levelling.. again

[mutley]

Hi,
been asked to tile a small entrance hall approx 14' x 3' for a mate. The entrance hall is on the ground floor of a block of 4 flats and is really only a token effort to tidy the stair before selling the flat.

The surface is well worn with variations in level, up and down of about 15-20mm across the whole area. The floor itself looks to be of old flag stones or somehting similar and is probably the original building work of the early 50s. Although the area is external to the flats it is internal as in it is covered from the elements etc

Now she only wants a quick fix before selling but if i do it i'd rather make as good a job as i can.She hasn't made her mind up what is going on the floor but I can gaurantee it'll be cheap To add to my woes she stays on the first floor, the tiles are going on the ground floor(step out of your flat onto my nicely wet levelled floor/ newly laid tiles )

The question is, can I level this with SLC, would it be better to break up the floor and put a sand and cement screed down or ?

As you can see, this is a new one for me but if I dont try I'll never learn

Thanks in advance.

[Dave]

It's hard to say without seeing the floor......but i would say level it and then Ditra to isolate the old flags.....have you taken any pics..?..

[mutley]

Not as yet Dave, first opportunity I get I will.

Then I'll ask how to post up pics

Then you can all laugh when you see that my description of it all bears no resemblence to the area I described

[Dave]

All you do is load the pic onto your pc...( desktop/documnets etc) then in your profile click new album then upload pic then you browse your pc to find it in whatever folder you have it in..then upload....easy as that......then when you have uploaded then click the bbcode in the album pic and then paste into your post......any probs just shout out.......

[mutley]

Cheers Dave,

Hopefully the pics will describe better than I can.

Ta

[mutley]

Dave, hopefully there'll be photos attached... Apologies for the quality but on the mobile.

Sad to say that I really should pay attention, definately not flagstones but a concrete slab in a bad way
What do think this time ?

Any advice appreciated.

Ta

[Dave]

Deffo one substrate for Ditra.... i would level it first then install the Ditra so the cracks don't transfer to the tiles.........

p.s...is that damp patch on the floor just from the rain..?...

[mutley]

Cheers,

yeah the "damp patch" is no more than rain, far right of that shot(in black) is the exterior door from the stairwell into the street, if it aint closed it gets wet.

Happy with the ditra, anything in particular when it comes to the levelling due to the location ?

Once again thanks.

[Dave]

Is it subject to frost do you think....can't see it but thought i would ask..?

[mutley]

I'd say not but only just. Its protected by the external door and willl draw some heat from the flats in my opinion.

[Dave]

OK then.......I use Ardex k15.....that will level that no probs....leave to dry over night then lay the ditra and then tile with suitable adhesive for the tiles.....

P.s.. you could also use the Durabase uncoupling membrane...

[mutley]

Cheers