Laying your natural stone & porcelain floor tiles

 

Natural stone & porcelain floor tiles are heavy. If your sub-base is solid you need not expect to have problems. Concrete/Screed is an ideal base to work with and you should ensure it has a damp proof membrane underneath. If the concrete/screed is fairly new, make sure it is fully cured and completely dry.

If your floor is suspended on joists and boarded, or if your floorboards are worn unevenly or otherwise weakened, you may have to fix plywood panels to support the additional load. A high quality WBP plywood board at least 15mm in thickness, screwed down at 200mm intervals, will usually be suitable. Flexing wooden floors can often be rectified by adding more struts between the floor joists, strengthening the joists, or screwing down the floorboards, but it is advisable to get advice from a professional builder if you are concerned about the structure.

A Smooth Base

It is very important to have a smooth base. Minor irregularities of between 3mm to 20mm are absorbed within the fixing adhesive or mortar bed, depending on the product being laid; anything greater than the above will need rectification. You may need to consider using a self levelling compound (solid base).

Planning and Ordering

Careful planning before installation will save time later on.

Sketch out a plan and double-check the measurements before ordering your materials. Remember to include some extra tiles in your calculations for cutting and filling in odd shapes around obstructions or at the corners of the room.

We strongly recommend that you over order your natural stone and porcelain tiles by approximately 5% to allow for wastage during laying.  It cannot be guaranteed that any future order will come from the same batch of stone and therefore may look slightly different.

Check that you have the right tools for the job.

• A water-cooled diamond wheel cutter is recommended for accurate cutting.
• It is important that you use the right adhesive and grout for your chosen tile. Colours and specifications vary according to the material being used and your stone supplier will be able to advise on this and probably supply the correct adhesive and grout. We stock a wide range of adhesive and grouts manufactured by Ultra TileFix

Underfloor heating

Underfloor heating works really well with stone flooring. Choose a good quality system and ensure its working before laying your stone floor.