quality impregnator leads to an excellent water and oil repellent effect on porous natural stone surfaces such as limestone. But please note: the chemical properties of the natural stone are not changed, so acid sensitive stones such as limestones and marbles will remain sensitive to acidic substances (wine, vinegar, fruit juice and so on).

Use of the correct maintenance products with natural stone is essential for the longevity of the sealants and impregnators. Lithofin products used correctly will ensure that stone remains protected and in good condition.

NEW PRODUCT. Lithofin Splash Stop W is a new water-based impregnator specially formulated for use on absorbent, unglazed natural and engineered stone.

Ideally for outdoor use, it does not change the appearance of the stone, yet it is water repellent, helping keep surfaces looking clean and fresh.

Casdron Enterprises also has a new line of ancillary products to support the existing range of Lithofin products. It includes the emulsifying pads, cloths and tools frequently recommended by our technical experts.

These accessories can be used in conjunction with many of the Lithofin products.

StoneFix

The Wetherby Group is a worldwide manufacturer of building products, established for more than 35 years and manufacturing more than a million tonnes of building products. StoneFix is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wetherby Group. After decades of formulating market leading products, the company used all its experience and knowledge to create this portfolio of stone solutions.

Natural stone applications take more than just a standard product to prepare, fix, seal and maintain. StoneFix products form a high performance, eco friendly range designed specifically to cope with the variables natural stone can bring.

Working globally with strategic partners, StoneFix continually refines, develops and improves its products. But it believes some manufacturers have over-complicated stone fixing and care, so, going forward, it is aiming to produce a more through-the-floor system solution, providing all the products necessary to achieve a successful installation, including underfloor heating.

The use of poor quality products for the preparation, fixing, sealing and maintenance of stone can lead to major and costly problems. StoneFix products ensure the success of your projects time after time.

And once the products are proven to surpass all EN-standards, StoneFix also ensures they are user friendly for the professional applicator, saving time and money on projects.

Amtech UK

Amtech UK is an import and export company that offers both chemical products and equipment for floor care and maintenance under one roof.

The company was established in 1995 with the single aim of revolutionizing the cleaning industry by introducing new, innovative cleaning products and systems for restoration and maintenance of carpets and hard flooring.

Today, Amtech UK remains a ‘systems’ company, operating in the ultra high speed floor care industry offering what it maintains is the world’s first ‘Microsplitting’ non-detergent, environmentally friendly cleaning products with the equipment to make best use of them.

The microfilm-forming CLS TopShield surface treatment hardens and protects floors. It creates a breathable, water repellent, dust-repelling surface. It protects hard floor surfaces from staining by repelling contaminants before they can penetrate the surface. This ‘smart’ chemical also repels water and allows the slab to breathe, preventing internal damage from rising moisture.

Finishing with a UHS burnisher is easier and produces a higher gloss after the CLS Topshield has been used.

As well as the chemicals, Amtech supplies the PE420GP propane-powered floor care machine that grinds, polishes, and burnishes hard floor surfaces such as stone, concrete, marble and terrazzo.

From its headquarters in West Sussex, Amtech offers a comprehensive training course on restoration and maintenance of hard flooring. And whatever cleaning challenge you face, it will design a system of products, equipment and procedures that will enable you to realize maximum results in minimum time.

Fila

Fila offers a complete care regime for all stone surfaces, from limestone floor tiles to polished granite or even marble worktops.

The range spans from maintenance and sealing products to deep cleaners, trouble-shooting treatments and enhancers. All the products safeguard the stone’s natural characteristics and provide high coverage, along with a fast, safe application.

Production is supported by Fila’s new ISO 14001:2014 certification and its extensive range is recommended by more than 200 manufacturers.

New introductions to the range include solvent-free, stain-proofing protector FILAMP90 Eco Plus as part of Fila’s award-winning Green Line.

This LEED-approved impregnator is designed for all stone finishes, including honed, polished and tumbled surfaces. It provides a safe, fume-free application and can be applied with residual moisture present, cutting application time by as much as 80%.

The high performance treatment also protects grout lines, making it ideal for floor tile application.

For initial cleaning and ongoing stone maintenance, best-selling solutions include Fila Cleaner, a highly concentrated pH neutral detergent, and Fila PS87, a stain/wax remover and deep-cleaner.

Trouble shooting formulas include Fila SR/95, which removes coloured organic stains from stone, including those left by wine, coffee and tea.

Enhancing treatments span from Fila Stoneplus, a colour-intensifying protective barrier, to Fila Kristall, which restores the shine to polished stone surfaces.

Ardex

The Ardex Natural Stone Range avoids the risks of water staining, curling and warping in natural stone installations.

