I have had a great tile sub for years who has left for a few months to Europe..this is not an area I am familiar with at all. One of my guys has laid a lot of tile .. he is ready to go..but is young and unseasoned.
1) is anyone familiar with Green Marble not being allowed to set in thinset? must be in epoxy? if so what else can you NOT do with green and black 18″ marble tile? (small diamond in the corners as well)
2) Its a solid concrete chapel,(copper roof) out in the woods. We are doing some panels and dentil moldings etc inside. the existing concrete floor in this octagon chapel is uneven and owner has requested that while doing the marble floor, I see if we can put some electric radiant heat in it . I have found manufacturers and suppliers, of approx 5 different brands. . electrician is comfortable. I am uncomfortable with a blanket embedded in mortar (maybe 1/2 to 1″) then tile set on that.. Any advice would be appreciated.
arthur
Replies
generally, yu must use white thinset for green marble, cuz the standard grey will bleed through. It's only about $5 a bag more so it's not a big deal.
Heating grids in a thick layer of thinset is common. It only adds about 1/8" to the setting bed. You must be very careful not to damage the wire while troweling the thinset, but after it's covered there should not be any problems.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
"green & black marble" + "uneven slab" + "heated floor" + "young & unseasoned" setter = Trouble.
How WE do these..
1) Install electric floor warming systems per all mfg. instructions onto slab.
2) Float floor w/ self leveler, covering heating wires & temp sensor (we use the Ardex brand). This gives you a FLAT floor ("existing ... floor ... is uneven"). Do not use thinset to float or build up floor. (it's called THINset for a reason).
3) Install marble (if green or black) w/ an epoxy mortar. Potential problem is WARPAGE from the water of the regular mortar. Talk to a KNOWLEDEGABLE stone supplier (NOT Home Demolitions or Lowballs or Shemps Discount Seconds Tile Supply).
4) Use only trained, experienced Journeyman to preform all above (who can get 18" cut stone tiles w/ clip corners in FLAT w/ NO LIPPAGE & KNIFE EDGE JOINTS, w/o getting epoxy all over the face of the stone.
Also, I hope your customer is aware that he is buying a "floor WARMING system", not a "heating" system. Not enough output from any electric system I've seen to match the B.T.U. output of water or steam. Will not work as sole source of heat for a space.
Numbers Boy
numbersboy and fast eddie; thank you. that was very very helpful,.. as it confirmed my approach. thank you arthurhttp://www.thesmallbuildingcompany.com
Numbers makes a good point about covering the heating mat with a layer of self-leveling goop, but I disagree with most of the rest of his comments.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt