Common tiling terms
There is a great deal of terminology used within the tiling industry. The following is a collection of the most common terms and their meanings.
Tiling on to Anhydrite Screeds
It is important that calcium sulphate screeds are identified before any tiling installations are carried out because they have different requirements. They may not be visually different from traditional screeds so always enquire, particularly if the screed contains underfloor heating. We recommend the use of a barrier primer on calcium sulphate screeds to avoid the migration of moisture between the adhesive and subfloor.
Substrate preparation
The suitability of a substrate should always be fully assessed before carrying out any tiling.
The main criteria to be assessed are:
- Is the substrate strong and stable?
- Has the substrate dried/cured completely?
- Is the substrate smooth and reasonably level?
- Is the substrate porous or non-porous? A test area should be used.
If the answer to any of these is ‘no’, then the substrate is not suitable to be tiled onto and further preparation is required before priming and fixing.
Tiling on to floors with electric cable heating
There are numerous manufacturers of ‘radiant mat’ electric underfloor heating so always contact them directly for specific advice. The systems consist of electric cables or mats which need to be fixed to the substrate in a prescribed pattern to ensure even heat throughout the floor.
There are plenty of retrofit underfloor heating systems available but to try and keep things as simple as possible, and to answer some of our most commonly asked questions, we have narrowed down the options and will focus on fixing tiles to XPS cement faced or plain and aluminium faced polystyrene boards.
Ok, so the retrofit system has been installed and you are ready to get tiling, So what is first?
External Tiling
There is a perception that external tiling is too complicated, takes too long, and not worth the bother, but with 20mm porcelain more available than ever before, external tiling is going places
Trust us when we say that, with the right guidance and materials, external tiling is simple and nothing to be feared
Outside-Inside Tiles
Outside porcelain tiles are available in 10mm and 20mm thick. It is important to select the correct sub-base
Constructing a concrete slab is not difficult and we illustrate the various options
Showrooms
Visit our showrooms,four floors of inspirational tiles.Our experienced and friendly staff are here to help.Large car park.See opening hours below
