DIY Related: DIY PROJECT - granite tiling 8sm

[zygo]

I've picked up loads of wisdom here from the sages of tiling to rewrite a DIY Schedule of Works and would welcome any criticism, suggestions or alternative views from anyone before I start. I will donate THANKS to everyone responding.

PROJECT - to tile the concrete floor of a garage conversion using granite

ROOM: 3.4M by 2.4M. (about 8 square metres). No skirting. Not exactly square. New sub-floor of 80mm deep sand/cement laid 3 months ago over 80mm Celcon which was laid on new DP Membrane placed over original dry concrete floor (never damp in 25 yrs). It will require 96 tiles or part tiles (12 x 8)
ME: Fussy, decent DIY skills but never laid floor tiles. I’m working alone.
TILES: Polished granite 305x305x10 (Absolute black), 2mm bevel edge.
SPACERS: I'd appreciate any suggestions on what gaps I should leave between tiles as I have not yet bought the spacers

PRIMER/SEALANT: 1 litre of BAL BOND SBR - Styrene Rubber Butadiene (Anyone know a stockist in Essex?), diluted with 4 litres water.
SCREED: (Self-levelling) open to suggestions ..........
ADHESIVE: Mapei Keraquick grey from Screwfix at £6.89/5kg (I'm told I'll need EIGHT packs OK?)
GROUT: Mapei Ultracolour Plus in Black (or Anthracite?) at £10.99/5kgs (How many?)

DAY ONE:
1. Sweep and vacuum sub floor.
2. Seal it with SBR, (starting in the furthest corner from the door )
3. Leave to dry – one hour. Breakfast.
4. Within 24 hours of applying SBR, pour self-levelling screed, spreading with a steel float.
5. Leave to go off – overnight. Allow some ventilation.

DAY TWO:
6. Find centre of each wall and pop a chalk line to divide the floor into quadrants (each 2 sm).
7. Mix enough adhesive to cover 2 sm.
8. Apply to quadrant 1 (further from door) and spread with 10mm square notched trowel (£6.99 Screwfix).
9. Using cross spacers, lay first 15 tiles, starting at centre where lines cross (if I can still see them under the adhesive!).
10 Check with level for even laying
11 Measure and cut the 9 wall-edge tiles on wet saw, and lay them, checking against the rest with a level. Remove excess addy from between tiles.
Stop for tea.
12 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 2 (next furthest from door)
Stop for the day

DAY THREE:
13 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 3 (next furthest from door)
Stop for tea
14 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 4, cutting round doorway.
Leave 48 hours.

DAY FIVE:
15 Grout the joints (wearing gloves!) Any special technique to use?


Thanks will be given for all input, as usual. If you should know of any good video to download, that would be great but I'd especially appreciate some guidance on quantities of adhesive and grout required and what the 'standard' grout gap is between 12 inch floor tiles. My spirit level is about 36 inches. A 6 ft one would be better but is is ESSENTIAL?

Many thanks.
Z

[penno]

Will post more later in a rush atm,
For adhesive mate work off around 4-5 sqm per 20kg

[zygo]

Thanks, penno. For eight metres, I'll be needing 8 packs then (8x5 = 40kgs). Is it the same if I get tubs of readymix or bags of powdered?
Z

[wetdec]

I've picked up loads of wisdom here from the sages of tiling to rewrite a DIY Schedule of Works and would welcome any criticism, suggestions or alternative views from anyone before I start. I will donate THANKS to everyone responding.

PROJECT - to tile the concrete floor of a garage conversion using granite

ROOM: 3.4M by 2.4M. (about 8 square metres). No skirting. Not exactly square. New sub-floor of 80mm deep sand/cement laid 3 months ago over 80mm Celcon which was laid on new DP Membrane placed over original dry concrete floor (never damp in 25 yrs). It will require 96 tiles or part tiles (12 x 8)
ME: Fussy, decent DIY skills but never laid floor tiles. I’m working alone.
TILES: Polished granite 305x305x10 (Absolute black), 2mm bevel edge.
SPACERS: I'd appreciate any suggestions on what gaps I should leave between tiles as I have not yet bought the spacers
3mm
PRIMER/SEALANT: 1 litre of BAL BOND SBR - Styrene Rubber Butadiene (Anyone know a stockist in Essex?), diluted with 4 litres water.
As it says on the drum
SCREED: (Self-levelling) open to suggestions ..........
Any (latex not required)

