www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi there,

Very new to DIY and have been thurst into it after i have purchased my first house so please forgive a basic question.

I would like to lay natural slate tiles in my kitchen/ downstairs bathroom but the tiles are very uneven underneath (up to 5mm undulation) and i am slightly apprehensive about paying more for adhesive than the tiles. (Tiles are relatively cheap and the adhesive is not!!)

Would there be any problems with laying the tiles and using concrete as an adhesive as it much cheaper and is often used underfoot?

The tiles are going straight down onto a solid concrete screed so there won't be any movement in the tiles so is there something else i should be considering...

Also, since the stone will be used in the kitchen the chances of dropping fat/ grease onto it is quite high: is there anything i can seal the tiles with that will protect against this leaving stains?

Many thanks for any help!!

Chris

Most people I have spoken to who put slate down regret it.

DWD

Why the regrets? Is it the staining issue?

This may be the reason they are cheap!!

Yes, and they are a pig to lay with uneven thickness. They mark and scratch easily apparently. See what the tilers say when they come on as I am not an expert.

DWD

Appearance is subjective, I like them but others dont. Slate tiles are usually cheap to buy but time consuming to fix properly. Assuming they are not calibrated (ie they are of varying thicknesses) I recommend you take the following steps:
1 Wash slate in clean water and leave to dry
2 Apply a sealer to the tile face and leave to dry. LTP Mattstone, LTP Ironwax Satin or LTP Ironwax Gloss, depending on the finished look you want, would be my choice
3 Sort into 3 or 4 ranges of thickness
4 Start fixing with the thickest batch first. That way you will avoid most of the lipping
5 As you progress through the thinner tiles, thicken up the bed of adhesive. My choice would be Mapei Keraquick but if a 30 minute pot life is too short for you, I would suggest Mapei Keraflex Maxi, pot life 8 hours but it is a slow setting adhesive
6 As you fix, clean off any excess adhesive with a sponge and clean water
7 Apply another coat of sealer
8 Grout
9 Seal again
10 Stand back and admire your work


Alternatively, call in a pro to fix them for you