Natural stones such as granite, marble and limestone are durable materials that can last a lifetime – several lifetimes, in fact. But, like any product, problems may occur if they are not installed properly.

The main issue associated with natural stone is determining whether the stone is moisture-sensitive or not and, following that, using the correct products to fix it.

In most instances, natural stone tiles will not have a sensitivity to moisture and non-specialist products can be used with confidence. However, using such products to fix moisture-sensitive stone can lead to permanent defects in the finished surface.

Typically occurring during the bedding and grouting process, moisture from traditional adhesives and grouts can migrate into the stone and cause discolouration, staining and even warping.

For fixers using moisture-sensitive natural stone or agglomerated stone, or for those who are unsure, Ardex has developed products specifically designed to eliminate these problems, ensuring a risk free installation every time.

Ardex Natural Stone Products incorporate our unique ‘Rapidry Formula’ that ‘locks’ the mix water within the mortar, virtually eliminating the risk of water staining, curling and warping.

Geocel

Designed for use on prestige buildings and those exposed to extreme weather conditions, Geocel 925NS is non staining and can be used on a wide range of substrates.

Part of the MS Polymer range, its formulation offers greater flexibility and suitability for the weathersealing of sensitive substrates, such as stone, associated with modern facade construction.

The components used to create its strength are ‘locked in’, meaning they are less likely to bleed out and discolour, causing the familiar picture framing left by some sealants.

Speaking about the product, Marketing Manager Marc Olding, says: “We are always looking for ways to offer products that customers need. MS Polymers have been steadily gaining in popularity and we estimate 2016 will see an increase in demand for them.

“We expect Geocel 925NS to be one of our more popular products in 2016 out of our high-performance range of sealants and adhesives.”

Strategic partner of Dow Corning and Dow Chemicals, Geocel aims to set the standard with its comprehensive product range backed with technical expertise and an extensive product innovation programme. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sherwin-Williams Company.

Some rapid-sets go off in a matter of minutes when it’s warm, giving no time for adjustment, whereas with Tilemaster Setaflex Semi-Rapid adhesive you’ve got at least an hour to adjust.”

Ultra Tile

‘High in fibre’ adhesives are perfect for natural stone tiles. That’s the message from Ultra Tile, the tile adhesives, grouts and ancillaries brand from the UK manufacturer Instarmac Group, referring to the Ultra Tile fibre reinforced adhesive FibreGrip FX.

Natural stone tiles are heavier than other tiles and therefore require a stronger bond and enhanced grab adhesive for a successful fix. Ultra Tile FibreGrip FX has a fibre-enhanced formulation that makes it ideal for fixing natural stone.

The addition of fibres aids the composition, making it stronger and ultimately providing greater adhesive strength. This reinforced grab ensures a stronger bond and helps to prevent damage and/or failure when fixing heavy tiles.

FibreGrip FX also produces reinforced body with thixotropic behaviour. This means that the product is workable – even under the weight of heavy tiles it will hold its density, not slump and will always secure the fix.

The adhesive is fast setting, which is ideal for porous stone as it will set before the stone has the opportunity to absorb too much moisture out of the adhesive, which would affect the application.

When fixing natural stone tiles it is also important to remember that only a solid bed application method should be used. The natural porous nature of stone mixed with a dot’n’dab application is a recipe for disaster. Not only can it fail but it may also result in shadowing on the surface of the tiles. In any case, a solid bed application method is best practice and should be carried out by all. Ultra Tile FibreGrip FX is suitable for wall and floor installations in both internal and external locations. It is classified under CE marking regulations as C2 FT and is compatible with underfloor heating systems.

In the past year Ultra Tile has introduced two new grout colours: Jasmine and Titanium. Other grout colours remain: White, Cream, Limestone, Sandstone, Grey, Anthracite and Chocolate. Ultra Tile also has silicones in: Clear, White, Cream, Grey and Anthracite. And the Prime IT FP is now available only in 2.5litre packs, the 1litre packs having been discontinued.

Weber

Weber.set Pro Lite–Rapid is a lightweight, rapid-setting, ultra-flexible (S2), low-dust, cement-based floor tile adhesive for interior and exterior use. It can be used to fix marble and stone, porcelain, mosaic, quarry tiles and terrazzo to most building substrates and is particularly suited to situations where some movement, deflection or a limited amount of shrinkage is likely.

Manufactured under BSI Quality Assurance Scheme ISO 9001, it is lightweight – with up to 35% extra coverage (compared with other standard Weber tile adhesives), ultra-flexible (S2) while still maintaining a strong (C2) bond strength.

