Slate Floor

[GarethR]

Hi, First post here, but have been lurking in background for some time reading the many useful posts. I have tiled walls in the past and done ok, so decided to give floor tiles ago.

I have recently bought my first house and am looking to lay slate in the kitchen and just wanted to check I was not missing anything off my shopping list.

The kitchen is 18m2 and the floor is clean and level concreate.

I was looking at this wed site for purchasing the slate as the prices appear reasonable:

- I was looking at their calibrated black brazilian 600mm x 300mm tiles
- Lithofin MN Slate Seal (before laying and then after)
- Granfix grey tile adhesive
- Granfix Maxi wall and floor grout - poss. charcoal or grey.

on top of this there will be generic items, spacers, sponges etc. and I know I have to cut the slate with a wet saw.

What I am really looking for is a bit of advice on the materials selected
- Is the slate selected the best bet for someone new to floor tiles? (i know slate isnt going to be as easy as tiles)
- Is the granfix adhesive and grout anny good, only real reason I have selected this its from the same website and makes delivery easier!
- what about charcoal grout, will this be too dark and I hear it's not nice to work with?

Sorry for the long first post.

Gareth

 

[diamondtiling]

Calibrated slate will make things easier for you, Granfix products are fine and will do the job, get the flexible bagged adhesive and also flexible grout, if in any doubt phone their technical help line and ask for Jim, he is really helpful.
Charcoal grout is fine, just throw your sponge away when your finished and expect to change the water many times.

 

[Saltire69]

just be careful when grouting as it will get into all the rough surfaces.

 

[faithhealer]

gareth, notice 'diamond tiling' has said 'Flexible', adhesive. This is another current thread which may help you http://www.tilersforums.com/tile-adhesive-grout-substrate-preparation/37406-help-tiling.html

 

[TT Tiling]

hi i use gramfix all the time ,good stuff , i lay the same slate with a 2mm spacer think it looks better with a small joint ,all the same as diamondtiling said ,all so use a 12mm thick bed traul and butter the back as well ,keep it clean with a sponge as you go
good luck

 

[Daz]

hi i use gramfix all the time ,good stuff , i lay the same slate with a 2mm spacer think it looks better with a small joint ,all the same as diamondtiling said ,all so use a 12mm thick bed traul and butter the back as well ,keep it clean with a sponge as you go
good luck

2mm spacers :yikes::yikes:. I wouldn't attempt to lay slate at less than 5mm grout joints even when working with calibrated slabs.

 

[faithhealer]

2mm spacers :yikes::yikes:. I wouldn't attempt to lay slate at less than 5mm grout joints even when working with calibrated slabs.

agree there daz, slate would have to be really flat to get away with 2mm

 

[united]

agree there daz, slate would have to be really flat to get away with 2mm

Isn't British Standard a min of 3mm on a floor anyway?

 

[Yorkshire Tiling Services]

Hi would personally f orget the spacers, space by eye !
Grinder with good diaond blade will cut ok !
Usually even callibrated slate will not all be exactly the same, so at least try sort into 3 thicnesses. Use thicker bed for thinest slate and thinner bed for thickest.
This is one I did.
I cut taco pieces myself with grinder

 

[diamondtiling]

Hi would personally f orget the spacers, space by eye !
Grinder with good diaond blade will cut ok !
Usually even callibrated slate will not all be exactly the same, so at least try sort into 3 thicnesses. Use thicker bed for thinest slate and thinner bed for thickest.
This is one I did.
I cut taco pieces myself with grinder

Nice floor Tina, as for spacing by eye I would agree with you but not for a newcomer, they could quickly run into problems that are avoidable.

 

[TT Tiling]

2mm spacers :yikes::yikes:. I wouldn't attempt to lay slate at less than 5mm grout joints even when working with calibrated slabs.

i have layed many slate floors with that size joint ,with nev er having a prob ,just look at my pics on this site ,slate from 900-900 down to 300-300 , the slate are all spot on in size and everyone loves the look ,nice and sharp , but then everyones dif

 

[GarethR]

Hi People - thanks for all the advice, it's all very helpful

I think I will go for a reasonable size space, while I can see the attraction of a smaller gap, I will play on the safe side!

Thanks for the tip on sorting by thickness too - I probably wouldnt have done that with it being calibrated.

What do people think on the grout charcoal or grey?

I dont want the floor to look like a big black slab - but then fear grey would be on the light side....

Thanks again

 

[paul flight]

the grey grout will darken down over time . the charcoal may well be a problem to you as it needs a lot of washing off and you may end up in a right mess .

 

[GarethR]

think it will be grey then

contacted the supplier and there is a ~5 week lead time on the tiles.... just wondering if there are any one had any supplies they would suggest?

Thanks
Gareth

 

[chrisroe]

you could try Tile Trend Based in Stourbridge they have branches all over the place and can deliver

01384 397722 David Battin is the md