1 Scope

NOTE This standard governs natural dimension-stone tile, cut-to-size stone, and gauged thin stone slab set by the thin-bed, medium-bed, and mortar-bed methods on interior and protected exterior floors, walls, wainscots, stair treads and risers, thresholds, base, and countertops. (1.1)

1.2 The Contractor shall verify that the stone, the setting material, the membrane, the joint filler, and the substrate are mutually compatible and approved by their manufacturers for the specific stone before material is ordered.

1.3 The Contractor shall select the installation method for each location from the TCNA Handbook or the Natural Stone Institute Dimension Stone Design Manual for the stone, substrate, and service environment indicated.

1.4 The Contractor shall not set stone until the substrate has been accepted under the soundness, flatness, and moisture criteria of this standard.

1.5 The Contractor shall coordinate the location of structural, cold, and control joints in the substrate with the structural and concrete work so that each is carried through the stone as a movement joint.

1.6 The Contractor shall coordinate waterproofing of the building envelope with Below Grade WaterproofingBelow-Grade WaterproofingResolves to the current edition.sync/below-grade-waterproofing where stone is applied over a waterproofed assembly.

1.7 The Contractor shall coordinate thresholds, transition profiles, and finish-floor elevations with the adjacent finishes covered by Ceramic TileCeramic TileResolves to the current edition.sync/ceramic-tile, TerrazzoTerrazzoResolves to the current edition.sync/terrazzo, Resilient FlooringResilient FlooringResolves to the current edition.sync/resilient-flooring, and Polished ConcretePolished Concrete FlooringResolves to the current edition.sync/polished-concrete.

NOTE The following are outside the scope of this standard: (1.8)

Manufactured ceramic, porcelain, glass, and quarry tile, including stone-look porcelain (Ceramic TileCeramic TileResolves to the current edition.sync/ceramic-tile)
Poured and precast terrazzo (TerrazzoTerrazzoResolves to the current edition.sync/terrazzo)
Resilient, vinyl, and rubber flooring (Resilient FlooringResilient FlooringResolves to the current edition.sync/resilient-flooring)
Polished concrete floors (Polished ConcretePolished Concrete FlooringResolves to the current edition.sync/polished-concrete)
Anchored and rainscreen stone cladding engineered as a structural envelope component
Cast stone, agglomerate stone, and engineered quartz surfacing
Structural slab design, placement, and curing
Below-grade building-envelope waterproofing (Below Grade WaterproofingBelow-Grade WaterproofingResolves to the current edition.sync/below-grade-waterproofing)

NOTE Every piece of natural stone is a sample of a geologic deposit, so color, vein, shade, density, absorption, and strength vary from piece to piece within a single lot, and the range delivered is a property of the material rather than a defect in it. (1.9)

NOTE A stone installation is a layered assembly whose service life is governed by the substrate, the setting bed, the membrane, and the movement-joint layout at least as much as by the stone, and most field failures originate in substrate movement, an incompatible setting material, omitted movement joints, or unmanaged moisture. (1.10)

2 Referenced Standards

2.1 Materials, testing, and installation shall comply with the latest edition of each of the following standards adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction unless a specific edition is cited.

2.2 Where the contract documents, a referenced standard, the cited TCNA Handbook method, the Dimension Stone Design Manual, or the stone fabricator's or setting-material manufacturer's written instructions differ, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Architect of Record directs otherwise in writing.

Standard	Title
ASTM C97 / C97M	Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
ASTM C99 / C99M	Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone
ASTM C170 / C170M	Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C241 / C241M	Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
ASTM C503 / C503M	Specification for Marble Dimension Stone
ASTM C568 / C568M	Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone
ASTM C615 / C615M	Specification for Granite Dimension Stone
ASTM C616 / C616M	Specification for Quartz-Based Dimension Stone
ASTM C629 / C629M	Specification for Slate Dimension Stone
ASTM C880 / C880M	Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C1353 / C1353M	Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic Using a Rotary Platform Abraser
ASTM C1526	Specification for Serpentine Dimension Stone
ASTM C1527 / C1527M	Specification for Travertine Dimension Stone
ASTM C1528 / C1528M	Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone
ASTM F2170	Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes
ANSI A108.01	General Requirements for Installation of Tile
ANSI A108.02	Materials, Environmental, and Workmanship Requirements for Installation of Tile
ANSI A108.5	Installation with Dry-Set or Latex-Portland Cement Mortar
ANSI A108.6	Installation with Chemical-Resistant, Water-Cleanable Tile-Setting and Grouting Epoxy
ANSI A108.13	Installation of Load-Bearing, Bonded, Waterproof Membranes for Thin-Set Ceramic Tile and Dimension Stone
ANSI A108.17	Installation of Crack-Isolation Membranes for Thin-Set Ceramic Tile and Dimension Stone
ANSI A118.1	Dry-Set Portland Cement Mortar
ANSI A118.3	Chemical-Resistant, Water-Cleanable Tile-Setting and Grouting Epoxy
ANSI A118.4	Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar
ANSI A118.5	Chemical-Resistant Furan Mortars and Grouts
ANSI A118.6	Standard Cement Grouts
ANSI A118.7	High-Performance Cement Grouts
ANSI A118.10	Load-Bearing, Bonded, Waterproof Membranes for Thin-Set Installation
ANSI A118.12	Crack-Isolation Membranes for Thin-Set Installation
ANSI A118.15	Improved Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar
ANSI A326.3	Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard-Surface Flooring Materials
TCNA Handbook	Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation (method designations and movement joint guideline EJ171)
NSI Dimension Stone Design Manual	Natural Stone Institute Dimension Stone Design Manual
IBC	International Building Code

NOTE The fabricator's written instructions for a specific stone carry handling, setting, and sealing properties that the consensus standards do not address, because a stone that is moisture-sensitive, friable, or resin-backed behaves differently from other stone sold under the same type name. (2.3)

