First Time Limestone Floor - TilersForums.com

[Makone]

I have a 70m limestone floor to do and having never done one before I have a few questions for you good people.
the tiles are between 700 and 1100mm to be laid randomly, honed, with a rustic affect, light but not white in colour. i have a 900mm sigma but I'm guessing that the tile will be too soft to score and break. is that right? and if so what would you suggest for cutting? all i have is a battery grinder or a 750w wet cutter. guessing the wet cutter is better but will that stain the tiles? any special wheel needed?
also its going on a anhydrite screed - beautifully flat - any advice on what type of primer to use and/or any technique for application would be much appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

[Old Mod]

Nice easy one to start then!
Under floor heating?
Wet cutter or grinder, either or, personal preference really.
Grinder incredibly dusty and messy without adequate dust extraction.
Wet cutter no problem, shouldn't stain, just make sure they've dried out properly before u seal the stone.
Are u using a decoupling membrane? (Ditra/Dural)
You can use an anhydrite specific adhesive and recommended primer, depending adhesive manufacturers recommendation, to stick the decoupler down, then use a regular cement based adhesive to stick the stone to the decoupler.
But only once the floor has been sanded and laitence removed.
This must be done prior to any work carried out.
And of course only when the new screed is sufficiently dry.

 

[Makone]

haha yeah great fun for a first time so the membrane is necessary then? because it aint in the price! I'm going thru a builder who's supplying all the materials so if necessary ill have to pass on the bad news.

 

[Makone]

no underfloor heating btw

 

[Rich Midge]

No ufh then no need for decoupler.

 

[Makone]

No ufh then no need for decoupler.

good news mate ta

 

[Flintstone]

With limestone that size I assume they are very thick, 20mm +

I would recommend using a grinder to cut them, save you manoeuvring them through the wet cutter. I wouldn't worry about a decoupler. I would make sure you have a suitable trowel tho for large tiles and back butter them all

 

[Makone]

With limestone that size I assume they are very thick, 20mm +

I would recommend using a grinder to cut them, save you manoeuvring them through the wet cutter. I wouldn't worry about a decoupler. I would make sure you have a suitable trowel tho for large tiles and back butter them all

any particular type of wheel? i only have a continuous rim wheel and I'm thinking a stone as soft as that will clog it right up? largest trowel I've got is a 12mm square notch or a ten mm solid bed i guessing thats not really enough either?

 

[J Sid]

I personally wouldn't dream of laying stone without a uncoupling membrane , heated screed or not......on a new screed, cure or not....brave
for what it puts on the price of the job

 

[Old Mod]

Personally, i've got to agree with Julian, in all the years I've been fitting stone I've never fitted it directly to the screed with or without underfloor heating. Whilst this video is a little outdated because of Newer products, it shows why natural stone should not be fixed direct to a substrate, it's just too fragile.

View: https://youtu.be/f6FyWs2WZ1k


This is probably a similar stone.