New floor

[godsy1969]

Recenetly had a new kitchen built. Heated floor with new screed on top. 'er indoors has chosen 60cm x 30 cm porcelain floor tiles, which are on order. The guy at the tile place has recommended the correct adhesive and grout etc. My question is the floor looks quite level but with such a large tile do I need self levelling compound to make sure everything is cock on on the floor to iron out any lumps and bumps. The kitchen is 5m x 4m.

 

[noseall]

if the floor is as you say ok (+or -10mm or so) then mucking up with the tile adhesive should be adequate.

 

[gcol]

Hold on noseall mate. ±10mm means a possible difference of 20mm and you don't say over what distance this is permissible.
For floor tiles that size, the floor wants to be very good. Use a straight edge of about 1.2m and see what the level is like. You want to be aiming for no hollows or bumps more than 5mm maximum. This much can be evened out with the adhesive if you use a large half round notched trowel. Any more will result in difficulty in laying and the corners of the tiles kicking up and looking poor.
Always remember, the flatter the surface the easier the tiling will be. It's no fun trying to level a surface with tiles.

 

[noseall]

basically if you can't get the end of yer little finger under a 4 foot level you should be ok with an even textured floor. i did mean 10mm hollows over about 4 feet. sharp rises and falls are a different matter.

 

[godsy1969]

Thanks guys, just gone over it all with a 6ft level. The whole floor has the odd dip as you'd expect for a screed finish, (at most 4mm). My only area of concern is the doorway going into the new extension. The screeders obviously thought they'd got the right level until they got back to the exisiting floor level where they finished off. Here there is a fall of up to 6mm over a 16cm length. My only saving grace is the Mrs wants the tiles layed with the 60cm edge going across the width of the doorway. If I do get a little rise on these tiles it won't be along a full 60cm length I've bought a 10mm deep adhesive trowell but its the square blade variety, no major problems using this instead of a 1/2 round type I assume?

 

[noseall]

I've bought a 10mm deep adhesive trowell but its the square blade variety, no major problems using this instead of a 1/2 round type I assume?

none whatsoever.