Adhesive Attachment of StonePly Stone Panels
GENERAL
Installers should be craftsmen with construction experience. Installers should read the instructions. Follow all OSHA and other safety requirements. StonePly panels are a finished natural stone product. Use care to protect them during installation.
INSTALLING SUPPLIES
- PL Polyurethane Construction Adhesive, PL-200 or Liquid Nails for Subfloors panel adhesive.
- Glazier's horseshoe shaped plastic shims 1/16", 1/8" & ¼" thick by 2 1/2" long.
- Clean water for clean up.
- Masking Tape
- Clean, dry cloth
- Double faced (double stick) foam mounting tape
- Long Screws
INSTALLING TOOLS
- Screw Gun
- Flat putty knife or drywall taping knife
- 48" Level & 24" Level
- Circular Saw with dry cut diamond tipped blade (marble or granite smooth rim blade)
- Small angle grinder with diamond blade
- Thin glazier’s pry bar (to pry panels when shimming)
WALL CONSTRUCTION
Check the installation surface to ensure it is flat and true before beginning work. The wall behind the panels should be designed and installed for a maximum deflection of L/240. Framing must be erected plumb and true with no bowing or bumps. The maximum variation from a true plane should not exceed 1/8 inch in 10 feet.
PANEL STORAGE & STAGING
Panels should be stored in a clean dry area, free from contamination. The StonePly thin stone panels are impact resistant but the natural stone face can be chipped if dropped or hit. Marble, limestone and other softer stones can be scratched or stained. As the panels are unpacked, they should be placed on padding (polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)) for edge protection. For efficiency, presort the panels and load them on a padded drywall dolly or sloping rack in the order of when they will be needed.
TEMPORARY PANEL SUPPORT
Depending on the application, temporary support may be needed while the adhesive dries. StonePly stone panels may be held in place using foam double stick tape (Norton V-2200 or V-2800 Series Thermal-bond or equal). A range of tape thickness, from 1/16" to 1/4" should be used to adjust for minor variations in stone thickness. A 1/16" minimum thickness controls adhesive depth. After panels are unpacked, measure panel thickness and apply 1/16" tape. Apply a greater thickness of tape where panel thickness is less.
Provide gravity support with temporary shims at the bottom of each panel.
As an alternate to double stick tape, screws with a large washer can be used at the panel joints. The large washer pulls the adjacent panel edges into alignment. Do not over tighten. The temporary screws should remain in place until the adhesive is fully cured.
APPLYING THE ADHESIVE
Be sure surfaces are clean and dry. Remove protective film from the stone panel. Apply adhesive per manufacturer’s recommendations, as each panel is set. The adhesive bead should be ½" or larger. As the panel is pressed into place, the adhesive will be squeezed to the tape thickness of 1/16" to 1/4" thickness. Apply walnut sized dabs of adhesive, starting 3" from the edge and approximately 8" on center.
INSTALLING
- Use the shop drawings, tape and laser level to mark the exact positions of panels on the wall. Check to ensure that each panel edge will have support.
Using a laser, find the most outward point of the framing. This will be the installing “plane", as all other panels will need to be shimmed out to that level. Use string lines or a rotating laser set at least two inches from the most outward point of the wall as a reference line to measure back from to establish the setting plane for all of the StonePly stone panel faces. - Start with the bottom row of stone panels and work up.
- Set StonePly stone panel in place, lean it forward, apply the adhesive and set the panel. Use tile shims for spacing between panels.
- When the double back tape grabs, it will be difficult to move the panel.
- Installation can progress vertically or horizontally depending on how the panels are lain out. Use care when aligning the stone panel joints, shimming as necessary.
Disclaimer and Warning:
These are general guidelines, not full instructions. Every job is different and a competent, experienced professional, skilled in construction, carpentry, safety and proper use of tools should direct the work.
