Product Installation
and Care Guide
Page 1
Inspection and Tile Blending
Color, veining, fissures, shading, size, are the true characteristics of natural stone. Its variation occurs from tile to tile, slab to slab, and quarry to quarry.
These variations affect the decorative aspects as well. Ex. – the natural variations of shade and texture of the stone can cause variations to the staining
color and shade of the etched design. Therefore, these variations should be expected; and as a manufacturer of decorative stone, we try our best to
match as close as possible the pieces of your order to the submitted samples, or showroom displays, and to the other pieces within the job. We highly
recommend Careful blending of the tiles to achieve a union of the stones natural beauty and its man-made design. Inspect all tiles prior to installation.
NO ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE MADE AFTER INSTALLATION
Sealing
Your etched pieces are pre-sealed from the factory with a interior, exterior, horizontal & vertical, clear, non-yellowing masonry, water based natural
stone sealer from United Gilsonite Laboratories at www.ugl.com.
DRYLOK/WETLOOK- Sealing is NOT necessary for new installations. This is our STANDARD Sealer and is used on all our products (except the
Jerusalem/Ochre tiles). Installations where there is foot traffic, or walls exposed to water or grime, which require maintenance, may require periodic reapplication of DRYLOK/WETLOOK sealer. You can order it through the internet at www.ugl.com. CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU DILUTE THE SEALER WITH 50% WATER FOR A MATTE (DRYLOOK) FINISH. THIS IS A RATIO OF 1/1 OR 50/50 MIX OF SEALER/ WATER. IF
USED STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CAN WITHOUT DILUTING YOU WILL GET A HIGH GLOSS OR WETLLOOK. DO NOT RESEAL POLISHED STONE.
POLISHED PIECES CANNOT BE RESEALED
EXCEPTION- Bulletproof™ by Stonetec- Because of its clear transparency, we use this sealer ONLY for the light Jerusalem/Ochre - decorative pieces. All
these tiles are Jerusalem stone with the Ochre stain (called “Jerusalem/Ochre”). We also use this sealer for the light ochre colored handpainted
murals, decos and borders from the Classic Collection, Vineyards and Vines, and Penn Farm Stone. We recommend re-sealing your tiles, after grouting,
and once a year, thereafter.
GILDED STONE- METALS We use an oil based fast drying polyurethane “clear antique flat” Zar Ultra also from ugl.com. A light coat can be
applied directly from can.
Substrates
Refer to the
Tile Council of North America’s 2007 TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation. When selecting a substrate preparation method,
factors such as: sub-structure, sub-floor condition, location, specified setting, and intended use will determine the appropriate method.
Recommended Areas of Application for the Etched Decorative Tiles*
Walls
Floors
Interior**
Residential – Heavy Residential – Light Commercial – Medium Commercial
Exterior**
Residential – (only in mild climate, and is not exposed to any harsh elements)
Interior***
Residential – (except shower floors)
Exterior
None
Countertops
Submerged
Kitchen
None
Bath
None
(in water)
None
Our “etched” Products are not recommended for commercial applications that require chemical abrasion resistance.
* All our plain stone field tiles, made to go with the etched tiles, can be applied to ALL surfaces in accordance with the Tile Council of North America’s 2007 TCA Handbook
for Ceramic Tile Installation.
** Our Products, (except for the Polychrome tiles from Vineyards and Vines and the Classic Collection) including the Polychrome tiles from the Historical Renditions line are recommended
for walls with intermittent water exposure when installed a minimum of 24” above shower floors or a minimum of 12” above tub decks.
***Shower Floors NOT recommended for any of our etched stone products.
Placement and Layout
It is recommended that you BUTT the etched decorative tiles as close together as possible, in a dry horizontal lay FIRST, leaving little to NO grout lines.
This will insure proper lining up of decorative etched lines in the wainscots and murals. Trimming the wainscot pieces is OK for a perfect fit. It will
