Packing floor tiles

[Brad]

Hi all

First time i'm using this website so hope no teething problems. I would like some advice on the best/quickest way to pack floor tiles on an uneven floor.

A buddy has suggested lifting each tile after laying it to make sure there is enough coverage under the tile. This would be very time consuming especially if it is a large floor. Is there a practical method that I could try?

Thanks for any help.

[JIMBOB187]

I'd say blobbing or back buttering the tiles aswell as combing the floor. Other more experienced tilers I'm sure will advise as well. Regards

[Brad]

Thanks Jimbob

This may sound like a stupid question but how do you make sure that you are consistently getting enough coverage? How can i be absolutely sure without lifting the tile? Especially with critical material like limestone?

[TilingLogistics]

trowel the floor and backbutter the tile

Kev

[LM Ceramics]

my advice would be to try and get the floor as flat as possible but its not always the case so id agree with above posts spread the adhesive as normal and back butter the tiles try use a solid bed trowel if the floor is uneven

[JIMBOB187]

Exactly The extra adhesive given by back buttering the tile compensates for any uneven areas in the floor, basically allowing for adjustments in the individual tile, look for your highest point and use a good spirit level, if it all goes tits, Lino mate.

[grumpygrouter]

Best way is to get the floor flat before you start.

[Grace'sDad]

Best way is to get the floor flat before you start.

Never a truer word spoken! Seriously - spend time / money getting the floor smooth. Even if it takes you hours - it will be less time than you'll spend lifting and back-buttering, and you'll have a nicer end result.

Polishing turds is ALWAYS hard work.

[Dave]

IF you do have to pack up a bit then use an adhesive that is suitable for thick bedding tiles......most are only suitable for about a 6mm bed....so either prep the floor right or try a pourable thick bed adhesive and these can go upto 20mm or so.....

[GazTech]

A self levelling compound can be used to build a floor more to the level you need before tiling, or as Dave mentioned, BAL and Dunlop have Pourable thick bed and Large format adhesives available which will give you up to a 25mm (an inch in old money) bed thickness........Gaz

[smurf21]

save yourself time and heartache use two part latex self levelling compound and get the floor flat to start with trying to pack limestone up or any other tile for that matter is a nightmare and so time consuming good prep is the key.

[bigneil]

Best way is to get the floor flat before you start.

Right on grumpy, it is so much easier to work on a flat surface.
Use self leveling compuond.

[JIMBOB187]

Well there's an example of a knowledge gap I need to fill (or back butter). Can someone explain a pourable thick bed adhesive and any advice on self levelling compound appreciated, never used it before and quite scared of it to be honest. Last two floors I did were both Travertine, absolutely love the stuff (still trying to figure out how to post pics), back buttered both so if I can save time with good prep then wahey.

[whitebeam]

Self leveling would be a good start

[Dave]

BAL Pourable Thick Bed

A cement-based, polymer modified, rapid-setting, water-resistant, frost-resistant floor tile adhesive. Light grey, sulphate-resistant, pourable, thick-bed solid-bed floor tile adhesive suitable for fixing ceramic tiles, quarries, natural stone and terrazzo in interior and exterior situations. The consistency makes it particularly suitable for fixing large tiles and those with profiled backs. Back-buttering is not necessary. Suitable for use on concrete, cement:sand screeds, ceramic/quarry tile/terrazzo/hard natural stone, vinyl tile/sheet bases, mastic asphalt. Conforms to BS EN 12004, Type C, Class 1F.

NOTE: The physical properties of BAL POURABLE THICK BED can be enhanced by the addition of BAL ADMIX AD1. With a classification of BS EN 12004, Type C, Class 2F.


http://194.223.92.131/pdf/Technical%...d_Adhesive.pdf

[Fred]

wonky 4m2 floor today, all over the place. trowelled the floor, back-battered the tiles, sound as a pound, and even checked every other tile, time took, 4 hours, was a dog of a job though, with an old 60's heating system with the grill in the floor, and underfloor out-let pipes forthe toilet and sink...............

[Brad]

thanks for that comprehensive answer dave