Technical Area

Marble mosaic composed of hand cut tesserae in size 15×15 mm with 10 mm thickness, and Matt finish. The mosaic is glued to paper backing, which is supposed to be removed during the installation.

The decorations are composed of tailor-made tesserae which are manually applied in order to follow the decoration pattern.

Marble and natural stones:

Bianco Thassos, Crema Botticino, Grigio Bardiglio, Giallo Verona, Verde Guatemala, Rosso Verona, Nero Assoluto, Marrone Ebano

Screed preparation

• The marble mosaic must be installed on a firm support, so the first step is to prepare a clean, dry, cured substrate which is completely level and crack-free. Any cracks in the substrate must be sealed using appropriate products that can be readily found on the market. If the substrate does not appear to be flat, use a self-levelling product, or a specific mortar.
• Use vapor barriers and specific primers to remedy any excess residual humidity.
• Rising damp may cause spots on the marble surface.
• Humidity levels below 2% are acceptable for cement screeds, but anhydrite screeds must have less than 0,5% humidity.

Installation

• Use an adhesive suitable for the installation of stone materials. The adhesives Bisazza AdHoc+Ultra and eGlue are suitable.
• Apply the adhesive evenly, using a 5 mm notched trowel.
• The sheets are supposed to be installed by applying the back side of the tiles directly on the glue, whereas the paper backing is still pasted to the front side of the tiles.
• Make sure that the distance between the sheets is the same as the distance between the tiles so that when the installation is over the final result will look balanced as a whole. During the installation procedure, tap on the tiles with Bisazza rubber float in order to ensure a perfect adhesion. To remove the paper backing from the tiles use a sponge dipped in water and then wrung, and repeat this operation several times until the paper is easily coming off. Caution is needed at this stage since the adhesive has not completely dried yet. In case of installation on the floor, it may be useful to lay some humid cotton cloths on the floor surface in order to speed up the procedure.
• Any excess adhesive on the elements’ surface or in the joints between them should be removed immediately using a damp sponge.
• During laying, before the adhesive hardens, there is still time to adjust the gaps between one tile and the next so as to provide uniform gaps. This is one of the most delicate stages of the application process, which nevertheless will provide results well worth the effort.

• Wait until the adhesive used for installation is completely dry before grouting: for drying times, refer to the technical data sheet of the product used.
• Use cement- based grouts* which are suitable for stony materials.
• Before grouting make sure any excess of paper glue has been removed.
• Grout the whole area working diagonally (in case the area is very large, make sure there is enough time to clean it) until the joints are full. Immediately remove any excess of grout so that just a thin coat of it is left on the tiles.
• The cleaning operations should start as soon as the grout is starting to thicken inside the joints. In order to avoid denting the joints, use a large and thick sponge dipped in clean water and then wrung for the final cleaning. Try to keep the water clean by using some specific buckets equipped with racks and rolls to clean the sponge. Make round movements in order to dissolve the thin coat of grout that has dried on the tiles. Clean the mosaic working diagonally, and use an even quantity of water on the whole surface in order to avoid obtaining different aesthetic affects.
• Do not use any acid-based products to remove spots of grout.
• Epoxy grouts* can also be used on humid areas, but they should be tested first, above all if they are used on clear coloured marbles. After installation and grouting, as long as the worksite is still active, we recommend protecting the surface by covering it with paper cloths or TNT, avoiding nylon sheets that prevent natural transpiration of the stone and can create condensation, and boxes that can transfer tannin or print onto the stone.

Treatments

• Before applying any treatment, clean the surface as described under “Routine cleaning”.

1) Water-based sealant.

• At least 3 hours after cleaning with CLEANER PRO FILA*, check that the marble surface is clean and dry, i.e., free of any dark halos due to residual humidity. If so, proceed with application of the water-based sealant MP90 ECO XTREME FILA*.
• Apply the product using a clean, dry lambswool applicator, paintbrush or similar applicator, rubbing the product repeatedly over the surface to ensure the product penetrates into the marble and joints. For application on vertical surfaces, begin spreading the product from the highest point of the wall to prevent the product from dripping onto a surface that has already been treated. Remove any excess drips or runoff before it dries.
• After application of the MP90 ECO XTREME FILA* product, wait at least 3 hours before touching and/or walking on the surface and, only if strictly necessary, do so wearing gloves and/or completely clean white cotton socks.
• Wait at least 24 hours before using the surfaces or applying subsequent treatments. While the worksite is active, be very careful not to spill any aggressive substances onto the surface, especially acidic substances which are highly corrosive for stone materials. For this reason, we recommend protecting the surface by covering it with paper cloths or TNT, avoiding nylon sheets that prevent natural transpiration of the stone and can create condensation, and boxes that can transfer tannin or print onto the stone.

2) Solvent-based sealant for bathrooms, showers and spa.

• At least 3 hours after cleaning with CLEANER PRO FILA*, check that the marble surface is clean and dry, i.e., free of any dark halos due to residual humidity. If so, proceed with application of two coats, applied 12 hours apart, of the solvent-based sealant MP90 FILA*.
• Apply the product using a clean, dry lambswool applicator, paintbrush or similar applicator, rubbing the product repeatedly over the surface to ensure the product penetrates into the marble and joints. For application on vertical surfaces, begin spreading the product from the highest point of the wall to prevent the product from dripping onto a surface that has already been treated. Remove any excess drips or runoff before it dries.
• After application of the MP90 FILA* product, wait at least 3 hours before touching and/or walking on the surface and, only if strictly necessary, do so wearing gloves and/or completely clean white cotton socks.
• Wait at least 24 hours before using the surfaces or applying subsequent treatments. While the worksite is active, be very careful not to spill any aggressive substances onto the surface, especially acidic substances which are highly corrosive for stone materials. For this reason, we recommend protecting the surface by covering it with paper cloths or TNT, avoiding nylon sheets that prevent natural transpiration of the stone and can create condensation, and boxes that can transfer tannin or print onto the stone.

Routine cleaning

• Clean regularly using low-residue neutral detergents, such as CLEANER PRO FILA* diluted 1:200 in water (half a small coffee cup of detergent in 5 liters of water). Use warm water and wring the mop out well, rinsing the mop often in the detergent solution.
• This operation can also be carried out using floor cleaning machines and appropriate microfiber discs, avoiding nylon brushes.

Special maintenance

• If special maintenance is required, contact appropriately specialized personnel.

• Clean any spills immediately with water or neutral detergents (e.g. CLEANER PRO FILA*); for stubborn stains, use specific products such as NOSPOT FILA* (for grease and oil) or SR 95 FILA * (for colored substances such as coffee, wine, etc.).
• Do NOT use acidic or strongly alkaline detergents (ammonia, bleach, soda, etc.) regardless of their concentration and even if diluted, as they tend to be aggressive on stone materials.