Is putting down a granite floor no different then putting down a ceramic floor. subfloor – 3/4″ followed by 1/4″ hardiboard followed by mud (any recommendations of the mud to use) followed by tile. I’m thinking of putting 1/2 inch plywood on top of the 3/4, but I have to check if I have the elevation to do it. I have a tile cutter with a 7″ diamond rimmed blade, is this sufficient. What should I watch out for that would be different then putting down ceramic. O, what about spacing (I guess the tiles are either 12″ of 13″ square) and grout. what do you use. I suppose a grout sealer goes down a week later.
thanks in advance.
Replies
First thing first.
Boris will tell you to check the deflection on the floor, L720? which should be twice of that of a ceramic tile floor.
Then the question of isolation membrane. Use thin set for marble and granite to prevent color bleed through.
Spacing - thickness of a credit card. Just cut up DW's.
Seal stone and grout after grout sets.
Thanks, Tom, I did some searching and found some stuff written by Boss Hog. Good stuff, but it didn't really help me.
Well, this is where I am at. The kitchen is about 12X15 - 2X8's running at 12'. I placed 2x8 blocking all along the perimeter. I installed 2X8's with the 8" side level with the floor. Therefore, not "full blocking" about every 2 feet. There is cross bridging down the middle at about the 6 foot mark. Then I put 3/4 inch 5 ply plywood down. The plan is to thinset 1/4 inch cement board to the 3/4 inch plywood and then thinset the granite to the 1/4 inch cement board. How does this plan sound.
Edited 3/23/2005 10:34 pm ET by handygman