GRINDING GUIDE NATURAL STONE

htc-floorsystems.com 2020 v.1 WHAT IS NATURAL STONE?

Just as the name suggests, natural stone is stone created by In this brochure, we present the most common types of nature. Natural stone is taken from the Earth's crust and natural stone for floors (granite, limestone and marble), as well shaped to the desired size and form through sawing, grinding as HTC’s especially developed grinding methods for the or polishing. Its global occurrence, as well as its beautiful and various types of floors. We have also included cement-based varied appearance, has made it a very popular stone for terrazzo, while not actually natural stone, contains marble and construction and decoration for several thousand years. is smoothed using a grinding method that is much the same as for natural stone. GRINDING PROCESS

Wet or dry? HTC's unique tools and methods enable two different methods for grinding natural stone, both traditional floor wet-grinding as well as dry grinding. The advantages of dry SGW rings have specially shaped When dry-grinding sensitive edges, a grinding are quicker grinding aas well as elimination of segments so as not to damage uneven thin layer of self-levelling compound is splashes and handling of surplus water, while still acheiving a edges when wet-grinding. applied over the tiles. high gloss surface without the need of post treatment. Begin with one layer of self-levelling compound when dry-grinding. Sensitive edges HTC’s method with initial application of a thin layer of self-levelling A constant challenge when grinding natural stone tiles is the compound over the tiles protects the sensitive edges during risk of damaging sensitive edges, especially when surfaces initial surface leveling, at the same time as it enables use of are slightly uneven. The edges must either be protected HTC’s highly efficient metal tools. The combination is unbeatable during grinding, or special tools must be used. – even and attractive end-results in no time!

Limestone, marble and Granite cement- based terrazzo Wet-grinding Dry-grinding Wet-grinding Gold SGW2

Self-levelling Grey SGW3 compound

Gold EZ H2 Gold SGW2 Brown SGW4

Brown EZ H4 Brown SGW4 Black SGW5

Brown DX4 Black SGW5 Black FP5

Black DX5 Black REP5 Blue FP6

Blue DX6 Blue REP6 Red FP7

Red DX7 Red REP7 White FP8

White DX8 White REP8 Gold FP9

Green DX10 Final polishing* Green FP10

Final polishing*

*When wet-grinding these types of floors, final polishing is recommended with *For granite, final polishing is recommended 800, 1500 and 3000 grit, diamond-impregnated pads, with ten passes per with a granite polishing agent and steel step for optimizing gloss values. pads for optimizing gloss values.

The process shown is a recommendation only. HTC is not liable for the end-result. Follow the user/safety instructions. htc-floorsystems.com GRANITE

Application Thanks to its durability, granite is often used as construction stone for paving, walls, monuments and floor tiles in heavily trafficked areas, such as at shopping centers, hotels and office complexes.

Properties • One of the most common types of rock in the continental crust. • Magmatic rock, which is formed at great depths and that crystalizes on its way up to the Earth's surface. • Characteristic coarse appearance with colors in white, pink, black or red due to its content of the minerals quartz (white/grey), fledspar (red) and mica (black). • Very hard (6-8 on the Mohs scale), dense and without cracks, which entails high resistance to both impact and chemicals. • Not sensitive to acid rain and good for outdoor use.

Grinding tip • Due to ganite’s hardness, HTC recommends only wet-grinding granite floors. Despite wet-grinding, there is a risk of tools overheating, which places stringent demands on the selection of tools. This is where HTC's specially developed FP tools come into their own. • Once grinding and polishing have been completed, it is advisable to treat the floor with granite powder and granite spray, which react with one another to create an extra deep and fine luster. These products are applied with a steel wool disk, mounted either on a single scrubbing machine or under a grinder.

LIMESTONE

Application Limestone is a beautiful natural stone. Because it is so easily worked, it is frequently used as ornamental stone and as construction stone in walls and facades. In floor solutions, limestone is used as stone tiles, primarily indoors in public environments and larger buildings.

Properties • Sedimentary rock that consists of various compressed layers rich in lime, often with numerous fossils. • Usually white but can occur in other colors depending on any impurities in the stone. • Porous and relatively soft stone with hardness of 3-4 on the Mohs scale. • Sensitive to acidic substances (low pH value), such as salts, which can cause both scratches and discolorations on the stone. • The porous material also entails a certain sensitivity to freezing temperatures.

Grinding tip • Special attention should be given to the delicate edges between the floor tiles. These must be initially evened out, either by grinding self-levelling compound or wet-grinding with our specially designed SGW rings. TERRAZZO

Application Cement-based terrazzo (sometimes referred to as cement mosaic or art concrete) is an artificial stone consisting of aggregate (usually crushed marble) and cement. Hard rock or crushed glass can also be used as aggregate material.

Terrazzo is often used as granite or mosaic imitation in interior decorating and as floor- ing. Mosaic patterns can be created by placing selected pieces of marble in the composition by hand and with a given pattern.

Terrazzo is often cast in the form of tiles or as prefabricated construction elements, such as stairs and walls. It can also be cast directly in place to create complete floors with various types of dividers in the form of brass, plastic, copper, etc. to avoid the occurrence of cracks.