3 Submittals

3.1 Action Submittals

3.1.1 The Contractor shall submit the following for review before stone is procured:

Stone material certification for each stone identifying the commercial name, the geologic name, the quarry source, the governing ASTM material specification, and the measured physical properties of the supplied lot
Product data for each setting material, membrane, joint filler, sealant, and sealer, identifying the governing ANSI specification and the manufacturer's written approval of the product for the specific stone, substrate, and service environment
The fabricator's written statement of whether each stone is moisture-sensitive, friable, or supplied with a mesh or resin backing
The TCNA Handbook method designation or the Dimension Stone Design Manual detail proposed for each location, identifying the substrate, membrane, setting bed, and movement-joint treatment
Samples establishing the full range of color, vein, shade, and finish for each stone
Dynamic coefficient of friction data measured per ANSI A326.3 for each floor stone in its specified finish, reported for the use classification of the location
Abrasion resistance data measured per ASTM C1353 or ASTM C241 for each floor stone
Shop drawings showing layout, control lines, vein direction and match, movement and perimeter joint locations, edge and trim profiles, stair, threshold, and countertop details, and crate sequencing
Substrate moisture test results for slabs on and below grade
Sealer and impregnator product data with the fabricator's written confirmation of compatibility with the stone and finish
Installer qualification documentation for the stone type, finish, and setting method required

Action Submittals Requiredcheckbox

☑ Stone material certification with measured properties of the supplied lot

☑ Product data for setting materials, membranes, joint filler, sealant, and sealer

☑ Fabricator statement of moisture sensitivity, friability, and backing

☑ TCNA method designation or Dimension Stone Design Manual detail per location

☑ Samples establishing the full color, vein, shade, and finish range

☐ Dynamic coefficient of friction data for each floor stone

☐ Abrasion resistance data for each floor stone

☑ Shop drawings for layout, vein match, movement joints, and edge profiles

☐ Substrate moisture test results

☐ Sealer and impregnator product data with compatibility confirmation

☑ Installer qualification documentation for the stone and method

3.1.2 Stone shall not be procured until the stone material certification and the setting-material compatibility statement have been reviewed.

3.1.3 Installation shall not begin until the substrate moisture test results required by this standard have been reviewed.

3.2 Closeout Submittals

3.2.1 The Contractor shall submit the following before the stone work is accepted:

Manufacturer warranty documentation for the stone, the setting materials, and the sealer, executed in the Owner's name where an owner-registered warranty is offered
Maintenance instructions identifying, for each stone and finish, the permitted cleaning agents, the prohibited cleaning agents, the sealer, the reapplication interval, and the application method
A record of the block or lot supplied for each area, with the documentation of the accepted range
Attic-stock transmittal documenting the quantity, stone, finish, size, and block or lot of the spare stone delivered

Closeout Submittals Requiredcheckbox

☑ Manufacturer warranty documentation executed in the Owner's name where offered

☑ Maintenance instructions with permitted and prohibited cleaning agents

☐ Record of the block or lot supplied for each area

☑ Attic-stock transmittal with quantity, stone, finish, size, and lot

4 Quality Assurance

4.1 Installer Qualifications

NOTE Matching vein and shade across a wall, setting moisture-sensitive stone in epoxy, controlling lippage on large gauged units, dry-laying and blending from several crates, and field-finishing cut edges to match factory edges are stone-specific skills that manufactured-tile work does not develop. (4.1.1)

4.1.2 The installer qualification shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Installer Qualificationradio

○ Installer credentialed under a recognized stone or large-format installation program

● Installer with documented commercial natural-stone experience

○ Installer with documented commercial tile experience

4.1.3 The Contractor shall submit documentation of the installer's qualification for the stone type, finish, and setting method required before stone work begins.

4.2 Mock-Up

NOTE For natural stone the mock-up establishes the accepted range of color, vein, and shade together with the joint width, grout color, lippage, finish, and sealed appearance, and because variation is intrinsic to the material the accepted range rather than a single sample defines acceptance. (4.2.1)

4.2.2 The requirement for a mock-up shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Mock-Upradio

● Required for each stone type and finish

○ Not required

4.2.3 Where a mock-up is required, the Contractor shall install a representative area of each stone type and finish at a location the Architect directs.

4.2.4 The mock-up shall include at least one movement or perimeter joint, one edge or trim condition, one internal or external corner, one transition to an adjacent finish, and one stair, threshold, or wet-area detail where such conditions occur in the work.

4.2.5 The mock-up shall remain in place and available for comparison until the stone work is accepted.

4.3 Lippage and Joint Tolerance

NOTE Polished and honed stone reflects light across the joint, so an elevation difference that would pass unnoticed on a textured tile reads as a defect, and the allowance tightens as the joint narrows. (4.3.1)

NOTE The lippage allowance of ANSI A108.02 is the difference in elevation between the edges of two adjacent units and varies with the grout joint width: (4.3.2)

Grout joint width	Allowable lippage, plus inherent warpage
1/16 in to less than 1/4 in	1/32 in
1/4 in and wider	1/16 in

4.3.3 Lippage shall not exceed the allowance of ANSI A108.02 for the grout joint width installed, plus the inherent warpage permitted for the stone by its governing material specification.

4.3.4 Warped, twisted, and out-of-tolerance units shall be culled before setting rather than absorbed into the joint.

4.4 Pre-Installation Conference

NOTE Most stone disputes trace to a property of the stone or a condition of the substrate that was known before setting but not acted upon. (4.4.1)

4.4.2 Before stone work begins the Contractor shall hold a pre-installation conference with the Architect, the stone fabricator, the setting-material manufacturer's representative, and the installer.

4.4.3 The conference shall review the stone type and its moisture sensitivity and friability, the substrate condition, the selected method and setting materials, the layout and blending plan, the movement-joint plan, the sealing sequence, and the environmental conditions in the space.

