Ceramic tile terrace - Base construction

[Froggy Paul]

Can anyone assist with this one please.

I am intending to construct an external terrace & swimming pool surround using frost proof anti slip ceramic tiles. The site (150m/2) is in the Southern Brittany coast with little or no history of prolonged frost winter conditions.

My proposal for base construction is as follows:

1) Soakaways are already installed
2) Stabilise existing surface (12 -15mm aggregate) with mechnical whacker
3) Treat surface with weedkiller
4) Establish borders (concrete haunches & edgings)
5) Establish levels & falls
6) Introduce & whack 70mm "mixte compound" (this is a coarse sand & small aggregate mix)
7) Install 6mm thk C/W standoff steel reinforcing mesh throughout
install a dry screed to provide 40mm cover over the reinforcing steel
9) stabilise & compund the dry screed, wait until firm
10) lay ceramic tiles directly to the hardened screed surface & grout.

Note:
I have not allowed for a membrane in the design, could anyone comment on this?

Does this design seem sound or is there an easier way?

[Tony McC]

I'd have thought that a 100mm concrete slab with poly-fibres rather than mesh steel would be a better substrate for tiling. That would just involve ...
<ul>
<li> level existing surface
<li> blind with sand/pea gravel
<li> erect formwork
<li> damp proof membrane
<li> 100mm 20-30 Newton concrete with 12mm poly-fibres
<li>waterproof ceramic tile adhesive
<li> tiles
</ul>