Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.

 
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Old 08-24-2009, 07:03 PM   #1
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Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


Hi, I have a project that involves leveling a concrete porch and installing slate tiles. The porch was built out of level by about 2.5 inches on one corner. It looks bad and the home owners want it fixed.

My plan is to build it up/ level it with mortar mix and install the tile in the usual manner. I'm not a tile layer so I'm not sure if using mortar mix is a good way to go.

--Rick

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Old 08-24-2009, 11:42 PM   #2
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


See if you cna determine flat plan by setting screets with wood shim from the deepest part of the low corner to a main area in the rest of the porch that would serve as a good basis to merge your low corner with the rest of the porch. Most likely this will not be perfectly level but this should serve to resolve into a flat plane. Rember screeting mud requires at least an 1 1/4" of bed, anything lower will not work well.
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Old 08-25-2009, 09:12 AM   #3
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


But is it ok to use mortar mix for this?
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Old 08-26-2009, 10:48 PM   #4
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


I had to do the same thing with my own front step which was 2 1/2" off level side to side. I framed around it (level), put in some wire, and used mortor mix. I also poured a new step on top of that and a pad beside.
Because its Canada, I was concerned with too much moisture getting into the concrete so I installed ditra (with kerdi) to waterproof the entire assembly before tiling. I used a 12"x24" porcelain tile and used laticrete spectralock epoxy grout.
It's been a year (with a damn cold winter!) - looks like the day I put it in!
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Old 08-27-2009, 12:01 AM   #5
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


Sand mix is used, not mortar mix. Mortar mix contains lime and will be somewhat sticky, lime will cause the straightedge to drag. The minimum is 3/4" but striving for 1-1/4" is desired.

The sand mix is mixed very dry then packed (NOT POURED) into place. The straightedge ("screed") is dragged over the surface to achieve the plane. Steel pipes can be used to establish level and to drag the straightedge on top of. Once the surface is flat the pipes are removed and the voids filled and scraped flat to match the surface.

A surface primer is required. Liquid concrete primer will work. Thinset tile mortar can also be used either thrown down dry or mixed and trowelled to bond the sand mix to the existing concrete.

Last edited by Bud Cline; 08-27-2009 at 12:03 AM.
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Old 08-30-2009, 01:59 PM   #6
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


just a thought. did this slab sink or was it really built like that? I repaired a porch where the slab sank . the slab was mudjacked to fill any voids below before any tile work was done. tap the slab in that area to hear if it sounds hollow. fix it before tiling. you'll be glad you did.
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Old 08-30-2009, 10:50 PM   #7
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


Quote:
Originally Posted by olzo55 View Post
just a thought. did this slab sink or was it really built like that? I repaired a porch where the slab sank . the slab was mudjacked to fill any voids below before any tile work was done. tap the slab in that area to hear if it sounds hollow. fix it before tiling. you'll be glad you did.

When I did mine it had sunk. As part of the project I re-landscaped the area to ensure proper drainage - which before directed all the water to under the slab that had sunk.
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Old 09-03-2009, 03:45 PM   #8
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


There was no sign of it sinking any where, the brick was level but the pad was formed and poured on top. It was obviously made that way. I think the form sagged on them during the pour and they went with it any way.

As describe in an other post I anchored leveling boards to the perimeter and used the mortar mix. Turned out great.
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Old 09-04-2009, 08:19 PM   #9
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Re: Leveling Concrete Porch And Installing Slate Tile.


Here's a pic of the result. Not to bad for a rookie tile setter eh?
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Leveling concrete porch and installing slate tile.-p1060451_full.jpeg  
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