Floors - general advice

[lee n]

I have only been tiling 3 months and whilst I find walls quite easy, its quite the opposite with floors! For example, getting all the tiles level so they dont lip, do I level every corner with a boat level or do i follow the fall of the floor, or can I put extra adhesive underneath to build lower areas of the floor up ??? Any advice would be grateful. Thanks:huh2:

 

[DHTiling]

A floor doesn't always have to be level....just flat....if it isn't flat to start with then some prep work is required...ie. levelling compound .....it's all in the prep work and then just tile it flat......

 

[lee n]

Thanks Dave. I recently tiled a floor for a client, who plyed the floor (6mm) himself. He also was going to bond the floor in time for me to start but didn't do this - he was keen for me to continue, despite this! Looking back, I maybe should have insisted he do this, lack of experience on my part! The floor was running down, so in order to keep level, i built up with adhesive. The client has called me to advise the tiles have moved and I wanted to know if this is a combo of everthing? He didnt buy enough of tiles so I need to go back and lay the remaining 4! Is there anything I can do re the moving tiles?

 

[DHTiling]

What adhesive did you use if only 6mm ply was used...and was there any deflection in the floor.?..

 

[lee n]

I used granfix rapid-set flexible which the client provided (tiling shop recommended this to him). The tiles were Gulf Stone. Sorry, what do you mean by deflection?

 

[DHTiling]

By deflection i mean movement in the floor......that adhesive is not suitable for that thickness of ply overlay...so that could be the reason you have some moving....

Plus if you have been building the tiles up then the adhesive could have cracked as most standard flexi's can only accomodate about a 6mm bed thickness.....

 

[LM Ceramics]

i agree with dave floor has to be flat if you build your tiles extra adhesive then it will be hard to remove any lips use a good notch floor trowel