Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Pebble Tile
DO YOU HAVE ANYONE IN MY AREA WHERE I CAN SEE THEM?....no, we do not have any retailers or distributors....we are just Wholesalers to the Public. We can send you samples and the charge is deducted from the cost of an order.
WHAT DOES INTERLOCKING MEAN? DO THEY ACTUALLY LOCK?
..."locking" is really a misnomer....we use it only to explain that the squares when laid together create a totally seamless effect. If 2 squares are laid before you, you can't tell if it is all one 2 ft piece or a series of 6", 9", etc.
HOW DO I KNOW HOW MANY SQUARES I WOULD NEED?
...simply measure the perimeters of the total area and multiply the numbers. Examples: 6 1/2 ft x 9 1/2 ft = 61.75 sq/ft (apx 62sq/ft).....74 inches x 37 inches = 2738 sq inches divided by 144 (sq inches in square foot) = 19sq/ft.
HOW MANY SQUARES ARE IN A BOX?
...there are 10 squares per box (10 square feet)
CAN I INSTALL THEM MYSELF?
...Yes easily! The majority of people do:
A. apply the stone cement to the applicable surface (Thinset or Quickset dry the fastest)
B. lay the squares next to each other vertically & horizontally and firmly press into the cement.
C. after the cement has dried, wet the stones or simply apply a coat of sealer with a cloth (although the stones are very hard, any stone has some degree of porosity and will unnecessarily absorb some of the grout). Apply the grout over the top of all the stones and including the alternating open spaces at the edge of the rows.
D. wait apx 30 minutes and then sponge off the grout from on top of all the stones....thus the grout will remain between all the stones and at the end of rows.
E. after the stones have dried, apply the sealer of your choice (retaining "natural appearance" or changing visual of stones using a semi-gloss, high-gloss or stone-enhancer).
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I REACH THE END OF MY AREA AND I HAVE LESS THAN 12" REMAINING?
...simply pull off the necessary stones and cut the mesh backing to create desired width.
CAN I PUT THE SQUARES OVER AN EXISTING COVERING (TILES, CEMENT, WOOD, ETC)?
...yes, just so that there is a level surface.
CAN I USE THEM ON WALLS?
..yes, you start at the bottom and work upward. You apply the cement to the wall and then, after pressing the square into the cement, you put a nail into each of the 4 corners between the stones and into the backing, thus holding the square in place until the cement dries (the nails will be covered when the grout is applied).
CAN I BUY THEM TREATED?
...we don't sell them "treated", only show them to convey the visual-altering options that are possible. There are many semi-gloss, high-gloss & stone-enhancing sealers on the Market that you can use to accomplish this.
WHAT KIND OF GROUT AND WHAT COLOR GROUT SHOULD I USE?
...you want to use a "sand" or "sanded" grout (both the same). The color of grout is simply a personal preference and depends on the surrounding colors of the applicable area. A contrasting color grout to the visual of the stones will tend to make the area look smaller and similar color/shade of grout will create the converse.
CAN I PAINT THE STONES IF I CAN'T GET THE VISUAL I WANT BY THE VARIOUS TREATMENTS?
...yes, some people do with a latex paint.
HOW DO I CUT THE STONES IN ORDER TO CREATE STRAIGHT EDGES?
...it is unnecessary to cut them, as the grout will fill in the spaces at the ends, thus creating the visual of a straight line.
CAN I USE FOR A SHOWER FLOOR?
...Yes, a very common usage....the same as with any tile or conventional shower flooring. In fact, people use them INSIDE their swimming pool, where they are continually submerged in water.
HOW CAN I GO AROUND CORNERS, LIKE AROUND THE BOTTOM OF A TOILET?
...each stone is individually bonded and can easily be removed from the mesh backing, which can be cut with a scissors in order to perfectly conform to the circular application. The same thing applies to cutting a hole in one of the squares in order to expose a shower drain.
HOW DO I MAINTAIN THEM?
...once they are sealed, they can simply be cleaned with any mild household detergent.
ARE THE PEBBLES UNCOMFORTABLE TO WALK ON IN BARE FEET?
...no, their surfaces are flush and, in fact, are safer to walk on than most conventional hard flooring as they offer more traction to prevent slipping. The pebbles are commonly used in showers, bathroom floors and around swimming pools.
CAN THEY BE USED OUTDOORS?
...definitely, for any outdoor projects (walkways, patios, decks, swimming pools, barbecue areas etc). They are very hard natural stones that will withstand any extreme temperatures.
DO YOU SELL BORDERS (3" or 4" x 12")?
...No, we used to but no one bought them when they learned that, for the same cost, they could buy an entire square and pull off the stones and cut the backing to confirm to whatever size they desired.
DO YOU SELL THE VERTICAL OR STANDING SQUARES?
...No, we used to carry them, but we stopped when we received so many complaints that the stones were falling off (the bonding area is so small when the stones are placed on edge vs 4-5x the space when laid flat).
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