Tiling new extension and kitchen

[Mattyc]

Hi Everyone - I'm new here, please be gentle.

I am just about to start to tile a new extension which is a single 7mx4m room open plan into kitchen and into utility and loo.
Total area of about 60m2
I have all the tiles (300x600 ceramics )
This is by far the largest area I've tiled but am struggling with a tile pattern that fits all areas as I dont want to see long linear grout lines. I think a 90 degree herring bone may look good but I'm not sure if this makes the job more difficult? Any other ideas?
I think however I set out it will isnt gonna fit everywhere as there are too many doorways, walls rooms etc
The floor in the extension is a cement screed with wet ufh in the extension this has a day joint in it which isnt straight( is this likely to cause problems?)
The new floor then joins the old kitchen floor which is a concrete (unheated) old floor slab. Guessing I'll need an expansion strip here?
Ps I am very capable an have built the extension entirely my self, bricklaying roof structure, tiling, plastering so I'm probably not your average diy guy.

Just need a bit of advice please, as the last think I want is tiles cracking / lifting because I've not done something.

Thankyou!!!
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[Time's Ran Out]

Use a decoupling mat, keep it as simple as possible, and good luck!

60sq mts to learn on can only end in tears.

 

[Mattyc]

Use a decoupling mat, keep it as simple as possible, and good luck!

60sq mts to learn on can only end in tears.

Hi John, Thanks!
The main room is 30m2 the remaining 30m2 is utility, loo, kitchen walkway ( round an island) all small areas. Is it better to start on the smaller areas to give more practice by the time I get to the large expanse or would this just be more fiddly so actually more difficult?
Do I need to decouple the whole floor or just over the joins?

Thanks again

 

[Time's Ran Out]

If they are ceramic and not porcelain I’d do the lot!

 

[Mattyc]

If they are ceramic and not porcelain I’d do the lot!

With somthing like ditra or just the thin felt type stuff?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Ditra all the time!

 

[Mattyc]

Well nearly finished
Quite happy for a first attempt flat, level and as good as straight as I can see.

Not sure how long to leave before I can put underfloor heating on though - any ideas anyone?

 

[Andy Allen]

Well nearly finished
Quite happy for a first attempt flat, level and as good as straight as I can see.

Not sure how long to leave before I can put underfloor heating on though - any ideas anyone?

leave it 3 to 4 weeks then turn it on very slowly just a few degrees per day. and turn it off the same just a few degrees per day.
should be good to go after .

 

[Mattyc]

Thanks Andy, Just in time for Christmas!, so I cant let the room stat control it? As it will cycle on and off
Not sure how I can get it on constantly
I can alter the mixer valve to regulate the heat of the water.

 

[Andy Allen]

you need a constant heat to build up very slowly not heat going up and down.
by doing this you prevent thermal shock which will mean if you heat it up to fast and to high it will expand to quickly and possibly de- bond .

 

[Dan]

As above, nurture it to it's max, around 25 degrees, then nurture it back down. It'll be fine after that and all cured and used to the heat.

 

[Mattyc]

Thanks All, Just not sure how to do this with the controls I have, The room stat wont do it as it wont control floor water temp just overall room temp.
Wondering if the manifold mixer will allow?

 

[Dumbo]

Thanks All, Just not sure how to do this with the controls I have, The room stat wont do it as it wont control floor water temp just overall room temp.
Wondering if the manifold mixer will allow?

You should be able to control water temp at the manifold , which will stop the water temp from spiking ,

 

[Dave]

Thanks All, Just not sure how to do this with the controls I have, The room stat wont do it as it wont control floor water temp just overall room temp.
Wondering if the manifold mixer will allow?

You can still do it with the room stat if you can lock the temperature at each increase in temperature, the stats should be working in conjunction with the boiler and you can still commission that way , i do it on all piped heated floors.

 

[Dumbo]

You can still do it with the room stat if you can lock the temperature at each increase in temperature, the stats should be working in conjunction with the boiler and you can still commission that way , i do it on all piped heated floors.

The trouble with doing it with room stats is the floor/water can reach a temperature that is higher than the air temperature in the room before it turns of , so the actual floor temperature can spike , some room stats have floor probes but in my experience with wet ufh it only tends to be bathrooms .

 

[Dan]

If it's an incremental degree each time on the room stat, it shouldnt let much hot water through each time. It'll just keep topping up the system with a burst of hot water which should be pumped evenly quite quick.

.... Is the way I understood it.

 

[J Sid]

Needs to be controlled at the manifold. You must be able to lower/set flow temp there. Lowest setting is 28 deg normally. Set wall at 18 deg and control the flow temp over many days. Check floor and flow temp with a laser temp probe morning and evening.

Working on room stat only could be fatal, and I wouldn't recommend it at all.

 

[Mattyc]

I'll have a look at the manifold tonight and see what I've got.
Do tiles need to be grouted before this is done?

 

[J Sid]

I'll have a look at the manifold tonight and see what I've got.
Do tiles need to be grouted before this is done?

Ideally yes. Floor surface temp needs to be 18 deg or below when grouting. Best to get it grouted and wait 7 days and the turn on ufh and ramp up slowly using flow controlled temp

 

[Mattyc]

Ideally yes. Floor surface temp needs to be 18 deg or below when grouting. Best to get it grouted and wait 7 days and the turn on ufh and ramp up slowly using flow controlled temp

Any idea how much floor I should attempt to grout at a time as an amateur. Tiles are smooth but non slip finish so may not wipe up like a glazed tile. I dont want to do too much then find it's set too hard to clean up easily. But at the same time obviously want to get it done asap and not spend all day washing out buckets and paddles etc
Any recommendations on grout guessing flexible and will need to be grey coloured I think, but are any makes better than others _ anything to steer clear of?

Thanks

 

[J Sid]

Everyone will give you a different answer to which grout to use. I would say you won't go to far wrong with bal grout.
Try doing about 5m2 at a time and see how you go. Don't use to much water when washing off. Bal grout doesn't set to fast.

 

[Andy Allen]

make sure the grout is flexible...