Hardcore Renos gets the front steps coverers in beautiful stone right from our own backyard in Ontario. With a few keys steps with some great Mapei products so these front steps will last generations things get moving nicely.
It would be great if you could provide a product list and detailed step by step (even in just text and this video as ref for each step) . I’d be honored and proud of promoting this process and keep an open mind about improvements in an ever evolving process. Thanks!
We used Mapei Keracolor FA it's a rapid setting grout that can be used interior or exterior an amazing product. We are working on new content that will be more informative. Thanks
@@tcl_theconstructionlife What is the milky white liquid that the worker sponged onto the back of the flagstone tiles? If one has a concrete porch with intent to tile the top of porch, steps and sides do you still recommend to use aqua defence just on the top or all sides? If used on all sides the moisture could only escape through the bottom of porch that is in contact with the ground. Is that acceptable? Thanks
@@BlkNotes1 It's a primer to seal the stone to slow down the curing process. You want to make sure the right amount of water evaporates over the correct amount of time. Its critical to install and apply these products during ideal temps.
+Blute72 Mapei has a product, Aqua Defence. That teal paint like product that turned green seals the concrete from underneath. That way there is no chance of moisture entering the stone work from underneath and creating efflorescence. After the stone was installed it was sealed to prevent any moisture from penetrating on the top. So we know Mother Nature won't be absorbed from the face side but we also need to seal in from the backside. No concrete or masonry products were used here, its all tile and stone materials, no techniques to make this stone work last a very long time without any issues. Manny
All Mapei products, we used Aqua Defence to seal and protect the base concrete. We used tile large format tile thinnest to set the stone. And we used KeraKolor FA for the grout. Worked out perfectly.
@@tcl_theconstructionlife I live in New England in USA. I am installing Blue Mist granite stairs and was trying to find a product to set the threads. Large format tile thin-set is not recommended by manufacture for exterior install where severe freezing / thawing is expected. Instead they recommend using the dry-mix with admix (polymer additives). I am not a professional, just sharing what I have read. Nice project you guys have done.
@@xboxsekhar That's interesting because Mapei manufacture here made all the suggestions and this project is over 7 years old and no movement, no cracking, nothing and we get extreme weather too. Ive always said whatever works for you.
Painting the base with a vapor barrier was totally a redundant exercise to make it more expensive than it needs to be; and doing that possibly could cause damage. Time will tell (and probably won't take very long).
That's interesting, it's been 3 years and still looks like new. Meanwhile the neighbour nearby did it the old masonry way and plenty of cracks on that porch. There are new ways to do old things that make things last longer. With 4 seasons and harsh winters you need to factor in all 4 sides of any material being installed on the exterior. I will never consider a simple step as priming a concrete base redundant, or expensive. Mind you, rebuilding the neighbours old school install, that will be redundant and expensive when you have to do it twice. Thanks for sharing.
Hardcore Renos If I had done that neighbor's job it would not crack ever and would look new for over a 100 years or more. As far as your porch goes, the fact that it is elevated up off the ground is why you're not getting any cracks; that's good. But you do not want to sandwich a vapor barrier between stone and concrete base if it lays on the ground.
How am I sandwiching stone and concrete? I am applying a primer VP on top of the concrete foundation, a foundation that is situated into the earth and can draw moisture from the ground. I am preventing moisture from entering from underneath the stone. I am also applying a penetrating sealer on the top part of the stone to prevent moisture from entering the stone that way. So now what I have done is prevent moisture from entering the stone because moisture during all 4 seasons of freeze and thaw is what causes the stone work to fail. There are new ways to build.
Hardcore Renos Vapor coming up out of the ground and through the bottom of the concrete base that should be able to escape harmlessly through the pores of the concrete will be trapped when it hits the vapor barrier at the top of the concrete base which will cause pressure build up within the concrete base and could make it spall. Not to mention the water wicked out of the ground into the pores of the concrete base trapped inside and all the problems of saturated concrete in freeze/thaw. So the concrete base will be put into much more stress than just left alone. You say you seal the top of the finished flagstone as well. What you should do IS NOT seal the base or the flastone with anything. What you should do is 'treat' (not 'seal') the top of the finished surface, whether that's concrete, flagstone, or brick. Treat with something that leaves it 100% BREATHABLE, not a vapor barrier. The Only product that will weatherproof it in that manner (100% breathable) is a silane based product call 'Chem-trete BSM'.
Priming the top of concrete will trap moisture? Incorrect on that one. I believe there are other surfaces from the foundation other than the top where moisture can escape. Yes you can seal flagstone and other stones to add value and make stone last generations. There is science behind this method and I discussed options with well established companies that do a lot of research and testing before products are brought to market including the primer and the sealer I used on this project. You can do it your way and I will continue to do it my way. I'll also continue to work with new products and new ideas and share videos online about my work, my creativity, and team of trades people and salespeople I respect, unlike you, who hasn't shared any videos about your work.