5 Environmental and Service Conditions

5.1 Service Environment Classification

NOTE The service environment governs which stone and finish can be used, the freeze-thaw exposure, the slip-resistance requirement, the membrane, the setting and grouting materials, and the sealing regimen. (5.1.1)

5.1.2 The service environment for each stone location shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Service Environmentselect

Interior, not regularly wetted

Interior, intermittently wet

Interior, continuously wet

Interior, heavy pedestrian or rolling-load traffic

Exterior, protected from freeze-thaw exposure

Exterior, exposed to freeze-thaw cycling

Continuously submerged

Per drawings — finish plans and room schedule (deferred by default)

NOTE Absorbed water expands when it freezes, so a stone with high absorption spalls, delaminates, or deteriorates in freeze-thaw exposure, and continuous immersion additionally drives efflorescence and staining through the joint and through the stone. (5.1.3)

5.1.4 Stone in exterior freeze-thaw service shall have measured absorption and documented freeze-thaw performance qualifying it for that exposure.

5.1.5 Calcareous stone shall not be used in exterior freeze-thaw service unless the specific stone is documented by its fabricator as freeze-thaw durable in that exposure.

5.1.6 Stone in continuously submerged service shall be selected together with the setting and grouting materials as a system its manufacturers approve for continuous immersion.

5.2 Temperature During Setting and Cure

NOTE Cementitious mortars and grouts gain strength by hydration, which slows sharply below roughly 50 °F and can flash-set or shrink-crack in high heat, and epoxy systems have a narrower working window still. (5.2.1)

5.2.2 The ambient and substrate temperature shall be maintained at or above the minimum indicated in the datasheet during setting and throughout the cure period the setting and grouting materials require.

Minimum Ambient and Substrate Temperature During Setting and Curerange

°F

3575

Default: 50 °F

5.2.3 The ambient and substrate temperature shall not exceed 100 °F during setting and cure unless the setting-material manufacturer states a higher limit in writing.

5.2.4 Water, washing, and traffic shall be kept off the installation until the setting and grouting materials have reached the cure their manufacturers require.

5.3 Substrate Moisture Condition

NOTE Residual slab moisture and alkalinity carry mineral salts that deposit as efflorescence on and within absorptive stone, stain light and translucent stone, and supply the water that warps moisture-sensitive stone and breaks its bond. (5.3.1)

5.3.2 Where stone is installed over a concrete slab on or below grade, the Contractor shall measure the substrate moisture condition by the in situ relative-humidity probe method of ASTM F2170 and report the result before setting materials are ordered.

5.3.3 The measured substrate relative humidity shall not exceed the maximum indicated in the datasheet.

Maximum Substrate Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170)range

%

60100

5.3.4 Where the datasheet does not indicate a maximum substrate relative humidity, the limit stated by the setting-material and membrane manufacturers for the products selected shall govern, and the Contractor shall report that limit in the product-data submittal.

5.3.5 The moisture-vapor treatment over slabs on and below grade shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Substrate Moisture-Vapor Treatmentradio

○ Bonded waterproof membrane (ANSI A118.10) over the slab

○ Moisture-vapor-mitigation coating over the slab

○ Unbonded mortar bed over a cleavage membrane

○ No moisture-vapor treatment at this location

5.4 Lighting for Inspection

NOTE Polished and honed stone is sensitive to raking light, which exaggerates lippage and finish variation that diffuse light does not reveal. (5.4.1)

5.4.2 Permanent lighting, or temporary lighting of equivalent type and intensity, shall be operating during installation and inspection of the stone.

5.4.3 The finished work shall be evaluated under the lighting in which it will be viewed in service, except where the contract documents identify a critical-lighting condition to be evaluated under raking light.

6 Stone Material

6.1 Stone Type and Governing Specification

NOTE The stone type determines the governing ASTM material specification, the absorption and staining behavior, the strength, the exposure the stone can take, the finishes available to it, and the maintenance regimen. (6.1.1)

6.1.2 The stone type for each location shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Stone Typeselect

Granite

Marble

Limestone

Travertine

Slate

Quartzite

Sandstone

Serpentine, sold as green marble

Onyx

Soapstone

Basalt

Per drawings — stone and finish schedule (deferred by default)

NOTE The ASTM material specification governing each stone type is as follows: (6.1.3)

Stone type	Governing specification
Granite	ASTM C615
Marble, onyx	ASTM C503
Limestone	ASTM C568
Travertine	ASTM C1527
Slate	ASTM C629
Quartzite, sandstone	ASTM C616
Serpentine	ASTM C1526
Basalt, soapstone	No ASTM material specification; selected per ASTM C1528

6.1.4 Each stone shall comply with the ASTM material specification governing its type and shall be certified by measured physical properties taken from the supplied lot.

6.1.5 Stone for which no ASTM material specification exists shall be selected in accordance with ASTM C1528 and certified by measured physical properties for the service environment indicated.

6.1.6 The stone shall be identified in the submittals by commercial name, geologic name, and quarry source.

6.2 Limestone Density Classification

NOTE Absorption, density, compressive strength, and modulus of rupture all rise with the ASTM C568 density class, so the class rather than the commercial name determines the service a limestone can take. (6.2.1)

6.2.2 Where limestone is specified, the density class shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Limestone Density Class (ASTM C568)radio

○ Type I, low density

○ Type II, medium density

○ Type III, high density

○ Not applicable, the stone is not limestone

6.3 Quartz-Based Stone Classification

NOTE ASTM C616 separates quartz-based stone by free-silica content, and absorption falls and strength rises across the three classes, so material sold as sandstone and material sold as quartzite can differ by an order of magnitude in service. (6.3.1)

6.3.2 Where sandstone or quartzite is specified, the ASTM C616 class shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Quartz-Based Stone Class (ASTM C616)radio

○ Class I, sandstone

○ Class II, quartzitic sandstone

○ Class III, quartzite

○ Not applicable, the stone is not quartz-based

6.4 Travertine Void Treatment

NOTE Travertine forms with open voids along its bedding, and whether those voids are filled, what they are filled with, and when the filling is done change the appearance, the cleanability, and the way the surface wears under traffic. (6.4.1)

6.4.2 Where travertine is specified, the void treatment shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Travertine Void Treatmentradio

○ Factory-filled with cementitious fill

○ Factory-filled with resin

○ Filled at the site after setting

○ Left unfilled with the voids open

○ Not applicable, the stone is not travertine

6.5 Stone Backing and Reinforcement

NOTE Mesh and resin backings are applied at the fabricator to hold friable or fissured stone together in handling and in service, and they also place a polymer layer between the stone and the setting bed that a cement mortar does not reliably bond to. (6.5.1)

6.5.2 The stone backing and reinforcement shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Stone Backing and Reinforcementradio

○ No backing or reinforcement applied to the stone

○ Fiberglass mesh backing

○ Resin reinforcement of the stone body

○ Fiberglass mesh backing with resin reinforcement

6.5.3 Where the stone carries a mesh or resin backing, the bonding mortar shall be a product that both the stone fabricator and the mortar manufacturer approve in writing for bonding to that backing.

