Is it OK to put floor tiles on 'self leveling compound'?
Jon Weaver
fair play to him, he has admitted that as he isn't a plasterer, I
should expect a completely smooth finish.
As I am laying floor tiles, I am guess that as long as the floor isn't
too bad, I can absorb the slight inperfections with the tile adhesive.
However, he has suggested that I put self leveling compound down
before tiling, which seems a good idea. Is there any problems laying
kind of material on new screed, or laying tiles on top of it?
Following advice from this group, I am waiting a few weeks for the
screed to go off before laying the tiles, so I am guessing I should
also wait the same time-frame before putting down the S.L.Compound.
However, I have a number of questions.
- Assuming the screed has completely gone off (say 2 to 3 weeks) and I
lay the compound, how long after this can I tile.
- Should I put a water/PVA solution on the screed before laying the
compound
- Should I put a water/PVA solution on the compound before tiling?
As always, and info would be hugely appreciated.
Best regards
Jon
David
> However, I have a number of questions.
>
> - Assuming the screed has completely gone off (say 2 to 3 weeks) and I
> lay the compound, how long after this can I tile.
leave for a day
>
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the screed before laying the
> compound
Yes, if not the leveler will have the moisture sucked out before it cures.
This also has the efect of making the mix go stiff to fast not allowing it
to 'self level' . Later it is likley to break up.
>
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the compound before tiling?
No, Leveling compound is self sealing
>
To be honest the builder should be levelling the floor. Chances are he will
do it the next day and won't take as much care
David
John Schmitt
> My builder is finally going to screed the floor this weekend,
but,
> fair play to him, he has admitted that as he isn't a plasterer, I
> should expect a completely smooth finish.
If he uses a screed to ensure his screed is flat and level he
shouldn't have a problem.
>Laying floor tiles, I am guess that as long as the floor isn't
> too bad, I can absorb the slight inperfections with the tile
adhesive.
This is correct.
> However, he has suggested that I put self leveling compound
down
> before tiling, which seems a good idea. Is there any problems
laying
> kind of material on new screed, or laying tiles on top of it?
If you make it up too wet, you will get both segregation and
laitence.
> Following advice from this group, I am waiting a few weeks for
the
> screed to go off before laying the tiles, so I am guessing I
should
> also wait the same time-frame before putting down the
S.L.Compound.
Depending on the weather, two inches of screed takes 3-4 weeks
to lose its excess moisture.
> However, I have a number of questions.
> - Assuming the screed has completely gone off (say 2 to 3
weeks) and I
> lay the compound, how long after this can I tile.
Frankly, the compound is not needed if the floor is level and
true. It only reduces your headroom. Also, the compound is only
self smoothing, not self levelling.
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the screed before laying
the
> compound
You cannot really overdo PVA. It will reduce suction and promote
adhesion.
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the compound before
tiling?
See the above.
http://www.axp.mdx.ac.uk/~john49/tilefaq.htm
http://www.axp.mdx.ac.uk/~john49/pvafaq.htm
http://www.axp.mdx.ac.uk/~john49/tbsfaq.htm
If that is down
http://www.enigmatist.com/free/john49/tilefaq.htm
etc.
John Schmitt
--
My other .sig is also a .sig
stuart noble
John Schmitt wrote in message <1103_10...@news.cis.dfn.de>...
>Depending on the weather, two inches of screed takes 3-4 weeks
>to lose its excess moisture.
regularly screed one day and lay flooring the next. Whether it is
technically dry is another matter but certainly the aggregate is very
peculiar stuff, which looks like cement but isn't. The last lot I did went
off rather too quickly so there was a slight ridge between 2 sections with
only a tea break in between. You really do have to lay that stuff in one go.
I wouldn't recommend mixing pva with a latex screed. The latex itself is an
excellent bonding agent and pva may change the consistency of the mix and
make it less self-levelling/smoothing.
The Natural Philosopher
> My builder is finally going to screed the floor this weekend, but,
> fair play to him, he has admitted that as he isn't a plasterer, I
> should expect a completely smooth finish.
>
> As I am laying floor tiles, I am guess that as long as the floor isn't
> too bad, I can absorb the slight inperfections with the tile adhesive.
>
> However, he has suggested that I put self leveling compound down
> before tiling, which seems a good idea. Is there any problems laying
> kind of material on new screed, or laying tiles on top of it?
>
> Following advice from this group, I am waiting a few weeks for the
> screed to go off before laying the tiles, so I am guessing I should
> also wait the same time-frame before putting down the S.L.Compound.
(i) Either thuick bed or self levelling will work.
(ii) I don't think it really matters much about letting the screed dry
out of you are tiling. Certainly not if levelling - its just another
layer of wet stuff. I'd level the next day really. Only issues are that
if the screed DOES crack, it may bugger up the tiling.
>
> However, I have a number of questions.
>
> - Assuming the screed has completely gone off (say 2 to 3 weeks) and I
> lay the compound, how long after this can I tile.
Immeadiately
>
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the screed before laying the
> compound
Absolutely essential to get the levelling to 'flow'.
>
> - Should I put a water/PVA solution on the compound before tiling?
No. Use rapid set tile cement for an easy life. It goes off enough in
1/2 hour to lock the tiles in place. Otherwise they can - and do -
slowly 'slump' before it sets. Especially on a deep bed that may be
needed if the floor isn't spot on (elevlling doesn';t level better than
+-3mm IME).