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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:19 pm
by Jonah
After spending the last couple of weekends on my first crack at a building job, I have completed our new doorstep.
I was as proud as a rooster of my work until a mate said I should have put a PVA solution on the house bricks before I started the job and I would suffer from damp as a result. So I have included a few pics of the step to get peoples opinions.
As you can see, the step is in an alcove and the DPC has not been bridged. The tiles are laid on a construction of a sandwich of mortar and paviers, with a 50/50 sharp sand and aggregate base.
Cheers.
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:43 pm
by Pablo
You have nothing to worry about tell your mate to shut it. Pva would have no use in a situation like this either.
Edited By Pablo on 1240343121
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:46 pm
by Suggers
PVA added, doesn't stop damp - just helps with adhesion. Think I might have dispensed with funny little cuts at the back - otherwise sit back & enjoy....
ps - what's the second job gonna be?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:47 pm
by Suggers
Pabs beat me - the swine...:p
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:58 pm
by Jonah
Think I might have dispensed with funny little cuts at the back
I was unsure about the little cuts at the back but decided to go with it in the end.
ps - what's the second job gonna be?
I'm playing with the idea of doing a patio, small wall and some paving in the back garden which require some serious groundwork doing on it. I mixed all the mortar for the doorstep by hand in a barrow (six bags of ready mix) which was a mistake as I'm not used to this kind of work. If I do go for the back garden work, a mixer from the hire shop is a must!
My idea was to do this doorstep as a first building project to get my confidence up working with mortar etc.
Thanks for your replies.
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:11 pm
by Suggers
A mixer is a must! - for home jobs, still using a small Belle electric mixer I bought in about 1990 (about £80.00 if I remember) - looked after & still works great.
All the best for the garden - beats the gym or bloody jogging...!
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:16 pm
by lutonlagerlout
looks good from here jonah,remember its in the storm porch so rain will be minimal,
thats what they are there for
LLL 
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:04 pm
by Ossett
Suggers wrote:Think I might have dispensed with funny little cuts at the back
How would you have done it different? Would you have left bigger spaces between the tiles or just had more grout at the back?
I have a similar tiling job to do soon, so any tips would be appreciated.
Totally agree about the mixer, I bought a Belle minimix 240v a few years ago, one of the best purchases I have ever made. Cost me £160 delivered brand new, the same mixer is in Wickes at the minute for £220.
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:29 am
by Jonah
The quarry tiles I used were from wickes and stated on the box to space the tiles between 6-12mm. I used 5mm spacers as I couldn't find any larger ones (I didn't look too hard for some).
If I had've used larger spacings I dare say I could have done without the cut tiles at the back near the wall, but I was too busy trying to get things straight, level and with a fall away from the house to think that far ahead
I also umm'd and ahh'd about using a mortar mix or tile adhesive to fix the tiles. In the end I spent about a tenner on some ceramic tile adhesive suitable for quarry tiles and didn't regret it one bit. It had all the right proportions of all the right stuff for my novice self to use with ease.