6.6 Physical Property Compliance

NOTE Two stones sold under the same commercial name can differ by an order of magnitude in absorption and in strength, so only the values measured against the governing specification establish what a particular stone can be used for. (6.6.1)

6.6.2 Each stone shall meet the minimum absorption, density, compressive strength, and flexural strength or modulus of rupture of its governing ASTM material specification for the class specified.

6.6.3 Absorption and bulk specific gravity shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C97.

6.6.4 Compressive strength shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C170.

6.6.5 Flexural strength shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C880, or modulus of rupture in accordance with ASTM C99, as the governing material specification requires.

6.6.6 The Contractor shall report the measured values for the supplied lot in the stone material certification.

6.7 Abrasion Resistance of Floor Stone

NOTE Abrasion hardness measures how a stone surface wears under foot traffic, and a stone meeting the minimum of its material specification can still dull, polish, or groove in a heavily trafficked entry where a higher value is specified. (6.7.1)

6.7.2 Abrasion resistance of floor stone shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C1353 or ASTM C241.

6.7.3 Abrasion hardness of floor stone shall be not less than the minimum of the governing ASTM material specification, or not less than the value indicated in the datasheet where the datasheet indicates a higher value.

Minimum Abrasion Hardness (Ha) of Floor Stonerange

830

6.8 Slip Resistance of Floor Stone

NOTE A dynamic coefficient of friction describes the finished surface as installed and maintained under the wet level condition of the test method, so it supports comparing finishes rather than predicting whether a slip will occur, and ramps, shower floors, pool decks, and stair treads are wetter or steeper conditions than that test represents. (6.8.1)

6.8.2 The dynamic coefficient of friction of each floor stone in its specified finish shall be measured in accordance with ANSI A326.3 and reported for the use classification of the location.

6.8.3 The measured dynamic coefficient of friction shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.

Minimum Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (ANSI A326.3)range

DCOF

0.30.350.420.50.60.70.8

6.8.4 Where the use classification of ANSI A326.3 applicable to a location requires a higher dynamic coefficient of friction than the datasheet indicates, the classification requirement shall govern.

NOTE ANSI A326.3 sets 0.42 as the minimum dynamic coefficient of friction for a level interior floor expected to be walked on when wet, and its wetter, sloped, and exterior classifications call for higher values. (6.8.5)

7 Stone Form, Dimensions, and Finish

7.1 Stone Form

NOTE Gauged stone of uniform thickness bonds to a flat substrate in a thin bed, while cleft stone varies in thickness across each piece and needs a bed deep enough to absorb that variation. (7.1.1)

7.1.2 The stone form shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Stone Formselect

Gauged (calibrated) stone tile

Cleft stone tile

Cut-to-size dimension stone

Gauged thin stone slab

Split-face or rough-back stone

7.2 Face Dimensions

NOTE Unit size drives the substrate flatness required beneath it, the lippage risk, the offset a running-bond pattern can carry, and the handling method. (7.2.1)

7.2.2 The nominal face dimensions of each stone unit shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Nominal Face Dimensionstext

Enter value...

Per drawings — stone and finish schedule (deferred by default)

7.2.3 Where any unit edge is 15 in or greater, the Contractor shall meet the substrate flatness, back-buttering, and pattern offset requirements of this standard for large units.

7.2.4 Facial dimension, thickness, and warpage tolerances shall be as the stone fabricator states for the stone and size supplied, and the stated tolerances shall be reported in the stone material certification.

7.3 Stone Thickness

NOTE Stone thickness is selected against the span, the support, and the load rather than against the face size, and a floor unit thinner than its strength warrants cracks over any void or unsupported edge. (7.3.1)

7.3.2 The nominal stone thickness shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Nominal Stone Thicknessrange

in

0.253

Per drawings — stone schedule and details (deferred by default)

NOTE Gauged thin stone slab is commonly supplied in 2 cm and 3 cm nominal thickness, and calibrated stone tile in nominal thicknesses from 3/8 in through 3/4 in. (7.3.3)

7.4 Surface Finish

NOTE The finish changes the slip resistance, the cleanability, the visible depth of color, and the rate at which traffic dulls the surface, and a polished surface has a materially lower dynamic coefficient of friction than a flamed or brushed surface of the same stone. (7.4.1)

7.4.2 The surface finish for each stone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Surface Finishselect

Polished

Honed

Flamed (thermal)

Brushed

Bush-hammered

Sandblasted

Sawn (as-sawn)

Cleft (natural split)

Split-face

Tumbled

Leathered

Per drawings — finish schedule (deferred by default)

7.4.3 Where a polished finish is indicated on a floor, the measured dynamic coefficient of friction shall meet the requirement of this standard for that location.

