off topic.

[johnakay]

OK question for you DIY guys.
I'm about to fit a marble fire surround.
laying the hearth . what I want to know is what is best to fix it to the floor.
the shop said use cenment but my floor has bitumen coating about 1/2" thick.
doubt that cement will stick.so I thought maybe tiger seal will be best to level and stick permantly.also tile adhesive have been mention.
what do you guys recon that I should use?

there will be no real fire or gas just and electric fire. so heat will not be a problem.
the back of the fire surround will not have an opening etc.

 

[madkayaker]

Something none flammable and no solvent smelly! What's under the tar I would be tempted to scrape that off and then cement down

 

[johnakay]

can't remove that as its a damp proofing etc. the builders put it on the concrete floor when the house was built in 1978.
I might and go and pay a pro to do it as I want it done right no make do.
£150 for a couple of hours work!

 

[madkayaker]

I see. If its well cured though then cement should stick as its a textured surface. After all it's stuck to the concrete! Might he worth a read of the relevant section of building Regis part H I think

 

[brightspark]

this will be ok to use http://www.wickes.co.uk/rapid-set-floor-tile-adhesive-25kg/invt/235314/?source=123_74

 

[norsa]

the idea of mortar is to hold the bricks apart not stick them together. All you are doing in your case is making a bed to level the hearth. With the weight of the stone, it wont move once the mortar has gone off. Add a little washing up liquid to your 6:1 mix and it will be more pliable.
Nick

 

[gordon stephenson]

X2 with norsa.

 

[norsa]

If you question our advice, remember this; Formerly, houses were built on a concrete foundation, as it came through at ground level, it changed to a couple of courses of engineering bricks then a layer of damp proof course (DPC) THIS was a layer of bitumen which the bricks were then layed on with a bed of mortar??????????

 

[mike os]

I always use bonding plaster for the base and the marble surround.... cement is too strong and may also stain the marble

mix fairly stiff but smooth, so it peaks like whipped cream or egg whites ( ok i know...) lay it in a full bead round the perimiters & under any reinforcing bars. nice & easy to level, and it will not move... untill you want it to.
let it set before you do the front

for the front you must fill the gap around the hole that the fire goes into

 

[cumbriasteve]

My floor is concrete then a very hard bitumen tile that acts as the damp course, I also had a marble hearth and did the same as norsa suggests:

A mix of 6:1 soft sand / cement with washing up liquid in it, make the mix quite soft and pliable, spread it about 20mm thick and then placed the marble onto it...wiggling the marble around to level and spread the mix..deffo not hitting it...been in place now for about 7 years and all is perfect.

There should be no area supported any differently to anywhere else, my mix resembled the pattern you get on corrugated sheets before laying the marble, the highs then spread down and evened out, if you try to get it flat before laying the marble there is nowhere for it to level out to.

Finish off with a small trowel to ensure there is mix under all the edges.

 

[johnakay]

I;ve got some body in to do the job.so thanks.