Natural stone tiling on suspended floor possible?

[Angel2011]

Hello,

We want to put limestone tiles onto our suspended floor and are keen for any advice regarding the feasability and wisdom of this.
The areas to be covered are our kitchen and dining room each being roughly 17 square metres.
Floor details:
Joists: 5x2 inches
Joists are 600mm apart
Joists rest on concrete block piers and bridge a 1700mm gap
Joists are currently covered with 25mm chipboard
There are no noggins.

Tiles details:
Limestone tiles of 845x560x22mm

We intend to put 18mm plywood over the top of the chipboard.

Questions:
Is this floor suitable for tiling to start with?
If it is, are these tiles likely to be too heavy, should we try to get thinner tiles?
What size and thickness plywood would be recommended and how should it be fixed to the shipboard/joists?
Does the plywood need to be primed, if so with what?
Do we need something like a detra matt?
Should the limestone be sealed before or after grouting or both?
What groutline thickness would be recommended?
Any other considerations?


Thank you!

Jacqueline

 

[DHTiling]

HI.....

IMO. those joists are not suitable to carry the weight of a stone floor....

is there any way you can strengthen it up..?

 

[Angel2011]

Hi Dave,
I wouldn't know how to strengthen the floor without taking up all the floorboards which we would prefer not to......?

 

[DHTiling]

5 inch joists are deffo not suitable... and at 600 centers then that is even worse...

Should be min 8 inch joist and at 400mm centers..