Adcive for laying slate floor tiles

[Alberta Stone]

Hello,

Iive bought slate floor tiles and was just wondering how easy they are to lay??

When i was in topps tiles buying grout for my wall tiles i was quizzing the bloke about laying slate tiles. He was telling me not to bother as they are a nightmare to cut, my toilet and sink won't sit level and you've to treat them before you lay them, then after i've layed them then i have to seal them.

Can anybody tell me if what i've been told is right and since i'm a novice whether i'd be better laying normal tiles or even vinyl???

Cheers

Slate is not a problem to cut, but there are many kinds, you just need a good blade designed for stone.
DeWalt makes a good blade, I just got a dewalt wet saw as my target cratered and the stock blade cuts through slate quite nicely as well as travartine.
Slate, being a natural product comes in all kinds, some are perfectly flat and laying them level is no different than tile or granite, others are wavey and bent and require lots of chiseling (after installing) to make them proper,
To make your sink set level you need to choose which pieces you will use around the sink.
I usually pull the worst bent pieces aside and use them for cuts.

The slate doesn't need to be sealed before laying.
Just use a sponge and water and clean the thinset from the face of the slate as you go.

If they are really uneven you just need to vary the amount of thinset you put under them.
Always backbutter.

I like slate. Work with it often.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Mr B Curtis - As this post is almost 3 months old I was wondering how you got on?
Did you go for slate?
Reading through the posts it would seem that the opinions tend to agree that the slate choice is not for the novice but for those that do fix slate it is a fantastic product - myself included.
Done properly it is in a league of its own!. View attachment 3611

Update please!
John.

 

[Alberta Stone]

Nice pic TG.
fairly smooth surface slate.
The product which is most popular these days seems to be the extremely rough and wavey variety....at least I have been putting in a lot of it, so much chipping is required after it is installed to remove the lippage issue.

 

[bcurtis]

Hey, I am actually just about to start now that i have a week of work....have been working away a lot for last couple of months so never had enough time to make a start and finish it within day or two so didn't want to start and be rushed.

Thanks for all the posts and advice....i am going to give the slate a go....may as well since i've already bought it. Didn't get it from topps got it from internet, but didn't pay much for it so it'll be cheap stuff.

One question i do have...what size of spacers do i use?? My mate said 5mm to allow for any parts of existing floor that are uneven.

I'm planning to lay it in staggered formation rather than grid....think staggered looks nicer. Anything i need to watch out for laying this way??

The one thing i'm a bit concerned by is the new height of my toilet and sink when placed on top of the slate as obviously water pipes...waste pipes etc are already in place so would it be better to try and cut around these so i don't have to worry about having to piddle around with new pipes etc??

 

[david campbell]

Hey, I am actually just about to start now that i have a week of work....have been working away a lot for last couple of months so never had enough time to make a start and finish it within day or two so didn't want to start and be rushed.

Thanks for all the posts and advice....i am going to give the slate a go....may as well since i've already bought it. Didn't get it from topps got it from internet, but didn't pay much for it so it'll be cheap stuff.

One question i do have...what size of spacers do i use?? My mate said 5mm to allow for any parts of existing floor that are uneven.

I'm planning to lay it in staggered formation rather than grid....think staggered looks nicer. Anything i need to watch out for laying this way??

The one thing i'm a bit concerned by is the new height of my toilet and sink when placed on top of the slate as obviously water pipes...waste pipes etc are already in place so would it be better to try and cut around these so i don't have to worry about having to piddle around with new pipes etc??

5mm spacers should be fine,it's really personal choice depending on the size of the tiles,just make sure you set out well before you start as this will help avoid any fiddly cuts around toilet,pipes etc.maybe try to lay the floor dry(with no adhesive) first to see how it looks before you stick it down,and try to work as clean as you can to avoid any staining,and make sure you follow any instructions on sealers about times for wiping of any excess residue

 

[stevee]

sink waste pipes r easy to adjust, and for the toilet ,screwfix do offset and i think flexi couplings,good luck steve

 

[bcurtis]

ok cheers folks...well here goes

 

[bcurtis]

Ok have laid my floor now.....done good job at least i think so!! lol Going to grout 2morrow but what colour you recommend for my slate tiles?? I've got dark grey........but i'm thinking of taking that back and getting white....the bloke in the tile shop said use dark grey...so i bought it......is there any reason i shouldn't use white??? Does is look crap?? Any pics of either to help me decide would be good. will post a few pics of my finished bathroom.....my first ever big diy job i might add as well......in a few days so you experts can cast your eagle eyes....cheers

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Mr Curtis - Hope I caught you in time!

White in a slate floor!!!!!! - and I thought you had style in going for slate in the first place!.

Cement grey would be OK if your tiles are a darker plain slate in Grey.
While doing this thread I had an image of the floor being a multicolour slate in which case I would have chosen Sandstone.

Have you remembered to seal the slate and is it clean and dry.

Timeless John.

 

[bcurtis]

John....have opted for the grey grout have read that white will be a nightmare to keep clean.

I havn't sealed or grouted yet cause i just can't seem to clean the slate properly.....have been cleaning it since yesterday with just water and a sponge....am thinking of maybe using sugar soap that i have to see if that helps.

Any ideas anyone......there was tile cleaner wipes in b&q....anyone used these they any use?? I was always under the assumption that you shouldn't use anything but clean water and a sponge to clean slate prior to sealing it as it will mark/stain the slate...that true??

 

[Hawkofeagles]

Hi bcurtis, I have used a solution called Lithofin a while ago for a similar purpose but I'm not too sure if it will work on slate. Hope someone out the will verify this.

 

[bcurtis]

Thanks for the reply.....sugar soap worked a treat....have applied first coat of sealer but noticed after reading about drying times that i have not got the unglazed finish sealer.......despite asking for wet look stuff in topps tiles.......muppets.

I'm wondering can i apply another coat of the normal sealer i have.......then grout and then finally seal with a couple of coats of wet look sealer????? Or is this a no go.....

 

[Time's Ran Out]

That should be fine.
After grouting - very clean - very dry - then seal with wet look!

John.

 

[mart08]

hi bcurtis

This is real slate from wickes, all cleaned and sealed. sealer still drying and will dry back to natural colour. I prefer the wet look myself but customers choice.

 

[Al Brookbanks]

Ok folks. I'm laying 41sq meters of slate this easter weekend!! Its cheap chinese crap or varying thickness. Floor isn't that flat either LOL. Wish me luck. Will post pictures.

Off to Stevenage now to buy about 65 tonnes of flexi adhesive. :-/ I think the neighbours are going to hear a lot of swearing!!