Advice Needed

[Raja]

Hello all i have just got a job confirmed 35sq mtr floors kitchen and 3 porches

The customer recently purchesed a farm and the existing tiles ceramic had been down over 10 years and did not want them removed i looked at them and they were layed well like stone henge and no movement at all

The tiles are 41x41 from wickes

a.jpg

Now i wanted to confirm a few points the job does not start til 2 weeks time

1, HOW do i match up the grout lines on these tiles as the edges have grout look alike lines if i used 5mm spacers surely wud look out of place?

2, I was going to use BAL rapid set fast flex adhesive

3, BAL SUPERFLEX GROUT

Finally i have never really tiled over tiles to such a large scale like this does the surface need any preparation ?

Any advice would be grateful

All the best Raja

[Sir Ramic]

3mm joints.
Why Fast flex if there is no movement in the sub floor?
Same with the grout ?
Without seeing the floor cant say what prep it needs but i would clean it down and prime.

[Raja]

u seen the tiles neale? 3mm u sure

Please recommend an adhesive if not flex

preferably BAL as i get it cheap

[Sir Ramic]

Yes Raja 3mm but i think i would be looking to get a coloured grout close to the the edge colour of the tile
Bal rapid set or GoldStar both with Bal Admix AD1 is recommended on the Bal site. If i were using a light grout i would get the Rapid set white.

[Raja]

Originally Posted by Sir Ramic

Yes Raja 3mm but i think i would be looking to get a coloured grout close to the the edge colour of the tile
Bal rapid set or GoldStar both with Bal Admix AD1 is recommended on the Bal site. If i were using a light grout i would get the Rapid set white.

thank u neale u r a star could not wait til chat knew u wud come on and answer thanks grandad

BAL GROUT AND BAL RAPID SET WHITE it is then

Measured it up to b 25sq metres but customer insisted 35 and had bought 35sq mtrs tiles so did not argue as it was a difficult one to measure

quoted £880 all in including materials £400 a piece after over heads am looking at 4 days to do it.

[Sir Ramic]

4 days for 2 men for 25 m2
I really need to give you lessons young man

test spacers on the middle of the tile, whatever the "fake" join is you need to match!
5mm joins on floors used to be the norm, they will look more out of place if you have 5mm join on the tile and 2/3mm between tiles!

as for the ashesive you can use any cement based powdered adhesive.....personally i would still go with the flexi..........its not much more expensive and gives you a more secure fix....IMO

[Raja]

Originally Posted by Sir Ramic

4 days for 2 men for 25 m2
I really need to give you lessons young man

we r like laurel and hardy if u met us u wud agree

Slow but sure our moto

[brian c]

raja,cant you but the tiles against each other?some that type have like a lip on the grout bline and it looks like a 2mm groutline when butted,try it.

I would also use a flexi grout and adhesive as you havent said if you new what the substrate under the tiles was?

Personally i wouldnt use a white grout on floors id use a darker colour especially if its a farm house...lol

I would also give yourself some extra adhesive as when you are laying tiles some might need to be packed up a little to get level with the rest of the floor.

If the floors are through different rooms but are to continue the pattern then make sure you start at the highest point m8,if you need any more help then im all ears.

[basshunter]

wickes tiles....hope it goes well mate

[Raja]

IT is funny u sud say that brian i was going bo butter them but have never done that b 4.

did not know how i wud grout if i buttered them

I believe the substrate is concrete

brian is right!

sometimes the do have a recessed edge.....however, butting up tiles is not advised.....no room for expansion and contraction.

p.s you will still need to grout, and as i have said before even one of the most flexible grouts on the market "Mapei Ultracolour" is only guarenteed in joins of 2mm up to 20mm......20mm!!!!!!!!!! i would like to see them spacers.....how many would you get in a pack..........10?.....