Setting out Floor tiles.

[GazSuttonUK]

Hi All, my first post.



I have done wall tiling before but I now need to Tile a Porch Floor. We have bought 120 mm 'imoker' Gres Porcellanato.
They are a rustic with uneven(wavy) edges.

Sontex RS2 Tile Adhesive.

Biscem Grout.

How do I set the rows out, I cannot use spacers because of uneven edges.

What space between the tiles?
Adhesive - how thick?

Any help will be much appreciated.
Gaz.

[grumpygrouter]

Do you have a pic of the tiles?

[deanotile]

Set your floor out, as you would normally ie find the centres. Do not worry about the edges of the tiles as they are supposed to be uneven just ensure that when you put a straight edge in the centre of the joint it is running true. The joints will vary from 3mm to 5mm

[whitebeam]

Set your floor out, as you would normally ie find the centres. Do not worry about the edges of the tiles as they are supposed to be uneven just ensure that when you put a straight edge in the centre of the joint it is running true. The joints will vary from 3mm to 5mm

As above

[Dave]

Your adhesive is fine for porcelain but grout could do with an additive for a good bond to the porcelain..

[Sir Ramic]

Depends whether he is using Vitri-Grout from Biscem.
Vitri-Grout Floor

If using Biscem Wide Joint floor grout needs Flexibond with the mixing water at a ratio of 1:5.

[whitebeam]

Biscem are good grouts, Don't like the addy

[GazSuttonUK]

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated.

Photo of one of the Tile's.

[GazSuttonUK]

Just wondering why the above tile has two straight edges and two wavy edges?

[oogabooga]

Gaz, can't help you with the product side of things, but they look like some seriously wonky tiles - I know they're probably meant to look rustic. I normally use a 10mm trowel on floors, unless I've screeded first, and backbutter porcelain - but with tiles that small I'd opt for a smaller trowel maybe 8mm to prevent excessive slumping.

Don't use spacers - I use the eyechrometer instead. One technique is to ping some chalklines and use these as your controls. Just put your chalklines say 50mm off the tile edges (so you don't lose them under adhesive) and keep checking as you progress so you don't drift off - just make sure your lines are accurate to begin with. Alternatively, if you have a long enough straight edge and the layout is basic, simply anchor the straightedge and use that as your centreline.

I think it's a good idea to move away from using spacers, not many tiles I run across are accurate enough to use them, and also you'll get your "eyechrometer" up and running.

[garhum]

Ive used those tiles spacers are not an option as they can get seriously wonky the mark one eyeball is the best option mate

[GazSuttonUK]

Thanks very much for the info Both.

Sorry to be a pest but:-

How much space between tiles?
What thickness of adhesive?

[oogabooga]

Try dry laying a few to see what spacing works best, the size variation between tiles and the out-of-squareness will dictate this (maybe 5 to 6 mm?? -they look a bit skew-whiff). Even though they are small tiles I'd go with an 8mm trowel and use a small piece of wood as a beating block - to gently tap the tiles once bedded so as to minimize lippage.

[GazSuttonUK]

I've nearly finished the whole tiles and I am very pleased. I have the cutting to do now for the edges. For the cut tiles can I put adhesive onto cut tiles rather than on the floor. Might make it easier for me.
Cheers.

[oogabooga]

No problems with doing the wall cuts that way.