1. Environment requirement
- Install adhesives only in a ventilated environment.
- Maintain environmental conditions and protect work during and after installation.
- Maintain air temperature and structural base temperature at installation area at not less than 25℉ (5℃), or more than 95℉ (35℃) for (48) (24)
hours before, during and for 7 days after installation.
2. Substrate preparation
Substrate must be sound, level, free from structural movement and clean of debris such as oil, paint sealers and curing compounds which may prevent the tile from proper bonding. Cement slabs must be adequately cured before installation.
3. Moisture content of concrete slabs
It is recommended to install tile only over concrete slabs that are free of hydrostatic pressure. Installation difficulties may occur when a slab demonstrates rising moisture conditions. Install tiles over only those slabs which are sufficiently cured and free from hydrostatic pressure/rising moisture conditions. To test for moisture transmission through a slab; a 2｀x 2｀polyethylene sheet may be laid on the substrate and taped around all four sides. It should be allowed to remain undisturbed for 48 hours. If after this time no condensation is visually present, the slab may be considered sufficiently dry to install tile. Moisture may also be tested with a Calcium Chloride Moisture Tester. The standard level of acceptable moisture for epoxy mortars is a reading that does not exceed 5%. This may also be used as a general guideline for other tile installations in order to establish moisture emissions through a slab.
4. Installation methods
- Types
There are four basic types of setting material considered for MIRATON:
- Traditional laying method using mortar(Cement/Mud) : Not permitted for Miraton.
A job site mixture of sand, cement and water. Cement mixes such as this always contain excess water; mechanics may add more for workability. Even after the cement has chemically cured, there will be excess water that must eventually evaporate. This excess water may exit the floor system through the grout lines, sometimes leading to discoloration of the grout. Also, the excess water in these systems can promote warping of the tile. This setting material has the weakest internal tensile/shear strength and slab-to tile adhesive strength.
- Cement based adhesives (Latex modified portland cement thinsets)
Pre-packaged mixtures of sand, cement, powdered polymers, water and water emulsions of polymers(resins), water reducing and flow additives. The polymer resin is introduced to the system as either a powder mixed in with the sand and cement or as part of a water emulsion "milk"/latex. The purposes of the flow additives and the polymer is to improve adhesive strength, consume or displace water in the system so there will be no excess water after the cement cures and to improve handling. the term "latex" is commonly used to refer to either the "milky" liquid polymer emulsion used with some thinset systems and to refer to the powdered polymer included in other thinset systems. Latex is actually the sap derived from a natural rubber plant. Few, if any thinsets today include natural latex in the formulation. Latex has been replaced with synthetic polymers which are both more effective in strengthening the thinset and costing much less. The word "latex" is retained along with the more precise terminologies "polymer emulsion and powdered polymers". Latex/acrylic resin greatly increases the internal tensile/shear strength of the thinset and increases slab to tile adhesive strengths to 200+psi. Latex/Portland Cement Thinsets develop a good adhesive strength to tile/slab in 6-12 hours Water "available" for 6-12 hours. The ideal adhesives thickness must be 5~10mm.
- Rapid set liquid latex / acrylic modified thinsets
Contain chemical curing accelerators. Develops good adhesive strength in 3-6 hours. Water "available" for 3-6 hours only.
- *Recommended adhesive : Mapei, Laticrete, Bostik etc. (please contact manufactueres)
- Epoxy
Contains no water and generates a very high adhesive strength.
- Selecting a setting materials
The selection of setting materials depends upon the following factors:
- The floor / The job
Available elevation and levelness of the slab
- Adjust elevation and levelness with cement/concrete; thoroughly dry the concrete, then thinset
- Adjust elevation and level with self leveling underlayments; then thinset - Preferred method
- Adjust elevation and levelness while thinsetting tile
the time available before traffic
- Standard thinset - 12-24 hours to accept traffic
- Rapid set thinset - 3-6 hours to accept traffic
Substrate conditions, expected traffic, installation temperature
- The tile
- Dimensional Stability, "Inherent warpage factor" of tile/size and thickness. Dimensional Stability refers to the tiles ability to resist curling or warping when exposed to the water in most setting materials. All materials, even glass, will absorb some water on its surface and as the surface absorbs water it expands. This expansion makes the wet side of the tile larger than the dry side and the tile will attempt to curve or warp in order to relieve the stress. Miraton tiles have very low water absorption and excellent dimensional stability., therefore they are very resistant to warping or curling. However, as the size becomes larger, 24"x 24"(600mm x 600mm) or larger, even Miraton will curl a little and the setting materials and methods must be selected accordingly.
- Water Absorption/Desired Bond Strength Low absorption materials such as porcelains and Miraton require the use of Latex-Portland Cement modified thinsets to achieve proper adhesion to the tile.
- All tiles should be "back buttered" to insure maximum coverage.
- Grouting
The installation of the floor tiles without joint is to be avoided The width of joint between the tiles should be at least 1/8"~1/5” (3mm~5mm) and the width of expansion joint (minimum every 4X4M or 6X6M) filled with elastic jointing
should be at least 2/5”(10mm).
- Protection
- Protect finished work against weather, freezing and immersion in water for at least 21 days after completion of the work.
- Protect floors from foot traffic for at least 24 hours and general traffic for at least 72 hours after installation. Prohibit heavy traffic on floors for at least 7 days after installation. Special attention must be given to protecting textured material during installation and afterward. The installer should consider using a grout release on textured Miraton. Also, sealing the textured finish immediately after the grout is dry will greatly help to protect the textured surface. Even after sealing, it is best to protect the textured surface from vehicular traffic, especially fork trucks with appropriate cover during the construction period.
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