Properties • Durable, long-lasting and easy to work. • Numerous options for colors and patterns. • Can be cast in place as a complete floor.

Grinding tips • For fully cast terrazzo floors, dry-grinding can be carried out without initial applica- tion of self-levelling compound. However, there may be cracks and cavities in the floor that appear only after initial grinding. In this case, a grout or pore filler can be applied between the metal and plastic steps, consisting of the same material as the binding agent in the floor. • With terrazzo floors in the form of prefabricated tiles, consideration must be taken to any level differences between the tiles, just as with other natural stone. • Do not confuse a cement-based terrazzo floor with an epoxy-based terrazzo floor. An epoxy-based terrazzo floor is most easily ground wet since the plastic in the floor might otherwise overheat, with the subsequent risk of scorching.

MARBLE

Application Marble is a beautiful stone that has been used as construction stone for several thousand years. Its flame-like pattern in various nuances is aesthetically pleasing, making it very popular for exclusive home interiors. Marble is used both for wall and floor coverings, as well for benches and window seats.

Properties • Marble is a variant of limestone. • Formed by subjecting limestone to high pressure and high temperatures for extended periods, during which its crystal structure is altered and the stone becomes denser. • The various colors we can see in marble (marbled stone) come from various impurities. Pure marble has a white tone. • Like limestone, marble is relatively soft and easily worked. • Sensitive to acidic substances (low pH value), such as salts, which can cause both scratches and discolorations on the stone. • Thanks to its denser structure, however, it is not as sensitive to acidic substances as limestone, but cosmetic stains can occur from spills. Grinding tip • Special attention should be given to the delicate edges between the floor tiles. These must be initially evened out, either by grinding self-levelling compound or wet-grinding with our specially designed SGW rings. RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.

H series SGW rings

• A powerful metal tool with a broad application area for • Specially designed metal tools for efficient wet-grinding of dry-grinding both concrete and natural stone. all types of natural stone.

• A good choice, together with surfaces coated with self-lev- • A very good tool for gently grinding down the edges elling compound, for quickly and effectively grinding down between unevenly installed floor tiles. edges and evening out natural stone surfaces. • The tools are available in various sizes to fit most grinder models.

DX series REP series

• A plastic-bonded grinding and polishing tool for wet-grind- • Specially developed plastic tool for dry-grinding natural ing of natural stone, such as marble, limestone and stone, such as marble, limestone and terrazzo. terrazzo.

• Thanks to the advanced diamond and composite • NOTE: When wet-grinding granite, we recommend FP technology of the DX tools, grinding can be carried out tools instead for optimal results. without water.

• REP tools are also very good for removing deep scratches • Their unique composition also enables grinding and using wet-grinding after grinding with metal tools for polishing of hard concrete floors. concrete.

• The tools are available in various sizes to fit most grinder models.

FP series

• A grinding and polishing tool especially designed for wet-grinding granite.

• Its unique composition and ability to withstand heat also enables very effective dry-polishing of concrete. TOOLS FOR GRINDING NATURAL STONE

All EZchange™ metal tools are from March 2020 sold in 3-pack boxes.

H series Item no. SGW series Item no. EZ H2 Gold 598883202 (Double Segment) SGW 2 Gold 593345101 (160 mm EZ H4 Brown 598883402 (Double Segment) 593345102 (220 mm) 593345103 (270 mm) SGW 3 Grey 593345201 (160 mm Diamond Xpress series Item no. 593345202 (220 mm) DX 3 Grey 593341903 (180 mm) 593345203 (270 mm) 593341901 (230 mm) SGW 4 Brown 593345301 (160 mm 593341902 (270 mm) 593345302 (220 mm) DX 4 Brown 593342003 (180 mm) 593345303 (270 mm) 593342001 (230 mm) SGW 5 Black 593345401 (160 mm 593342002 (270 mm) 593345402 (220 mm) DX 5 Black 593342103 (180 mm) 593345403 (270 mm) 593342101 (230 mm) 593342102 (270 mm) REP series Item no. DX 6 Blue 593342203 (180 mm) 593342201 (230 mm) EZ REP 4 Brown 593325301 593342202 (270 mm) EZ REP 5 Black 593325401 DX 7 Red 593342303 (180 mm) EZ REP 6 Blue 593325201 593342301 (230 mm) EZ REP 7 Red 593325501 593342302 (270 mm) EZ REP 8 White 593325801 DX 8 White 593342403 (180 mm) EZ REP 9 Yellow 593325601 593342401 (230 mm) 593342402 (270 mm) EZ REP 10 Green 593325701 DX 9 Yellow 593342503 (180 mm) 593342501 (230 mm) 593342502 (270 mm) DX 10 Green 593341803 (180 mm) 593341801 (230 mm) 593341802 (270 mm)

FP series Item no. EZ FP 5 Black 593325901 EZ FP 6 Blue 593326001 EZ FP 7 Red 593326101 EZ FP 8 White 593326201 EZ FP 9 Yellow 593326301 EZ FP 10 Green 593326401

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