Expansion joints with UFH

[slikt]

Hi Guys,

As some of you know, i've laid 600x600 porcelain tiles with UFH, the approx size is about 13.5sqm, would I need any expansion joints due to having UFH. Just reading horror stories about probs with porcelain tiles and UFH, so want everything to be right? Cheers

[Dave]

As long as there are no substrate breaks then NO!..

[slikt]

As long as there are no substrate breaks then NO!..

No breaks, its the same throughout. What would be the correct commissioning procedure for turning the flooring on? Cheers

[Dave]

IMO minimum 14 days..

[Dave]

But adhesive directions will state this..

[slikt]

But adhesive directions will state this..

Hi Dave, might just box clever and wait 14 days as, I have used BAL Bond to prime floor, then pro flexible to adhere insulation boards, then laid UFH, then used Renovation screed over UFH, then finally used Pro Flexible again to adhere tiles (used a 20mm round notch trowel), i've also buttered the backs of the tiles. Hopefully i've covered my rear end. . lol

[Dave]

Make sure you turn the UFH on at room temp... this is what the thermostat will click on at.. then increase that temp by 2 dgs and then every 24 hrs turn up by 2 dgs till up to required running temp..

[Dave]

Any quicker than that, then you run the risk of shocking the adhesive..

[slikt]

Cheers Dave, very much appreciated

[ROBSON MCGREGOR]

We are having nitemares with UFH, the builders & plumbers will not listen to me when i tell them the procedure for the UFH, as a result we are still going back & repairing a floor 2 1/2 years later, we never done initial installation. tbh the whole floor has to come up.
On another build the plumbers turned the UFH on full when commissioning & the rooms temp hit 38, they shocked the concrete that much that there are 10mm cracks throughout the house, luckily we only tiled 2 floors but i know we will be back for ongoing repairs.
Listen to the advice from Dave & save yourself a lot of hassle, you have done everything right so far.
What did you think of the profix? was it the pink/blue bags?

[slikt]

We are having nitemares with UFH, the builders & plumbers will not listen to me when i tell them the procedure for the UFH, as a result we are still going back & repairing a floor 2 1/2 years later, we never done initial installation. tbh the whole floor has to come up.
On another build the plumbers turned the UFH on full when commissioning & the rooms temp hit 38, they shocked the concrete that much that there are 10mm cracks throughout the house, luckily we only tiled 2 floors but i know we will be back for ongoing repairs.
Listen to the advice from Dave & save yourself a lot of hassle, you have done everything right so far.
What did you think of the profix? was it the pink/blue bags?

Yeah thats what i've been reading and I have to say the first time i laid UFH years ago, I didnt do the right prep work (rushed into it and was given the wrong adhesive by customer, but he wouldnt budge) and it was a , my fault and i've learned from it, so with this one, i've taken my time and done everything to the letter. Thank for this site. . lol and again thanks to all that have given me their help and advice

I really liked the Pro Flex, never used it before but the guy at Tile Giant done me a fantastic deal on my tiles and adhesives, I usually use BAL single part, found the Mapei gear to be as nice to trowel, very fluid yet elastic, hopefully it wont let me down with my floor. . lol

[blocko]

hopefully it wont let me down with my floor. . lol

Trust me it wont ......... use proflexible ALOT especially when laying over UFH

[slikt]

Trust me it wont ......... use proflexible ALOT especially when laying over UFH

Phew, thats always a good sign. Finished the grouting today after leaving it 5 days to fully dry (naturally) another week till i'll commission the floor. .