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Building a Home Design Dilemma Exterior

Help! Installing Quartzite Tile Exterior Walls?

3 years ago

Hi all - Anyone have advice/tips/tricks/suggestions/don't-do's for installing quartize tile vertically on exterior walls of a stucco home?

I tried researching this myself... but other than finding that quartzite is naturally UV-resistant and may need to be sealed (every couple of years?) to be water-resistant, I have not been able to find much information about it.

Background: My husband and I are owner-builders in the midst of our new construction project near Phoenix, Arizona. It is a Southwest-Contemporary-Modern stucco home. The house is planned to be a medium-to-dark grey color sand-finish stucco and we are planning for a white/light stone in various sections (bottom 2'8" of certain exterior walls and full patio columns) along with a few accent wood pieces (beam in the front of the home and posts in the back) that will be stained a natural dark-walnut color.

We just came across this quartzite tile in the 'exterior' section at a local stone supplier: https://www.flooranddecor.com/slate-stone/white-quartzite-tile-100155589.html . We were thinking that this might be a solid option (both price-wise and style-wise) for the exterior stone in lieu of some of the more traditional stone options.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Featured Answer

PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

3 years ago

Contact John Koessler and do exactly as he says please.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I have no idea but to me if it needs sealing every 2 yrs seems like a hassle to me . I would like to see the actul house this is going to be used on but waterproofing would be a big issue for me and I would probably would not go with this materil
chispa
3 years ago
Floor and Decor meets the need for trendy low cost options and many of their products are produced in China. You get what you pay for and you will probably be back in 2 years telling us how the quartzite you used outside is flaking and/or discoloring.

I made a similar mistake on the stone I used for my back patio. I used the real and expensive version on my front walk and entry and it still looks the same as the day it was installed 7 years ago. The budget version has faded and has some flaking. Live and learn ... don't go cheap where it matters.
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Jenna Dee
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Patricia - From my research, quartzite is already rather water-resistant but (as is all natural stone) is still porous. So the recommended sealant, I think, is just recommended to help deter water seeping in. I think we can spray the sealant from a canister and (for us) would not be too much upkeep.

Live_wire_oak - the house has a drainage plane (typar, foam, the works) and the stucco guys have added the extra wire backing for the areas we intend to put stone (whether it be the quartzite or other typical exterior house stone). Is there something different with quartzite we have to consider?
Jenna Dee
Original Author
3 years ago
Still looking for feedback regarding installation of a quartzite tile on exterior walls.
Jenna Dee
Original Author
3 years ago
Joseph - can you re-send the link? The link you provided says it is broken.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
John is Architectural Advisor II, Technical Services at

MAPEI USA
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
Look him up on Facebook please. He just posted a picture of an exterior tile job he did in Arizona 8 years ago that looks just like the day it went in.
Jenna Dee
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you, Joseph!!

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