Lay Kitchen Tiles DIY?

[Unregistered]

Getting tilers to my remote property is like finding a needle in that haystack.... should I tackle the 25 sq. M kitchen floor myself?

Laying riven slate 300mm x 300mm tiles on a concrete floor that is nearly flat - and that is one bit that worries me.... there is a slight ridge, around 5mm, where a wall once stood....and I want a flat floor!

Do I lay something like 10cm thick tile adhesive from one end of the room and , using a spirt level just work my way back, eventually over the ridge hoping that will be even?

Cutting slate tiles with a tile cutter - is that the way?
Which adhesive & type should I use?

......

Thanks
Addy

 

[jay]

:welcome: im sure if you ask on here someone will gladley come out an give you a price as for the ridge sounds like it might be easier to remove if im reading right:8:

 

[stevee]

hiya mate , if they are real ,natural slate, you could be letting yourself in for some stress, after youve preped your concrete,you gotta lay,seal ,grout,seal again, some of the more experienced fellas on here will rightly tell u to seal before you lay, ive just done my first and aint in a hurry to do another

you want a flat floor? maybe ceramics would be better for a couple of reasons

are they calibrated,different thickness? oh, and welcome

p.s. be easier if u register mate ,quicker

 

[Stones]

Thanks for your quick responses,

Jay, that is a consideration...

Stevee, - thanks for the welcome ; ok I registered .

(perhaps a mod could move this to the relevant forum)

I know the slate tiles arn't flat in themselves -
The reason I'm even considering doing it is I rekon I can do a better job than the last few tilers I've employed (badly cut, uneven and no use of spacers) - and it was hard finding them.

I'll have more of a read about the prepping of the concrete floor in other posts here before I'll ask more..

and that goes for the adhesive/grout

cheers
Addy

 

[doit4u]

Perhaps if you gave us any idea of where you are remote from someone might be near enough to make a visit.

 

[stevee]

hiya mate, the rivens i just layed were not only bowed in the middle,up and down, they werent cut square, and even tho they were calibrated one end of the tile could be double the thicness of the other

good to jump in at the deep end end for me being a newbie tho:smilewinkgrin:

keeping them clean as u work is paramount, good luck mate

 

[LM Ceramics]

Thanks for your quick responses,

Jay, that is a consideration...

Stevee, - thanks for the welcome ; ok I registered .

(perhaps a mod could move this to the relevant forum)

I know the slate tiles arn't flat in themselves -
The reason I'm even considering doing it is I rekon I can do a better job than the last few tilers I've employed (badly cut, uneven and no use of spacers) - and it was hard finding them.

I'll have more of a read about the prepping of the concrete floor in other posts here before I'll ask more..

and that goes for the adhesive/grout

cheers
Addy

What area are you from maybe on of the local lads on the forums could provide you with an estimate. Bit of a hard job for a diyer best to get a pro in to do the job check his references etc there are plenty of good fixers on this site

good luck