Help with travertine (new tiler)

**Morton_Tiling** · 28-10-2008

Hi.
I`m a new tiler who did the 8 day course at NETT 2 months ago. I have been a wood floor fitter for 4 years just wanted add some strings to my bow and all that jazz.
anyway, my third tiling job is quite a biggy and I was hoping for some help on few points.

the tiles in question are 610x610x15mm Travertine. it is going in a 27m2 "T" shaped conservatory on a concrete floor with underfloor heating (piped)
The floor is very uneven, smooth but highs and lows all over
Customer wants NO grout line at all
and he wants the tiles as the skirting boards.
How much would you price for this work? without the leveling.
I`m worried about butting up the tiles especially as the floor is uneven (i know it needs leveling but I doubt my handyman mates skill to get the level perfect.)
Any help would be fantastic and i`ll also get some pictures of my first 2 jobs on here too for a bit of constuctive critisim.

Cheers,
Scott

doug boardley · 28-10-2008

I'd personally tell customer to stick it, (politely!)if he doesn't want the job doing right, tiles will buckle if they are butted up, do you know anyone who could lay a self levelling flexible screed?

**Sir Ramic** · 28-10-2008

1st you need to get the floor level before tiling with those size tiles. Trying to pack out with adhesive will be too messy.
You will need a suitable leveller that can be used on UFH.
2nd You must have a joint and most adhesive manufacturers quote 3mm min.
3rd an expansion joint at least around the perimeter of the room and in every 8 - 10 metre run, also over any existing expansion joints in the floor.
4th Has the UFH been tested ? It needs to be and then let cool down before tiling
5th i would be using Ditra or Durabase type membrane myself with travertine
6th Grouting done with a flexible grout, shade to blend in with the travertine.

This is not an easy job and if you are not confident then walk away now. get it wrong and it could cost you dearly.

**Morton_Tiling** · 28-10-2008

Thanks for your help so far.

The customers wife has a friend who has had travertine butt jointed and she loves the look. so as you can imagine it will be difficult for me to say " sorry love, no chance."
I fully agree with you that the floor needs to be leveled and that grouting should be done. The underfloor heating works and dimensions of room mean no expansion joint needed.
I didnt mention that the Trav is already filled.
I know that I said it is only my third job but I feel I can make it look great just I need a bit of help with the prep etc.

**faithhealer** · 28-10-2008

You need a joint mate, could cost you if you try to butt joint them.

**Sir Ramic** · 28-10-2008

You need expansion around the perimeter.
Its your choice but i like to sleep at night.

**graham31** · 28-10-2008

It's the butt joints that would put me off.Maybe her friend has got lucky way hers that its not buckled with no grout lines.(more experience tilers will know better on this)
For me if she didn't want grout lines and didn't want to listen to me and my advice i'd walk away,You could be opening up a can of worms for your self.

The last thing you need starting out is a job going terribly wrong and ruining your reputation before you even have 1!

tread carefully way this one

**charlie1** · 28-10-2008

min req 3mm deflection over a 2m span. You need to get the substraight within this. Get yoor 2m feather edge all over it and find out excactly how bad the floor is, this wil tell you how many bags of screed you need.

Tile with white flexy adhesive and you must include a grout join. I do agree it would look better without one however tell the customer that the floor needs one.

Use at least a 13 mm trowel for this floor.