7.4.4 The finish shall not be changed after the mock-up is accepted unless the Architect accepts a revised mock-up.

7.5 Exposed Edge Profile

NOTE An exposed edge at a countertop, stair nosing, threshold, or curb is a fabricated surface that has to match the face finish, and the profile determines how much stone remains at the arris to resist chipping. (7.5.1)

7.5.2 The profile of exposed stone edges shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Exposed Edge Profileselect

Square (sawn) edge

Eased edge

Chamfered edge

Beveled edge

Half bullnose

Full bullnose

Ogee

Mitered edge

Tumbled edge

Per drawings — stone details (deferred by default)

7.5.3 Field-cut exposed edges shall be finished to match the factory finish of the stone face.

8 Pattern and Appearance

8.1 Installation Pattern

NOTE The pattern determines the cutting waste, where cut units fall, and, in an offset pattern, how much of a unit's warpage shows up as lippage at the center of the neighboring piece. (8.1.1)

8.1.2 The installation pattern shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Installation Patternselect

Stack bond (grid)

Running bond (offset)

Diagonal

Herringbone

Basketweave

Modular (Versailles) pattern

Ashlar (modular random) pattern

Per drawings — finish plans (deferred by default)

8.1.3 Where a running-bond pattern is used with units having any edge 15 in or greater, the offset shall not exceed 33 percent of the unit length unless the stone fabricator approves a greater offset in writing.

8.2 Vein and Shade Match

NOTE Book-matched and directional work is unforgiving, because a single piece set out of sequence or rotated breaks the pattern across the whole field. (8.2.1)

8.2.2 The vein and shade match shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Vein and Shade Matchselect

Blended, with the natural range distributed at random

Book-match

Slip-match

End-match

Quarter-match

Vein-directional

No match requirement

Per drawings — stone layout shop drawings (deferred by default)

8.2.3 Where a book-match, slip-match, end-match, quarter-match, or vein-directional layout is indicated, the stone shall be sequenced and oriented to the fabricator's numbered layout shown on the accepted shop drawings.

9 Setting Materials

9.1 Setting Method

NOTE The thin-bed method bonds gauged stone directly to a flat substrate, the medium-bed method carries larger units and modest thickness variation in a deeper bed, a bonded mortar bed absorbs variable thickness and establishes slope to drains, and an unbonded mortar bed over a cleavage membrane separates the stone from a substrate that moves. (9.1.1)

9.1.2 The setting method shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Setting Methodselect

Thin-bed (thin-set) method

Medium-bed mortar method

Bonded mortar bed

Unbonded mortar bed over a cleavage membrane

Wire-reinforced mortar bed

9.1.3 The method shall be a tested method of the TCNA Handbook or a detail of the Dimension Stone Design Manual for the substrate, stone, and service environment at each location, and its designation shall be identified in the submittals.

9.1.4 Installation with dry-set or latex-portland cement mortar shall comply with ANSI A108.5.

9.1.5 Installation with epoxy shall comply with ANSI A108.6.

9.2 Bonding Mortar Type

NOTE Mortar selection for stone departs from tile practice because water and alkalinity from the mortar itself can warp, stain, or shadow the stone, and none of those effects can be corrected after setting. (9.2.1)

9.2.2 The bonding mortar shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Bonding Mortar Typeselect

Dry-set cement mortar (ANSI A118.1)

Modified dry-set cement mortar (ANSI A118.4)

Improved modified dry-set cement mortar (ANSI A118.15)

Epoxy bonding mortar (ANSI A118.3)

Furan mortar (ANSI A118.5)

9.2.3 The bonding mortar shall be approved in writing by its manufacturer for the specific stone, the substrate, and the service environment.

9.2.4 The Contractor shall obtain the fabricator's written statement of whether each stone is moisture-sensitive before the bonding mortar is ordered.

9.2.5 Stone identified by its fabricator as moisture-sensitive shall be set in an epoxy bonding mortar conforming to ANSI A118.3, or in another setting system carrying no free water that the fabricator approves for that stone.

9.2.6 Where a rapid-setting mortar is used, it shall be a product the stone fabricator approves for the specific stone.

NOTE Moisture-sensitive stone, chiefly serpentine sold as green marble together with some marbles, slates, and resin-backed stone, absorbs water from a cement or latex mortar and curls its edges away from the substrate, and once a unit has warped it cannot be flattened. (9.2.7)

NOTE Some rapid-setting formulations generate heat and alkalinity during cure that stain sensitive stone. (9.2.8)

9.3 Setting Mortar Color

NOTE A gray cement mortar reads through a translucent or thin light-colored stone and shadows it unevenly, and the shadowing cannot be corrected after setting. (9.3.1)

9.3.2 The setting mortar color shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Setting Mortar Colorradio

○ White-pigmented setting mortar

○ Gray setting mortar

9.3.3 Translucent, white, and light-colored stone shall be set in a white-pigmented mortar unless the datasheet indicates otherwise.

9.3.4 The Contractor shall verify the translucency of the stone on the mock-up before the setting mortar color is ordered.

9.4 Crack-Isolation Membrane

NOTE A crack-isolation membrane accommodates minor in-plane movement and shrinkage cracking in the substrate, and it does not accommodate the movement at a structural or control joint, which is why those joints are still carried through the finish. (9.4.1)

9.4.2 The crack-isolation treatment shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Crack-Isolation Treatmentradio

○ Full-coverage crack-isolation membrane (ANSI A118.12)

○ Crack-isolation membrane at existing cracks and joints

○ Uncoupling membrane over the installation area

○ No crack-isolation treatment at this location

9.4.3 A crack-isolation membrane shall conform to ANSI A118.12 and shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.17.

9.4.4 Structural, cold, and control joints shall be carried through the stone as movement joints whether or not a crack-isolation membrane is installed.

9.5 Waterproof Membrane

NOTE Stone and cementitious joints are not waterproof, since water passes through the joints and through absorptive stone over time, and a bonded membrane keeps that water out of the structure and limits the moisture that drives efflorescence and staining. (9.5.1)

9.5.2 The extent of the waterproof membrane shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Waterproof Membrane Extentradio

○ Full installation area, floors and walls

○ Wet areas with their adjoining floors and walls

○ Shower receptors and pans

○ No waterproof membrane at this location

9.5.3 The waterproof membrane type shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Waterproof Membrane Typeradio

○ Liquid-applied bonded membrane (ANSI A118.10)

○ Bonded sheet membrane (ANSI A118.10)

○ Bonded membrane certified to both ANSI A118.10 and ANSI A118.12

○ No waterproof membrane at this location

9.5.4 A load-bearing bonded waterproof membrane shall conform to ANSI A118.10 and shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.13.

