Advice with Porcelain tiling and prep work

[rudimm]

my first post, brilliant website!

im laying porcelain down for the 1st time, in 2 of my bedrooms and my living/kitchen.
i have concrete floors, it will be brand new as i am waiting for the place to be built.

ok so first of all the concrete floors need to be bone dry i understand.

2nd i need adhesive specificaly for porcelain as it dries differently becuase of the porcelain is that right?

 

[Fred]

Make sure you use a good single part flexible adhesive, such as Mapei Keraquick, Bal etc. Follow the instructions whether you have to bond the floor first. I advise flexi grout on porcelain as well.

 

[doug boardley]

welcome to the forums rudimm, other considerations to be aware of, are you installig under floor heating? if so, will it be a heat mat (electric) or a piped system? If you give us more info, we'll be able to better advise

 

[gaz man]

bal single part flexi and bal flexi grout should be fine for your job

 

[kaharrison9]

Hi Rudimm
If your new to tiling may be worth consider the pot life of adhesive.
Keraflex single part flexi has 8 hours and Keraquick rapid set flexi has 30 mins both would be a good choice.
With the Keraflex though it would allow you to take your time and be under no pressure.
Kev

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

i would use a sigle part flexible adhesive with porcilbond.
what do you other guys think y/n

 

[Rav daniels]

yes the floors should be bone dry, as a rule of thumb 1 day per 1mm, if there is no way to wait that long a green screed adehsive should be used, single part adhesive look for the porcel bond mark on the bag, means it is good for porcelain or ask in the shop. hope this helps, googd luck

 

[Bolter]

Also even if the screed looks flat, it probably isnt. Get yourself something long and straight and check the floors over for lumps and dips. Basically for a decent job, you want the floor to be as flat as possible. Flatter the better.

If you find its a bit all over the place, you will need to latex the floor before you tile it. (self levelling compound)

If you need advise on latexing, just post up, and we'll all help you out.

(if the floor is not flat, you will get in a right mess and it will never be all that perfect)

 

[rudimm]

hey thanks for the replies, i think i will go for the bal single part flexi or the kerafix flexi with the 8 hours as i havent laid floor tiles before and their not exactly the smallest and easiest floor tiles to lay ( 600 x 600 ) but i do feel confident though.

i wont be installing underfloor heating.( too expensive ) my 1st house so everything is on a budget but i dont mind paying for decent materials.

could any one recomend the cheapest place to get the adhesive and grout from? tile it all, b and q,screw fix or wickes? i fancy having a try at tile it all and ask them if i can get it for trade price.( haggle them a bit )

also its polished porcelain so i understand i need to seal it with impregnator
but do i seal it before i lay it, and also do i just seal the top and sides and not the bottom of it and seal it again once i have laid it?

i will deff check that the screed is flat.
i need a powered tile cutter aswell, any suggestions?
have seen some in b and q ranging from 30 - 60 and same in scre fix
what about this one from screw fix

Erbauer ERB180C Tile Cutter Chrome Top 230V - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys#

and will need a diamond wheel?

thanks for the help every one

 

[skiptonstone]

Wouldn't say UFH was too expensive, wait till Aaron and Peter from U-Heat see your post, i am sure they will convince you it's not......