Kitchen Granite Floor Advice Needed

[baly]

I'm currently in the process of planning this kitchen floor of mine, the wife wants Granite and personally i'm loving the star galaxy but we have yet to decide.

The kitchen substrate is Concrete and plenty of it as its a mass filled slab at the back of the house. The concrete over the years had vinyl which has been taken up revealing a few minor issues where the old chimney used to be in the kitchen which i will repair using concrete.

Now the bit i am not sure about as i have never layed granite and i have never layed underfloor heating and i prefer to do things the right way>>>

1. The insulation 10mm - This needs to be layed down ontop of adhesive? if so which type?
2. Underfloor heating mat 200w/m2 - total 5m2 - Should i apply adhesive ontop of the UFH mat once i am happy with its position? or should i just move to the SLC ?
3. What type of SLC should i use? anything in particular?
4. What adhesive should be used for natural granite ? the tiles will be 10mm
5. Have any of you any pictures of a granite floor done in 610mm x 305mm tiles? (as we cannot decide between the 305 x 305 or 610 x 305).
6. Could you please tell me what a typical build up of the floor would be with all of the above? ie approx FFL as this will assist in alignment of other bits in the kitchen.

Oh and btw i do like the MAPEI stuff

Any other tips links which you guys/girls have please let me have them. Thank you in advance.

PS - i'll then be moving onto the bathroom after i complete this.

[Bri]

Here's one I did earlier! Installing electric underfloor heating - Step by Step Guide If there's anything I haven't covered let me know.

[baly]

Thanks Bri, what was the approx build up of your floor using the 6mm Insulation board Bri? and what type of floor did you put on top?

[Bri]

Based on a 10mm thick tile, the total build was approx 25mm or 1 inch if you prefer!

[baly]

Thats brilliant, i had been working to a 45mm build up to FFL. So will adjust my calcs to be closer to this and shall allow 30mm with the 10mm insulation i plan on using.

If you dont mind me asking, what UFH did you use? and what is the typical warm up time to 20 deg c? & what wattage?

Sorry for all the questions but i'm one of those planning guys who likes to know whats what and the expected end result.

Thanks once again

[grumpygrouter]

There is a Black Galaxy Star floor in my album using 305x305 tiles if you want to have a peek.....

[Bri]

Thats brilliant, i had been working to a 45mm build up to FFL. So will adjust my calcs to be closer to this and shall allow 30mm with the 10mm insulation i plan on using.

If you dont mind me asking, what UFH did you use? and what is the typical warm up time to 20 deg c? & what wattage?

Sorry for all the questions but i'm one of those planning guys who likes to know whats what and the expected end result.

Thanks once again

The one in the thread is warmup and its the 150/160w version. Takes about 30 mins to get to 20 degs

[baly]

There is a Black Galaxy Star floor in my album using 305x305 tiles if you want to have a peek.....

Thanks GG now only if someone had the 610 x 305 for comparison.

Any tips for laying the granite tiles GG? i have tiled a few bathrooms and kitchens in the past but never granite.

[baly]

Thanks Bri and GG i really appreciate it, you have both been officially thanked via forum.

Guys i am looking at the Sika SLC any reason not to use it? or do you guys reccommend anything else?

Just putting the shopping list together.....

[grumpygrouter]

Thanks GG now only if someone had the 610 x 305 for comparison.

Any tips for laying the granite tiles GG? i have tiled a few bathrooms and kitchens in the past but never granite.

Granite will need to be wet cut and is heavy so it can be very hard work but apart from the normal stuff like having a flat floor and a good quality adhesive they aren't much different from laying ceramic. They will require sealing though before you grout to stop the grout clogging the microscopic pores the polishing process opens up. I laid my floor on top of Ditra matting as the floor was heated.

[Mike]

Thanks GG now only if someone had the 610 x 305 for comparison.

Any tips for laying the granite tiles GG? i have tiled a few bathrooms and kitchens in the past but never granite.

i did a kitchen and hallway in the 610 x 305 star galaxy a couple of years ago. really nice stuff to use, i did them brick bond but sorry i got no pictures. i know the guy well but he's working in dubai now so no chance of me getting any. he got them from here Home - Granite kitchen worktops,cheap UK London,granite tiles traders uk,granite tiles,granite worktops traders london,premiumgranite kitchen Norbury,Granite

[baly]

Thanks Mike. I never considered the idea of brick bonding. A thought I suppose. Tops and tiles seem to be the saviour I see, indeed that's where I have been looking for supply of granite.

[baly]

Thanks GG. I've never come across the Ditra mat but shall google. What are the benefits if I may ask?

Thanks for the sealing tip I'm sure they would have stained like a gooden had you have not mentioned it.

[diamondtiling]

There are many many more places that sell granite than topps and at a better quality. Granite is not for the feint hearted so you really need to take your time to get it perfect. Its very unforgiving and will show even the smallest lips.

[baly]

DT if you could pm me details of
Other suppliers around London or Kent it would be appreciated.

Will endeavour to stay calm and look for perfection at all times. Although I must say I'm a fussy git so if need be will take as long as it needs to ensure it is within a 1mm tolerance if needed for it to look right.