Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Dec 07, 1999 09:08pm | #1

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   Ed,
   The way that I've done in the past is find some of the new type door shims made from plastic and pre scored in about 3/4 in. sections. While dry laying the floor and finding high and low spots, a dab of liquid nails or equiv. will secure the small section of shim while removing and final laying of the entire floor. While the floor is dry layed/ shimmed, I number the tiles for re-laying so as not to get them mixed up. This sounds like an extremely involved process, but the results are a perfectly level floor with no high or low edges. The problem with extra thick thinset or mastic type adhesives is shrinkage, which sometimes will rock the tile even worse one way or the other and they WILL pop over time.
   csr

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   Guest_ | Dec 08, 1999 12:59am | #2

   *Typically this is how I would do a slate installation(or any natural tile):1. Pre-seal the tile, twice.(one side only).2. Layout grids. The size of the grid is usually 4 tiles(12x12) + grout joints. Chalk and spray clear spray or hairspray over layout marks.3.Layout the tiles in the exact location and make all the cuts.4. Find the highest point in the floor and... 5.Trowel out a good size area,making sure not to cover the layout lines,use a larger trowel notch than for a normal ceramic,I prefer a half moon profile.6. "Back-butter" each piece,screeding the excess off smooth, and set,twisting the tile into the mud,just enough to make contact.Yes, some will ooze out, so keep a sponge and bucket on hand to clean it. The problem with shimming each individual tile is that you will create voids under the tile,leading to fractures. The method I spoke of is referred to as level setting and it's the tried and true method.

2. 
   ed_skomsvold | Dec 09, 1999 07:39pm | #3

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   Thanks much Chris. I do have those plastic shims that I use all the time. I'll give it my best.
   ess

1. 
   ed_skomsvold | Dec 09, 1999 07:49pm | #4

   *Thanks Reinhard for your advice. Luckily this is only a bath and a small entry. My trowel is with 1/4" notches. I intend to shim the worst tiles(smothered in the mud) as Chris mentioned too.Thanks guys, my first use of "breaktime"; great!ess

3. 
   ed_skomsvold | Jan 05, 2000 12:40am | #5

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   About to lay slate on a slab with substrate.
   My only question at this point is what to use for wedges to keep some of the 12" tiles from rocking. Will extra deep thinset help? That approach scares me as I don't want it oozing up and staining slate. As I write this I'm thinking I should pre-seal the slate as a grout release, right?
   Any comments greatly appreciated.
   Thanks.