General tiling options

[Locornwall]

I had an awful tiling job recently in my kitchen dining room areas (24m2). All will be coming up and I am now considering all my options, including UFH. The rooms are connected.

can anyone tell me my best options in terms decoupling mats, insulation boards, electric mats or loose wire? I appreciate this is a very general question. I was wondering if it is common to use both the decoupling and insulation boards? If I use either will that negate the need for latex if required?

 

[Andy Allen]

I would only use a decoupling mat with certain tiles.......ie, natural stone, slate, or soft ceramics.

 

[Locornwall]

I am using a porcelain 600 x 600 tile

 

[J Sid]

Without doubt I would recommend insulation board and as thick as your heights will allow. SLC over the wire, I prefer loose wire, other will prefer mat, and with porcelain no real need for an uncoupling membrane but is an extra insurance if you can afford it.
This is assuming your base is sand and cement

 

[Boggs]

I would be looking at Ditra Heat or Warm Up DCM Pro.

 

[Dumbo]

I like ins board , dural cifh decoupler with loose wire , then level over the top

 

[Locornwall]

When you say level, is that the latex self level compound? It’s probably very obvious but can someone describe to me what benefit this will give considering there will be insulation boards etc? I have a brand new house and given it’s not perfect, it still looks pretty level.

 

[J Sid]

Protection for wire and disruption of heat

 

[Andy Allen]

latex, self leveling over the wire is a must, not an option...!

 

[Locornwall]

Is it a must to protect the wires?

 

[J Sid]

I say it's not a must but very advisable to both protect wires and help distribute the heat

 

[Dumbo]

If you get air pockets around the wires the heat won't dissipate properly at that point and the wire can burn out . Latexing greatly reduces the chances of this plus alsp there is less chance of damaging the cables during tile instalation

 

[hmtiling]

The elements need to be fully encapsulated as above. It can be done with adhesive when tiling but this will take longer and will there's danger of damage to a cable.
Also, if ever a tile needs changing there's much more chance of doing so without damage to the wires if latexed. Madness not to latex imo.
My preferred method is same as Julian apart from mat instead of loose wire