concrete question for tiling?

**Otto** · 03-03-2012, 10:44 AM

Hi everyone.

I would like to give my recomendation if I may.

1, No builder who deserves to be paid will call mortar or concrete, cement. Cement is the powder used to make mortar or concrete.

2, Do not lay 50mm of mortar if you have no aggregate, In fact dont use aggregate or 50mm of mortar at all.

3, I am aware that you are not in Australia but as a guide, in Oz, buiding regulations state that for a balcony you must have a fall of NO LESS THAN 1:90. That means that for every 90mm away from the highest piont your floor must fall 1mm. I think for Thailand given the rainfall this is a good minimum.

4. The finish that I can see in the photo is keyed well for using mortar at no greater than 10mm. Place a straight edge on the floor in various places (or wait for a bit or rain) and identify your low spots and thier depths. Laying tiles with mortar is somthing that Aussies stoped doing in the 60's.

5. Look around and try to find a product called level quick or simmilar, google.

Whithout knowing how deep some of the low points are it is difficult to get you out of them. Just dont use mortar too thick, too wet or too dry.

ps. seal your floor with a slurry of cement powder and water first, immediatly before tiling, just to give your floor some moisture and help the bond, PVA like cemstick or simmilar is advisable too if you can find it.

**dirtydog** · 03-03-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Otto

PVA like cemstick or simmilar is advisable too if you can find it.

You not been to Thailand then? No Have.

**Otto** · 03-03-2012, 10:50 AM

Not there now, but otherwise 9years and 2 houses. theyre still standing.

**DrAndy** · 03-03-2012, 11:39 AM

quite nice

**benlovesnuk** · 04-03-2012, 06:00 PM

^Is that you on holiday Dr.A?

Otto, Thank you for your input, this is not an open area it is the downstairs kitchen/living area. There will be both walls and a ceiling above.
Although there will now be a portion of it open to the elements, so i take it this is where the slope will come into play.
to summarise, you are saying 10mm mortar for terracotta clay tiles 8"x8"?

Cheers.

**dirtydog** · 04-03-2012, 06:05 PM

10mm will dry off to quick and may cause problems.

**Otto** · 04-03-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

10mm mortar for terracotta clay tiles 8"x8"? Cheers.

10mm is ample.

I did my trade here in Oz, and never used mortar, I only used tile adhesive, the principle it simmilar. 200 X 200 will require 10mm notch trowel at a minimum, terracotta will usually involve a larger joint or grout line so less is better, 12mm notch trowel is your next step up in bed thickness. the size of the notch trowel relates to the thickness of the bed of mortar (or tile adhesive) you are using. Either 10 or 12 should be fine. I cant see in the pic too well but if your floor is broom or rake finnish and a bit on the rough side then go up to 12mm. Iif you have a lot of dips on you substrate then use the 10mm and pack out through you low spots. If you are paying some one to do this for you then you want to be looking for someone who uses (relys) on a straight edge. The reason I say slurry the floor is because the combination of cement powder, sand and water is somewhat critical in its acuracy as the three create a chemical reaction which is reliant on each individuual ingrediant. Too little water and you adhesive will become brittle, too much and your adhesive will become to weak. If you make a mortar mix and it's the perfect mix and apply it to a dry concrete floor then the floor itself will absorb the water from your morar mix and give you a mortar that is too dry.

I could go on til my cows have come home, and its time for some jiggy jig so, if you have any more Q's, just post em and I'll be happy to help out.

Otto.

**dirtydog** · 04-03-2012, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Otto

I did my trade here in Oz, and never used mortar, I only used tile adhesive,

We are in Thailand and we are using sand and cement, do you follow this? 10mm is not ample.

**benlovesnuk** · 04-03-2012, 06:43 PM

The concrete floor was raked, and has a few dips of foot marks about 5mm deep. The rest is pretty good.
I am going to get someone else to do it, but just like to know the best way, and then try to get as close to that as possible.
What about this?
1.wet the concrete before applying the mortar
2.apply the mortar to floor make it even and
(make sure the tile is glazed or if unglazed prep it clean off the grout mix easier)
3.back butter the tile as well and tamp down?
4.have a beer when finished?

regards

**dirtydog** · 04-03-2012, 06:48 PM

^Why not instead of doing it yourself as you seem to have no idea, get a Thai into tile your floor, real simple and real cheap.

**benlovesnuk** · 04-03-2012, 07:02 PM

Hi Dirty, i am as i said in the above post, i just like to know how people do stuff.
I understand how people put down tiles, i have laid granite stones slabs in a cob house with a dry lime mortar mix, but everywhere is different and each material is too. I dont want to live not knowing how to do stuff and just paying someone else to do it for me(although as i said 3 times now that is what i will be doing)is not always best.
thanks anyway for your concerns i was going to do a rubbish job!
You could give me your tips of how to do it or a sticky on the subject, its been a long time since the last one

**dirtydog** · 04-03-2012, 07:05 PM

I have already posted how it is done in Thailand, we also got some idiot advocating how it is done in Australia, you choose, but it will be done the Thai way regardless.

**benlovesnuk** · 04-03-2012, 07:10 PM

I know, you dont have to tell me im paying someone to do it.

so........... no sticky link?

**adzt1** · 04-03-2012, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Otto

I did my trade here in O z, and never used mortar, I only used tile adhesive.

.
^your experience is limited then.

as DD says get someone in as ur out ur depth(no pun intended)
look n learn

**dirtydog** · 04-03-2012, 07:33 PM

^I would much prefer to tile nice screeded floors with tile adhesive, sadly the Aussie idiot doesn't realise we are in Thailand.

**DrAndy** · 04-03-2012, 07:46 PM

yes, I was hoping to do that myself but the base floors are all over the place

so I am getting nice flat floors but a reduced ceiling height

**benlovesnuk** · 04-03-2012, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by adzt1

Originally Posted by Otto

I did my trade here in O z, and never used mortar, I only used tile adhesive.

.
^your experience is limited then.

as DD says get someone in as ur out ur depth(no pun intended)
look n learn

Im in no trouble of being out of my depth, i was never intending to do anything.
I was, if you would bother to read, asking for information regarding how it is done for curiosity sake.
We are talking about laying tiles, not running a mathematical equation of landing on the moon. No pun inteneded in aint rocket science!

**Otto** · 05-03-2012, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

we also got some idiot advocating how it is done in Australia

Why are you refering to me as an idiot, I don't make negative connotations about the appearance of the head on the farang in your avatar, which I assume is you.

**OhOh** · 05-03-2012, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Otto

Other board members will know what Im tallking about.

We are not all bright button ozzies here, you'll have to give us a clue.

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