basalt tiles - will this dry ok?

[technodad]

the stone company that sold me the tiles advises you need to seal the back of them, this sounds pretty bonkers to me and i've never heard of anyone else doing this - anyone? my understanding is sealing is to prevent staining from spillages etc, and also from grouting. so why would you seal the back?

also: when laying basalt tiles is it normal for lots of water to seep to the surface and leave deposits which you must clean off? would appreciate advice from those with experience.

it is rapid set adhesive btw. but it's been quite cold and theres no heating in the room, so that would slow the setting process down i imagine.

 

[Stone Store UK]

Hi,
It is interesting to see it like this.
How thick are the tiles. Is this real basalt or lavastone (tuff). Lava stone have lot more micro holes. But fine quality basalt or Diabase (underwater basalt ) should be fine and there water absorbtion is almost none. We have done 3 large contract with Diabas slabs for 5 star hotels. I never seen problem like this.
StoneStoreUK

 

[technodad]

it is basalt, 15mm thick. i do suspect it wasnt sealed enough tho. tile company really keen on sealing back of tiles...

 

[Stone Store UK]

You don't need to seal the back of the tiles ever. You need to do full bedding adhesive and seal the surface. If Stone company advising " seal the back of the tiles ". then these tiles are not fit to sell for a floor tiles. Some andesite stone tiles sold as a basalt tiles which they are very very porous.
Basalt is very dense hard wearing stone, some of them harder than granite. You are unlucky to have these slabs, you need to wait until dry, you may be lucky.

 

[Stewart]

it is basalt, 15mm thick. i do suspect it wasnt sealed enough tho. tile company really keen on sealing back of tiles...

Technodad... your problem is solely down to incorrect fixing methods by the builder..... Has he been informed of this and what was his reply?

 

[Tabby Cranks]

True stone store. Real Basalt is an igneous rock, so should be fairly dense, with a low water absorption pretty much like granite. In fact many dark granites sold are actually basalt.

 

[swanman]

Always back skimm

Then solid bed

Dot and dab no no

 

[technodad]

Technodad... your problem is solely down to incorrect fixing methods by the builder..... Has he been informed of this and what was his reply?

aye he knows, he had to rip em up! we have them drying on radiators to see if the staining will go, hoping we can reuse them. looks like it might almost go but leave faint tide marks, really annoying. almost usable but not quite. might stick em in a garage for future patio or something.

 

[The D]

With natural products that are prone to staining I was always told to dip the tile in the sealer. That way you do the front the back and the edges. You may seal the back of the stone to stop the adhesive staining the stone but if you neglect the edges you may get staining from the grout.

In my humble opinion it is not a job for a halfarsed builder it is not even a job for a run of the mill tiler it is a job for a specialist stone fitter.

 

[technodad]

so how much sealer you reckon i need for 20 sq m?

 

[kilty55]

that will depend on the product you buy technodad,if your going to use a tiler for the next attempt maybe best getting them to advise and do a test

 

[The D]

4 or 5 liters maybe