Laying 30m2 of 900x600 slate tiles ourselves -- are we insane?

[TT Tiling]

easy job for a pro , and your get a top finish

 

[veryfluffy]

You should be able to send and receive PMs now.

Unfortunately not -- I have also msg'd Admin, but no reply and no change to settings...so I guess I will just have to make a few more random comments until I get up to 15 posts!

Apologies to this member who msg'd me, I will reply as soon as I can!

 

[kilty55]

hi fluffy,welcome along,laying 900 by 600 slate is not something i would advise done by yourself

i would also suggest looking for a tiler on here and check there work/referances before the job is taken on,with the right tradesman this job will look fantastic...done incorrectly it will be a shambles

 

[veryfluffy]

So how much easier would it be to do the 600 x 400?

Is it just the weight of them that makes this a tough job? What are the pitfalls?

Is there much more to it than adequate preparation, correct materials and tools, attention to detail, and a bit of brute strength?

So far, one reply to my request for a tiler, from someone not exactly in the area...I tried to get a quote from someone local who was recommended, and he's not come back to me.

As I said, I have rather more time and energy than I have funds available, so if at all possible we like to do the job ourselves. A couple of years ago I laid, sanded and finished 30 sq m of reclaimed woodblock flooring -- also a job I was advised needed a pro. It looks fantastic, even if it took a long time and a lot of effort and stress.

 

[AliGage]

Good luck Fluffy. Post some pictures when you've got it laid. We love pictures.

 

[kilty55]

fluffy time and energy dont equal skill im afraid so yes there is much more to it.would you consider building a brick wall to a pro standard 1st go or would you consider building a staircase to a pro standard? anyone can lay tiles but to lay them properly with pro finish takes skill,i can see your keen it just depends what kind of finish you are going to be happy with in your home .

if you are keen to do some tiling i would suggest small jobs to start,the tools involved and knowledge of how to actually use the products and materials correctly never mind the stone itself i think you would be cheaper getting a pro in,if it goes wrong imagine the cost of rectifying it

 

[veryfluffy]

I don't doubt that a pro could do a better job, and especially do it a lot quicker, which is getting important, if only I could find someone! If the base is sound and sealed, and not too many awkward corners, how long would an experience slate tiler take for a job like this? Might help me guess if I could afford it...

Just been looking at how much adhesive I'm going to need, and the cost of that is making my eyes water already!

 

[Bubblecraft]

I'd be looking about 5 x 20kg & 1 x 10kg to cover 30m2 (Based on BAL Rapid)
I'd be pricing it per m2, not time but that includes adhesive, grout & sealer. Without looking at the job, as a guestimate, about 2 days to tile (No main obstructions), 1 day to seal, 1 day to grout.
Hope that helps.

 

[veryfluffy]

Thanks, Bubblecraft, that is really helpful! I would love to be able to get it done over a week, instead of the month it is likely to take us.

Unfortunately it seems that all the tilers in my area must already be inundated with work -- or they don't visit this forum -- because so far no one local seems interested! I have had terrible experiences with anyone I ever got out of yellow pages or adverts, so unless someone I know recommends, it is hard to know how to find a pro.

 

[cam_low]

I have pmd you twice now. If you can reply we I may be able to help !!!

 

[veryfluffy]

Cam - I have tried to reply, but I apparently need 15 posts before I am allowed to reply to PMs! Not sure what the point of that is, but tried contacting Admin with no success...

Earls Barton is on the other side of Northampton from me, about 15 miles I guess. I am just near the A5 in the Daventry area.

 

[veryfluffy]

And this is one random post to get me to 15!

 

[Rookery]

I'd be looking about 5 x 20kg & 1 x 10kg to cover 30m2 (Based on BAL Rapid)
I'd be pricing it per m2, not time but that includes adhesive, grout & sealer. Without looking at the job, as a guestimate, about 2 days to tile (No main obstructions), 1 day to seal, 1 day to grout.
Hope that helps.

So your expecting to get over 5 sq mtrs per bag. What size trowel would you use?

 

[Bubblecraft]

So your expecting to get over 5 sq mtrs per bag. What size trowel would you use?

Sorry, that was meant to be 6 x 20kg & 1 x 10kg (4.75m2 per 20kg) Just shy of 5m2 per 20kg. 10mm round notched is what I'd use.
Was half asleep when I posted lol

 

[Rookery]

Personally, I dont think a 10mm trowel will give an adequate bed thickness on these very large tiles. The slate is unlikely to be flat/smooth on the back and I wouldnt want to be lifting each one to check on coverage and back buttering if I could avoid it. Equally, I dont expect the floor is billiard table flat either. For what its worth and to help the original poster, I'd want to use BAL Tile & Stone PTB (Pourable Thick Bed) or an equivalent product to fix these big slates and I'd use a large format trowel. With this combination, I would not expect to get more than 2.5 sq mtrs per bag. Just my opinion of course.