Victorian Footpath Tiling

[zerocool_jj2000]

Hi this is my first post here so go easy on me! i am interested in laying a victorian footpath at the front of my house, i already have the the tiles from a reclamation yard (an impulse buy) they are Minton terra-cotta octagons with blue square inserts. My question is, what ground work needs to be done before laying the tiles? Ive looked on some london based sites and it appears a concrete base needs to be laid, i just need more info on how to get the finish required on the base? Also with what are the tiles fixed to the concrete? Thanks all.

 

[White Room]

How long is the path.....

 

[zerocool_jj2000]

Only about 8 foot. Cheers

 

[Dan]

A concrete base would be a good base to tile to. There might be other options though?

You'd then need a cement-based adhesive to fix them with, and a cement-based grout to grout them with.

I'd actually consider checking to see how much a tiler would charge to do it for you as geo-floors can be time consuming and don't look good when they're not perfectly flat and clean with even grout joints throughout. I wouldn't normally suggest this, don't think we're touting for work here.

Well done on finding them too. Are they in good condition or would they need cleaning and sealing?

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

dig out path 250mm then lay 50mm hard core pack down. then lay 150mm concrete let dry. then slurry the concrete then screed. slurry screed lay tiles into wet screed and slurry taping down grout next day.but first clean all tiles. then lay them on to a tenplate of the area to be tiled.make sure you have anought now paper face them let paper dry now cut into 300x 300 sheets or there abouts this will make them quick to fix good luck :8:

 

[Dan]

^ very good advice there! ^ Cheers Ray.

 

[White Room]

You could add some fibres to the concrete mix, Pavingexpert - Reinforcement for Concrete scroll down to fibres at bottom of the page...

 

[zerocool_jj2000]

A concrete base would be a good base to tile to. There might be other options though?

You'd then need a cement-based adhesive to fix them with, and a cement-based grout to grout them with.

I'd actually consider checking to see how much a tiler would charge to do it for you as geo-floors can be time consuming and don't look good when they're not perfectly flat and clean with even grout joints throughout. I wouldn't normally suggest this, don't think we're touting for work here.

Well done on finding them too. Are they in good condition or would they need cleaning and sealing?

Hey I bought them from Les Oaks in stoke- o- t trouble is the blue inserts are re manufactured and are 10mm thick half the thickness of the terrcotta ones not ideal!! I've located some proper Minton inserts but they won't sell them seperatly which I can understand..oh condition wise, there is a little grout that needs removing and the faces do need a clean but they do look to be in good condition.
I might look for a local chap to have a look! Cheers

 

[zerocool_jj2000]

dig out path 250mm then lay 50mm hard core pack down. then lay 150mm concrete let dry. then slurry the concrete then screed. slurry screed lay tiles into wet screed and slurry taping down grout next day.but first clean all tiles. then lay them on to a tenplate of the area to be tiled.make sure you have anought now paper face them let paper dry now cut into 300x 300 sheets or there abouts this will make them quick to fix good luck :8:

Great advice cheers just what I was lookin for, just a few things i could do with you elaberating on paper facing?? Im guessing it's to stop the tiles gettin soiled? And also I'm fine with the hardcore and concrete but I'm just concerned about the slurry screed as it sounds like it all has to be done in one hit, the sceeding and laying of the tiles. What mix would the screed be? Cheers!

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

Great advice cheers just what I was lookin for, just a few things i could do with you elaberating on paper facing?? Im guessing it's to stop the tiles gettin soiled? And also I'm fine with the hardcore and concrete but I'm just concerned about the slurry screed as it sounds like it all has to be done in one hit, the sceeding and laying of the tiles. What mix would the screed be? Cheers!

once you have layed out the tiles on ten plate as they are going to be fixed leave out the last boarder piece
this you can trim in to suit once fixed .you then stick sheets of brown paper on face to keep together you should be able to get this on line or from a mosaic outlet you then lay tiles and wash over paper after a few mins you peel the paper off make ajustments where needed dont forget to number the sheets .the slurry is neat cemment and water mixed this shoul be runy when mixed .screed 4 sand 1cement fine sharp.it should be done in one hit thats why you paper face the mosaic

 

[zerocool_jj2000]

once you have layed out the tiles on ten plate as they are going to be fixed leave out the last boarder piece
this you can trim in to suit once fixed .you then stick sheets of brown paper on face to keep together you should be able to get this on line or from a mosaic outlet you then lay tiles and wash over paper after a few mins you peel the paper off make ajustments where needed dont forget to number the sheets .the slurry is neat cemment and water mixed this shoul be runy when mixed .screed 4 sand 1cement fine sharp.it should be done in one hit thats why you paper face the mosaic

Over due picture! i can picture what your on about now but they arnt actually mosaics. the path is 8 foot odd dead straight. i would have it the width of say 5 tiles and would obviously have to cut the outer blue tiles, finished with blues rope edging. im quite comfident that id beable to lay the tiles individually once cleaned up in one sitting..so i guess id be laying them on a thin coat of wet slurry once the base is sorted? thanks for all you replys

ps any suggestions on where to get hold of the blue tiles would be much appreciated.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

View attachment 44061

Over due picture! i can picture what your on about now but they arnt actually mosaics. the path is 8 foot odd dead straight. i would have it the width of say 5 tiles and would obviously have to cut the outer blue tiles, finished with blues rope edging. im quite comfident that id beable to lay the tiles individually once cleaned up in one sitting..so i guess id be laying them on a thin coat of wet slurry once the base is sorted? thanks for all you replys

ps any suggestions on where to get hold of the blue tiles would be much appreciated.

take a look at a little vid should give you a little sample

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

This design is what I would call octagon and dot, or york in the Original style brochure, I think Rays advice presumed you were screeding the concrete base and then fixing into semi dry in one hit using slurry, a good traditional method. But you can't use just slurry directly onto cured concrete. If you can get the concrete perfectly flat, once it has cured completely you might be better using a cement based adhesive.

If you check out the you tube link in my signature, you will see a reclaimed floor fixed on a cured screed using adhesive. Good luck.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Sorry Ray post overlap.