Large format tiles getting them flush

[GaryS]

Hi guys if you have been reading my other posts you will know that Ive been doing a job with 600 * 600 quartz tiles I had to tile on a floor that was anything but flat so it made the job fun, in the end i used packers under the tiles to try hold them in place where the addy was thicker till it set as the weight of these tiles moved them after they were on the floor, my question is this is there an easier way to get these tiles to stay perfectly flush or is it just a case of what i have already done.

[Stewart]

Ideally you should have levelled the floor first with slc, especially with large format tiles as it makes the job so much easier.....

[GaryS]

there was more than 20mm of difference over this area so slc would be costly these big tiles seem to move about a lot after being fitted packers seemed to be the only way to get them to stay put while the addy cured

[Scott]

Packers?
How thick was your mix? If they are slumping under their own weight sounds like it could be too loose a mix. How much are you have to bed them up?

there is always lash clips?

[Scott]

20mm! Is the adhesive ok for that thickness?

[whitebeam]

there was more than 20mm of difference over this area so slc would be costly these big tiles seem to move about a lot after being fitted packers seemed to be the only way to get them to stay put while the addy cured

So's putting all that adhesive down as well.

[GaryS]

in some areas the addy is only 4mm thick but in others it goes to 20mm the floor was a nightmare to keep level it was ptb addy so the depth ok just getting the damn tiles to stay where they were fitted was fun it was those black shiny 12mm thick quartz tiles over a 55m2 area but subfloor wasnt great to say the least. never heard of lash clips ?

[whitebeam]

Tradetiler Tile Spacers

[GaryS]

I knew there had to be an easier way than the time consuming method i used thanks again for the great advice on here

[steve187]

building up tiles is very time consuming and frustrating, away better to get the floor prepared fist.

[doug boardley]

I would have slc'ed the floor, got a good even thickness of addy and flush tiles.....it's all in the preparation.

[Sir Ramic]

Either way you pay for extra adhesive or SLC....I know which I prefer....sounds like a case of cutting corners to me and ending up paying the price !

[SandyFloor]

As above with the slc. What you have to be aware of with laying large format tile(or any floor tile really) is if you get your subfloor right the tiles almost fall into place and very quickly too. If your subfloor is up and down you'll wrestle from start to finish and the job will take a lot longer.

[aph257]

prior preperation prevents poor performance.
The SLC would have cost about the same as the extra addy you have needed, but the extra time (days) you spent fixing the tiles must have cost either you or the client.

[GaryS]

Wrestle was the operative word on this one the finish is nice and flat now but oh boy was it fun to get there, as for slc is there any particular product that would be reconmmended for that kind of thickness, I would normally have used ardtex screeds but wouldnt normaly build up that kind of depth on them.

[doug boardley]

mapei renovation would have done it, weber also do one that can build up to 50mm

[aph257]

i'd have used Mapei Renovation Screed it's the dog'd back wheels IMO.

[fulabeer]

If you do use lash clips, you have to be so careful to avoid "voids".
As the clips pull the tiles level, they can pull away from the addy.
You may not even notice this, as it can happen at the other side/tile whilst fitting the next row.
I found i didn't save any time, and the results were no better than what i would have achieved without the clips.
As mentioned, getting the surface flat first is a much better solution.
The addy is then going on with the same thickness which will help with any slight shrinkage.
It also means you won't have the problem of the tiles slumping due to uneven addy.

Time spent sorting the floor first is easily made back once the tiling starts.
The tiles seem to fly down, and it is so much easier to get them level as the thickness of the addy is less etc.

[GaryS]

I have had a look at the video for those lash clips and they probably would have helped with this one as the addy was as thick in places, easier if floor had been leveled though.

[Dave]

It is all part of the learning curve.. .. TLS system is popular in the states..