English Limestone.

[Al@Lifetiles]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and i would like some of your collective wisdom please. Got a Limestone floor to lay (artisans stone) Random length, three different widths. This is being laid on an existing screed which was previously tiled with quarries. These have come up and areas have been levelled where it was a bit of a mess. The area is 90msq made up of two different rooms and the screed is NOT heated. My question is should i ditra? I normally recommend it and say that i cant guarantee cracking without it. But client is on a budget and i am debating wether ditra is a must. Old screed, no heating, would a quality flexi adhesive not suffice? Many thanks for your input, hope this is in the right place and not too long!

 

[Ken Bruty]

:welcome:

 

[Ken Bruty]

How old is the house?

 

[nybor62]

imo i would use decoupling membrane, especially with natural stone products.
ditra or genesis g-mat

 

[mbtiling]

i did a one the same as that but only about 25mts.the customer bought white flexy(dunlop) i think. so far so good :hurray:

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

Thanks for your quick responses. The house must be pretty old, it's brick and flint barn style with a new extension (which isnt the part being tiled) I would guess 1940s 50s. ie any movement that was going to happen probably has! Thanks again.

 

[Ken Bruty]

I suspected that may be the case. I would be concerned about the thickness of the screed, especially in those style of houses, because they quite often just threw screed over mud in a few of the barn conversions I have done, and sometimes the screed is only 10mm thick in places, which is not a suitable background to lay a soft stone. I would check carefully before comitting yourself, you may have to get it re-screeded, or dig out the earth and put in joists and a suspended floor.

 

[TT Tiling]

hi yes seal the floor and a good flex add and grout will do the job im sure , o and :welcome:

 

[DHTiling]

IMO.. Membrane not needed unless the floor is full of cracks..

The screed is under no stress as such, unlike a heated one... perimeter joints will suffice,

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

Hello all,
Client has decided to shell out on Ditra after all, the "what if's" outweighed the cost (i've offered to supply it at cost). The floor definately wont fail now so i guess we will never know if it was needed or not. At least i will sleep easy! Many thanks for your input, maybe i will post some piccies when done.

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks for the update and piccies would be nice..

Post them here>>> The tilersforums.com.. Show us your work thread.