Limestone tiles

[kins73]

Hi all, just completed mosaic floor for customer who wants me to quote for a limestone kitchen floor of 20 metres. The tiles will be laid onto boarding 18mm ply, so a flexible adhesive and grout to be used. What grout should be used and what advice for laying as this will be my first natural floor. Do i need to seal the stone prior to grouting? What product to use? I have heard talk of epoxy grouting- is this for particular jobs? Have seen people not listing this as a skill they offer-presumably because of the fag factor.
Any advice would be gladly received, newbie wanting to learn new skills, but am willing to work my bits off.
I am currently only working evenings and weekends until it kills me then when there is enough work I will jack in my engineering job and do this full time.

Kind regards

Neil

[kins73]

Just to add to the already long thread, the mosaic work just finished was charged at £40 per metre, with the wall(plain white six inch) at £20 per metre plus adhesive and grout at £5 per metre.
I plan to(with the right advice) to charge around £50 per metre for the limestone plus adhesive etc.

Also what would anyone advise to charge for boarding a floor, would you charge per metre for the board or cost plus a percentage for the materials and per day labour rate?

neil

[Leatherface]

Hiya Neil

First the limestone, seal before grouting always, standard flexi grout is best - steer clear of epoxy. I currently use the LTP range of sealants, Ihave tried others such as HG & Lithofin. LTP in my opinion are far better, easy to use, very effective. If you phone Specialist Tiling Products in Harrogate they will post for you or advise of a nearby stockist. Limestone prices - I personally would be looking for £45.00 to £50 per metre all in.
For over-boarding a floor I usually charge a day rate plus cost of ply & screws. I have a Senco collated screw gun, cordless 18volt . This will fire in 100's of screws in a matter of minutes. Also a hand held circular saw - I still charge at a rate of £75.00 half day or £150.00 full day labour depending upon size of floor - If it takes less time then i'm quids in.
Good on ya mate for putting in the hours to get established. That's exactly what I did, then packed in my job. Have never looked back.
Regards