9.5.5 Shower receptors, steam rooms, and wet-area floors shall be waterproofed as the code adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires, whatever extent the datasheet indicates.

9.5.6 Where one membrane is used for both waterproofing and crack isolation, the Contractor shall verify that it is certified to both ANSI A118.10 and ANSI A118.12.

10 Joint Materials

10.1 Joint Filler Type

NOTE The joint filler carries the stain resistance, chemical resistance, and water absorption of the joint, and a cement grout absorbs water and staining agents that an epoxy or furan grout does not. (10.1.1)

10.1.2 The joint filler shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Joint Fillerselect

Cement grout (ANSI A118.6)

High-performance cement grout (ANSI A118.7)

Epoxy grout (ANSI A118.3)

Furan grout (ANSI A118.5)

Single-component ready-to-use polymer grout

10.1.3 The joint filler shall be approved in writing by its manufacturer for the specific stone and for the service environment.

10.1.4 Joint filler containing pigment or aggressive constituents shall not be used on absorptive or sensitive stone without the fabricator's written confirmation that it will not stain the stone.

10.2 Grout Aggregate

NOTE The sand in a sanded grout scratches a polished or honed surface during tooling and cleaning, while an unsanded grout shrinks more and is limited to narrower joints by its manufacturer. (10.2.1)

10.2.2 The grout aggregate shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Grout Aggregateradio

○ Sanded grout

○ Unsanded grout

10.2.3 Joints in polished stone shall be filled with an unsanded grout unless the grout manufacturer confirms in writing that the product does not scratch the specified finish.

10.2.4 The grout selected shall be within the joint-width range its manufacturer states for the product.

10.3 Grout Joint Width

NOTE Gauged stone with a sawn edge takes a narrow joint, while cleft and tumbled stone with irregular edges needs a wider joint to absorb the dimensional variation, and a joint run narrower than that variation shows as uneven joint lines and lippage. (10.3.1)

10.3.2 The grout joint width shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Grout Joint Widthrange

in

0.031250.75

Per drawings — finish schedule and stone details (deferred by default)

10.3.3 The joint width shall be not less than the minimum the stone's dimensional and thickness variation permits within the lippage allowance of this standard.

10.4 Grout Color

NOTE Grout color against a variable natural stone either reads as a deliberate line or disappears into the field, and the choice is made against the accepted range rather than against a single sample. (10.4.1)

10.4.2 The grout color shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Grout Colortext

Enter value...

Per drawings — finish schedule (deferred by default)

10.4.3 The grout color shall be confirmed on the accepted mock-up before grouting begins.

11 Movement Joints

11.1 Movement Joint Spacing

NOTE Thermal and moisture expansion with nowhere to go builds compressive stress until the stone tents off the substrate in a ridge, and omitted field movement joints are a leading cause of catastrophic floor failure. (11.1.1)

11.1.2 Movement joints shall be provided in accordance with TCNA guideline EJ171 for the exposure at each location.

11.1.3 Interior field movement joint spacing shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Field Movement Joint Spacing — Interiorrange

ft

825

Default: 25 ft

11.1.4 Field movement joint spacing for exterior installations, and for interior installations exposed to direct sunlight or to moisture, shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Field Movement Joint Spacing — Exterior or Exposedrange

ft

616

Default: 12 ft

11.1.5 Where the datasheet indicates a spacing wider than EJ171 establishes for the exposure at a location, the EJ171 spacing shall govern.

11.1.6 Perimeter movement joints shall be provided where stone abuts a restraining surface, including walls, columns, curbs, thresholds, and dissimilar floor finishes.

11.1.7 Movement joints shall be carried through the stone over every structural, cold, and control joint in the substrate, and at every change in substrate plane or material.

11.1.8 Movement joints shall be left free of grout, mortar, and debris for their full depth.

11.1.9 The location of every movement joint shall be shown on the shop drawings and accepted before any stone is set.

NOTE An assembly exposed to sunlight, weather, or moisture moves further over a given run than a conditioned interior assembly, which is why the exposed spacing is closer. (11.1.10)

11.2 Movement Joint Filler

NOTE A movement-joint sealant has to adhere to the two joint faces and not to the joint bottom, because a three-sided bond restrains the sealant and tears it, and many sealants bleed plasticizers that stain absorptive stone. (11.2.1)

11.2.2 The movement joint filler shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Movement Joint Fillerradio

○ Field-applied elastomeric sealant over backer rod or bond breaker

○ Preformed rigid metal movement-joint profile

○ Preformed flexible movement-joint profile

11.2.3 Sealant shall be installed over a backer rod or bond breaker so that it adheres to the two joint faces and not to the joint bottom.

11.2.4 Sealant in contact with absorptive stone shall be documented by its manufacturer as non-staining on the specific stone.

11.2.5 The filler shall accommodate the movement anticipated at the joint without loss of adhesion or cohesion.

12 Substrate Preparation

12.1 Substrate Soundness and Cleanliness

NOTE A setting mortar grips mechanically, so it cannot bond to a sealed, dusty, or contaminated surface, and a defect left in the substrate is transferred into the finished stone. (12.1.1)

12.1.2 The substrate shall be structurally sound, dimensionally stable, clean, and free of dust, paint, oil, grease, curing and sealing compounds, laitance, efflorescence, and other bond-inhibiting material.

12.1.3 Concrete substrates shall be fully cured before stone is set.

12.1.4 Troweled-smooth, sealed, and curing-compound-treated concrete shall be mechanically abraded or shot-blasted to an open, absorptive profile before stone is set.

12.1.5 The Contractor shall inspect the substrate before setting stone and shall report any noncompliant condition to the Architect in writing.