usually only take blending and turning of some of the stone tiles to get your perfect fit. Once it is laid out to your approval, you are now ready to
transfer them to the wall or floor for installation.
Adhesive
We recommend using a white thin-set mortar or adhesive. Larger pieces, such as our murals carved into stone slabs, in addition to the adhesive, use
metal L brackets less than 3/4”long for added support.---------------------------------------------------------Grouting
IMPORTANT – DO NOT GET GROUT ON THE TOP SURFACE of the etched stone.
Mix grout per the manufacturers instructions. We recommend that you attempt grouting smaller sections so that you can quality control the grouting process before the
grout begins to dry. DO NOT mask the tile face. Masking tape can damage the stain coloration of the decorative design during removal.
GROUTING METHOD WE RECOMMEND – (For the decoratives only) Using your finger tip – carefully push the UNSANDED grout ONLY into the grout lines. OR Using ONLY
THE EDGE of your grouting trough – push the grout ONLY into the grout lines. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANY GROUT ON THE TOP SURFACE or CARVED AREAS or CARVED
LINES of the tile. Any grout in the carved areas should be removed IMMEDIATELY with a damp sponge. (blotting the recesses with a very clean sponge and clean water helps
pull out the grout)
REMEMBER: Remove grout IMMEDIATELY if it gets into the carved surfaces or lines. Once it dries, it is very hard to get out, and using abrasive grout removers or digging it
out will damage the protective sealer and/or the tile. You can use a “matching color” sanded grout for all other areas- for fields, moldings and mosaics.
Product
Installation
and Care Guide
Page 2
Initial Cleaning
New stone installations require a thorough cleaning to remove construction dirt and grout film. We recommend using very CLEAN WATER and a CLEAN
SPONGE to clean up these residues as the job progresses. After job completion, repeat this process. If there is any remaining film on tiles, especially the
decoratives, clean them again with clean water. After the tiles are dry, any remaining film can be removed by dry wiping with a clean soft cloth.
Caution: Acidic and abrasive cleaners can damage stone surfaces and sealers. NEVER use products containing acid (lemon, vinegar) or scouring agents
or abrasive sponges to clean your decorative tiles.
Maintenance and Care
Floors and/or Walls: Natural stone floors should be swept regularly with a clean, non-treated dust mop or soft broom. Mats or area rugs inside and
outside exterior entrances can help reduce the tracking-in of abrasive materials such as sand or dirt. Any spills should be wiped up immediately,
especially those containing alcohol or acidic liquids (citrus juices). Acidic liquids can wear away the protective sealer and damage the stone surface.
When a deeper cleaning is needed, use ONLY mild dishwashing soap in warm water. (This applies to floors, walls. etc.) Less soap is better because it will
leave a film and attract more dirt later. Always make sure to rinse the surface your cleaning with water to remove any soap film. NEVER use abrasive
pads to clean the decorative pieces. Again this can wear away the protective sealer.
TIP: When wet mopping, change water frequently and use soap sparingly.
WET AREAS: In showers or other areas exposed to water, frequent cleaning will add to the longevity of your tiles. Letting your tiles get too dirty will
require a deeper cleaning, which is not necessary if you keep maintaining them on a regular basis.
Disclaimer

DAMAGE that is apparent upon delivery must be “Noted”on the Freight Carrier Delivery Receipt IMMEDIATELY upon delivery.

PLEASE REVIEW the shipment for accuracy of materials ordered, including quantity, quality and color. Also, inspect for concealed damages.
ALL claims must be presented IN WRITING to the showroom that the material was purchased and to the freight carrier WITHIN 5 DAYS of the
receipt of the material.

STONE: All stone is a product of nature. No two pieces are exactly alike. You must inspect the material PRIOR TO INSTALLATION and prepare
any blending required.
RESEAL ALL GROUT WITH A WATER BASED SEALER WHEN GROUT IS DRY.
WATER BASED SEALERS WILL NOT HAVE ANY RESIDUAL EFFECT` ON DECORATIVE MATERIAL.