Pennsylvania Blue Stone Entry Landing Greenville, South Carolina

I was hired in the Fall of 2010, to install 12x24 Pennsylvania Blue Stone in a running bond pattern (also known as brick joint, stretcher bond, broken joint or stagger joint) on the entry of a 1940's era home. Since the existing 60 year old concrete slab had been painted countless times, a wire lath and mud set method of application was used to eliminate the inherent bonding issues associated with tiling over paint. The labor costs, bonding uncertainty and lead contamination associated with the removal process of the existing painted surface, made the implementation of this method a viable option. Though there are a number of conventional bonding agents, adhesives and painted on "miracle" products available that reportedly will facilitate a bond between the stone mortar and this old painted slab, my preferred method of application in this situation is, (and will always be) wire lath and mud. It's good stuff when it's built right. -->Continued<--