Installing Porcelain Panels
Handling
Where possible, mechanical lifting systems should be used for delivering slabs above the ground floor.
Handling the slabs on the floor can be managed with the aid of a frame fitted with suction cups to make the slabs more stable.
The appropriate suction cups may be used for manual handling.
To facilitate handling of slabs with textured surfaces, the appropriate suction cups should be used.
For moving the slabs over large surfaces, a forklift can be used.
Cutting
Cutting operations should be carried out on a perfectly stable, flat surface.
A cutting guide fitted with a diamond tip tool is recommended.
To cut the slab without breaking the material, the appropriate shears should be used.
The slabs can also be cut with a dry saw or wet saw with a diamond wheel cutter.
For L-shaped cuts or cuts inside the slab, we recommend drilling holds for a minimum 1cm in diameter at the points, before cutting in a straight line. This will prevent the formation of right angles that become weak points, liable to cause cracks after laying.
To bore cylindrical holes on the slabs, a diamond cutting tool of the desired diameter should be used, and the surface should be kept wet constantly.
Laying
It is essential to check warpage; the maximum tolerance permitted is 1mm every 2 meters
A double layer of glue is recommended. The first, on the slab to be laid, must be parallel to the short side.
The second layer of glue must be applied to the base. Both should be spread in the same direction.
To avoid the slabs being chipped during laying, an appropriate device should be used for placing the slabs next to one another.
Leveling systems are recommended to ensure the surface laid is perfectly level.
Once the slab is in position, excess air should be removed completely by tapping it either manually or mechanically using the appropriate trowel, starting from the center and moving out towards the sides.
Cut-to-Size Program
Here are Tile Market of Delaware, we have a Cut-to-Size Program, making it easy for you to get panels cut to the size you need without the hassle of cutting yourself.
Precautions for Big Slab Applications
We stress that slabs 6mm in thickness may only be used as flooring in residential and commercial environments that are subject to light traffic, and furthermore, in contexts where there is no circulation of heavy loads or hard-tyre trolleys.
Thanks to the reduced thickness, the 6 mm slabs are a good solution for laying over pre-existing floors or tiling in marble, natural stone or ceramics, and avoid the necessity of demolishing the underlying floor. Such pre-existing flooring must, however, be even, stable, rigid and without breakages. Even if the floor conforms to all the above conditions, it is still necessary, together with the flooring project manager, to evaluate the suitability of the underlying layer. If there are any doubts, the need for demolition and/or the use of traditional thickness must be evaluated.
Successful laying of 6mm slabs on a screed depends greatly on the skill with which it is laid, on its being left to cure completely and on the careful calculation of the appropriated junctures for dilation as well as being laid with due expertise. As a result, in these cases, we recommend the use of a traditional thickness porcelain stoneware.
In general, when laying a floor of 6mm thick slabs, the adhesive (to be selected together with the project manager based on the characteristics of the construction) must be applied using the double bonding technique, aimed at ensuring the perfect distribution of the adhesive to guarantee the best bond, avoiding the presence of any hollows that could cause breakages.