CC45

Evening all, Our slab was poured about 2 years ago now & with tiling down stairs now looking imminent I have been advised to heat shock the slab pre tiling (UFH). Starting off by increasing the temp by 1 - 2 degrees a day up to a max and then hold that temp for a week and then drop in back down by 1 - 2 degrees a day. The only snag is that no one seems to be able to tell me what the max temp should be, today I put it up to 23degrees - I can't see us every running it warmer than that. Does anyone know how high we need to take it to? Thanks

sounds like she's aiming at getting you to do it all to me.............

Your work is done - nearly.

they look good tbh but I think I'd be tempted to have a few on the end....

I doubt anyone will top that lot - it must be exceptionally quiet in there! Not too sure I would spend that much. Good effort.

that was a standard technique practiced by a contractor who widened the road outside my place of work - all supervised by the necessary authorities. I passed it every day since I walk to work and I didn't see a single bird of animal trapped in it. It is rather arrogant to assume that I'm not creating wildlife space - we have left a large undeveloped area on our plot deliberately for wildlife - in excess of 100m2. I suspect this is more than most people do and unlike our neighbours we will not put artificial grass down.

Ive never been so excited about another mans bathroom before....

so from the top down we have 22mm chipboard then 50mm of rockwool RWA45 sound insulation & then I've put in 100mm of sound reducing insulation roll (given to me free of charge) & then 15mm PB. Inside the metal web joists also filled with some of this roll. Missus has been up stairs and created some noise and even without carpet the sound reduction is pretty impressive. Double boarding with 12.5mm would be another way of really cutting down the sound. We will make this decision just before skimming - easy enough to throw another layer on if we want. We've got plenty of height downstairs. I like a quiet house.

Cover all the hedge with a fine mesh so the birds can't access it for nesting. Hedge cutting time now - can you get a local farmer to give it a good trim first?

Ive put some in the metal web joists as well. Under some of the soil pipes etc i'm going to double plaster board (so one layer is in the ceiling void just on top of the ceiling layer) as well as trying my best to insulate around them. I may even put some clay plant pots where the leds go and then insulate around them well. I'm using 15mm pb on all ceilings in another effort to reduce noise.

I just use a big flat sponge. Damp sponge not a wet one. No need for finger or rubber glove.

I find the grout needs to be reasonably set - if its too 'wet' still its easy to rub it out, I'd rather have to work a bit harder when polishing it up. If those were the only bits you can find then you aint doing too much wrong. You will notice stuff others wont. Ordered my front door last week - the guy running the company came around to measure and after chatting about rugby he had a shifty around. I hate tiling but he commented that he had gone through many tilers before he was happy and that my tiling was comparable to the chap he used but I know where all the little mistakes are and he didnt. I also take a long time doing it all. I dont think you probably have too much to worry about.

Dont wash it out. Patience young grasshopper.

Our costs so far, excl any borrowing and plot purchase costs here is what we've spent so far Design incl drainage £2,790 Planning & regs £1,706.67 Plus Insurance (5.5yrs) £2,438.44 Total £6,935.11 Need another year or so to complete so I expect another £600 insurance cost. Some of the other costs on here would scare me.

@Onoff you seem to want to complicate this grouting job........ unlike you to do that

What if you turn the camera 180degrees....... It does look ok++ tbh.

Good luck Nick

3 better than 2. I prefer 1 tbh.

Any larger pics floating around? Looks good.

Done a few hours of TV - mostly hours in the 'green' room waiting for action. Not the most interesting way to spend days - just busy feeling guilty about not building the house...

I did the flat machined bits - scrub them well first. Flexi tile adhesive to stick it down - feels totally solid.

we've done the same as you - for the 50mm stuff I just use a stanley to cut it. I've wedged it up by using old bits of offcut wood - needed a clean out so it was a good recycling win. As some point I will need to find some cheap strapping. I would put that insulation in the walls before boarding if I were you - easy enough to do & it will save you time when the boarders arrive. Looking good.

start in one area, load up the grouting trowel press it into the gaps hard, wipe excess off, proceed to next bit. Keep going. Periodically test to see how gone off the grout is. Don't need to 'wash' off excess grout, damp sponge and wipe. You will need lots of clean water. 2 people are better than one on this job in my opinion. It also takes longer than you think so I concentrate on one single area first & get it done before moving onto the next. No need to use your finger here at all - keep it for wrapping around a good beer (e.g. Theakson OP) after the jobs done. Spacers need to be hidden in the crack - adhesive the same. As long as the grout will cover then thats fine.

can't wait for the long sun filled days again..... just gives you more energy.