Limestone Flooring

[Artisan Ceramic]

Hi all

I am a newbie and am about to quote to lay some limestone floors (hallway and bathroom). Customer has tiles already, although I haven't seen them yet.

Anything I need to think about? I have read about how easily limestone is marked on the forum and wondered if I should seal it all before starting? Are there different grades of limestone as I am a little concerned it may be too soft for a hallway with traffic.

Any advice welcomed.

Thanks

 

[david campbell]

i'm sure limestone can be sealed with hg colour intensifier(it will also alter the colour though)!
i may be corrected on this one!

but if you are worried about adhesive coming up the sides of your grout joints then i would seal the face of them first

 

[diamondtiling]

If the customer has already bought the stone then is it to late to change it? Most natural stone is fine in a hallway, some very cheap travertine does the job so long as they are skimmed on the back to fill any holes.
Test piece a tile to see if it stains, if it does then they need cleaning and sealing prior to fixing and that needs to be reflected in your price. What name is the limestone because there are loads of different ones.

 

[Artisan Ceramic]

Thanks for that - I will get a name when I visit the customer this evening.

Your right, its probably too late to change the flooring, I was just interested to know what problems I may be getting myself into before I quote on the job.

Cheers.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

This is a white limestone hallway we did a while back.
Some limestones are like blotting paper and even touching the surface with your hands will stain. Dust the surface with a soft brush and impregnate/seal surface as you carefully unload the tiles from the crate. Stack individually with an airflow to dry. Allow for a white adhesive and check the type of substrate ref decoupling. Then have fun.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[DHTiling]

The whiter the limestone the easier it will mark and needs great care when laying.

Not all limestones are white and some are very hard in texture, so it would be wise to ask what limestone it is as they vary so much..

 

[kilty55]

also use a white adhesive

 

[wetdec]

Hi Steve

Bit of a you help us we help you situation m8

If you get the name of the limestone, thickness, size and substrate we can more or less help you through the job (from a distance of course).

We are are handling this stuff daily and are always eager to see people do the fix correctly. Just need those 4 questions answered to get going m8

 

[Artisan Ceramic]

Thanks all

The limestone for the hall is from Manderine Stone and it is Marfil Honed 600 x 400 x 20, the limestone for the bathrooms is once again the same Marfil but polished and 610 x 305 x 10.

The honed stuff says it is suitable for high traffic. Anyone used this before?

Many thanks for all the useful advice.

Steve

 

[DHTiling]

The Crema Marfil is hard wearing...

what substrates do you have.. walls and floor.?

 

[Artisan Ceramic]

Oh yes, the hallway is concrete and the two bathrooms are floorboards so I guess I have to ply line them and then hardibacker?

Thanks again

 

[DHTiling]

Sounds ok to me..

Make sure there is no bounce on the timber floors.

And nice and flat floors will make it easier..

But you also have to make sure of a solid bed of adhesive and i like to backskim the tiles as well to ensure full contact and even shading of adhesive bed.

 

[wetdec]

Thanks all

The limestone for the hall is from Manderine Stone and it is Marfil Honed 600 x 400 x 20, Tough stuff m8 shouldnt need sealing b4 you start go gentle with it is very hard so chips and can break along the veins. White flexible adhesive would be favourite I would think

The limestone for the bathrooms is once again the same Marfil but polished and 610 x 305 x 10. Mandarin are known to mesh their 10mm mafil so will take a little longer to go off once on the wall. Same adhesive as floor and again I would seal after. Check if its beveled as might look better with a 3mm spacer.

Oh yes, the hallway is concrete and the two bathrooms are floorboards so I guess I have to ply line them and then hardibacker?

UFH ?? if not straight onto concrete providing its well cured and in a good state of repair. Overboard with 10mm poly no advantage to using hbacker once over ply'd will need a uncoupling membrane tho over the ply.

The honed stuff says it is suitable for high traffic. Anyone used this before? Easy one of the best to be having a start with.

Many thanks for all the useful advice.

Steve

Steve

 

[Artisan Ceramic]

Thanks everyone for such great advice. There is no underfloor heating Wetdec, so I think you are right, this will be a good one to start the limestone experience with.

Cheers:smilewinkgrin: