Hi,
My first floor flat has an exterior roof terrace which appears to be
part of the original design of the house (built mid 1860's). The areas
consists of two squares each approximately 2.5 metres wide, that
overlap by about 90cm accross one corner. Currently the flooring is
some kind of thick felt (not like flat roofing felt, it's smooth and
appears to be quite thick). The floor is in bad condition, there is
ponding, cracks, small lumps and it has become detached from the wall
at various points. However the terrace as a whole appears to be solid
and well constructed as part of the original house.
My father has suggested tiling over it - applying 30cm porecelain
tiles using a cement with the appropriate elasticiser directly onto the
felt. Half tiles would go up the wall to an appropriate height,
covering the damaged flashing and felt.
Can anybody offer any advice or suggestions on this? would this work?
Or any alternatives?
Any help much appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

Simon

In article .com,
wrote:
My first floor flat has an exterior roof terrace which appears to be
part of the original design of the house (built mid 1860's). The areas
consists of two squares each approximately 2.5 metres wide, that
overlap by about 90cm accross one corner. Currently the flooring is
some kind of thick felt (not like flat roofing felt, it's smooth and
appears to be quite thick). The floor is in bad condition, there is
ponding, cracks, small lumps and it has become detached from the wall
at various points. However the terrace as a whole appears to be solid
and well constructed as part of the original house.
My father has suggested tiling over it - applying 30cm porecelain
tiles using a cement with the appropriate elasticiser directly onto the
felt. Half tiles would go up the wall to an appropriate height,
covering the damaged flashing and felt.
Can anybody offer any advice or suggestions on this? would this work?
Or any alternatives?
Any help much appreciated.

The usual tiles for this sort of thing are called 'promenade' tiles - made
out of GRP reinforced concrete. So thin, strong and light. But would
normally go on asphalt rather than roofing felt.

I'd say it impossible to tile over a felt roof and end up with a
waterproof result due to the movement. So the basic roof needs to be sound
before tiling. Ie, the tiles are only to prevent wear and damage to the
roof covering.

--
*Middle age is when work is a lot less fun - and fun a lot more work.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I used a single ply membrane and then covered this with paving stones,
but the roof was made to take the weight. It was not cheap but i dont
think anything like this is going to be.
I got a firm by the same name as the product.
Rob

The floor is in bad condition, there is ponding, cracks, small lumps
and it has become detached from the wall at various points.

It sounds like the roof needs replacing anyway. Have you considered
something like Polyroof 185, which will provide a walkable non-slip surface?

http://www.polyroof.co.uk/store/Article.aspx?pid=54

I'm afraid the solution you've proposed sounds like it would just trap water
against the broken roof, leading to water ingress into the building.

Christian.

Many thanks for all the responses, very much appreciated.

Does anyone know of a supplier of promenade tiles (possibly North
London area or willing to deliver). I'll also look at the polyroof
mentioned above.

Cheers,

Simon

Also, out of interest: If the cement and the grout were waterproof,
would the original solution (using porcelain tiles) not provide a
waterproof covering? How would this likely fail?

Thanks,

Simon

In article .com,
wrote:
Also, out of interest: If the cement and the grout were waterproof,
would the original solution (using porcelain tiles) not provide a
waterproof covering? How would this likely fail?

Because the roof isn't rigid and will move with heat, etc. As will the
tiles.

--
*Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I see - and presumably minute cracks in the grout will allow water
through(?)

Thanks again,

Simon

In article . com,
wrote:
I see - and presumably minute cracks in the grout will allow water
through(?)

You really need to quote the post you're replying to otherwise you'll get
shouted at.;-)

IMHO, ceramic tiles need to be applied to a similar substrata if they're
going to be waterproof. So like the concrete walls of a swimming pool,
etc. Which is solid and waterproof to start with.

To try and use them to waterproof a moving thing like a roof covered in
felt is IMHO a no no.

The promenade tiles I mentioned are merely to protect the substrata from
damage - not to waterproof it. You don't grout them.

--
*Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

aha - understood. Many thanks again.

Simon

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article . com,
wrote:
I see - and presumably minute cracks in the grout will allow water
through(?)

You really need to quote the post you're replying to otherwise you'll get
shouted at.;-)

IMHO, ceramic tiles need to be applied to a similar substrata if they're
going to be waterproof. So like the concrete walls of a swimming pool,
etc. Which is solid and waterproof to start with.

To try and use them to waterproof a moving thing like a roof covered in
felt is IMHO a no no.

The promenade tiles I mentioned are merely to protect the substrata from
damage - not to waterproof it. You don't grout them.

--
*Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article .com,
wrote:

aha - understood. Many thanks again.

Nearly, see if this helps:

http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?How_to_post

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http://www.classicmicrocars.co.uk : http://www.ajlelectronics.co.uk