QUESTION

Suitability of Stone for Steamroom - We are interested to use light colored marble or limestone for floor and wall coverings in a TURKISH BATH (steam bath) where we will have high temperature and humidity.

We would appreciate if you could inform us what specifications of the candidate materials we have to consider as most critical for the material to have the best possible behavior in the above conditions.

What must the values of the suggested specifications be according ASTM standards?

May we consider of using marble or limestone with resin treatment? or the specified materials must be resin free?"

ANSWER

ANSWER - Regarding your question on what to specifically take into consider for use of a marble or limestone in a Turkish Steam Room, it is difficult to be specific without extensive testing of the particular stone in question.

I will make some generalities and specific statements:

For Limestone to be considered standard grade it must meet ASTM C568-99 specification for Limestone Dimension Stone.  Marble has one too.

Polished marbles and limestones will end up becoming unpolished over time and use.  The softer the stone, the less lasting the polish.  It is best to go with a honed surface, so the change won't be as noticeable.

Stone comes from different sources and has different minerals within the stone.  Some stones will have voids filled with a resin or cementitious material.  When exposed to constant moisture and varying temperature cycles these areas could possible expand and cause spalling.  Also inorganic metal elements can cause staining and other minerals can combine and cause a crystallization that travels to the surface.  Having the stone treated with resin is supposed to help it be more moisture resistant. Sealers can help minimize these potential problems.  There is no practical way to determine if you will have these problems or not.  I would check with the source of the stone to see if they have any history of problems with the type use you propose.

I do offer the services of evaluating the suitability of specific stones for specific applications for a fee.  I would have to do research and testing of the specific stone to determine how likely there would be a problem, but the results would still be inconclusive.

ANSWER - Regarding your question on what to specifically take into consider for use of a marble or limestone in a Turkish Steam Room, it is difficult to be specific without extensive testing of the particular stone in question.

I will make some generalities and specific statements:

For Limestone to be considered standard grade it must meet ASTM C568-99 specification for Limestone Dimension Stone.  Marble has one too.

Polished marbles and limestones will end up becoming unpolished over time and use.  The softer the stone, the less lasting the polish.  It is best to go with a honed surface, so the change won't be as noticeable.

Stone comes from different sources and has different minerals within the stone.  Some stones will have voids filled with a resin or cementitious material.  When exposed to constant moisture and varying temperature cycles these areas could possible expand and cause spalling.  Also inorganic metal elements can cause staining and other minerals can combine and cause a crystallization that travels to the surface.  Having the stone treated with resin is supposed to help it be more moisture resistant. Sealers can help minimize these potential problems.  There is no practical way to determine if you will have these problems or not.  I would check with the source of the stone to see if they have any history of problems with the type use you propose.

I do offer the services of evaluating the suitability of specific stones for specific applications for a fee.  I would have to do research and testing of the specific stone to determine how likely there would be a problem, but the results would still be inconclusive.