Case Study #3
"Stone Failures" a Misnomer
Natural
stone is durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing the ideal
surface covering. Quarrying
technology has made exponential improvement over the past few decades, thus
providing a more abundant supply and wider variations of colors and
textures.
Failure
of natural stone is usually an inaccurate description of the true problem.
What may appear to be stone that has broken or otherwise “failed” is
actually improperly installed stone. Settling,
freeze/thaw expansion/contraction, and moisture retention are the common causes
for substrate failure, which in turn, transfers to the stone surface.
Today’s
lightweight construction methods can make the installation of hard surface
coverings particularly challenging. In order to protect the integrity of the
installation, an underlayment that performs multiple functions is required.
One
such product is Schluter®-DITRA,
specifically designed to allow the installation of ceramic and stone tile over
any even and load-bearing substrate. The integration of DITRA’s uncoupling,
waterproofing, load-distribution, and vapor management functions makes
consistent results viable.
Schluter®-DITRA
is a corrugated polyethylene membrane with a support webbing laminated to its
underside. Properly installed, this
product will prevent substrate stresses from being transferred to the stone
surface, the major cause of cracking of the stone overlay.
For detailed information on this product, visit www.schluter.com. The website has very detailed information on various products available from this company, as well as technical and installation information. Local (Kansas City area) suppliers include Case Supply in Kansas City, KS.