Advice on tiling floor with limestone flagstones please!

loveka

My builder has said that these are very difficult to lay. He said he might not be able to get the surface flat as they are different depths. He hasn't seen the actual tiles, he just says this is the case with thick tiles like this.

He is a fab builder (he is doing the whole kitchen) but I think I need to find another person to do the floor if he is right. I want the surface flat!

Is he right and it is impossible to get them to lie flat?

-taff

What are limestone gallstones?

loveka

Autocorrect fail there! I have corrected it now!

-taff

HAHA!! I thought it was some newfangled thing I'd never heard of....


If you mean proper [reclaimed?] flagstones that do come in different thicknesses then he has got a point and i would look for someone who knew what they were doing.

If you mean manufactured/cut looky likey flagstones, they should be the same thickness.

theonlywayisup

We have limestone tiles throughout our ground floor. All of our tiles were equal depth. They were fitted on a screed with a Ditra mat (essential) and UFH. We haven't had any issues in 14 years. They were initially sealed with Lithofin and they are cleaned with a steam cleaner and have a very slapdash maintenance schedule of being deep cleaned and resealed every 4 years or so.

Do not employ a tiler who is having issues before he's even seen the tiles and make sure you employ a tiler who understands limestone.

I wouldn't have any other flooring (by that I mean other than natural stone) as the abuse this floor has had - kids, animals and welly boots etc - it is a breeze to look after and looks as good as it did when it was laid.

loveka

Can you remember where you got your tiles? I am looking at Floors of Stone.

stuart45

loveka wrote: »

Is he right and it is impossible to get them to lie flat?

It's not impossible. Even with the really heavy old flagstones it just means you have to adjust the beds to suit each flag.

theonlywayisup

loveka wrote: »

Can you remember where you got your tiles? I am looking at Floors of Stone.

They came from France. They are polished - although not glaringly polished but it means there are no holes and the finish is smooth. Looking at Floors of Stone, they would be something like this https://www.floorsofstone.com/our-tile-range/limestone-tiles/light-jerusalem-polished-limestone-tiles

This is ours (needs a clean).

But, our neighbour has had an extension - he has a black slate floor and hates it - and has gone with Limestone for the extension. Believe it or not he got them from Wickes and they are nigh on the colour/hue of ours. I've had a quick look on their website but can't see them - he had them about 3 years ago from the Exeter branch. I will see if he recalls if they have a name/model number as such.