Help!: Laying slate

[mart08]

Hi guys,

Just after any top tips on laying slate floor tiles 300 x300 brick bond. Got 30m2 to lay in a hallway and into a dining room, I will be laying 12mm ply and also will be sealing tiles. Is this best to do before or after fixing? Been told to seal before cutting, is this right? Also thinking of using flexi rapid set.

Any other pointers would be most appreciated as this is my first slate job.
I'm all

[murf]

Grade all your slate according to thickness then start with the thickest and work the others to same level. Its not neccessary to seal before you lay if your reasonably clean with your fixing technique. When slate is fixed seal before grouting. After the grout has set clean floor thoroughly leave to dry then seal again. Good luck with the job

[bigneil]

i personally would seal them before you start, rapid set flexi will ne fine if your ply is at least 15 mm thick. for thinner ply use BAL fastflex (2 part mix) or granfix ultimate flex, or ardex 7001.
are they all the same thickness, or are they all different?. if they are all different, sort out a stack of the thickest ones and use them first then bed the others up to the same height.
OH, if they have to be bedded up a lot then large format stone tile adhesive might be your best bet.

[wetdec]

If you seal stone or slate before you fix it then you are going to have to wash it first on slate this will cost you a day on stone it will cost you at least 2 days.

Slate is formed in layers like/is shale so the actual permiable areas are the sides, that said very little is absorbed through top and bottom. As a result little sticks when laying that cant easily be wiped away, adhesive is important and should be enhanced as the same applies to the bottom the slate should be allowed to sit in it rather than on it.

Basically there is no benefit to sealing Slate b4 fixing.


tiler

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[TilingLogistics]

I disagree with Wetdec. A temporary sealer such as BAL applied after washing and prior to fixing or prior to grouting definately helps with grout cleanup if you are not experienced.

Kev

[Dave]

I lay slate before sealing....i give it a wipe with a sponge on the back to remove surface dust then bed into the adhesive bed , wiping any adhesive that squashes through off the tiles....

Then when dry i give the floor two washes to get it clean from dust and surface crap.....then leave to dry and then seal...

Once the sealer is dry then i grout....and wash to get it clean again....depending on the sealer being used some only require one coat some two or more......

Slate is quite dense so will only absorb so much sealer.......

[wetdec]

I disagree with Wetdec. A temporary sealer such as BAL applied after washing and prior to fixing or prior to grouting definately helps with grout cleanup if you are not experienced.

Kev

Only if the surface is honed or polished......... should be applied to smooth surface



tiler

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[CJ]

I really really REALLY hate doing slate.

[wetdec]

Na walk in the park ....


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[TilingLogistics]

Na walk in the park ....


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I agree with that especially if you use a dryish mix of sand and cement to grout

Kev