Welcome to ISCA Natural Stone 'Specialist Quality Stone Importers, suppliers and fitters'.

Delivering to most of the UK

Working across Devon and the South West

Natural Stone Installation / Finishes

General Information:

Any one of our team will be able to assist you on the suitability of any given stone to the job on hand and the durability of any given stone from light domestic to heavy industrial. It is important that the stone selected is suitable to the environment in which it is to be used.

Everyone's thinking is that natural stone is hard and permanent, and that it requires very little maintenance. One main point is that natural stone is porous and has to be sealed to a varying degree to inhibit the penetration of water and other liquids.

To protect your investment sealing products are designed to stand up to daily use, from foot traffic to red wine, plus protect the natural beauty of the stone. It is recommended that from time to time sealer be reapplied to protect the natural stone and improve its appearance.

We at ISCA natural stone recommend that if you are not using their installation service, that you fix the stone tile first, then it is cleaned and dryed prior to sealing. The sealer is applied until saturation point is reached, and any residue removed.

Once the above is completed you can move on to grouting, when dry a further application of sealer can be applied to the tile and grout joints, again remove any residues.

Maintenance is essential, but that all comes down to the type of traffic and use the stone in it's given environment. If the stone shows sign of becoming dull or shows signs of wear, we recommend that you use the appropriate cleaning product designed to enhance your stone floor. Most modern sealers are deep penetrating with a long life.

Surface finishes:

Honed

A smooth non reflective surface highlighting the colour and markings of the stone.

Polished

A high gloss finish showing the depth and colour of the stone. This can be found on all granites and marbles and a selection of the hardest limestones and travertines.

Tumbled

The stones go through a process of tumbling by which smooth pebbles are used to soften the appearance of the stone giving then a slightly worn and very natural look.

Antique

The stones are brushed and sometimes acid washed to create an authentic aged look, several processes are required to produce this aged look.

Cleft

Only slates are produced with a cleft finish giving them a lightly textured but very even surface finish

Brushhammered and sandblasted

These processes of texturing give varying degrees of roughness to the stone and can be used to great effect internally and around swimming pool areas (See ISCA pools), commonly used for external flooring.

Installation:

Adhesive

This is a very important item and every effort should be made to select the right adhesive to the job at hand.

Cement based adhesives are recommended for natural stone.

Solid bed method of application is advisable to ensure complete and solid contact of the stone.

Light coloured stones require fixing with a white adhesive to prevent possible discolouration, also it is not advisable to "dot and dab" when fixing the stones as there is the possibility of shadow lines being visible through the stone tile itself.

Flexible adhesives are recommended when the stone has to be installed onto wooden substrates, and especially when used in conjunction with underfloor heating systems and there is the possibility of any slight movement.

Grouts

Cement based grouts are most appropriate for joint filling, and suitable for joints from 2 to 20mm

A flexible grout is recommended when the stone has to be installed onto wooden substrates, and especially when used in conjunction with underfloor heating systems and there is the possibility of any slight movement.

ADVISORY NOTE:

All stones must be sealed and / or impregnated PRIOR to grouting as some honed and tumbled stone will adsorb the colour pigmentation from coloured grouts.