[Caius]

I've recently uncovered a slate flag floor under several laayers of carpet in a house I recently purchased.  They are on a bad of some type of soil.  They're very fragile.  I don't really want to lift them up and put a layer of dpc underneath them as it will be so costly and they break easily.  There doesn't seem to be much if at all dampness evident.  What do you gusy think?  Anyway, how do I get these to clean up nicely?  They seem to have a lime mortar in between them.  Thanks.

[Kev Martin]

What size are they?
How thick are they?
Are you positive it is slate?

Very often these floors are made of a grey riverbed type stone that looks like slate but has silt between each layer.

Can you post some photos or e mail me some photos please then I can advise the best course of action.

Kevin

[Caius]

They are of varying sizes but minumum of 1 foot in width usually around 2.5 to 3 foot and length slightly longer.  I've got a coupld of pics on the phone which I'll post here.  I'm not sure if they're any good.  Let me know.  Thanks for replying.





The first image is of a row I lifted to lay some pipes.  And the second is those liften against the wall.  These are more or less the smalles in the room.  You can see a chip in the corner of one after being moved.  They very in width but I see that some are 2-3 inches thick.  The house is in Wales so I would also have thought it would have been Welsh slate like the roof.

[Kev Martin]

Can you post an image of one!   side on view please

Kevin

[Caius]

OK but it will be in a couple of days time.  Thanks.

[Caius]

Sorry Kevin....it's taken me a while.  And apologies that the images aren't that good off my telephone.

Anybody know what I should use to grout them?

As you can see, I ended up lifting the whole lot and putting some dpc and insulation beneath.  I did manage to damage just a few of them......

[Caius]

Did I say something wrong? 

[Kev Martin]

You didn't say anything wrong I just didn't see the last post!

I often ask for further information prior to offering advice and in 90% of cases that is the end of it.

You have now clearly decided to lift the floor and lay a DPM so this is the way I would proceed.

1.  Clean all snotters and excess of the tiles on the side that is to face down and the edges.
2.  Relay the floor using a bagged flexible grey adhesive not tubbed.
3.  Once the adhesive has set clean the tiles using a rotary scrubber fitted with a soft to medium brush and use Phosphoric Acid Substitute first then use High Alkaline cleaner coupled with a 220 grit honing powder.
4.  Extract using a vacuum then rinse and extract again.
5.  Leave the floor to dry for 48 hours.
6.  Seal using Miracle 511 Seal & Enhance (one Coat)
7.  Leave 48 hours then grout using a grey flexible grout.
8.  Wash all grout haze off thoroughly and allow to dry a further 48 hours.
9.  Apply a further coat of Miracle 511 Seal & Enhance.

Kevin

[Caius]

3.  Once the adhesive has set clean the tiles using a rotary scrubber fitted with a soft to medium brush and use Phosphoric Acid Substitute first then use High Alkaline cleaner coupled with a 220 grit honing powder.


Kevin

Thanks for the advice Kevin.  Where would I get the Phosphoric Acid Substitue and High Alkaline cleaner + grit honing powder?

[Kev Martin]

3.  Once the adhesive has set clean the tiles using a rotary scrubber fitted with a soft to medium brush and use Phosphoric Acid Substitute first then use High Alkaline cleaner coupled with a 220 grit honing powder.


Kevin

Thanks for the advice Kevin.  Where would I get the Phosphoric Acid Substitue and High Alkaline cleaner + grit honing powder?

We sell everything including the grout and adhesive if you need it

Kevin

[Caius]

Thanks.

The room is 5 meters by 3 meters.  How much Phosphoric Acid Substitute,High Alkaline cleaner and 220 grit honing powder and grout would I need?  I see these are sold in different sized bottles.

[Kev Martin]

Thanks.

The room is 5 meters by 3 meters.  How much Phosphoric Acid Substitute,High Alkaline cleaner and 220 grit honing powder and grout would I need?  I see these are sold in different sized bottles.

You will probably get away with a quart each of the PAS & HDT&G but to be honest the prices for the 946mls are expensive compared to the Gallons so if you use it aLL THE TIME MY ADVICE WOULD BE A GALLON OF EACH AND A 1kg OF THE HONING POWDER

[Caius]

OK thanks.

There are some imperfections in the tiles ie some being chipped.  Anybody know what's the best way to 'smooth' these areas?  Any special kind of machinery to help with the job?  Thanks.

[Jamie Pearson]

We use a filler called Lithomex Strong from Masons Mortar in Edinburgh.

They do sample chips to help get the best colour match.

http://www.masonsmortar.co.uk/knowledge/page/colour-matching-service

[Caius]

Thanks.

The room is 5 meters by 3 meters.  How much Phosphoric Acid Substitute,High Alkaline cleaner and 220 grit honing powder and grout would I need?  I see these are sold in different sized bottles.

You will probably get away with a quart each of the PAS & HDT&G but to be honest the prices for the 946mls are expensive compared to the Gallons so if you use it aLL THE TIME MY ADVICE WOULD BE A GALLON OF EACH AND A 1kg OF THE HONING POWDER

The honing powder is only mixed with the alkali?  Is that correct.  Is the alkalkali diluted?  Thanks.

[Kev Martin]

Pre Wet the floor with water then apply the high alkaline diluted 3:1 and allow to dwell then sprinkle in a little honing powder and agitate with mono rotary machine and follow instructions above