advice needed on using slate

[spudmurphy]

hi guys,
been asked to quote to lay 17m of slate tiles in a kitchen through to the hall,just after any tips when using slate for the first time also wondering what you guys would roughly charge for the job ,the tiles are being laid onto concrete,also what would be the best product to seal the tiles with

[grumpygrouter]

Use Lithofin Stainstop mn for sealing the slate. The tiles will need to be wet cut and make sure you clean off any dust from the back of the tile to aid adhesion. If it is uncalibrated you may want to consider a pourable thick bed adhesives. You may also need to grade the slate first and when fixing, put the thinnest stuff around the edges.

[spudmurphy]

thanks for the advice so quick, bit worried about pricing up mind not to sure the average price for slate per m,

[TilingLogistics]

I think laying slate should be priced at between £35-£45 a metre depending on the amount of cutting, washing, grading involved. I used to wash all my slate, then grade it prior to laying. That alone used to take me the best part of a day with the setting out but the smallest job I did was about 28M2 so you may get it done in a 1/2 day with 17M2

Kev

[MICK the Tiler]

It won't be considered for you guys up there, but I charge $145m2 for all natural stone work including trav, marble, sandstone, slate etc etc.

[TilingLogistics]

Mick,

That equates to £68M2 roughly

Kev

[MICK the Tiler]

I know it's expensive , but if I come down any lower, that's all the work I'd be doing, not great for the body. I also wouldn't consider a 17m2 a stone job either not enough in it for me even at a higher price, it has to be at least 100m2 plus to get me out to look at it. I still also wet bed alot of my stone still and it is slower but easier to level uncalibrated stone.

[TilingLogistics]

Mick,

Do you have a lot of Stone Floor Restoration guys out there? I ask because talking to Aqua Mix and Klindex they both seem to have a very big presence is Australia. Furthermore the guy I did my advanced restoration and grinding course with in Philadelphia in the USA actually runs that course once a year in Australia because there is that much interest in it!

Kev

[MICK the Tiler]

Mick,

Do you have a lot of Stone Floor Restoration guys out there? I ask because talking to Aqua Mix and Klindex they both seem to have a very big presence is Australia. Furthermore the guy I did my advanced restoration and grinding course with in Philadelphia in the USA actually runs that course once a year in Australia because there is that much interest in it!

Kev

Not over run with restoration guys down here Kev plenty of work to be had There is acres of stone in every type and shape laid all over the place. Cobblestone driveways are the latest design fad at the moment with people spending $100,000 plus on there drive also most if not all shopping centres down here are terazzo floors which need maintaining and polishing. If you look at the thread "The Mansion" there is 800m2 of stone in that one house with another 500m2 to do the driveway in cobble. There are not enough skilled people down here that know how to fit and refinish stone to a high standard.

[TilingLogistics]

Not over run with restoration guys down here Kev plenty of work to be had There is acres of stone in every type and shape laid all over the place. Cobblestone driveways are the latest design fad at the moment with people spending $100,000 plus on there drive also most if not all shopping centres down here are terazzo floors which need maintaining and polishing. If you look at the thread "The Mansion" there is 800m2 of stone in that one house with another 500m2 to do the driveway in cobble. There are not enough skilled people down here that know how to fit and refinish stone to a high standard.

Strange you should mention those. I have been called in to clean two recently and they have always been massive in Germany. The latest thing taking off over here seems to be polished concrete, It looks absolutely fantastic, requires little or no maintainance and looks almost as good as a Marble or Terrazzo floor!

Kev

[MICK the Tiler]

Strange you should mention those. I have been called in to clean two recently and they have always been massive in Germany. The latest thing taking off over here seems to be polished concrete, It looks absolutely fantastic, requires little or no maintainance and looks almost as good as a Marble or Terrazzo floor!

Kev

Polished concrete is popular down here too Kev, But I'm not a big fan.

[woodie]

It won't be considered for you guys up there, but I charge $145m2 for all natural stone work including trav, marble, sandstone, slate etc etc.

Blimey Mick any jobs going down there?

[LM Ceramics]

i think i might join you in oz mick