Riven Slate: use sand/cement or adhesive - is there a definitive answer
Hi - my builders bedded 10-12 mm brazilian riven slate on a sand cement mix. The base below was secure concrete laid a few weeks before. This was a new kitchen floor job, brand new extension.
I don't think they've done a very good job because many sound hollow when walking on them and a few were loose within days. The grouting is uneven in thickness and there are some very lippy bits. The chippy came in to do the skirting board and he said it was very uneven.
I'm expecting some uneveness because it's the nature of slate, same with the grouting, but I am worried about the hollow sounds and loose slate. The builders who built the extension also laid the tiles, so specialist tilers were not used.
So my first question is, is it normal to use a sand cement mix to bed the slate? Or should adhesive have been used? Is there any definite answer to that, because I've read conflicting views.
My second question is, how can it be fixed it long term.
And my third question is, am I within my rights to withold some money until it's fixed, or to get someone else in (a professional tiler) to sort it out and take that money off the final bill. It was a big extension and this is only one part of the job.
Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to explain it thoroughly.
Riven Slate: use sand/cement or adhesive - is there a definitive answer for the Original Article on Tiling Advice Forum
Hi - my builders bedded 10-12 mm brazilian riven slate on a sand cement mix. The base below was secure concrete laid a few weeks before. This was a new kitchen floor job, brand new extension.
I don't think they've done a very good job because many sound hollow when walking on them and a few were loose within days. The grouting is uneven in thickness and there are some very lippy bits. The chippy came in to do the skirting board and he said it was very uneven.
I'm expecting some uneveness because it's the nature of slate, same with the grouting, but I am worried about the hollow sounds and loose slate. The builders who built the extension also laid the tiles, so specialist tilers were not used.
So my first question is, is it normal to use a sand cement mix to bed the slate? Or should adhesive have been used? Is there any definite answer to that, because I've read conflicting views.
My second question is, how can it be fixed it long term.
And my third question is, am I within my rights to withold some money until it's fixed, or to get someone else in (a professional tiler) to sort it out and take that money off the final bill. It was a big extension and this is only one part of the job.
Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to explain it thoroughly.
Riven Slate: use sand/cement or adhesive - is there a definitive answer for the Original Article on Tiling Advice Forum