It can be used as a pourable adhesive, is suitable for use on wooden floors, incorporates Low Dust Technology that dramatically reduces airborne dust during pouring and mixing and also reduces cleaning up time and contains environmentally friendly Cement Replacement Technology. One of its few constraints is that it is not recommended for tiles with resin backs.

This is just one of the range of products from Weber. Weber’s Customer Services Department has a team of advisors available to provide advice at the specification stage and during application. Detailed specifications can be provided for specific projects or more general works. Site visits and on-site demonstrations can be arranged. Call the Technical Helpline on 01525 722110 or the Customer Services team on 08703 330070 in the UK and on 028 9335 2999 for Scotland, Ireland (North and South) and the Isle of Man.

Kerakoll

The conversion of a historic barn in the Cotswolds is a good case study for anybody who needs to fix delicate stone tiling to walls and floors, especially in wet areas.

The contractor was Nexxtile and Kerakoll was chosen for the surface preparation and tiling products for the quality of both the goods and the technical support from the company, as well as for environmental considerations.

Roche Marron Limestone in a mixture of different sizes was chosen for the main floors which occupied a surface area of 350m2. The same classic limestone was used for the stairs.

The floors were a heated anhydrate screed on to which was laid a decoupling mat fixed with H40 Eco Ideal, which is an adhesive that neutralises the expansive chemical reaction in this type of screed and makes the surface 100% resistant to attack from sulphates. Keratech Eco Flex was used on top of the decoupling mat.

Keratech Eco Flex is a self-levelling compound that hardens quickly and is fibre reinforced for extra flexural strength. It also has a high degree of dimensional stability.

The stone tiles were fixed using H40 Eco Flex, a single component adhesive with low CO2 and very low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. H40 Eco Flex is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems and great for ensuring high resistance to shear stress. According to Kerkoll it will not fail even in the most demanding installations.

Fugabella Eco 2-12 was used to grout the tiles. This is part of the Fugabella Eco range of grouts containing natural hydraulic lime that gives it natural antibacterial and fungistatic properties while avoiding the potential harm to health that biocides used in some antibacterial products can cause. It is hard wearing and the colours are resistant to fading in UV light.

The wet room style bath and shower areas were tiled in 600mm x 600mm Spanish Emperador Marble. Again, a decoupling mat was put on the floor, which was tanked using Aquastop Eco, a water-based waterproofing product for absorbent substrates in damp environments. It is easy to apply with a roller, has very low VOC emissions and develops total water resistance under positive thrust. It was chosen for its rapid setting time – a second coat can be applied after just one hour and tiling can start two hours after that. The joints were sealed using Aquastop 120, a flexible waterproof tape that can be used for continuous waterproofing even over expansion joints. It bonds directly on application.

The wet room tiles were fixed using H40 Eco Tenaflex, an eco friendly adhesive that develops full stability to the action of alkaline hydrolysis, allowing the fixing of tiles where there is constant contact with water, thus making it ideal for use in this sort of installation.

The same Emperador marble was used to tile the walls of an en-suite fixed using H40 Eco Ideal adhesive that has no vertical slip and contains extra white recycled particles that make it perfect for use with large format marble tiles. Fugabella Eco 0-5 was used to grout the walls throughout.

Natural Paving Products

Landscaping projects involving natural stone often represent a significant investment, so ongoing care and maintenance is extremely important to ensure the longevity of an installation’s aesthetic appeal and functionality. Here, Malcolm Gough, Business Development Director at Natural Paving Products (UK) Ltd explains the most common problems natural stone installations face and how best to prevent and treat them.

While natural stone is extremely hard wearing and a relatively low-maintenance landscaping choice, certainly compared with grass and other planting, it is still susceptible to damage and staining if not properly installed and maintained.

One of the most common problems with any hard landscaping installation is efflorescence – the appearance of white marks on the surface of the stone not long after it is installed. This is calcium carbonate that has risen through to sit on the surface of the stone paving caused by chemicals within the stone that react to environmental triggers.

Efflorescence can be made worse if the wrong action is taken. People often try to power wash it off, or use abrasive brushing. But this will only cause damage and more staining as it can expose the pores within the stone.

Instead, a salt neutralising solution should be used. There are various versions of these available but the best are those that will penetrate deep into the stone without harming the substrate. These will remove the problem and provide lasting protection.

For maximum effect it is worth using a fully breathable sealant as well, once the original treatment is dry. This will further reduce the reappearance of efflorescence. But if it does come back, it will allow it to rise to the surface without trapping it, making it much easier to deal with in the future.

