Porcelain tiles onto screed

[JohnnyO]

My patio is currently a patchwork of crazy paving, cement and concrete slabs (see pics below). I’d like to raise and level the floor before laying some outdoor porcelain tiles (pics below). I’ve found a builder specialised in paving who wants to do the job. He says he s going to screed the floor and lay the tiles directly onto it and get the job done in 3/4 days (20sqm). I was expecting a more standard concrete slab and tiling with adhesive.

I would like to receive some comments about:
- screed vs slab for a patio
- laying porcelain tiles directly onto wet screed

I am wondering if the guy I am talking to is cutting corners that are going to cost me later on.

Thanks

 

[hmtiling]

The porcelain won't bond to sand and cement. A slurry mix on the back of the tile will need to be used. I've never fixed monolithicly so hopefully some if the older guys will give some input here
@3_fall
@timeless john

 

[One Day]

Sand and cement will not bond into porcelain.
Builders should not be allowed near tiles or anything tiling related.
Find a good tiler who has experience of external tiling and understands the requirements of drainage etc.

 

[hmtiling]

Sand and cement will not bond into porcelain.
Builders should not be allowed near tiles or anything tiling related.
Find a good tiler who has experience of external tiling and understands the requirements of drainage etc.

Too slow old bean

 

[Waluigi]

Tile adhesive or the pedestal system like ‘Porcel quick’

My local shop (Tilefixdirect) sells the system. It looks pretty good.

 

[Old Mod]

hopefully some if the older guys will give some input here
@3_fall

Thin ice Harold.
‘More experienced’
would’ve been a far less inflammatory remark you know.

Porcelain needs an additive to bond to a S/Cement bed.
Some of the 20mm porcelain now being marketed for outside areas comes with its own additive, or as Harry suggests, an sbr slurry can be used.
There are a few different ways it can be done, depends on your fixer and what he prefers.
It is possible tho.

 

[Brian the Tile]

When tilers were tilers

 

[Brian the Tile]

Imo if you are doing a job like that get a tiler in not a builder tilers tile and builders should dtick to building

 

[Time's Ran Out]

The porcelain won't bond to sand and cement. A slurry mix on the back of the tile will need to be used. I've never fixed monolithicly so hopefully some if the older guys will give some input here
@3_fall
@timeless john

I feel rather young now!

 

[JohnnyO]

Thanks for all the great answers!
The person I am talking to is actually not a builder but a groundworker. Whatever he does probably works well with paving stones but I guess I should speak to a tiler for porcelain tiles...

 

[Waluigi]

How old are we talking here?

 

[Ajax123]

So...youve found a builder/groundworker who specialises in paving but you don't trust him... says everything to me... get a proper tiler in who knows what they are doing.

 

[Bond]

If he has the relevant knowledge and skill then what he is proposing could work, if you have any doubts, don’t go there.

 

[One Day]

If he has the relevant knowledge and skill then what he is proposing could work, if you have any doubts, don’t go there.

I've yet to meet any builders equipped with knowledge and skill surrounding tiling or stone fixing.
I'm not saying they don't exist but...

 

[Just Rizzle]

nothing wrong with fixing in sand and cement, as long as you sbr slerry the area first mix sand and cement in a semi dry way and slurry back of tile in a 3 to 1 sbr mix also the semi dry screed .
if your worried try fixing just one tile and leave a few days and see if you can get it up