12.1.6 The Contractor shall not set stone over a substrate that does not comply with this standard.

12.2 Substrate Flatness Tolerance

NOTE A large rigid unit rocks on an undulation that a small unit bridges, so the flatness a substrate needs is set by the size of the units going on it. (12.2.1)

12.2.2 The substrate shall meet the flatness tolerance of ANSI A108.02 for the size of the stone units installed on it, as follows:

Largest unit edge	Maximum variation from the required plane
All edges less than 15 in	1/4 in in 10 ft and 1/16 in in 1 ft
Any edge 15 in or greater	1/8 in in 10 ft and 1/16 in in 2 ft

12.2.3 High spots shall be ground down and low areas filled with a patching compound or self-leveling underlayment compatible with the setting system.

12.2.4 Where variable-thickness cleft stone is set in a mortar bed, the finished stone surface shall meet the lippage allowance of this standard even though the bed absorbs the substrate variation.

12.3 Substrate Type and Deflection

NOTE Wood framing expands, contracts, and deflects with moisture and load, and stone bonded directly to it cracks. (12.3.1)

12.3.2 The Contractor shall verify the substrate type and construction at each stone location from the as indicated on the contract documents before selecting the setting system.

12.3.3 The setting system and method shall be a TCNA Handbook or Dimension Stone Design Manual assembly for the substrate type at each location.

12.3.4 Stone over wood-framed construction shall be set over a backer board, a mortar bed, or an uncoupling or crack-isolation membrane that its manufacturer rates for stone over that framing.

12.3.5 The Contractor shall verify that the deflection of the supporting construction under design load is within the limit stated for the stone assembly by the membrane, backer board, or mortar manufacturer.

12.3.6 The Contractor shall report supporting construction that exceeds that deflection limit to the Architect before stone is set.

13 Installation

13.1 Layout and Blending

NOTE Because color, vein, and shade vary from piece to piece, stone drawn straight from sequential crates concentrates dark, light, or heavily veined pieces into blotches that read as a defect across the finished field. (13.1.1)

13.1.2 The Contractor shall establish the layout from the control lines and setting-out points shown on the finish plans and stone layout.

13.1.3 The layout shall balance border and cut units, place full units at the most prominent locations, and locate movement joints where the design and EJ171 require.

13.1.4 Cut units shall not be less than one-half unit in width unless the accepted shop drawings show otherwise.

13.1.5 The Contractor shall dry-lay and blend stone from several crates at once so that the natural range of color, vein, and shade is distributed across the work.

13.1.6 The Contractor shall obtain the Architect's acceptance of the dry-laid blend and vein match before any mortar is spread.

13.2 Mortar Application and Coverage

NOTE A unit bridging a void fractures under load and an unfilled edge admits water, and on a large unit the required coverage cannot be reached by combing the substrate alone, which is why those units are back-buttered. (13.2.1)

13.2.2 Bonding mortar shall be applied with the trowel notch, technique, and open time its manufacturer states for the stone size and substrate.

13.2.3 Mortar ridges shall be combed in one direction and the stone set with a perpendicular movement that collapses the ridges.

13.2.4 Mortar coverage beneath the stone shall be not less than 80 percent in interior locations that are not regularly wetted.

13.2.5 Mortar coverage beneath the stone shall be not less than 95 percent in exterior, wet, and heavy or rolling-load locations.

13.2.6 Moisture-sensitive stone set in an epoxy mortar shall achieve full coverage beneath the unit.

13.2.7 Mortar coverage at the edges and corners of every unit shall be full, with no voids beneath.

13.2.8 Units with any edge 15 in or greater, gauged thin slab, and all floor stone shall be back-buttered in addition to combing the substrate.

13.2.9 The Contractor shall verify the coverage achieved by periodically lifting a set unit before the mortar cures, and shall reset the lifted unit in fresh mortar.

13.3 Beating-In and Lippage Control

NOTE Seating a unit into the mortar collapses the ridges and brings adjacent edges into plane, and a mechanical leveling system holds those edges in plane while the mortar sets. (13.3.1)

13.3.2 Floor stone shall be beaten in with a beating block, or rolled with the mortar manufacturer's tool, immediately after setting.

13.3.3 Units with any edge 15 in or greater and gauged thin slab shall be set with a mechanical lippage-control system unless the accepted mock-up demonstrates that the lippage allowance is met without one.

13.4 Grouting and Pointing

NOTE Grouting before the bonding mortar has cured disturbs the bond, and grout pigment driven into an unsealed absorptive stone stains the face permanently. (13.4.1)

13.4.2 Grouting shall not begin until the bonding mortar has cured for the period its manufacturer requires.

13.4.3 Where the datasheet indicates a sealer applied before grouting, the stone shall be sealed and the sealer cured before grout is placed.

13.4.4 Joints shall be cleaned of mortar and debris to a uniform depth before grouting.

13.4.5 Grout shall be worked into the joints to fill them solid for their full depth.

13.4.6 Excess grout shall be struck off and the surface cleaned before grout residue cures onto the stone.

13.4.7 Joints that function as movement joints shall be left free of grout.

13.5 Curing and Protection

NOTE Many protective films, tapes, and papers transfer color or adhesive to stone or trap moisture against it, and the resulting stain can be permanent in an absorptive stone. (13.5.1)

13.5.2 The completed stone shall be protected from traffic and from other trades until the setting and grouting materials have cured for the period their manufacturers require.

13.5.3 Floors shall be covered with a breathable protective covering that does not trap moisture against the stone.

13.5.4 Protective coverings, tapes, and adhesives placed in contact with stone shall be documented by their manufacturer as non-staining on the specific stone.

13.5.5 Construction traffic, rolling loads, and point loads shall be kept off the stone until the cure is complete.

14 Field Inspection

14.1 Bond and Appearance Inspection

NOTE An unbonded unit rings hollow when it is tapped, which is the only nondestructive way to find a void beneath stone that looks sound from above. (14.1.1)

14.1.2 After the stone has cured, the Contractor shall sound the full area of set stone to detect unbonded units.

14.1.3 Hollow-sounding and unbonded units shall be removed and reset in fresh mortar at no additional cost to the Owner.

14.1.4 The stone shall be inspected under the lighting required by this standard for lippage, joint width and alignment, cracked, chipped, and warped units, shade and vein match, finish uniformity, grout residue, and movement joints left free of grout.

