Installing Slate Floor Tile

[JavaBrewer]

Are you putting baseboards back up or something else?

[rcecale]

Putting back the original baseboards. They're wood, stained to match the door in the pics.

While I've got them off, I'll be cleaning them up a bit...they've got a coat of polyurethane on them that looks like the previous owner applied with a paint-ball gun.

Randy

[azasadny]

Randy,
Absolutely beautiful! I'll have to stop by and inspect your work when I drive from Detroit to Key West. I'm leaving here on 3/5 and coming back on 3/12. You've done a great job there!

[rcecale]

Originally posted by azasadny
Randy,
Absolutely beautiful! I'll have to stop by and inspect your work when I drive from Detroit to Key West. I'm leaving here on 3/5 and coming back on 3/12. You've done a great job there!

Thanks, Art!

Well, 100 sqft done...only 700 sqft to go until I'm finished!

Are you driving Helga? Or your new MazdaSpeed?

Either way, you're always welcome! The beers is always cold, and for you, it's always on the house!

Randy

[rcecale]

The fun part is gonna be when I make it out into the breakfast room area...








Randy

[azasadny]

Randy,
Wow! you sure are busy! I'm driving Helga to FL to celebrate my new job and the new engine and Webers!

[rcecale]

Art,

Sent you a PM.

Randy

[rcecale]

Finally!!!

Got the laundry room finished. Ready to move the appliances back in, but...

Had to get some pics of it all before the appliances blocked everything.









Randy

[azasadny]

Randy,
That looks great!!

[rcecale]

Thanks again, Art!

Alexis and I are extremely happy with how it turned out.

I'm especially pleased, since this was my "classroom". Figured that since it was "just the laundry room" that this would be a perfect area for me to do my learning on. Turns out it went pretty smoothly and I've now got some experience under my belt.

I'm probably talking way too big, but the rest of the project should move along a little quicker. (I hope..I hope..I hope! )

Randy

P.S. Have a safe, enjoyable and memorable trip with Helga, Art!

[trekkor]

Good thread!

Keep at it.


KT

[JavaBrewer]

Sweet! Your washer/dryer will hide the cut tiles nicely.

[rcecale]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
Sweet! Your washer/dryer will hide the cut tiles nicely.

And the refrigerator in the opposite corner will hide the other ones just a discretely. I love it when a plan comes together.

Randy

[rcecale]

Well, I'm moving a lot slower than I hoped I would be moving, since moving out of the laundry room, but the progress is still coming along.

Gotta say, this bathroom was a beyotch!!! Maybe it was my approach, but the lack of "moving-around" room was tricky. Ended up having to to a lot of straetching and reaching to put some of these tiles in place, plus trying to not get this thinset all over everything. KT, you must be one in-shape dude for doing this for a living!

Anyhow...here's a few more pics. I love the colors!!!!! :









Randy

[trekkor]

KT, you must be one in-shape dude for doing this for a living!

I wish... I'm pretty strong, but I'm still about 35-40 pounds overweight.

Keep going!!

[azasadny]

Randy,
You are doing an excellent job!!!

[JavaBrewer]

It looks amazing. Really.

[rhjames]

looks like a nice project, but as my resident mechanical engineer has instructed me, "Did you float the tiles?"

In other words, anytime you have a moving sub-surface, wood flooring, frame house on piers, bad slabs, etc., you must put a layer of plastic/visquene under the tiles.

This allows the tiles to "float" while the sub-flooring moves.

If you do not do this, regardless of how "firm" your sub-floor is, you'll have cracked tiles--even slate tiles-- in short order.

This can even happen when you have a full blown concrete slab, even though the slab does not show any signs of cracking.

Hope this helps.....

regards---rhjames

[rcecale]

Originally posted by rhjames
looks like a nice project, but as my resident mechanical engineer has instructed me, "Did you float the tiles?"

Nope, no floating. My "resident mechanical engineers" have instructed me that it's not necessary.

Originally posted by trekkor
For what?
Do you mean the "Dal-Seal" crack isolation/waterproofing membrane?

If he screws down the subfloor, embeds the backer in thinset and uses enough thinset for tile setting, the floor will outlast every other surface in the home. Lifetime install.

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
...I don't think Randy needs to worry about that as he's installing over wood subfloors with concrete backer board (CBU) and thinset. Folks typically use things like Red Guard for tile install over existing concrete slab. It prevents future hairline cracks in the slab from transmitting up to the tile.

I've seen the work these guys have done and have been very impressed, to say the least. If this is what they're telling me to do, I'm crazy not to follow their advice.

Thanks for the concern though!

Randy

[trekkor]

In other words, anytime you have a moving sub-surface, wood flooring, frame house on piers, bad slabs, etc., you must put a layer of plastic/visquene under the tiles

No...

Plastic under the tile is not part of the program.

KT