Tiling onto concrete with black quartz mirror tiles

[happyhellie]

Hi All

Wonder if you can help. I have just installed a new kitchen and decided I wanted to tile the kitchen floor afterwards with Black Quartz Mirror Fleck tiles 300x600.

The base of my kitchen floor is concrete and once I got a spirit level to it have noticed that it dips here and there and is not exactly level. Its nowt major I'd say it dips no lower than 1cm in places. I was just wondering whether I would still be able to tile on this and be able to level with adhesive (unibond rapid set floor adhesive for stone, natural, porcelain etc for concrete floors) or whether I would have to get some levelling compound down first? If I would have to use levelling compound how do you go about doing this and putting it around your kitchen cubboards? The plinths are off at the mo and I was only planning on tiling under the units to the legs due to the cost of the tiles as you won't see the rest!

Any help would be gratefully received!

Helen

 

[Colour Republic]

You can level that sort of amount with adhesive no problem. Although Unibond wouldn't be my first choice of adhesive.

A more important question would be... did you always plan of having a tiled floor when the kitchen was installed? Are your appliances/white goods still going to fit underneath your worktops with this added height?

 

[happyhellie]

Hi Colour Republic

Thankyou for your help

Yes I was always going to tile the kitchen floor. Was orginally going to tile the whole floor till I decided on the quartz tiles. This would work out far too pricey for tiles you would never see so decided to just tile under the diswasher and washing machine (incase i have to pull them out) then the rest of the floor upto the legs then place the plinths over the top. The legs on my appliances can screw in lots more and I have about 2cm to the tops already so they shouldn't be a problem.

What adhesive would you recommend? Also I am wanting a dark grout preferably black, do you know of any good ones that woud be suitable for these tiles?

Thanks

Helen

p.s I heard somewhere concrete floors need sealing with a pva mix?????

 

[faithhealer]

hi HH, don't apply pva. What tile shops are near you? do you know if any sell Mapei? Mapei kerraquick is a good adhesive, (mix small amounts though, and do any cuts before you mix) Mapei ultra colour plus is a very good grout. Expensive tiles though, you might want to consider getting a pro in but get one recommended by Dave, head boy of this forum tilersforums.com | Tile Forums | Tiling Forum - View Profile: Dave

 

[hillhead]

Them black quartz tiles have to to be cleaned on the backs.they tend to be dusty and that aint good for adhesive.if this is your first diy hh you have picked a hard tile to work with.you also need a good wet cutter and with tiles of that price you should look at tradetilers website for lash clips.they could be priceless here.you need them 100% level.good luck.ps. If you get mapei keraquick prime with primer G.

 

[happyhellie]

Hi Faithhealer

Thanks for your help. I have the usual Diy stores, plus topps tiles, rovic, and a few other smaller companies. I have seen Mapei products in B&Q but they are buildfix by mapei...is this the same company??? Unfortunately I can't afford to get a pro in to do the tiles due to the amount that the kitchen has already cost me. I only have 5m2 of tiles to lay and have a mate helping so hopefully with the fab advice from you guys (and girls!) it should turn out ok...if it doesn't, on my head be it! :lol:

To Joe,

Again thanks for your help. I have tiled a bathroom before with success and hopefully as i'm only doing a small area with these tiles it 'should' be ok. I have checked out the clips, sound like a good idea but are they a new concept over here (uk) as I haven't seen them about anywhere else??? Also you mention a primer G, what is this for???

Thanks again

Helen

 

[faithhealer]

Primer G, Helen, is too seal the floor and help your adhesive stick to it. (your friend who suggested PVA probably meant for that to do the same trick but that is 'old school' thinking. ) A bottle will cost you about a tenner.

I think similar 'lash clips' have been around a while but as you say not widely used yet in the uk yet. but if they help you get a flat floor give Dave a ring at TT