Granite Tile Floor

[jch216]

I'm about to start a new project....I'm laying a granite tile floor in the kitchen and dining area. Has anybody here ever layed tile of any kind? I'd like some pointers before I begin if you have any.

[thekingofpain]

Ive only seen it installed (impressive stuff that will last FOREVER!, not cheap either) they used regular thinset mortar and traditional tile laying methods, the problem is cutting it---got to have an industrial diamond wetsaw as I think they said granite is close to diamond hardness...

[MTAtech]

I've layed tile and I just put down a granite floor in my foyer.

The first thing is that you need a solid base. I used 3/4" ply-wood screwed to the josts. Then I screwed wonderboard (concrete board) on top of that. This stuff is heavy and won't easily rock.

Then, I used thinset (a concrete mortar) to adhere the granite to wonderboard. Most beginers use too much water. It should be the consistancy of wet sand - like one makes sand castles with.

You should leave a 1/16-1/8" between the tiles for grout.

Done right, it should last a lifetime. Good luck.

[jch216]

I have a slab foundation, lucky me. How do I ensure that the tiles will all be level? I don't want to slice my big toe off on a sharp corner that is raised slightly.

[jch216]

Oh, another question. Can I butter the back of the tiles one at a time instead of spreading a large area of thinset onto the floor? This way I'll have more time to work with each tile individually. This is my first tile project, I don't know how slow I will be.

[Chuckiechan]

There is a special trowel that has square teeth so you drag out your thin-set. Then you can use a level to tamp down any that are too high, don't tamp them too low or you will have to pull it up. Don't butter it, you'll be there all day! Do enough for 5 or 6 tiles, set them and drag out more thinset.

If your floor is pretty bad, there is a self-leveling compound you can use. You pour it on and it levels like water would. It's a dry mix, so follow directions carefully, and it can go on top of your wonder board. If you have gaps in your wonder board, you will need to caulk them so the self leveling stuff dosen't run into the holes.

You will need a diamond saw. Rent one or buy a fairly cheap one and sell it when you are done.

Good luck!

BTW, be sure to use exterior grade plywood for a base. Besure to pull your base boards. Undercut door jambs, rather than try to make fancy cuts to match. (they won't look good).

[jch216]

ok, I just pulled up the linoleum. The slab beneath looks good. Very dirty, but level and in good shape. Now to take that old baseboard off...

Do you normally tile under the stove, refridgerator and dish washer? Or is it just best to tile a few inches beneath to give the appearance of being tiled under.

[Chuckiechan]

You should do the whole thing....PIA I know, but it makes for a professional job. Bearing in mind you don't want the front legs on tile and the back legs 3/8" lower sitting on the underlayment. There is no requirement that you do it all, it's just asthetics and ease of re-leveling appliances. It's your call.

Base boards: if you are having trouble getting them off, get a THIN nail punch and punch the nail IN through the baseboard. When you put them back on they will by about 3/8" higher so you can use the same holes and still miss the nail.

Have you decided where to start? Without seeing your kitchen, start with full squares at the corner that is most visible. Leave the cuts for the least visible places.

[jch216]

ok, Baseboards are off. My kitchen and dining area are both rectangular...generally speaking. But they are T-boned together, perpendicular. I've seen sites that say to find the center of each wall, use a chalk line from there to make a grid, then lay from the center of the grid outward doing one quadrant at a time. I don't know if this is the way that I want ot go about doing this or not. I'll do a dry run first to see what looks best.

[jch216]

Need tools.....gone to home depot.