Correct adhesive for backer boards and porcelain

[Rolandk]

Hi again,
just been thinking (never a good idea!) and following advice from the guys here I'm going for the minimum advisable 3mm grout gap in 300mm x 600mm porcelain tiles. Firstly would one 3mm silicone expansion joint be enough in the 8M run? Secondly I was intending to lay the rectangular tiles in the traditional brick like patern so would need to cut across them in the doorway spoiling the look or have a 'staggered' expansion gap.The other idea was to lay them lined up like square tiles but not sure what that would look like?
What you reckon?

Cheers,
Roland

 

[Rolandk]

Any help gratefully received!

Roland

 

[Tats]

Its up to u how u lay them but don't stagger the silicone joint you will have to cut a tile I'm afraid. I'd also go with 2 expansion joints and a minimum of 5mm expansion joint.

 

[Rolandk]

Thanks Tats,

I am going thru 2 doorways so can put a 5mm gap in each one giving me a max run of 4m. Any idea on how it would look if I laid the tiles same as you would square tiles so could try to get joints at door ways. Never seen long tiles laid this way so would it look odd?

Cheers,
Roland

 

[Daz]

Roland,

Regardless of aesthetics, you will need to place an expansion joint directly above where the 2 differing substrates meet. Chipboard has very different thermal expansion characteristics to concrete and the tiles will, undoubtedly, crack along that plane unless you place an expansion gap there. Depending on the overall room layout, you may get away with just a perimeter joint around the outside of the room in addition to the substrate expansion gap.

Daz

 

[Tats]

No I lay that way all the time with oblong tiles brick bond is getting a little dated now now so many of my clients have it.

 

[Daz]

Thanks Tats,

I am going thru 2 doorways so can put a 5mm gap in each one giving me a max run of 4m. Any idea on how it would look if I laid the tiles same as you would square tiles so could try to get joints at door ways. Never seen long tiles laid this way so would it look odd?

Cheers,
Roland

It looks okay with marble but I'd probably do it brickbond, if I was you.

Note the pre-formed expansion joint in this pic....

Daz

 

[Rolandk]

Nice pics Daz thanks for taking the trouble to send them,

The marble does look really smart laid that way.

Sorry if I caused any confusion over the substrates. I understand that I must have an expansion gap where the substrate changes but the 8m I was talking about is all on the concrete if that makes any difference?

Cheers,
Roland

 

[Daz]

Hi Roland,

Again, without a floor plan I can't be 100% with this but it would make sense to leave a gap around the perimeter of the room and also incorporate an expansion joint in the doorways too.

This is by no means a recommendation, but for your info, I have done many domestic floors that are in excess of 50sqm with UFH working with just an expansion gap around the perimeter. These floors have all been top grade porcelain and I have experienced no issues whatsoever.

 

[Rolandk]

Thanks again,
I'm going with your recommendation and putting a grout gap in each doorway including the one where the substrate goes from concrete to the chipboard. I do like the look of the marble pic you sent and might do my porcelain like that.
Thanks to you and the others for your advice and didn't realise there was so much to it! In fact I might consider getting a quote or two from professionals but if I do do it myself I'm better equipped to turn out a decent job.

Cheers,
Roland

 

[Rich]

Sorry, I missed the end of this thread as I have been busy and not able to get on here, work really gets in the way of tilers forum sometimes!

All good advice above, I think you meant to say silicone joint in the doorways rather than grout?

If you do want to get quotes from tilers then send a private message to the admin of this site (DAVE) and he should be able to put you in contact with a recommended pro from this site in your area. That way you know your getting a good tiler. Either way, how about taking some pics when its done and letting us have a look at it?

all the best with the project

 

[Rolandk]

Rich,
if you missed the thread due to being too busy that can only be a good thing! Yeah all good advice but now Daz has made me think I might get away with a perimiter expansion gap only?

Thanks for your help and I wil definately try to find a tiler near me (Andover) thru the forum here if I go down that route as all the guys are obviously pro's and take pride in what they're doing. It's also noticeable that you guys respect each others views unlike some forums I've been on where the guys seem to use it to slag each other off!!!

Cheers

Roland

 

[Tats]

You can't get away with just a perimeter expansion need one to separate substrates

 

[Rolandk]

Yeah I keep forgetting to mention the seperate substrates and I know I definately will put one there. It was the rest all on concrete I'm still thinking about!

Cheers

 

[Rich]

To be honest I would put them in the door ways also, if you think you can hide them and it will not ruin the pattern, it really would be a good idea.

Im only joking, youl never catch me moaning about being busy. :smilewinkgrin: