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316L Stainless on Mortar and Grout

I'm a home improvement person in the midst of a Kitchen redesign and will be using stainless as part of the theme. The counter top will be granite tiles with a 316L stainless edge. My question is whether the stainless will corrode or stain when laid in a mortar bed or when contacting grout? Is there a way to protect against this type if situation? Thanks for any information you can provide.

Mark Bulson
consumer - Charleston, South Carolina
2004

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I am contracting a countertop refinish which will be composed of granite tiles and a moulded 316L stainless edge. Is anyone familiar with the corrosive resistance of 316L to mortar and grout? Also, what do you recommend as an adhesive for the stainless (mortar, construction adhesive,other)?

Thank You!

Mark Bulson
general contracting - Charleston, South Carolina
2004

Stainless does well in contact with mortar or cement. There should be no corrosion issues. As for adhesives, I have had reasonable success with 2 part epoxies, but I would advise using some mechanical fasteners if possible.

Ray B Anderson
retired metallurgical engineer - Kent, Ohio
2004

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2004

Dear sir,

316L has good corrosion resistance. But what is the grout material? cement or polyester? if your answer is cement then water in the mortar could cause corrosion, but if it is other organic grout material , then there is nothing to worry.

Cheers,

Dinesh
- Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Stainless does well on dry concrete. I would cover the exposed portion of the SS with a masking like electrical tape or the sticky backed shelf paper until it is dry. 316 is far more corrosion resistant than 304 series. 4XX series will rust in contact with wet cement in most cases.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004