Hopscotch Kitchen
Some people call this pattern a "hopscotch". Others call it a "pinwheel". Either way, it's a beautiful floor. We started by sanding the seams of the plywood of the subfloor to eliminate the peaks. We then swept and vacuumed the floor before installing cement backer board. We installed the board in a bed of thinset mortar and taped the seams with fiberglass tape. Once the preparation was complete we laid out the floor, finding center, and snapped our lines. We installed the 18"x18" and 6"x6" with a medium bed mortar so that we could make the installation as level as possible.
Once the cabinets and counter tops were installed, we also installed the kitchen backsplash using a unique sheet-mount mosaic made of octagonal stone tiles. We are proud of the finished results.
Sealer
We are often asked if a sealer is required. While it is not mandatory for a sealer to be applied to either stone or grout, it is recommended. The porous characteristics of stone, and cement grouts makes them susceptible to staining. Although sealers do not make tile or grout stain-proof, (nothing actually does) it does make it resistant to staining.
Sealers come in a variety of different formulas. There are sealers that enhance, sealers that penetrate, and sealers that add slip-resistance.
There are a bunch of sealers out there, all with different claims as to there performance. We have used several different brands, however, one brand we've trusted for years. AquaMix has a full line of sealers to fit every need and budget.
Find the sealer you need by visiting http://www.aquamix.com/ . A full listing of all the fine AquaMix products are listed.