Installation of tiles techniques
Why does the installation of tiles with a thin bed adhesive be better than the traditional method ? What is the strength of usage thin bed adhesive ? What is the reason of usage thin bed adhesive instead thick bed mortar ? What is the most advance technique of tile setting ? How many methods of tile setting do the tilesetter have at present? What is it ?
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Replies
im no tilesetter, but since you haven't gotten a response yet... i will point you this way until boris comes around
johnbridge.com
thinset us generally used on cement backer board or slab on grade. Yes there are other places where thinset is used, but it all depends on the stress of the application.
Mud based tile setting omits the slab or cement board since youre providing a strong base with the mud bed.
SHowers usually use a mud bed for tiled installations due to more waterproofing options.
Question: Why does the installation of tiles with a thin bed adhesive be better than the traditional method ?
Answer: It isn't, but it is easier. Thinset is an awesome product that is really sticky and has better bonding properties than portland cement. There has been tremedous strides made in thinsets over the last 20 years. Versabond is great stuff, and cheap at $16 a bag.
Question: What is the strength of usage thin bed adhesive ?
Answer: I don't know what you mean, but in terms of a PSI, I would imagine it is in the 800-1,000 psi range. It doesn't have to be strong, it only has to bond really really well, which is exactly what it does.
Question: What is the reason of usage thin bed adhesive instead thick bed mortar ?
Answer: Better bonding properties. Note on your question here, you are asking about thinbed adhesive and comparing it to traditonal wet bed methods. I am assuming you are including in your question using a traditional mud bed as a setting bed, which is finished off with tiles on top of thinset. Old fashioned wet bed method was to float a fairly dry mud bed like we still do, sprinkle portland cement over it and smoosh the tiles into the still wet mud bed. The Portland soaked up the moisture from the mud bed, which activated the bond, and set the tiles. That process is too old for me. I have been using thinset for now 30 years. The last time I saw an old timer use the sprinkle method was in the late 60's. I can't imagine that pure portland has better bonding characteristics to modern thinsets.
Question: What is the most advance technique of tile setting ?
Answer: Hard question to answer. The process hasn't changed much in the last 10 years. The best process is still a mud bed with thinset and tile. Very strong, straightens floors and walls, and makes an excellent setting bed. Newer developments over the past few years include some new products by Schulter called "Kerdi" and "Ditra". Kerdi is waterproof membrane, with an integral drain, than accepts thinset and tile over it, so one can literally make a shower out of drywall (except the slope). Ditra is a new anti-fracture membrane which allows tilesetters to tile directly on plywood. This is fantastic for new construction.
Question: How many methods of tile setting do the tilesetter have at present?
Answer: Difficult question. I use 3: (1) Mud Beds and thinset; (2) CBU and thinset; and (3) Plywood, Ditra and thinset.
Boris
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