Maniscalco Stone - Tile Installation Instructions

Maniscalco Installation Instructions

Murray River Metal, including Borders. June 17, 2009

Murray River Metals are made of a metal capping glued onto a porcelain tile body.
The copper capping is made from solid copper. All other cappings are made from grade 304 stainless steel. The different colors of stainless are produced by an anodizing process. Colors are V1 in shading. Brushed and stippled metal will be installed randomly on the sheet from the factory, in reference to the direction of the texture. This will give the appearance of different shades, and adds to the character of the product.
The glue used to bond the metal to the porcelain base is German “Henkel” contact adhesive. It is temperature resistant to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, water resistant, and resistant to diluted acids and alkaline.
Murray River Metal copper may be installed on interior wall areas, in wet or dry locations (such as a shower wall or kitchen backsplash). It may be installed on light use residential floors, but not commercial floors. Through oxidization, all copper will patina (darkens or turns dark green).
Copper should not be used in steam showers, submerged areas, or exterior applications.
Stainless steel should not be used in steam showers or submerged areas, but can be used in frost-free exterior applications. Both stainless and copper can scratch and dent.
Make sure all product is inspected by the end user before installing to avoid any issues. No refunds or adjustments of any kind will be made by Maniscalco or your supplier after the product is installed. The installer is responsible for installing the correct material. Use constitutes acceptance.
To cut, use a tile wet saw with a diamond blade designed for cutting porcelain. Target, Pearl, MK, and many other blade manufacturers make blades for porcelain. Always cut with the metal side up. It may be necessary to debur the edge of the metal with a rub stone or fine file. Always wear eye protection.

Suggested Installation Method

Always use a licensed contractor.
Always confirm in person with the end user / specifier that the product being installed is the correct product before installing it, and is suitable for the project.
Always inspect the product for unintended flaws that are not part of the fashion or style of the product. Do not install defective or damaged product. If there is a question about the quality of the product contact your supplier before proceeding.
Make sure the substrate is suitable for metal. Choose and follow the best technique for your project. See TCNA handbook, page 10 and all pages pertaining to substrate preparation.
Make sure crack isolation membranes and water proofing membranes are considered for your type of installation where necessary.
TCNA handbook, page 9, 10
ANSI a118.10, A108.12
The metal may expand and contracts differently than adjacent tile. Make sure expansion joints and movement joints are considered and used when necessary. Keep this product over six inches away from an open flame. Areas of concern would be steam rooms, fireplace surrounds, and backsplashes behind cook tops. Extra soft joints may be required in these high heat areas. Use a soft (caulking) joint between the metal and any other material in a continuous installation. Use a soft joint where two different planes come together. Use a soft joint every six feet in a continuous run, or according to the TCNA handbook. Use a soft joint where the metal abuts to plumbing fixtures, cabinets, counter tops, window or door moldings, and bath tubs in accordance with the TCNA handbook.
TCNA handbook, page 8, 9, 68, 69, and EJ171-05.
Use a flexible modified white thin-set mortar that meets or exceeds ANSI 118.4 (a flexible acrylic mortar system such as those from Mapei, Laticrete, TEC, Customs, C-Cure, Siena, or equivalent). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Organic Mastic and Epoxy are not recommended for Murray River Metal.
Use the correct size notch trowel depending on the size of the product and your desired results. In most cases a 5/32 x 5/32 v-notch trowel will be used. Smooth out the ridges in the thin-set with the flat side of the trowel to create a flat bed with no lines in it to set the glass into. Make sure you achieve full contact between the back of the glass and the thinset; you may use a clean grout float to embed the glass. Do not allow the white thin set to rise up in the joints when using colored grouts.
Allow the thin-set to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Use a modified grout. Grout with flexing capabilities or a flexible additive is preferred.
Non-sanded grout is highly recommended. Be careful not to scratch the metal with the non-sanded grout. The colored metals can be damaged and the color removed by over-rubbing during the grouting process. Perform a test to see if the grout will scratch the metal on a loose piece before proceeding with the installation.
Epoxy grouts and pre-mixed grouts are not recommended with copper or colored stainless steel because they can chemically damage the surface. This reaction can also stain the grout.
Read and follow all manufacturers’ instructions on the grout.
Buff and cure the grout according to the grout manufacturer’s instructions. Sealing the grout is optional, follow all instructions regarding sealing. The metal does not require sealing and is non-absorbent.

Care and Maintance
Regular cleaning with a neutral tile cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge is recommended. Use cleaning products that don’t leave a residue behind. Rinse with a soft wet cloth. Buff dry with a soft cloth. Do not use acids or cleaners containing acids or oils, corrosive chemicals, or abrasive cleaners. Do not use ammonia based cleaners on copper.

Care and Maintance for Borders
Regular cleaning with a neutral tile or stone cleaner is recommended. This will also clean the glass and metal components in some of these products. Use cleaning products that don’t leave a residue behind. Rinse with a soft wet cloth. Buff dry with a soft cloth. Do not use acids or cleaners containing acids or oils, corrosive chemicals, or abrasive cleaners. Do not use ammonia based cleaners on copper.

Copper
Copper will patina (darken) over time. Topical coatings usually don’t stick to metal products. To slow the aging process, if desired, one can apply a light coat of a high quality Carnauba auto paste wax to the surface of the copper, when dry, buff off. Make sure there are no abrasives in the wax. Abrasives are very common in auto waxes. Waxing will reduce the exposure to air and thus slow (not eliminate) the aging process as long as the wax is not removed. Be careful not to get the wax in the grout. It could discolor the grout.
Although very tough, all metals can scratch or dent, use common sense when choosing the installed location.

We hope this will give the installer an avenue to become and stay educated with the most current recommendations. Please refer to the TCNA hand book regularly because it is revised each year and techniques can change. Our goal is to have trouble-free long lasting installations that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Use constitutes acceptance, there will be no credits, refunds, cash settlements, and etc. made after the product is installed regardless of the circumstances. The TCNA website is www.tileusa.com .