To mat or not to mat

[Bopster]

Morning everyone, I looked at a job last night that customer wants 45sqm limestone tiles fitted where a conservatory has been converted into a dining room off the kitchen.
A new solid roof has gone on and windows replaced, the sand/cement screed in conservatory needs slc to bring up to kitchen screed level, 10mm max
The opening into the now diner is now 3m wide, I’ll grind the old adhesive off kitchen floor then slc as required with diner slc

Would you use matting and/or exp joint at the point crossing between areas?

 

[J Sid]

definitely yes and yes

 

[Qwerty]

Ditto. Way too much chance of movement IMO

 

[GoneGuy]

Yes to both

 

[Flintstone]

Id use TM anti fracture mat on the whole floor and use an expansion joint or soft joint where the two meet

 

[widler]

Same as above, tm is the dogs crotons

 

[Bopster]

Well that was unanimous. Thought it would be but better to check eh.

 

[Bopster]

Out of interest how long would it take a pro tiler to lay 45sqm limestone including matting as my diary is so rammed I may need to outsource this one.
Assuming they go ahead with me which I’m in with a good shout as they’ve already seen previous similar projects and happy with.

 

[J Sid]

to
mat, tile, clean, seal, grout, seal
I would allow 4 to 5 days depending on shape of area, but in reality with allowing for drying you I would want at least 6 days with nobody working on it

 

[Bopster]

Cheers Julian
It would be a completely clear space as tiling wall to wall before the kitchen goes in.
6 days would be good, was thinking it’ll take me a bit more than that.

 

[Dumbo]

Out of interest how long would it take a pro tiler to lay 45sqm limestone including matting as my diary is so rammed I may need to outsource this one.
Assuming they go ahead with me which I’m in with a good shout as they’ve already seen previous similar projects and happy with.

So they have see previous projects you have done and are happy with what they have seen . Then someone else turns up to do the job , do you think they will still be happy.

 

[Bopster]

Maybe a daft question but Does a movement joint have to be straight or can it follow the line of the old wall? on this job where the kitchen crosses into the old conservatory used to be a bay so 3 shortish sections.

 

[widler]

Maybe a daft question but Does a movement joint have to be straight or can it follow the line of the old wall? on this job where the kitchen crosses into the old conservatory used to be a bay so 3 shortish sections.

Not many movement joints follow right through the screec.
Most old floors joining a new floor are never parallel to each other ?
So no, most joints don’t follow the joint below imo

 

[Bopster]

Ok, I’ve won the job but customer has changed tile to Wickes Como Limestone Porcelain
Anyone fitted them as read lots of issues recently cutting wickes porc?

 

[J Sid]

don't you just customers like that, "I want some lovely limestone" but change to cheap wickes porcelain when you give them the price 😕

 

[Bopster]

Can’t please everyone I reckon, at least I’ve got the 3 weeks needed for whole job booked though.
Being wickes porc I suspect I’ll be trying various cutting methods but hopefully my 900 sigma will do itself proud
Just need to steal the supply of the kitchen off Magnet now for my satisfaction lol

 

[widler]

3 weeks , christ you must have a great price for that 😉

 

[Bopster]

3 weeks indeed, reasonable size kitchen with separate utility, kitchen rewire,
fully plaster and decorate

 

[Bopster]

Well after being concerned about how these wickes porc were going to cut, no real issue.
Fair enough even on my sigma max the thinest I can regularly snap is about 50mm off lengthwise, 60 x 40 tiles the rest get the grinder and they actually cut really clean and without any chipping. Got about 30sqm down so far, the rest on Monday then grout.
Then I can finally get onto fitting the kitchen.