Cheaper decoupling Mat

[Pocster]

Been using the schluter ditra25 . Going to need plenty more ! It’s real expensive! . Anyone else used a cheaper product that performs just the same ?.

I guess I need maybe 150m on 1m rolls ?

[Pocster]

https://www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/product/kerakoll-biotex-anti-crack-matting?attribute_option=1m²+Unit&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyN-DBhCDARIsAFOELTkE7vgjB8kv-f4fUS5rhnDxvvdV9QZqLh1zxqo92uPxhSj8ll_dyqoaAlrfEALw_wcB#.YHg-NyV4XDs
 

£150 for 50m ...

[Pocster]

Ok - apparently can use with ufh 

 

but 

 

https://www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/product/tilemaster-anti-fracture-matting#.YHg_oCV4XDs

 

20m at 123+ the dreaded !

So £5.5 a sq metre !

[ToughButterCup]

Yep, thats what it costs. GetcherWalletOutYouTightWalkOnGlazingExpert.

[Pocster]

  On 15/04/2021 at 15:10, ToughButterCup said:

Yep, thats what it costs. GetcherWalletOutYouTightWalkOnGlazingExpert.

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Bugs me .

Decoupling mat , glue , tile adhesive , grout - cost more than the (expletive deleted)ing tiles !!

[ProDave]

  On 15/04/2021 at 16:25, pocster said:

Bugs me .

Decoupling mat , glue , tile adhesive , grout - cost more than the (expletive deleted)ing tiles !!

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Is this bathrooms / wet rooms?  (if so 150 square metres????)

 

If it is NOT bathrooms then the need for a decoupling mat shows you have the wrong floor material.  Change the floor material to e.g. plywood.

[Pocster]

  On 15/04/2021 at 16:49, ProDave said:

Is this bathrooms / wet rooms?  (if so 150 square metres????)

 

If it is NOT bathrooms then the need for a decoupling mat shows you have the wrong floor material.  Change the floor material to e.g. plywood.

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No ; just tiling on screed - not wet rooms / bathrooms . Still need to ‘ de couple ‘ ..

[PeterW]

Why ...?? Where are you going to get significant differential expansion to justify it ..? 

[Pocster]

  On 15/04/2021 at 20:02, PeterW said:

Why ...?? Where are you going to get significant differential expansion to justify it ..? 

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The screed has cracked across doorways for example . Screed was laid months ago ; cracks happened many months after that . I assumed de coupling mat should really be used in all situations.

Better to be safe than sorry ?

Edited April 15, 2021 by pocster

[PeterW]

@nod - what are your thoughts ..? 
 

You should expect cracking at doorways anyway so surprised that’s not already happened when the UFH is switched on. 

[nod]

Yes always at the doorways 

It’s worth putting a a screed expansion in each doorway 

 

[Pocster]

  On 15/04/2021 at 20:24, nod said:

Yes always at the doorways 

It’s worth putting a a screed expansion in each doorway 

 

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I was going to de couple the entire floor and put expansion strips in ( or near ) to doorways . I thought this was the bolts n braces approach .

[Pete]

  On 15/04/2021 at 20:42, pocster said:

I was going to de couple the entire floor and put expansion strips in ( or near ) to doorways . I thought this was the bolts n braces approach .

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I used the mat to cover my entire concrete slab just in case, just peace of mind really

[Pocster]

  On 15/04/2021 at 20:56, Pete said:

I used the mat to cover my entire concrete slab just in case, just peace of mind really

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My thoughts 

[Nickfromwales]

150m split over different rooms?

[nod]

  On 15/04/2021 at 20:42, pocster said:

I was going to de couple the entire floor and put expansion strips in ( or near ) to doorways . I thought this was the bolts n braces approach .

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You don’t need anything to fancy 

A clear 10 mil gap around the perimeter is a must 

[Pocster]

  On 16/04/2021 at 02:48, Nickfromwales said:

150m split over different rooms?

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Yes

[Pocster]

  On 16/04/2021 at 06:19, nod said:

You don’t need anything to fancy 

A clear 10 mil gap around the perimeter is a must 

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Sure . But what if my tile grout line ( the expansion strip ) doesn’t line up in the doorway ? . Just ignore it ? . Or just put the expansion strip as near as possible to the doorway ? 

[Pete]

  On 16/04/2021 at 06:37, pocster said:

Sure . But what if my tile grout line ( the expansion strip ) doesn’t line up in the doorway ? . Just ignore it ? . Or just put the expansion strip as near as possible to the doorway ? 

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I do not have expansion strips of any kind in my doorways. I have laid 1.2m x 1.2m tiles throughout my ground floor onto  decoupling membrane on a concrete slab and have had no problems and imo looks better than putting thin strips in which would have spoilt the look of my large tiles

Edited April 16, 2021 by Pete
Add photo

[Pocster]

  On 16/04/2021 at 07:18, Pete said:

I do not have expansion strips of any kind in my doorways. I have laid 1.2m x 1.2m tiles throughout my ground floor onto  decoupling membrane on a concrete slab and have had no problems and imo looks better than putting thin strips in which would have spoilt the look of my large tiles

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I’m tempted to only put an expansion strip in a doorway only when there’s a change of tile flooring . So it’s a natural break and you won’t even notice it as the tiles have changed .

[Pete]

  On 16/04/2021 at 08:42, pocster said:

I’m tempted to only put an expansion strip in a doorway only when there’s a change of tile flooring . So it’s a natural break and you won’t even notice it as the tiles have changed .

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Would be ok but I did not even do that in the two bathrooms as I had used the mat throughout

[Nickfromwales]

If its running relatively low flow temp, and its tiles, they should heat up and cool down at pretty much the same rate, so the only thing I would be doing here is leaving a 6mm-8mm gap all around the perimeters and making sure they are NOT grouted. Pump them full of a dirt cheap silicone to prevent inadvertently filling them up while grouting the main areas.

Priming and making sure the screed is free from dust / other contamination will be crucial. 

If your bum-hole is wobbling, put a mat down.   

[Pete]

  On 16/04/2021 at 11:28, Nickfromwales said:

If its running relatively low flow temp, and its tiles, they should heat up and cool down at pretty much the same rate, so the only thing I would be doing here is leaving a 6mm-8mm gap all around the perimeters and making sure they are NOT grouted. Pump them full of a dirt cheap silicone to prevent inadvertently filling them up while grouting the main areas.

Priming and making sure the screed is free from dust / other contamination will be crucial. 

If your bum-hole is wobbling, put a mat down.   

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Left the gap as you suggest which was covered by the skirting. Did not bother with silicone to save money!! (Tight us northerners!)

[Nickfromwales]

  On 16/04/2021 at 11:45, Pete said:

Tight us northerners

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Apparently so if you managed to not waste any in that gap  

[Pocster]

  On 16/04/2021 at 11:28, Nickfromwales said:

If your bum-hole is wobbling, put a mat down.

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Is that so I don’t make a mess ? ??