Cutting limestone

[loughran]

I've just been quoted 45 m2 to lay 50 m2 of limestone tiles.... so that won't be happening.

DIY it is then but before I start, what's the best way to cut these tiles ? In the past I've used the Plasplug type wheel in water type cutter but some of these tiles are 500mmx 750mm and a bit cumbersome. Maybe a disk on a small angle grinder might do the job, is there a specific type I should use? The tiles are 20mm thick.

[roofer]

Wet diamond blade.

[loughran]

Diamond blade with Heath Robinson hose arrangement and danger of death from electrocution or specialist machine ?

[wolfracesonic]

Hire something like this Wet diamond cutter 20mm thick? Tiles get thicker while paving slabs get thinner!

[227bhp]

loughran said:

I've just been quoted 45 m2 to lay 50 m2 of limestone tiles.

How much?
Regardless of this, sounds like you're about to find out why it costs what it does.

[loughran]

wolfracesonic said:

Hire something like this Wet diamond cutter 20mm thick? Tiles get thicker while paving slabs get thinner!

Thanks, didn't know whether to describe them as tiles or flags.

227bhp said:

loughran said:

I've just been quoted 45 m2 to lay 50 m2 of limestone tiles.

How much?
Regardless of this, sounds like you're about to find out why it costs what it does.

Not sure I understand your reply. Are you surprised at how much or how little I've been quoted ? Do you think I'll struggle to lay the tiles for less than 2k ?

[oldnbold]

Read your OP again, you havn't told us how much you were quoted.

[johnoz]

oldnbold said:

Read your OP again, you havn't told us how much you were quoted.

I would say £45 per M and he has 50 m2 to lay.

To the OP what did the £45 include?? Adhesive, Grout, Sealer????

[loughran]

Ah yes, that'll be the claret to get over the shock.

The quote was £45 per square meter for 50 square meters plus the VAT of course. Thought it was a bit strong.

[loughran]

Yes, included adhesive, grout and sealer.

[oldnbold]

Is this laying externally (garden) or internally , and what surface are they being laid on, how much prep work is required, is this a labour only price or including materials.

Need a bit more info OP.

[loughran]

The price is for laying 50m2 of Auberoche Lot'antic limestone onto screed over wet underfloor heating in my lounge/dining room. The screed has been down and the underfloor heating has been in full operation for three years now.

The price is for labour, flexible adhesive, primer, grout and sealer.

Prep is minimal.... a bit of a sweep round. No crack mat is required.

[Woody3]

I've just laid 25m2 of 22mm thick limestone tiles after getting similar quotes.

What are the edges of the tiles like? Ours have a "natural" finished edge, which meant I could cut them with a 9 inch angle grinder and a diamond tipped blade, which gave a very similar finish as the other edges.

[loughran]

Natural, yes.

Any cuts I make will hopefully end up under a skirting, otherwise I'll have to take a hammer/file/axe to them to help them blend in.

[Woody3]

Ah, similar'ish tile as mine and all of my cuts are under units/skirting too.

One of these with one of these is what I've used anyway.

Cuts like a hot knife through butter. Try it out first though.

Might help or might not, but some good tips that I was given are:

• Sort the tiles out into different thickness's
• Lay the thickest tiles first
• Use a 15mm notched trowel
• Back skim the back of the tile to fill out any voids
• The larger tiles are heavy, so you might need a helper.
• Unconventional I know, but I found it easier to use baling twine to slowly lower the tile onto the adhesive, instead of getting my fingers trapped between the other tiles, plus you don't get adhesive all over your hands.
• Use a string line instead of spacers.
• Oh, don't use rapidset if it's your first time tiling.

I've got another 50m2 to go...

Edited by Woody3 on Thursday 27th August 23:30

[993AL]

An alternative to using a wet cut saw is this but you need to use a vacuum with it.

[loughran]

Woody3 said:

Ah, similar'ish tile as mine and all of my cuts are under units/skirting too. One of these with one of those is what I've used anyway.

Cuts like a hot knife through butter. Try it out first though.

Might help or might not, but some good tips that I was given are:

• Sort the tiles out into different thickness's
• Lay the thickest tiles first
• Use a 15mm notched trowel
• Back skim the back of the tile to fill out any voids
• The larger tiles are heavy, so you might need a helper.
• Unconventional I know, but I found it easier to use baling twine to slowly lower the tile onto the adhesive, instead of getting my fingers trapped between the other tiles, plus you don't get adhesive all over your hands.
• Use a string line instead of spacers.
• Oh, don't use rapidset if it's your first time tiling.

I've got another 50m2 to go...

I already have one of these and can easily get one of those... just cut the stone dry ?

The other tips are great, did you seal the tiles before laying them, seems like a good idea.

I've had good results with Weber SPF Rapid but for smaller areas, I'll have a think about the adhesive.

Have you got to the grouting stage yet ? What have you used and what sealer ? I bought this floor because I wanted to recreate those beautiful ancient French farmhouse floors... in Yorkshire. I did find the genuine article, Vieux Bourgogne, locally but it was £650+ per meter and very thick. Beautiful but at nearly 40k it was a non starter.

I shipped this stone from Cahors and when I was choosing it I asked what finish they would suggest. "Savon noir, Monsieur". It seems traditionally these floors are sealed and cleaned with a soap made from olive oil but I should imagine it takes a couple of centuries to get it looking really good.

Any alternative sealer recommendation very welcome. I like the floor to look like monks have been shuffling about on it in soft leather sandals for half a millennium.

Edited by loughran on Friday 28th August 08:27

[Woody3]

Yep, dry cut worked on mine.

Sealing wise, I've sealed them once they had been laid (before grouting), then I plan to go over with 2+ coats once grouted.

I've used LTP Mattstone to seal and you can't see any difference in the colour of the tile. Quite impressed.

Adhesive wise, I've used Tilemaster Standard Setaflex White

I've bought the grout and tested it in a small area. I spoke to one of the head guys at Tilemaster, as some of my joints are greater than 20mm wide and he confirmed that Grout 3000 would be fine (I've gone with a Limestone colour - not as creamy as Jasmine).

When are you starting? I'll try and get some photos up once I've grouted.

Your tiles look very nice!

[B17NNS]

£45m2 for stone is a fair price.

As others have said, diamond blade wet.

[loughran]

Well I've made a start, I've managed to lay around 20 square meters so far. It's bloody hard work and I'm starting to think 45 quid a square meter might be a bit of a bargain.

As it happens, I've worked on two sites in the last couple of weeks where there have been pro tilers laying limestone. Both used a 9" diamond wheel on an angle grinder and both did the job dry, which was good enough for me and so that's the way I've been doing it.

My next challenge is the grouting. I've not grouted wide rustic grout lines like this before so I had a bit of a practice run on an area that will be hidden when finished. It didn't go too well. Grout all over the place.

I've given the floor a couple of coats of sealer but if I wipe the grout in and off with a grout float the tiles are so 'featureful' the grout gets into all the nooks and crannies and is all but impossible to get out.

I did think that using a piping bag as a grout delivery system might be a good idea or maybe masking up the tiles but I can't see that being very successful.

Anybody had any success in this department and any preferences for a grout ? I've used Weber product but it has a bit of a satin/shiny finish when dry and I'd prefer a matt/chalky finish.