Bedrock Industries BlazeStone Tile (Technical)

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Technical

Glass Tile Installation Instructions

Bedrock Blazestone Tiles are hand made of 100% recycled glass. Each tile is unique. There are slight differences in shape and variations in the surface. These features are part of the beauty and special character of Blazestone Tile. The glass tile installation instructions below are similar but not the same as for ceramic tile; there are several differences to accommodate the unique qualities of glass tile.

PLEASE NOTE: Following these instructions is mandatory to validate our
product guarantee, please spend a minute to review these.

1. Substrate
Use 1/4-1/2” Wonderboard or other similar cement based backer board adhered to 1/2” plywood for walls and 1/2” Wonderboard adhered to 3/4” plywood for floors or counters. The Wonderboard should be well supported and absolutely rigid. Any joints between boards should be solid blocked.

Weight is a factor in glass tile installations; each Blazestone 4”x4” tile adds 1/2 lb to the wall surface, approx 4-5lbs per sq.ft.. To hold the weight, studs should be no more than 12” to 16” apart.

2. Mixing
Use thin-set with acrylic add-mix (a flexible elastic thin-set). Many thinsets now include polymer modifiers that can be hydrated with water, if not, use appropriate add-mix according to thinset manufacturers' instructions. To validate Blazestone product guarantee, use Custom Brand Versabond, Custom Megaflex or Tec Superflex. Please call us directly for review of any other thinsets.

Do not use “super-bonding” or premixed thin-set.

Use white thin-set for clear and translucent tile.

3. Setting
Suggested tile spacing is 1/16” to 1/8 ” apart.
Use a 3/16” to 1/4” notched trowel to apply thin-set to surface. The thinset should be evenly applied and about 1/4” thick.
Fully back-butter any clear or translucent tile with a thin coating of thinset to hide trowel lines and eliminate any visible air pockets.
Allow thinset to cure for 4-5 days or until completely dry before grouting. This is extremely important when preparing a surface for glass tile.
If the tiles will be exposed to direct sunlight while thin-set is curing, cover them. If you don’t, the glass expands faster than the thin-set and the tile could crack.
Never aim a work-area heater at the tile. If using a heater in the work area, warm the general area, not just the tile surface.

Completly coat back-side of tile with white thinset

A well back-buttered mineral water tile

4. Grouting
Use sanded grout with acrylic additive. Use a grout brand compatible with thinset, Custom Polyblend or similar. Allow the grout to dry for at least 36 hours before applying sealer. Epoxy type sanded grouts have excellent durability properties and can be used as well, follow grout manufacturer's recommended installation procedure.
Use a soft float to apply grout, lightly sponging off excess.
If required, seal the grout according to the sealant manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Cutting
If you need to cut tiles, use a wet saw. Cut slowly for best results. Any tiles that are overheated during cutting can be weakened and should not installed.

6. Care
Properly installed Blazestone should give a lifetime of beauty and performance requiring little or no special maintenance to the tile. Grout and grout sealants should be cared for according to manufacturer's instructions.
Tile can be easily cleaned using any household multi-surface cleaner or glass cleaners. Cleaning products with harsh scrubbing agents should be avoided.

Technical Information:
ASTM Test Results for Bedrock Glass Tile

Performed on a 4"x4" tile
C501-84 Abrasive Resistance Index
Translucent surface tile: 63
Matte surface tile: 82
C648-84 Breaking Strenght
Translucent surface tile: 387
Matte surface tile: 347
C1028-96 Coefficient of Friction
Dry: .82 Wet: 46
C373-86 Water Absorption .03%
C484 Thermal Shock Resistance: Passed