Topps - wrong or correct?

[dantheram]

As you may have read on my other thread I'm relaying my kitchen floor and being a novice I came here, and other places, in search of friendly advice.

My latest destination was topps tiles and here is the result -

they say -

1) dont use a 10mm trowel to lay my 6mm insulation boards use only a skim of adhesive.

2) flex grout will crack when my floor goes from freezing to hot - use a flexible additive in the grout and it won't.

3) don't put SLC on the heat mat as this will hinder the heating power of the system

5) my tile choice is old fashioned haha

confused is not the word!!

 

[Gazzer]

what happened to 4)

 

[dantheram]

what happened to 4)

4) I have terrible BO

no really 4 was I'm buying to much adhesive 5 bags (1 more than I think I'll need to be safe).

 

[thompsonbrown]

1. I use 6mm trowel for insulation boards but are unsure of what type you have.
2. flex grout should be fine. I use ball supa-flex on floors.
3. slc will help dissipate the heat more evenly and help with installation of floor tiling.
5. is your choice. pics would be nice
4. its always good to have extra adhesive.
Hope this helps. love the order 5 should always come before 4.

 

[dantheram]

1. I use 6mm trowel for insulation boards but are unsure of what type you have.
2. flex grout should be fine. I use ball supa-flex on floors.
3. slc will help dissipate the heat more evenly and help with installation of floor tiling.
5. is your choice. pics would be nice
4. its always good to have extra adhesive.
Hope this helps. love the order 5 should always come before 4.

i have xps boards (I know they're not popular on here so should I send them back? Will consider this only if they are going to be of detriment to my floor build up, so please be honest)

 

[gamma38]

6mm trowel for me as well. I always cover the mat with self level, it serves a couple of purposes. It eliminates damage to the mat by too much foot traffic, and makes spreading adhesive easier as your trowel won't damage the mat. Also there will be no air gaps which will in turn allow a more evenly distributed heat. I use xps boards sometimes, just be careful when laying them until they are covered with the self level as they damage easily.

 

[dantheram]

6mm trowel for me as well. I always cover the mat with self level, it serves a couple of purposes. It eliminates damage to the mat by too much foot traffic, and makes spreading adhesive easier as your trowel won't damage the mat. Also there will be no air gaps which will in turn allow a more evenly distributed heat. I use xps boards sometimes, just be careful when laying them until they are covered with the self level as they damage easily.

i hadn't heard about the pros an cons before I brought them just saw the 50% saving over same thickness marmox. Live an learn I guess.

The SLC is going straight on - no tea breaks till it's down!!

 

[dantheram]

6mm trowel for me as well. I always cover the mat with self level, it serves a couple of purposes. It eliminates damage to the mat by too much foot traffic, and makes spreading adhesive easier as your trowel won't damage the mat. Also there will be no air gaps which will in turn allow a more evenly distributed heat. I use xps boards sometimes, just be careful when laying them until they are covered with the self level as they damage easily.

The floor is rough with a few 1/2mm variations, and very few 3/4mm ones. Will the 6mm trowel cover these?

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

If your unsure use a 8mm if the floor is that bad.

 

[dantheram]

If your unsure use a 8mm if the floor is that bad.

thank you for the advice.

Another one - when I lay the insulation board how long should I wait before I walk/kneel on the boards to lay the UFH and pour SLC?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[gamma38]

thank you for the advice.

Another one - when I lay the insulation board how long should I wait before I walk/kneel on the boards to lay the UFH and pour SLC?

Thanks,

Dan

It depends if you use rapid set or not. Whatever it says on the bag for drying times...