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Industry Standards,

Warranties & Recommendations

Natural stone is a product of nature. No two tiles are exactly alike. Customers must inspect the material prior to installation to check color, veining, thickness,

sizing and ﬁnish required to meet approval. Installation is deemed acceptance of materials. Dry laying prior to installation to determine proper placement is

highly recommended.

Variation in Color and Aesthetic Appearance

Variation in veining, ﬁssures, pits, texture, color and shade are inherent characteristics of all natural stones and will vary from tile to tile as well as from lot to

lot, depending on the type of stone you select. There are various types of stones available on the market with the most popular being granite, marble, onyx,

limestone, travertine and slate. Some species and colors are more consistent than others and will range from V1-V4 shade variation. Hand selecting colors is

impractical and is generally not accepted industry wide. However, where a speciﬁc range or aesthetic value is required, range samples can be requested to

represent the current lot prior to purchasing.

Efﬂorescence

Eﬄorescence can be a common occurrence in natural stones when they are exposed to moisture and it is not considered a defect of the product. The source

of the problem must be identiﬁed before cleaning or replacing the stone as these occurrences can be install related and a replacement installation may be

subject to the same eﬀect. Eﬄorescence is a concentration of soluble salt trapped in the stone that will appear cloudy and white as water passes through the

stone. It is common in hot climates where the water escapes from the stone quickly, leaving a trace of salt closer to the surface. This eﬀect may also expose

itself as foam coming out of the surface of the rock and is a natural occurrence as a result of moisture transmission.

Rust

It is not uncommon to see rust appear in certain stones and is especially visible on slate and light colored granite and marble. Rust appears when the metal

minerals inside the stone react to water or humidity in the air. It is imperative that the stones be properly sealed before and aer installation to prevent this

occurrence from happening. Proper waterprooﬁng membranes are required where product will be exposed to weathering or is in direct contact with water.

Grades of Marble

Marbles and other natural stones are categorized by soundness classiﬁcations and are rated A-D. Some C and D stones are manufactured with resin reinforced

mesh backing,

holes are ﬁlled with cement or epoxy ﬁllers, and rods are used for stability. Veining and

coloring can be inconsistent between modules, and chipped

edges are engineered from epoxy.

Some species of stone have more inconsistencies than others, however, this is not a defect of the stone. The grading system

accommodates a stone’s natural characteristics and is an industry standard as long as they are graded correctly.

All travertine, regardless of manufacturer and many common colors of marble, are always considered a class C due to the natural presence of veins, pits and

ﬁssures. Some quarries will grade their stones into sub-categories within the soundness classiﬁcation and will identify products as “Premium”, “Plus”, “Classic”

or “Select” to distinguish aesthetic consistency between lots. Class C is considered for aesthetics and not quality of a product.

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Industry Standards, Warranties & Recommendations Natural stone is a product of nature. No two tiles are exactly alike. Customers must inspect the material prior to installation to check color, veining, thickness, sizing and finish required to meet approval. Installation is deemed acceptance of materials. Dry laying prior to installation to determine proper placement is highly recommended.
PAGE 2
322 Sealing Granite Travertine Fillers and New Hole Formation As a general rule, it is important to seal any product that has any percentage of water absorption to protect the surface. This applies to all natural stones including granite, however, the only stones that typically go unsealed are black granites. When used as countertops or in wet applications, sealed black granites are known to show water marks and rings when exposed to moisture or acids for extended periods of time.
PAGE 3
Recommended Offset for Brick Joint Patterns ANSI A108.02 Section 4.3.8.2 is the industry standard recommendation for tiles being offset with an edge greater than a nominal 18”. A 50% offset on large format square and rectangular tiles is not recommended. Where a running bond pattern is desired, a 33% maximum offset can be used along with a proper grout joint width to prevent the appearance of lippage.
PAGE 4
324 Warranties Information General Installation Liability Emser Tile™ will not be responsible for any materials damaged due to improper installation, installation defects or errors, misuse including negligence, and physical or chemical abuse to the surface of the tile. It is imperative that industry standards and guidelines for installations are followed. Refer to the TCNA Handbook, ANSI, MIA + BSI, NTCA and any other reputable industry sources for guidelines on proper installation as needed.