Rain Forest Green in steam shower

Maurizio- Awesome site. I downloaded your Marble and Granite Installations in Residential Dwellings. And read it. I've read a good number of questions and answers here this evening. My question is... Rainforest Grren in a steam shower. From what I read here, it can be done with proper installation, which chiefly (from what I read in your download)means installing with a certain distance between tiles and proper grouting. My installer is telling me I need $4 per sq. ft special epoxy mortar to install this onto durabacker board, so that the tiles will not curl or warp. This is likely to cost me another $1400. I'd spend it if it is necessary, of course, but I'd like a second knowledgable opinion. Can you help? I'm putting the 12" x 12" tiles on the walls and ceiling, with rounded amber pebbles on the floors. I believe you are recommending that this installation NOT be sealed. Am I correct? Thanks so much! Kevin

 

Dear Kevin:

I can claim to be an expert installer, but I don't believe I've heard that Rain Forest Green (RFG) could curl if not set on epoxy. That's typical of certain serpentinites (certain green marbles), but RFG does not belog to that particular group. There's a rapid setting white thin set by Custom Builders (available at the Home Depot) that cure chemically and is just as effective as epoxy to prevent curling and efflorescence. Just to stay on the safe side, I would go for that one. (Insist on the white one, than comes in 10 Lbs boxes, not the gray fast setting by the same company that comes in 25Lbs bags.) Definitely, you want cement board instead of green board, but that should not come at a premium price. Also, if I had to spend some extra-money, I would ask to have color-matching latex-based siliconized caulking material pushed deep in between the tiles instead of grout. It is stain-less, water-proof and mildew resistant. What more could you ask from grout?... J

If can't find some good one locally, you can try this website: http://www.inland-inc.com/

 

“ I believe you are recommending that this installation NOT be sealed. Am I correct? ”

 

Yes, you are correct. Stone installed in a wet environment should never be sealed. And if it is too absorbent, then it does not belong in a shower stall – period.

 

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri zio Bertoli

 

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