Limestone flagstones - Price for laying

[Jason Spencer]

Hello Gentlemen,

I am undertaking a small self-build cottage in Norfolk.

I am looking to have 20mm thick limestone flagstones layed on the entire ground floor - which consists of four square rooms and a total of 64m2.

The base is a near perfect concrete slab and will need a 10mm adhesive bed.

Assuming I supply all materials, could anyone please advise on roughly how much I should be looking to pay a tiler for labour?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

No prices are discussed in open forum, but if you look on the forum directory for members in your area I'am sure you can private message/contact one and I'am sure they will help.
Good luck and don't forget to see previous work and compare prices before placing the contract.
John.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Hello Gentlemen,

I am undertaking a small self-build cottage in Norfolk.

I am looking to have 20mm thick limestone flagstones layed on the entire ground floor - which consists of four square rooms and a total of 64m2.

The base is a near perfect concrete slab and will need a 10mm adhesive bed.

Assuming I supply all materials, could anyone please advise on roughly how much I should be looking to pay a tiler for labour?

Welcome to the forum

 

[Flintstone]

Hello, where are you based ?
I've laid some tiles which sound like the ones you describe, It's very heavy work, and I would expect a price to be probably double what you would expect to pay for some one to fit porcelain tiles.

Here's my one, are they similar ?

 

[One Day]

You should expect to pay a decent rate. Don't take someone who gives you a price per metre or they'll be under pressure to get the job done quickly.
Remember too that there are many threads on this forum, tales of woe from people who dealt with the cheapest bidder!

 

[J Sid]

You should expect to pay a decent rate. Don't take someone who gives you a price per metre or they'll be under pressure to get the job done quickly.
Remember too that there are many threads on this forum, tales of woe from people who dealt with the cheapest bidder!

can't disagree more with you Mark, nobody in there right mind would let someone loose on open ended day rate for any job. what is needed is a tradesman would comes with recommendations for this type of work and gives a fixed price for the job with a clear method statement for how it will be done.

 

[One Day]

can't disagree more with you Mark, nobody in there right mind would let someone loose on open ended day rate for any job. what is needed is a tradesman would comes with recommendations for this type of work and gives a fixed price for the job with a clear method statement for how it will be done.

I've never on the forum advocated anyone working day rate. Always fixed price.
My poor communication sorry. Dead tired and off to bed now...!

 

[Dan]

I would also consider the fact that a tiler would probably get all the materials cheaper than you as a domestic customer. So perhaps have a word with a couple and see what sort of prices they're going to pass onto you.

 

[J Sid]

I would also consider the fact that a tiler would probably get all the materials cheaper than you as a domestic customer. So perhaps have a word with a couple and see what sort of prices they're going to pass onto you.

yes possibly dan but not so much nowadays. Anyway Jason will be claiming the vat back from hmrc on a self build materials so would be easier for purchase himself

 

[Dan]

Of course I didn't take that bit in when I read the OP.

Probably cheaper go direct as most tilers themselves wouldn't be VAT registered anyway. And most discounts aren't as much as 20%.

Well spotted.

 

[Jason Spencer]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for all your replies and advice.

I've had one tiler quote for the job. He certainly wasn't cheap but as most of you said, "don't expect a cheap price".

I was surprised that he said it would take between 8 and 9 days for two of them to lay the floor. Effectively this is 16 -18 man days; I thought it would have taken less time than that?

 

[J Sid]

8 to 10 days for one person

 

[Flintstone]

In your first post you mentioned needing a 10mm adhesive bed, where has that info come from ?

 

[Italy]

In your first post you mentioned needing a 10mm adhesive bed, where has that info come from ?

same

 

[Jason Spencer]

Hello Localtiler

The build is a timber frame. The concrete slab foundation has a 30mm timber plate around the perimeter. This timber plate is flush / level with the threshold.

Whatever flooring I lay, will need to have an overall thickness of 30mm to ensure the floor is level with the threshold, (a building regulation).

My limestone is 20 - 22mm thick, therefore I'll need an adhesive bed of up to 10mm. Hope this makes sense?

 

[Flintstone]

It's not a set up I'm familiar with but I would suggest laying a 6mm insulation board then tiling onto that to get your 10mm rather than trying to get 10mm with adhesive which you will not be able to do successfully.

 

[Jason Spencer]

The tiler who gave me a quote advised that he would use "Norcros Thick Bed Stone and Porcelain adhesive".

Apparently this adhesive can be troweled on up to 25mm thick?

 

[hmtiling]

The tiler who gave me a quote advised that he would use "Norcros Thick Bed Stone and Porcelain adhesive".

Apparently this adhesive can be troweled on up to 25mm thick?

It certainly can but as local said it would be easier and quicker to ensure solid bed using a 6mm board first.

 

[Old Mod]

Apparently this adhesive can be troweled on up to 25mm thick?

I don't know Norcros adhesives, and I'm never likely to, but in my experience the maximum bed depth of an adhesive will relate to small isolated areas and not the whole install.
It could well be cheaper to use a board or latex to make up the deficit.
I'd probably go with latex, to obtain a perfectly level substrate.

 

[J Sid]

with slc and adhesive being about the same price why wouldn't you!
yes, you may have to pay an extra days labour to lay it but your save that on fixing the stone.

 

[Ttt1601]

I don't know Norcros adhesives, and I'm never likely to, but in my experience the maximum bed depth of an adhesive will relate to small isolated areas and not the whole install.
It could well be cheaper to use a board or latex to make up the deficit.
I'd probably go with latex, to obtain a perfectly level substrate.

Completely agree with @3_fall plus with heavy stone, bulking out 10mm of addy you would undoubtedly result in some slumping issues as it dries

 

[Flintstone]

I would go for the insulation board personally, flatness will be no different if laid right.

 

[Ttt1601]

Latex or board is much of a muchness, latex would probably be a bit cheaper not much in tho, but just certainly not bulking the whole job up with 10mm of addy

 

[J Sid]

is there ufh in screed?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

>22 mm limestone + 6mm insulation board = 2mm for adhesive !!! Need to be on site to know exact sub base preparation .
See the work potential Tilers have done and check them out, 3k + is a decent wad to throw away.

 

[SJPurdy]

Cost of laying will also to an extent vary with the size and type of limestone flags. Larger pieces are a two man job to lift and position them. Some limestone I have laid has been flat finish so that the finished floor is flat like a supermarket floor. Other limestone has been more rustic (riven surface edges not flush with each other etc.) and requires more adjustments in the thickness of the adhesive.

 

[Jason Spencer]

Gentlemen,

Thanks again for your advice.

The Limestone size is 600mm x 900mm tumbled edges and tumbled surface, so definitely not smooth. I've uploaded a photo of the flagstones. The photo shows exactly how I would like the finished look.

I phoned two tilers today and am beginning to get the feeling that not too many tilers have experience of laying 20-22mm thick Limestone flagstones?

 

[Bill]

I know how......

 

[J Sid]

look good when finished.
all with wet ufh

 

[Lou]

Don't mind me while I bump up some older but good threads. If you can contribute to the thread, go ahead. But if it's nothing for you then don't reply and it'll soon drop off the What's New page etc.
Worth linking to our new forum structure while I'm doing stuff:-

• USA
• UK
• Canada
• Australia
• Ireland
• Tools
• DIY
• Courses
• Tile Import / Export