FLEXIBILITY
Our flexible stone veneer can be used the same way thin laminate type products are used. It will bend to a tight radius depending on the stone color or type before cracking. Testing should always be done prior to any installation. The natural stone veneers can be arched or bent inward or outward to meet a given look or architecture. The fabric backing used in the makeup of the veneers gives them strength and flexibility.
SUBSTRATE PREPARATION
Prior to application it is best to clean, brush, and degrease any surface of dust or oils.
LAYOUT & PATTERNS
Preparation of the area to be covered and the layout of the veneers is the same as for natural stone or tile. Time spent preparing the work area will pay off immensely. A preliminary dry fit of the veneers allows for arrangements and orientation of individual sheets, patterns, textures, and colors before final placement. It is recommended that each sheet be dry fit exactly where it will be placed on horizontal or vertical surfaces. Numbering the sheets to track relocation before cutting and trimming is recommended and will save time.
CUTTING
Cutting straight lines and curves is best done using long nosed tin snips, scissors or a utility knife. The stone veneer wall panels can also be cut using laser.
ADHESIVES
All adhesives should be tested prior to any installation including consideration of moisture and temperature in the planned environment. If the application is outdoors (not recommended the cotton mesh backer), consideration to thermal expansion needs to be taken into account. Since these are veneers, they must expand and contract with the substrate or de-lamination may occur. Where adhesive primers are recommended the bond should be tested by the installer before final installation. We recommend using white glue, glass fiber wallpaper adhesives, spray adhesives or contact adhesives.
RECOMMENDED ADHESIVES
We recommend using white glue, glass fiber wallpaper adhesives, spray adhesives or contact adhesives.
TILING, GROUTING & JOINTING
Our Flexible Stone Veneer can also be used to create a tiled effect by leaving a grout joint between cut pieces. Sheets may also be butt jointed for a minimal seam look. Due to the thinner nature of our flexible stone veneer wall covering a narrower grout joint will produce better results. Test show the use of water-based epoxy grouts, premixed acrylic grouts, or sanded grouts work best for the flexible stone veneer. Grouts are available in several colors to match the desired decor. Always apply masking tape on the edges on all sides prior to grouting. On final clean up with a sponge, the epoxy grout will also seal and fill the stone veneer surface. If desired a deeper grout joint can be achieved by removing material just under the grout joint area. For exterior applications we recommend having a grout join between the sheets (fiber glass backer only).
HAND ROLLERS AND PRESSING
A hand roller is recommended to remove air between the stone sheet and substrate. To properly roll out trapped air start in the middle of a sheet while firmly rolling out towards the edge. Do not press too hard while rolling as this may cause too much adhesive to push out. Proper back-filling and good rolling techniques will result in a solid hard surface. Do not use non-catalyzing (water vapor type) cure adhesives where the substrate is a moisture barrier. Non-catalyzing adhesive will not cure properly if applied between non-porous materials. Vacuum and cold pressing can be done with a foam sheet between the platten and the veneer surface.
SEALERS
All stones are pre-sealed at the factory.