14.1.5 Units that do not comply shall be removed and replaced with stone from the accepted range at no additional cost to the Owner.

14.1.6 Where the Contractor and the Architect disagree whether a unit falls within the accepted range of color, vein, and shade, the accepted mock-up shall be the basis of comparison and the Architect of Record shall make the initial determination.

14.2 Independent Stone Property Verification

NOTE Stone properties vary across a quarry and between blocks, so a certification issued against one block does not establish the properties of the stone actually delivered. (14.2.1)

14.2.2 Independent verification testing of the supplied stone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Independent Stone Property Verificationradio

○ Required for the supplied lot

● Not required for the supplied lot

14.2.3 Where verification testing is required, samples taken from the supplied stone shall be tested by an independent laboratory for the physical properties of the governing ASTM material specification.

14.2.4 Where a tested sample fails to meet the certified values, the cost of the failed test, the retest, and the replacement stone shall be borne by the Contractor.

15 Cleaning and Sealing

15.1 Stone Cleaning

NOTE Acids etch and dissolve calcareous stone, dulling a polished surface and pitting the face, abrasive pads and powders scratch polished and honed finishes, and the cleaners that are safe differ by stone and by finish. (15.1.1)

15.1.2 Stone shall be cleaned of grout residue, construction soil, and marks with cleaners the stone fabricator permits for the specific stone and finish.

15.1.3 Acidic cleaners shall not be used on calcareous stone, including marble, limestone, travertine, onyx, and serpentine.

15.1.4 Abrasive pads and powders shall not be used on polished and honed finishes.

15.1.5 The permitted and prohibited cleaning agents for each stone and finish shall be recorded in the maintenance instructions delivered to the Owner.

15.2 Sealer Application

NOTE An impregnating sealer occupies the pore structure and slows absorption without changing the surface, while a film-forming sealer sits on the face, wears unevenly under traffic, and can lower the dynamic coefficient of friction. (15.2.1)

15.2.2 The sealer for each stone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Sealer Typeselect

Penetrating impregnating sealer

Color-enhancing impregnating sealer

Topical film-forming sealer

No sealer applied to this stone

15.2.3 The requirement for a sealer applied before grouting shall be as indicated in the datasheet.

Pre-Grout Sealerradio

○ Required before grouting

○ Not required before grouting

15.2.4 The sealer shall be documented by its manufacturer as compatible with the stone and with the specified finish.

15.2.5 Sealer shall be applied after the stone and the grout have cured for the period the sealer manufacturer requires.

15.2.6 Where a sealer is applied to floor stone, the dynamic coefficient of friction shall be measured per ANSI A326.3 on the sealed surface and shall meet the requirement of this standard for that location.

15.2.7 The sealer, the reapplication interval, and the application method shall be recorded in the maintenance instructions delivered to the Owner.

16 Delivery, Storage, and Handling

16.1 Stone, setting materials, joint filler, membranes, sealants, and sealers shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging with labels and crate markings intact.

16.2 Crate markings shall identify the stone, the finish, the size, and the block or lot.

16.3 Stone shall be stored under cover, protected from weather, freezing, staining, and breakage, and kept off the ground on non-staining dunnage.

16.4 Cardboard, wood, and adhesives that stain absorptive stone when wet shall be kept out of contact with stone faces.

16.5 Cementitious setting materials and joint filler shall be stored dry and off the floor.

16.6 Material that has hardened or passed its shelf life shall be removed from the site and shall not be used in the work.

16.7 Epoxy and polymer components shall be stored within the temperature range their manufacturer states.

16.8 Slab shall be transported, stored, and handled on edge in A-frames and moved with the clamps and frames the fabricator requires.

16.9 Stone for a single continuous area should be drawn from the same block or lot.

NOTE A slab carried or laid flat without support cracks under its own weight, and color, vein, and shade shift between blocks, so a block change inside one visual field is visible in the finished work. (16.10)

17 Warranty

NOTE A manufacturer system warranty is conditioned on the complete tested system being installed to the manufacturer's instructions and to the cited method, so the submittal and installation record is part of the warranty basis. (17.1)

17.2 The stone supplier and the setting-material manufacturers shall warrant their products against manufacturing and material defects for the period indicated in the datasheet.

Stone and Setting-Material Warranty Periodrange

years

125101525

17.3 Where the datasheet does not indicate a warranty period, the standard warranty offered for the products supplied shall apply and the Contractor shall report its term in the product-data submittal.

17.4 The Contractor shall warrant the installation against defective workmanship for the period indicated in the datasheet.

Installation Workmanship Warranty Periodrange

years

15

Default: 1 years

17.5 The workmanship warranty shall cover substrate preparation, membrane and mortar application, mortar coverage, lippage and joint quality, grouting, movement-joint formation, and sealing.

17.6 The warranty period for a repair made under warranty shall run for a full term from the date of the repair, or for the remainder of the original term, whichever is longer.

17.7 Failure arising from loads exceeding the service the assembly was specified for, from cleaning or sealing contrary to the recorded maintenance instructions, or from movement of the supporting construction beyond the deflection limit verified before setting shall be excluded from the workmanship warranty.

NOTE Variation in color, vein, and shade within the accepted range is an inherent characteristic of natural stone and is not a defect under either warranty. (17.8)

18 Spare Stone

NOTE Stone quarried later differs in color, vein, and shade from the installed lot and cannot be matched to it, so spare stone from the original block is the only material that repairs damage invisibly. (18.1)

18.2 The Contractor shall deliver to the Owner spare stone of each type, finish, and size installed, in the quantity indicated in the datasheet.

Spare Stone Quantityrange

% of installed area

010

18.3 Spare stone shall be delivered in full crates labeled with the stone, the finish, the size, and the block or lot.

18.4 Spare stone shall be stored where the Owner directs, in a dry, protected location and on non-staining dunnage.