uneven floor advice

[kaharrison9]

Hi All
Hoping for any experienced pointers/advice regarding an uneven 14m2 conservatory floor i'm taking on.
The floor has a couple of slight humps and also dips that go low to around 8mm.The customer doesn't want it self levelling as he says a previous quote mentioned it unneccesary.
The tiles are 400mmx400mm porcelain,the adhesive i'm using is Kerraflex maxi and the trowel is a large format 15mm notch trowel.
Would i be best starting off on the highest hump with a 10mm trowel then switch to the 15mm as i come off?
Has anybody ever used Kerraflex maxi to it's maxium depth of 15mm?
To acheive that sort of depth would the 15mm trowel and the tile well back buttered be okay?
Also would it make sense to mix slightly less water so the adhesive is more firm to help the tile from possibly slumping?
Never attempted a floor like this or used the adhesive before so any thoughts really appreciated.
Thanks
Kev

 

[White Room]

I've used the keraflex maxi and it's good stuff to use, why they took the advise from the other tiler then would'nt listen to you and your doing the job. You will be using more than normal amount of addy, if you can grind down some of the high spots down may help you out. Probably used a 12mm trowel myself but you should be ok with yours

 

[doug boardley]

I'd tell them it's swings and roundabouts Kev, what you don't use in slc you'll make up for in using more adhesive, plus not using slc will be more fiddly and add time to the job. Don't forget that it's you that's the pro!

 

[DHTiling]

If they took advise from another tiler that slc wasn't needed and then you say it dose....why have they used you..? and now they are using you .. why have they not used your advice....i'm sorry but if you think the floor needs levelling then the customer should go with your advise not somebody who never got the job...

 

[kaharrison9]

Cheers guys.
Is very odd that the customer goes against my advice but offers us the job over the other.
Perhaps my lack of experience when dealing with customers is not convincing them?
I always try to be positive though and the thought and research i have to put in before starting has taught me a bit.
As asked is it best to start off on the hump with a 10mm trowel?
If it doesnt end up looking like a mountain range i'll put on some snaps!!
Kev

 

[White Room]

Put a straight edge on the floor and find your highest points and work from that

 

[Jtsd02]

why dont you try dry laying the floor,then start from the high point and work your way out.i have done it a few times and its always worked out fine.

john

 

[mikethetile]

i cant get my head round this one

did you not give a price for doing the job

if so............slc the low spots and make life easier for yourself

or do it her way and charge extra for the extra addy and time involved

 

[kaharrison9]

Do agree Mike regarding self-levelling but the customer was adamant in he's mind that it didn't need doing.
By suggesting to him this way the feeling i got suggested he thought i was causing him problems!
Did budget for the extra adhesive and didn't expect a reply.
With experience maybe i should have stood my ground more but perhaps that may have lost us the job.
Kev

 

[bonemachine]

id tell the customer in the nicest possible way that my way is the best way and if they didnt use SLC then it would cost more in the long term. If that didnt work then id spit me dummy out and sulk 😛rrr: