Hello All,
Wife saw these stainless steel tiles at costco and thinks that they would be great for the guest bath.
I read the install instructions online but it seems lacking to me and I can’t seem to find the manufacturers website. The install instructions are here.
I am wondering if they are okay for floor install on a concrete slab. I am also wondering if I have to use their mastic goop or if I can just use regular thin-set grout. Wife maybe wants to put electric heat under the tiles and I don’t think I can use that mastic goop with it.
If anyone has any experience with installing these metal tiles I’d sure like to hear about it.
Thanks,
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Replies
Reading the install sheet again it seems to me to be saying that you have to use caulk between the tiles as grout? WTF? I don't get it what could be so different about these tiles?
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Guessing grout won't hold well on SS or Cu...
They're probably prone to movement when their temperature changes. Caulking will give, grout may give out.
I liked this in the destructions:
The metal tile finishes may come loose during installation and when peeling the protective film. Few loose pieces are natural and can be stuck on again using super glue, hot glue or any other adhesives for metal.
Ok, so I'm guessign that these are "regular" ceramic tiles with a thin film of metal over them, either as a plating or as a glaze suspension.
I notice that all the recommended uses are decorative, and not "in traffic," too. From the installation destructions, it looks like a person could use them as floor tiles in a shower, perhaps one not used daily, as long as the grout & tile are sealed.
Still might be better to whip the yellow pages out and take a tour of local tile emporia, rather than just the nifty display at costco--if only to see the multitude of offerings a modern tile supplier has.
Yea I read that but couldn't decide if they were talking about the tiles coming free of the backing or what you describe.
I agree that real tile stores are the best. We bought our black slate at a local tile place and really liked it.
I am mostly just wondering about the install and if I have to use special metal tile mastic. The few responses I've seen so far are reasonable though I am not sure if the tiles would expand/contract that much more jsut because they are metal.Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
So I finally found the manufacturers website.
http://www.mechanicalmetals.com/tile-installation.html
Doesn't say they can be used on floors or if you can use regular thinset. It does have nice pictures on the install page.
I don't understand who could use these tiles. If you use the 1" tiles and have to caulk between each tile holy moly that would take an eternity compared to grouting them.
Anywho I left them an email asking if these tiles can be thin-setted and grouted... Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
My gut feeling about "regular grout" is that it will scratch the face. I seen to remember that a tile guy was using a special grout for a glass tile job we worked on together.
Other than that I don't know
you might want to consider epoxy grout
only place I ever saw metal tiles was on backsplashes behind kitchen stoves....and that's the only place I'd put them, too
only place I ever saw metal tiles was on backsplashes behind kitchen stoves....and that's the only place I'd put them, too
Why is that exactly?
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Cause we (builders) have spent countless generations developing products & techniques to build long lasting, livable habitats ....not just one type or style, but worldwide....and if you tell me you are seriously thinking of putting a "metal" tile on your floor...whose own instructions tell you you might have to superglue the finish back on some % of the stock right out of the box, I'm gonna question why...
Everthing is a compromise between cost, aesthetics, and durability, and you can tilt the scale whatever way you want, but if I'm going to go to the trouble of building something, I'l stick with tradition as opposed to Lowe's latest wonder product
Those are all poinst well taken. But,.. someone has to be first.
I never heard back from their cust service folks about weather or not they are okay for floors anyways and I'm still not sure if they were talking about the tiles popping off the mesh or the metal popping off the tiles....Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
I'm wondering how you would grout a metal tile without scratching the crap out of the finish............
Given your screen name. guess you're an early adopter, as they say in the IT biz.....but I prefer my building technology on the conservative side