NOOBIE - Preparing to tile a floor

[bohboh]

I have read around what to do in order to tile a floor with ceramic tiles properly.

The biggest piece of advice i see around a lot is in preparation, planning where to start tiles. This involves chalking areas and start lines.

The problem with mine is that it is an L shaped room.

can someone explain WHY it is important? what is it that improves when doing it by just starting in a corner?
I have read all about the how, its the why i am stuck with. Once i know the why then it will help me in knowing where to start laying.

[Colour Republic]

you need to set the room out so that you have decent sized cuts all around the room. Starting in a corner on with a full tile off the wall may cause 3 problems

1) It may leave you with very thin cuts on the other side of the room and around the l shaped room in general

2) The wall you start on may not be straight so can cause all sorts of problems with your spacing

3) The wall may not be at a perfect right angle to the adjoing wall, so as you lay the tiles across the room a gap may start forming along the adjoing wall.

I know it is more work but for a decent finish you should end up with cut tiles around the parameter of the room.

What is the substrate you are tiling onto? that is the most import factor to get right with any tiling

[bohboh]

Ah, I see.

Tiling straight onto concrete. I was informed by my merchants that I wont need levelling compound. Adjust the adhesive to get them level.

So the point to planning is to end up with cut tiles around the edge of the room? (assuming i dont get lucky and not end up with complete tiles throughout)

[Colour Republic]

Ah, I see.

Tiling straight onto concrete. I was informed by my merchants that I wont need levelling compound. Adjust the adhesive to get them level.

So the point to planning is to end up with cut tiles around the edge of the room? (assuming i dont get lucky and not end up with complete tiles throughout)

I think the odds on winning the lottery jackpot are smaller than finding a perfect room which won't need cuts, you need to play around with the setting out to aim for every cut to be bigger than half a tile.

I don't see how the merchants can advise you on the state of the floor without seeing it first hand, it's true you can build up the addy in areas (within limits of the addy) but can prove tricky for a novice. If it's tiny amounts the build up with addy (you know not to dot and dab tiles don't you?), if it's quite bad i'd use an SLC first, which will make life easier.

What adhesive are you planning on using?

[bohboh]

I don't see how the merchants can advise you on the state of the floor without seeing it first hand, it's true you can build up the addy in areas (within limits of the addy) but can prove tricky for a novice. If it's tiny amounts the build up with addy (you know not to dot and dab tiles don't you?), if it's quite bad i'd use an SLC first, which will make life easier.

What adhesive are you planning on using?

Yep, apply an arms length worth of adhesive to the floor and place tile. Keeping an eye on levels using a spirit level throughout.
As for the adhesive, not sure on the make. It was in powder form ready to be made up, as opposed to the ready made ones.

[bohboh]

What skills are required for an SLC, plasterer? How "self levelling" are they?

[thescruff]

The other problem with not leveling the floor, is you would need to start the tiles, in the highest place, and not necessarily the correct place.

[Colour Republic]

The trick to SLC is to get the mix right, it will need slight troweling but if you get the mix right then they are quite good at leveling themselves.

If this is your first floor then I would suggest you use a normal set addy not a rapid which is what most retailers would suggest for a floor as you can grout and subject it to light foot traffic the same day. But if you are too slow you will end up wasting loads, so go for the normal set and don't walk on it for a day

[bohboh]

The other problem with not leveling the floor, is you would need to start the tiles, in the highest place, and not necessarily the correct place.

I get it, so start at the highest place in order to get them all level.

[bohboh]

The trick to SLC is to get the mix right, it will need slight troweling but if you get the mix right then they are quite good at leveling themselves.

If this is your first floor then I would suggest you use a normal set addy not a rapid which is what most retailers would suggest for a floor as you can grout and subject it to light foot traffic the same day. But if you are too slow you will end up wasting loads, so go for the normal set and don't walk on it for a day

I deliberately got the non rapid set one, for that very reason so i dont feel rushed. :)

The house is empty at the moment so there is no hurry for them to set.

[bohboh]

OK, i have decided to get someone in.
What are typical costs for a tiler to tile 19sq metres? In leicester.

[Colour Republic]

depends on the tile but for ceramic anywhere between £20-£30sqm, there are lots of chancers out there that think they can tile so make sure you seek a tiler who knows what they are talking about.

And if you see them sticking blobs of adhesive on the back, kick 'em out the door

[Rookery]

When do you want it done. I can put you in touch with some very good tilers in your area.