Gluing tiles to metal for balcony

[Pete.]

I've demolished plenty of steel treads and landings which had weld mesh welded into the pan and then screeded. The screed holds on very well to the weld mesh and I see no reason why you couldn't put a thin screed into the landing and tile on top.

 

[sako243]

I have considered the screeding method. Might give it more consideration.

 

[Turbo]

Would you get a lot of expansion with a steel floor causing your grout and maybe the tiles to crack?

 

[sako243]

Hence why the gluing method seems to recommend something flexible like CT1 rather than grout.

 

[Smallfry]

Use porcelain or quarry tiles. I stuck concrete ridge tiles to a slate roof on my workshop and cabin with Stixall about 15 years ago, and its still absolutely fine.

Roof gets really hot in summer sun, so I would not hesitate to use Stixall or one of the other polymer adhesives, rather than proper tile adhesive. Use it for "grouting" them too.

 

[reb78]

What about composite decking? Most thin tiles are slippy when wet so not good for dogs. They will also get hot - not what you want. Composite, or even wood deck might be better.

 

[sako243]

Not had any luck finding any thinner than timber decking and my experience of composite stuff is it's pretty dire and floppy.

Leaning towards @Pete. and @8ob's suggestion of shuttering in some concrete. The door is unlikely to be open when it's wet as my desk is/will be right next to it so that's less of an issue.

 

[drjim]

Why not use timber decking and then stick a sheet of linoleum/LVT on top?

 

[reb78]

Not had any luck finding any thinner than timber decking and my experience of composite stuff is it's pretty dire and floppy.

Leaning towards @Pete. and @8ob's suggestion of shuttering in some concrete. The door is unlikely to be open when it's wet as my desk is/will be right next to it so that's less of an issue.

I think you're already talking about adding the equivalent of joists (even welding some thick bar across would prob do in lieu of joists for the widths your talking?). Normal widths and the composite stuff is fine. I can't see that DIY casting a heavy slab of concrete up there is going to be a good idea personally!

 

[Gareth J]

You could consider Hardie backer board type product either as a functional top finish onto the steel that will withstand temperature changes better than tiles, or as a substrate on which to tile.

 

[Turbo]

Another option would be to lay a sheet of buffalo board.

 

[Onoff]

Hod about a Vitra decoupling mat?

That's the norm where tiles go onto a substrate that's likely to expand / contract.

 

[sako243]

I think you're already talking about adding the equivalent of joists (even welding some thick bar across would prob do in lieu of joists for the widths your talking?). Normal widths and the composite stuff is fine. I can't see that DIY casting a heavy slab of concrete up there is going to be a good idea personally!

The point is those would be within the steel structure. Find me some decking composite or timber that's less than 20mm thick and we're onto a winner (that's the absolute maximum as that's the front lip of the door cill). I don't want to be planing down lengths to reduce them.

In fact a floated concrete floor would do thinking about it, why bother even tiling it

 

[reb78]

The point is those would be within the steel structure. Find me some decking composite or timber that's less than 20mm thick and we're onto a winner (that's the absolute maximum as that's the front lip of the door cill). I don't want to be planing down lengths to reduce them.

In fact a floated concrete floor would do thinking about it, why bother even tiling it

Not composite but there's stuff out there.

Quercus Premium 20mm European Oak Decking | Buy Decking Boards Online from the Experts at UK Timber

Quercus Premium European Oak Decking stocked by UK Timber, one of the leading suppliers of Decking Boards. We stock a wide range available for delivery throughout the UK to the trade and public.

www.uk-timber.co.uk

 

[gaz1]

The point is those would be within the steel structure. Find me some decking composite or timber that's less than 20mm thick and we're onto a winner (that's the absolute maximum as that's the front lip of the door cill). I don't want to be planing down lengths to reduce them.

In fact a floated concrete floor would do thinking about it, why bother even tiling it

the mistake has been done you either use what you can or you take apart what you have built

its either you go for the doorframe or you go for the platform itself thats to make it higher or lower

if you dont want to mess with that the simple method is grp platform and yes it can attach to metal

concrete method you have the heavy issue to deal with even if you make a 3" concrete platform

decking you could get away with sinking the decking level with the steel framing but you will see the middle 2 girders and will be able to stand on them the outer sides you will be fastening the handrails too the girders

you can go lower with tiles and stone flags between the framing

there is the old way but your still dealing with thickness

 

[gaz1]

the other way is either steel grating or grp grating also level with the tops of your girders within the walls

 

[angellonewolf]

That sounds good thin enought to do the job no standing water to deal with and will last years

 

[reb78]

the other way is either steel grating or grp grating also level with the tops of your girders within the walls

Not so ideal for dogs feet though..

 

[angellonewolf]

I'm sure you could get more smaller holes in the grate that would be more suitable

 

[sako243]

@gaz1 I fully admit that what we've got was a mistake. There is zero option for us to undo what we've got, it's sunk into the wall and all the stonework has been redone around it, as is the stupidly expensive door frame in situ etc. It's tied into the roof, concreted and bolted into the wall. The only thing that might be possible is torching off the top flange of the I beams and rewelding those lower but at that point I'll just slap some chequer plate over it and carpet it.