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Flagstone Floor for a Kitchen DIY's intrepid stone warriors tackle a kitchen floor using quartzite tile for a natural stone look. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-312

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Prep For Setting Stone

• Before you set the stone, find the center point of the room. Measure the length and width of the room, marking halfway points (figure A). Where they meet is your center point.

• Use a chalk line to mark the length, width and center point (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

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• Even though this product is irregularly shaped, it ships on mats that come in a repetitive pattern (figures C and D). Each mat is 20 inches wide and 28.5 inches long. Dry lay the mats in order to determine where the cuts will be at the edges. Set the first mat in the center of the room.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  	Figure E
  	Figure F
  	Figure G

• Mark a center point on the product to match up with the center point on the floor. Set the rest of the stone out from there (figure E).

• Dean and Derek shift the mats a few inches towards the cabinets to avoid making sliver cuts (figure F). Once you have the stones in place and determined where you will need to make cuts you can begin to set the stone (figure G).

Setting The Stone

• Mix the thinset to a thick, creamy consistency.

• Using a notched trowel, spread the thinset evenly.

• Use a trowel with a notch that is two-thirds the thickness of the stone.

• Set the mat in place and press firmly. You want to use enough thinset so that none of the stones rock. It also helps to have two people setting the mats in place. You don't want to move them once they are set. Set mats from the center out.

• Apply the thinset a little thicker than you would for tile. Real stone has irregularities and some pieces may not be perfectly flat on the bottom.

• It's a good idea to wipe the stones clean as you set them. Keep a bucket of clean water and a sponge to wipe off the thinset.

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