Exterior granite tile installation
#1
07-15-17, 11:50 AM
Exterior granite tile installation
What's the trick for installing granite tiles in a location subject to extreme sun/heat/rain/cold?? This is for my barbecue area -- I used fortified thinset, but tiles pop off every couple of years.
#2
07-15-17, 12:57 PM
Member
We don't know where you are located. I assume it is freeze/thaw that is causing your issues. I would seal the grout with the best sealer you can find to minimize water infiltration under the tiles. Harsh environments are always a challenge. I knew a tile shop that tiled the front walk up to the store entrance. Had issues every year. I tiled my screened porch and never had issues. Fortified thinset or modified?
#3
07-17-17, 04:37 AM
I believe it's freeze/thaw that's causing your tiles to pop regularly. They just don't seem to like the cold winters. A lot of things have been tried here in MN to get tiles to stay put, but to my knowledge, nothing has worked. Back in the 80's, a big name architect from out east thought that if very thick (2"+) granite was set on a thick mud bed, they would work for Nicollet Mall sidewalks in downtown Minneapolis. They started popping after the first winter and after something like 15 years they tore them all up and replaced them.
#4
07-21-17, 07:31 AM
I'm in San Diego, never freezes. The black granite tiles sit in the sun all day, unprotected also from rain in winter. When the tiles pop off, they are 'clean', i.e., the thinset is fused into the cement board sub-base but there is no thinset residue on the tiles. I need something that will actually adhere to the tiles. I'm using the 12x12" galaxy black granite tiles you can buy at Home Depot. Thanks.
#5
07-21-17, 09:46 AM
Member
Your thinset is not grabbing the stone. Make sure your thinset is specifically designed for use with stone. Back butter the stone to ensure contact and coverage. Remove the old thinset from the cement board with a stiff putty knife and hammer used like a chisel. Cut across the trowel lines until relatively smooth.
