I'm tiling my kitchen floor at the weekend.... AND.....

[Webby Bear]

..... it would be really really helpful if I can detail exactly what I'm gonna do and someone tell me if thats good :)

ok here goes....

1. removing the old lino using a strong scraper and hammer. (i have a heat gun but im worried about fumes so dont want to use this).

2. i think the concrete floor underneath is pretty level apart from a couple of small raised areas (very small) so im gonna get the chisel out and level these off as much as pos. also if i find any major dips im gonna stick in some mortar.

3. i'm then gonna hoover up as much crap and dust if there is any.

4. i'm going to then 'seal' it using Wickes Builders' PVA mixed with 4 or 5 parts water (whatever the tub says to do)

5. once dry im going to lay the tiles using b&q's concrete floor tile adhesive and use the adhesive depth to iron out any other imperfections in the floor.

Sound good? lol

[DIY_Johnny]

If you're a novice, like me, i found its crucial to get the floor level as possible before tiling. Trying using the tile adhesive to level up is hard and messy.

Get a bag of levelling compound, its very easy and gives a great surface for tiling and drys quick

Also I would use bal or mapei bagged adhesive rather than B&Q, Stuff in builders yards are cheaper and stock better quality stuff. You can mix it with a cheapo drill paddle.

Finally I found the non-rapid set much better to use, as work slow and the rapid ones sets in the bucket as you work. I guess as you need to use the kitchen this may not be a choice though.

Best of luck

[marc1106]

ok up untill PVA !!!!

first depending on the size of tiles you DONT want to be using readymix addy! 200x300 and larger you want a bagged (cement based) addy!

you will also need to use an acrylic based primer on the floor too!
and as Johnny said "pour a bag or two" of slc over the floor before you tile or prime this will give you a great level to tile onto and save addy too!

[Webby Bear]

thank you both for the info :) ill do what u said.

just out of interest why not pva? ive been told that will give me a nice surface to tile on and will seal all the dust the concrete floor produces.

thanks again guys :):):)

[marc1106]

thank you both for the info :) ill do what u said.

just out of interest why not pva? ive been told that will give me a nice surface to tile on and will seal all the dust the concrete floor produces.

thanks again guys :):):)

it creates a "skin" and doesnt really absorb into what you coat it with, and once you wet it it becomes "live" again. if you use a BAL or mapei acrylic primer as per instructions then you will have somthing that truly seals and primes the subsurface!

[DIY_Johnny]

I used BAL APD and it was great! You can get it in topps tiles I think

Used BAL SBR for tiling on a ply floor in the bathroom and had to take a tile up. Ripped the ply At least it was stuck well