Tiling the floor of a newly built conservatory.

[SOTON STEVE]

Hi Guys

Can anyone tell me how long I need to wait before I can tile the floor of a just built conservatory. Surely it needs time to settle first and that there will be movement. I am going to quote for this job tomorrow. The conservatory is not built as yet. The customer wants to start tiling in 1 month. Is this too soon?

Steve

[LM Ceramics]

i think the concrete base will need at least a month to try if not longer looks like your customer will have to wait

[grumpygrouter]

With conservatories, there can be huge variations in temperature which can cause expansion/contraction. Why don't you consider using a decoupling membrane, this will isolate the tiled surface from any substrate movement and will mean you can tile much earlier.

[davy_G]

The customers timeline seems a bit fast but they are probably trying do make sure everything runs as smooth as possible.
Usually 1 day for 1mm of depth of screed. Summer laid floor will dry a little quicker. Explain the curing times to the customer then if they want to puch on suggest Grumpys solution of the decoupling membrane, means you can tile on green screed as soon as you can walk on it as well as sorting the temp issues. Adds to the price though!

[Daz]

I agree with Grumps re: expansion / contraction.
Conservatories can be quite volatile when it comes to temperature, so try and leave a perimeter joint too (if possible).

You could use a green screed adhesive, which will allow you to tile after a couple of days of the screed going down, but like a decoupling membrane, it ain't cheap!

[Ajax123]

Only way you will tile the floor this quickly with any degree of safety would be to use a decoupling membrane. 75mm concrete takes at least 90 days to dry properly.

[hillhead]

Or you could tell your customer to get a rapid setting screed put down,
I tiled on a 50m2 floor which was only down 5 days,it was rapid and i used mapei keraquick,a hotel kitched prep area.No probs with it at all,hard work though,8"x8" tiles and a day to finish it !! with skirting tiles too,a long day it was. that was last summer and its still doing its job.

[Ajax123]

Or you could tell your customer to get a rapid setting screed put down,
I tiled on a 50m2 floor which was only down 5 days,it was rapid and i used mapei keraquick,a hotel kitched prep area.No probs with it at all,hard work though,8"x8" tiles and a day to finish it !! with skirting tiles too,a long day it was. that was last summer and its still doing its job.

problem is not moisture on this on but thermal gain as its in a conservatory. Even rapid set screed is going to be relatively unstable at that age when subjected to wide temerature changes likely to be expected in the summer months in a conservatory. Could use dynamically stable screed like anhydrite but if not spec'd right (minimum depth 35mm - 35 days drying time in good conditions) then use CaSO4 based tile addy to match expansion and contraction characteristics. Can be put down when screed still relatively wet (85% RH). Trouble is it's not really very financially viable on very small jobs like this You can get bagged CaSO4 based screeds but not sure how cost effective they are. I still say decoupling mat is safest way to go. Might seem expensive but only a small job and will save a lot of headache later on.

[bighen]

Hi

Try this info - helpful for scheduling

Warmafloor - Underfloor Heating and Cooling