First slate job, help

[gm140]

I have just got my first slate job. It's a kitchen floor, substrate is floor boards, I was going to sheet over with 12mm ply.
Are their any pitfalls working with slate (i don't know type of slate I'm going to see it tomorrow)
Any advice on cutting, laying, grouting, cleaning basically the whole shabbang would be great.

Cheers Graeme

 

[White Room]

If there not calibrated you will have check for the size variation, wash the backs of the tiles to remove any dust, use the thinner tiles lay to the edges of the floor, use a single part flexible, you don't say what slate it is.

 

[Stu Lilley]

hi...we usally cut with angle grinder or wet cutter fix with Mapei keraquick white over ditra matting or ci matting and seal with LTP mattstone or colour intensifier depending on what your client wants, but dont be scared very easy to install.
kind regards stu

 

[TT Tiling]

hi mate ,sure you know wot add to use , but i would try and use the 18m ply and screw it to death , is there going to be skirting board ,if your re-newing it ,cut with a grinder then cover with new ,if not wet cut in to the skirting ,as for grouting ,i would give it a coat of sealer first then grout then seal again , i would only grout about 1-2 sm at a time ,keeping it as clean as you can , work the joints not the slate
hope it all goes well for you

 

[Daz]

Okay check for deflection in the floorboards, as you will need to rectify this first. If no deflection then I would either overboard with 6mm cement boards or just fix a decoupler such as Ditra or Dural.

On the floorboard side of things, are these chipboard floorboards? If so, check that it is not a floating floor as that will deffo cause you grief.

As others have said, the fixing is pretty straight forward but wet cut only, so fixing will take a bit longer than ceramics. If uncalibrated, then grade the slate prior to fixing so that the thicker slabs go in the high traffic areas and discuss the finish with the client so that you use a sealer that is to their liking.

Personally, I prefer to seal slate prior to grouting as it makes the finishing easier IMO.

 

[stevee]

my very first job was natural slate:mad2:, it wasnt fun , my advice ,from my limited expierience is ,make sure you charge enough

i didnt worry to much about the tiles not being square[even tho they were calibrated]

after the the addy had cured any thin grout lines/gaps were easily and neatly opened up with a 4" grinder

my outlook on natrual slate now is : price it high ,if u dont get the job ,u aint got the grief

if u do get the job ,youre earning good wedge for the grief

these are of course the personal views of a greenhorn, cheers and good luck,steve

 

[sstilingservice]

The only thing I would add to the comments allready posted is make sure that if it's uncalibrated that the customer is aware that slate is RUSTIC and as such will not be perfectly flat and tiles will almost certainly not be square. Then just take your time Slate is great and looks fantastic when finished I always wet cut the stuff myself because the dust just gets everyhere when you cut with a grinder !!! Good luck and post the pics on here when finished

 

[kev]

Some good advice there, i also have a couple of slate jobs coming up over the next 2 months, done a few before and as said, make it clear to the customer first about the finish they can expect... i do like the tip about opening up the thinner joints with a grinder