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NZ BAUERComponents

Tile installation

Natural stone on an interior fibre-cement wall

Interior installation of hard, non-moisture-sensitive natural stone over a suitable fibre-cement wall system using Bauflex Fiber.

Intended outcome

Hard, dimensionally stable and non-moisture-sensitive natural stone bonded to a suitable rigid fibre-cement wall using Bauflex Fiber, followed by Perla grout. Stone size and installed weight must remain within the documented limits of the selected fibre-cement wall system.

Substrate
Compressed fibre-cement sheet
Environment
Dry interior

System limits

Bauflex Fiber supports large-format and heavy tile and hard natural stone within its stated conditions. Stone size and load are governed by the complete fibre-cement wall system.

Stone type
Hard, dimensionally stable and non-moisture-sensitive natural stone.
Stone size
Within the documented limits of the selected fibre-cement wall system.
Installed weight
Within the allowable tile or stone load of the complete wall system.
Wall system
Board type, thickness, framing and fixing pattern must be suitable for the proposed stone finish.
Adhesive
Bauflex Fiber used within the substrate, stone and installation conditions stated in its current Technical Data Sheet.

Confirm before starting

  • Wall substratesuitable compressed fibre-cement wall system, firmly fixed to the framing in accordance with the board manufacturer’s requirements, and clean and dry at installation.
  • Stonehard, dimensionally stable and non-moisture-sensitive natural stone.
  • Flatnessmaximum 3 mm deviation under a 2 m straightedge (SR1).
  • Movement jointspreserve structural, perimeter and movement joints.

Installation sequence

  1. Tile adhesive

    Bauflex Fiber

    Mix one 25 kg bag with approximately 7.5 L clean water, or one 5 kg bag with 1.5 L, at under 300 rpm. Rest 2-3 minutes and remix. Key a thin coat into the fibre-cement sheet, then comb straight parallel ribs. Use a 2-6 mm bed; 15 mm is permitted only in limited localised areas. Back-butter the stone, press with a sliding action and lift occasional pieces to verify at least 70% contact with no voids.

    Timing: Pot life is approximately 5 hours and open time up to 30 minutes. Fix before skin forms and wait at least 4-6 hours before wall grouting.

    Important

    • Do not add more than 10% above the stated water quantity or retemper material that has begun to set.
    Bauflex Fiber product details →

  2. Tile grout

    Perla

    Clean the 1-15 mm joints, then mix one 5 kg bag of Perla with approximately 1.5 L clean water. Fill diagonally with a rubber float. After 1-1.5 hours, clean diagonally with a damp sponge; polish remaining haze with a soft cloth after curing.

    Timing: Pot life is approximately 1.5 hours. The grouted wall is ready for use after approximately 3 days.

    Important

    • Wear gloves and eye protection when mixing and applying cementitious products.
    Perla product details →

Optional stone protection

Optional surface treatment

Nanoline 900 W

Optional clear penetrating treatment for compatible natural stone once the installation and grout are fully cured and dry. Test first on an inconspicuous area, then apply two even coats wet-on-wet without allowing the first coat to dry before the second. Remove any excess material.

Timing: Nanoline 900 W curing time is approximately 5-10 hours.

Nanoline 900 W product details →

Source documents

Not covered by this guide

  • Moisture-sensitive stone, limestone, thin marble, travertine, some granite or any natural stone identified as susceptible to water staining.
  • Plywood, timber sheet, gypsum board, wet areas, showers, exterior walls or fibre-cement sheet that is loose, flexible, damaged or incorrectly framed.
  • Grout joints narrower than 1 mm or wider than 15 mm.

Conditions outside this guide?

Talk to technical support when the substrate, finish, environment or complete wall-system limits differ from this exact scenario.

Contact technical support →