I have recently acquired a 17th C Listed Cottage and am considering using natural stone for the living area. The existing floors are bitumen or ceramic tiles on concrete.
I would appreciate advice from anyone who has done this before or who could recommend suitable type(s) and laying methods.
Interior Paving
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84-1093879891
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84-1093879891
Well, it's a full mortar bed you need, then. Something along the lines of an 8:1 or 10:1 mix of grit sand and cement, with little or no added water, so that it's what we call a semi-dry mix, for the bedding, and a Class II mortar (4:1, roughly) for the jointing.
It's a good idea to work out a laying plan in advance, so that you start in the far corner, and work your way out. If you know the sizes of the flags you'll be laying, it's easy enough to work out a plan similar to those shown on the Random Layouts page which will save a lot of head scratching and frustration when you're doing the actual laying.
Use a starightedge, at least 2.4m in length, to keep checking the floor for level. Unlike an external patio or pavement, there's no need for any fall, but, with stone flags, it's very easy to be misled, and what you think is 'level' is anything but. Trust your laying lines, the straightedge and the spirit level, rather than your eyes and intuition.
Have you thought about using a sealant once it's all laid?
It's a good idea to work out a laying plan in advance, so that you start in the far corner, and work your way out. If you know the sizes of the flags you'll be laying, it's easy enough to work out a plan similar to those shown on the Random Layouts page which will save a lot of head scratching and frustration when you're doing the actual laying.
Use a starightedge, at least 2.4m in length, to keep checking the floor for level. Unlike an external patio or pavement, there's no need for any fall, but, with stone flags, it's very easy to be misled, and what you think is 'level' is anything but. Trust your laying lines, the straightedge and the spirit level, rather than your eyes and intuition.
Have you thought about using a sealant once it's all laid?