Are you building a braai area or upgrading your patio and need to establish what products or tiles you’ll require for tiling?
As with nature, natural stone tiles are all unique in appearance and will provide you with a one-of-a-kind floor and wall area thanks to the distinctive colours, patterns and characteristics of the tiles.Knowing the right questions to ask and having the answers to those questions will help you design and build the right outdoor area for you and your family.
According to Sharon Margon, technical adviser at TAL, for outdoor areas, natural stone tiles remain popular. She says they can withstand harsh weather conditions and do not fade if exposed to the sun. Natural stone tiles are also ideal for a braai area and will be able to combat food, oil and beverage spills, but they do need to be treated.
Margon says it is essential to seal natural stone tiles after installation as they are prone to staining. Without the sealant, these tiles remain absorbent and can easily mark and stain.
Other advantages of natural stone tiles include:
1. Natural stone products create timeless luxurious leisure spaces.
Natural stone products create timeless luxurious leisure spaces.2. They are a lifetime purchase and will last for many years, if sealed properly.
3. As with nature, natural stone tiles are all unique in appearance and will provide you with a one-of-a-kind floor and wall area thanks to the distinctive colours, patterns and characteristics of the tiles.
Margon shares six tips and products to use when building a braai area:
1. The background surface must be firm, clean, dry, and free from dust and contaminants.
2. It is important to prime your surface to create better adhesion onto the substrate before tiling. If the surface is wood floated, (i.e. a rough finish) priming is not necessary. If the surface is steel floated (i.e. a smooth, dense finish) prime with a slurry consisting of 1 part TAL Keycoat mixed with 2 parts tile adhesive powder (by volume), and then apply the slurry solution with a block brush.
3. Allow the slurry coat to dry, after which the tiles can be installed using TAL Gold Star 6 mixed with TAL Bond instead of water for enhanced flexibility and heat resistance.
4. The grout between the joints should be mixed with a bond instead of water; this improves the water resistance flexibility as well as the bond strength of the adhesive.
5. Depending on the size of area being tiled, tile panel movement joints must be incorporated at a maximum of two metre breaks in both directions, as well as in all internal corners and interfaces.
6. The installation should be allowed to dry for a minimum of seven days before being subjected to use.
The above adhesive system should withstand temperatures of up to 65° C to 70° C for prolonged periods.
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