Another problem can be rust marks from patio furniture that’s been left out in all weathers. The best protection against rust is to remove and store furniture while it’s not being used but, understandably, this is not always possible. Covering furniture and barbeques when not in use will go some way to reduce rust marks, but if staining does occur, respond quickly. We’ve found the best rust removers are those that are specially formulated to convert rust compounds into a water-soluble solution. These types of remover will pull out the rust that has penetrated the surface of the stone and will then allow it to be simply washed away.

In order to care for and maintain a natural stone installation properly it’s important to understand the difference between coatings and sealants. Put simply, coatings are designed to sit on the surface of the paving while sealants are designed to penetrate deep into the stone itself, offering longer lasting protection.

Importantly, it’s worth noting that superficial coatings will need to be reapplied on a regular basis, which can lead to a build up of layers over time that increasingly change the appearance of the stone.

With protection held deep within the substrate, sealants offer a much longer life expectancy than coatings. In addition, some high quality sealants are UV resistant and breathable, which means they will not fade and will allow trapped moisture and salts to escape naturally.

Although stone is extremely durable, sealants offer additional peace of mind in case the surface is exposed to spillages from parked cars or sap from surrounding trees. If that is likely to happen, it is worth looking out for sealants that are both hydrophobic and oleophobic – that is, that protects against both water and oil contaminants.

Another key consideration when choosing a sealant is when it can be applied. Most require newly laid stone to ‘settle’ for a minimum of three months, but this leaves the stone exposed to the elements and vulnerable to discolouration from vegetation, birds, pets and spillages. There are some sealants that can be applied immediately after installation, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for those.

Other care and maintenance considerations include choosing jointing treatments. The main points to take into account here are: strength of the bonds (driveways for instance will need to withstand greater loading than garden paths); weather dependency (some can only be used in dry conditions whereas others can be used in all weathers); setting times and ease of use (some require mixing and some come ready prepared).

Natural stone paving installations are a beautiful addition to any space, so it’s important to protect them properly.

With such a variety of maintenance products available on the market, keeping in touch with a trusted manufacturer is the best way to find the right product for each application.

At Natural Paving Products (UK) Ltd, we offer a comprehensive range of top quality care and maintenance products that are specifically designed to offer lasting protection and that are easily used. You can see the range on our website devoted to these products, www.pavetuf.co.uk.

Tilemaster

Mark Kelly, the Managing Director of Tilemaster, offers some advice for fixing stone on walls and floors.

During the past few years, we’ve seen the quantity and range of natural stone tiles expand at a significant rate. The market has been responding to increased interest and demand for natural products – and large format stone tiles, in particular, have been real winners.

Bigger tiles and all types of materials are now being used throughout domestic and contract environments, and the need for a greater variety of versatile consumables has increased with it.

In response, our own Tilemaster range has evolved from two core products to more than eight tailored systems in the past three to four years – and there are more innovations in the pipeline.

Tilemaster’s Thick Bed FlexiRapid is a great example of what’s evolved. It’s a system that we’ve developed specifically for fast, efficient solid-bed fixing of large formats. It can be used with natural stone tiles as well as ceramic and porcelain tiles, with a bed thickness of 3-25mm – and tiles can be grouted after just three hours. Its flexible composition also makes it ideal for use on well-prepared timber substrates and in conjunction with underfloor heating systems.

Also new is the Setaflex Semi-Rapid, which has been developed to extend working time and eliminate a range of issues. The system has a pot life of 90-120 minutes, but will accept light foot traffic and grouting after six hours. It’s ideal for sensitive materials and for large and intricate stone projects. It’s suitable for areas subjected to prolonged or permanent wet conditions – swimming pools and wet rooms – including outdoor uses susceptible to frost.

For installations that require an extended working time, where even larger format slabs and intricate stone is being laid,

semi-rapid setting adhesives really do come into their own. The selection of the right system is imperative, especially when installing sensitive natural stone, as Johnny Clarke from

Surrey-based John Clarke (Natural Stonework) Ltd told me.

Johnny Clark: “A large proportion of our projects are solid bed installations over underfloor heating – and I’m a big fan of Tilemaster systems. When you’re using a lot of adhesive, cost is obviously important; finding a quality product at a good price helps in terms of your own margins and you can pass some of this saving onto your customer.

“But nowadays, there’s a lot more to consider. With porous materials like limestone it’s important to choose an adhesive – like Tilemaster’s Rapid Setaflex White – that pulls the moisture into itself, rather than it migrating.

“If moisture does migrate, the adhesive’s polymer and organic content will rise through the stone and stain the surface. Then, you’ve got to try and scrub the staining off before you can even think about sealing the surface.

“Sometimes, with large formats and big multi-repeat patterns, you need to choose a system with a retarded setting time, too.