ADHESIVE: Mapei Keraquick grey from Screwfix at £6.89/5kg (I'm told I'll need EIGHT packs OK?)
Go to your local tile supplyer dont be fiddling with screwfix you will need 2x20kg normal (not fast set)flex GREY

GROUT: Mapei Ultracolour Plus in Black (or Anthracite?) at £10.99/5kgs (How many?) Again find a local supplyer start with 1

DAY ONE:
1. Sweep and vacuum sub floor.
2. Seal it with SBR, (starting in the furthest corner from the door )
3. Leave to dry – one hour. Breakfast.
4. Within 24 hours of applying SBR, pour self-levelling screed, spreading with a steel float.
5. Leave to go off – overnight. Allow some ventilation.

DAY TWO:
6. Find centre of each wall and pop a chalk line to divide the floor into quadrants (each 2 sm).

Now you have the centre of ur room
Now flip (starting corner on your line)your tile corner to corner from your centre point to the wall, if the tile arrives and you have a narrow cut do it again this time starting with middle of tile on line. Doing this will give you good cuts that allow for wall run out and save you granite (poss get 2 cuts out of 1 tile). Do this in both directions

7. Mix enough adhesive to cover 2 sm.
8. Apply to quadrant 1 (further from door) and spread with 10mm square notched trowel (£6.99 Screwfix).
9. Using cross spacers, lay first 15 tiles, starting at centre where lines cross (if I can still see them under the adhesive!).
10 Check with level for even laying leave level in shop or there will be no tea, you want no lippage that is suficient
11 Measure and cut the 9 wall-edge tiles on wet saw, and lay them, checking against the rest with a level. Remove excess addy from between tiles.
Stop for tea.
12 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 2 (next furthest from door)
Stop for the day

DAY THREE:
13 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 3 (next furthest from door)
Stop for tea
14 Repeat steps 7 to 11 in quadrant 4, cutting round doorway.
Leave 48 hours.

DAY FIVE: 3 days later (you got a lot of moisture under there now it could patch if you dont leave it)
15 Grout the joints (wearing gloves!) Any special technique to use?

grout float


Thanks will be given for all input, as usual. If you should know of any good video to download, that would be great but I'd especially appreciate some guidance on quantities of adhesive and grout required and what the 'standard' grout gap is between 12 inch floor tiles. My spirit level is about 36 inches. A 6 ft one would be better to hold the door closed but is is ESSENTIAL?

Many thanks.
Z

Thanks, penno. For eight metres, I'll be needing 8 packs then (8x5 = 40kgs). Is it the same if I get tubs of readymix or bags of powdered? Second post in your other thread
Z

This should help


tiler

[zygo]

Fantastic, thanks for all that. I see you don't put much store by using a level - it's just all done by 'feel' then - running your finger along the joints to make sure that each tile is the same height as the one next to it?
I understand your point about moving the centre line - in fact it comes out pretty well with a bit more than half a tile against all four walls. The only possible adjustment is for the door way - double French doors, with a reveal of about 5 inches.
I know its a matter of personal choice but do you usually encourage your customers to go for black grout with black tiles, or anthracite, or grey ....... or pink perhaps???

Z

[wetdec]

its personal choice but you dont really want to frame black


..

[zygo]

So black grout then. Good. Gets everywhere I understand. Better buy some extra.
Useful comment, thanks wetdecs.
z

[deanotile]

If you pm me your emale address I will send you a power point for the setting out

[zygo]

Have done, deanotile. VERY helpful. Can't wait.

Thanks
Z

[andy-p]

Fantastic, thanks for all that. I see you don't put much store by using a level - it's just all done by 'feel' then - running your finger along the joints to make sure that each tile is the same height as the one next to it?
I understand your point about moving the centre line - in fact it comes out pretty well with a bit more than half a tile against all four walls. The only possible adjustment is for the door way - double French doors, with a reveal of about 5 inches.
I know its a matter of personal choice but do you usually encourage your customers to go for black grout with black tiles, or anthracite, or grey ....... or pink perhaps???

Z

i prefer anthracite to black but it is personal choice as you say, mapei do a colour chart..

[zygo]

Mmm! I have not seen the colour chart but thought anthracite might be interesting. I included it as a possible when first planning this project. I guess it's a dark grey (which most "black" granite is anyway).

It's a toss up between that anthracite and the canary yellow then ........................