Hydrated Lime.

[Al@Lifetiles]

Hello All. Got a grade 2 listed job coming up. Part of it involves replacing some original quarry tiles in what will be there utility room.
The original tiles were apparently laid straight onto a chalk/Lime substrate and over the years movement has created gentle undulations in the floor! Architect wants them replaced as original as possible and has asked for a hydrated lime/ sand mix to bed the tiles on.
Anyone ever come across this before?
All help appreciated as i havnt the foggiest.

 

[Spud]

how old is the building ?

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

Different parts of different ages i think. Ball park early 1900's?

 

[White Room]

As above, if the floor is that old it could possibly be Hydraulic lime..

 

[Pebbs]

We do a lot of work on this bedding, if you pm me, I'll get all the details together for you tomorrow.

Lynn

 

[DHTiling]

We do a lot of work on this bedding, if you pm me, I'll get all the details together for you tomorrow.

Lynn

Any chance to you can post them here for others to read..

 

[Pebbs]

Yes ok Dave, I will do, so then we all know in future.

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

Brilliant. thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Pebbs]

Here you go,

After much debate (some heated I'll come to that in a minute), this is how we do it.

4 parts sharp sand
1 part hydrolic Lime
Approx 3% white cement (we put this in to ensure some solidity in the bedding)

Mix the sharp sand and the lime and the white cement to a semi dry mix and bed down hard. Then sprinkle over with water from the watering can.
The important bit is this, make sure the back of the stone has been covered with wet lime slurry or you won't get the adhesion to the bedding.
Ensure that the bed is solid, and the stone is well bedded, if you dont your going to know about it a few months down the line.

Also an important factor is the temp, it is notoriously difficult to get it to set off in cold weather,

I have to throw this in, you said the architect is stated hydrated lime, well unless you have 6 months to sit around waiting for the bedding mix to go off then its all good, but you havent. You need to clear this with them and get this point across. Hydrated = no Hydrolic =yes?

Let us know how you get on.

Lynn

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

Thankyou for taking the time and sharing your knowledge!
I will speak to builder in charge tomorrow and query the hydrated/hydrolic thing. It could simply be me mis-hearing him on the phone.
I did speak to one other builder i know and trust and he also said to add a bit of cement in the mix for solidity so this compounds what i have to do.
Thanks again and pictures to follow.

 

[White Room]

Here you go,

After much debate (some heated I'll come to that in a minute), this is how we do it.

4 parts sharp sand
1 part hydrolic Lime
Approx 3% white cement (we put this in to ensure some solidity in the bedding)

Mix the sharp sand and the lime and the white cement to a semi dry mix and bed down hard. Then sprinkle over with water from the watering can.
The important bit is this, make sure the back of the stone has been covered with wet lime slurry or you won't get the adhesion to the bedding.
Ensure that the bed is solid, and the stone is well bedded, if you dont your going to know about it a few months down the line.

Also an important factor is the temp, it is notoriously difficult to get it to set off in cold weather,

I have to throw this in, you said the architect is stated hydrated lime, well unless you have 6 months to sit around waiting for the bedding mix to go off then its all good, but you havent. You need to clear this with them and get this point across. Hydrated = no Hydrolic =yes?

Let us know how you get on.

Lynn

If your putting cement with hydraulic lime then why not use just sand/cement....which hydraulic lime would use 3.5, 5 or above.

 

[Pebbs]

Because the white cement is minimal and acts as a binder, if hes doing a grade 2 restoration job, and the architect has asked for it, he has to follow that instruction. It would be a lot easier to do a straight sand/cement mix, as this one is a pain.

Lynn

 

[White Room]

You tell spab (society for the protection of ancient buildings) they would have a fit... just my view but what do I know.

 

[Al@Lifetiles]

This is why i have posted on this forum! Is there a definitive answer that i can go to the architect with?
Probably not. The issue is adding cement. Without it i cant see the floor ever setting or being solid enough. With it will upset the men with clipboards.
This is also only my view, but i know alot more than i did 24hrs ago.

 

[Musivarius]

Might be worth you giving this company a call, if you haven't already
anglialime.com
They've been in the trade for a long time and should been able to give you some pointers too.