slate floor

[aran]

evening all...got a slate floor to lay next wk and ive heard there a nightmare so was after a few pointers if poss?when washing down before laying whats the best thing to do it with?just water or is it worth using residue remover?there having up lights in the floor how easy is it to drill?do they require sealing after grouting as well as before and is it worth getting some grout haze remover or will a washboy clesn them up well enough?
cheers for any help much appreciated

[grumpygrouter]

Check out this current post

Flat Tiles How do i get them.....

says it all in there.

Grumpy

[enduro]

You will need to grade it, if it needs calibrating, i seal before laying and again before grouting and one more after grouting, make sure its dry before sealing. It not a problem laying just take your time, its a natural stone so dont mess around with it to much. My very first job was 95sqm of uncalibrated slate in a big manor house, just took my time and it looked great.

[aran]

cheers for the help guys much appreciated.just to conferm you dont wash them down then first?if so what do you use?

[enduro]

Just use clean water if you want to wash them. I just wipe them with a dry rag

[aran]

cheers

[Ric]

also use a nice wide grout line as the tiles can vary in width. place them by eye not spacer, also use wide joint grout with an admixture for flexibility, something like bal wide joint with gt1 admixture.