intro & question

[crofty]

Hi
As a competent DIYer Im building an extension and installing wet underfloor heating. The area is 60m2 plus 20m2 (separate rooms) and I wondered if you experienced tilers could help with some advice to make sure I get it right? The floor will be a structural slab (100mm) with 110mm insulation on top and then screed over the pipework. I will put in expansion joints (structural and screed) and would expect a minimum of 5mm expansion of each slab even without hetaing it up (the larger area will be split 60/40) but dont know how to accommodate movement over the joint with tiles. I would use the flexible adhesive but dont know which grout to use or whether I need to put an expansion joint between the tiles where they overlay the concrete expansion joint (probably foam). Any help appreciated?
crofty

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome.

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome.....your expansion joints should follow thru your tiles from the screeded floor...

 

[Ian]

Welcome along to TF

 

[crofty]

Hi
Thanks for taking an interest and replying. I wonder if you could offer your thoughts on "unintrusive expansion joints".......and , a daft question, why isnt there a flexible grout/silicone that could be used?

 

[White Room]

Movement Joints - Boltseal - Tiles & Floors from building to cleaning or you could use a coloured silicone the same colour as the grout.

 

[Gall.B]

Welcome Crofty. What type of tile are you using? Id be considering a decoupling membrane also.

 

[crofty]

thanks for your help
crofty

 

[crofty]

Hi
Was thinking of travertine but realise how brittle it is, so unless I can be sure that it wont crack I will have to use something like porcelain. Never heard of a decoupling membrane, can you point me to a website to get a better understanding?
Thanks for your help, the quote "experience is simply the name we give our mistakes" is spot on, but I like the saying " fools never learn, clever people learn by their mistakes, but wise people learn by other peoples mistakes".........travertine is too expensive for me to make a mistake on!
Thanks again

 

[Mike]

not all travertine is of poor quality and liable to crack but obviously you will have to pay more for decent quality. as for the decoupling membrane one of our site sponsors will be able to help you out PHG Wetrooms - The Perfect choice for all your wetroom supplies

 

[crofty]

Thanks very much, I will have a look.
With regards to quality of travertine, Im open to any knowledge you can provide. I can only judge the material on whether it had been filled (thinking that the better product hasnt been....as long as there are no holes) and if it is of the same thickness, but prices dont seem to confirm this. I dont mind paying for a decent product, but dont want to pay £35/m for something worth £13/m??????
Any thoughts appreciated