Replies

1. 
   migraine | Dec 03, 2004 09:16pm | #1

   I'm not a tile guy, but...

   We tried using it in our two bathrooms when we build our home.  We did not use the porcelin, but used the travertine/marble.  I chose to try this product because I have shoulder problems, cervical neck in juries.  The good news is that it looks great. 

   Then there is the bad news...  When it was done, we figured that around 50% of the tiles were "defect".  Some had chips in the edges when the could not be hid/cut of as you would do with normal marble/stone tiles.  Since each panel consists of two tiles, some tile were extremely dark, and the other was extremely light.  The biggest problem was that most of the defect tiles were not laminated to their substaight accuritely.  They would tend to be slid to one side or the other.  This made for inconsistant grout joints.  Towrds the end, we started to run out of good pieces to finish the job, so we had to stack the tiles in batches according to the way they sat on the backer/substraight..  Once we did this, we layed each row of tiles down acording to their defects to minimize any inconsistancies.  The grout in the can is sort of a joke.  Losts of pressure in the beginning, but stuggles to to squirt out the remaining third of the can.  The grout is more like DAP caulking, than grout.  Pretty much wasted a few sponges.  They don't clean up too well.  I didn't use their saw blade, I used my 4" dry cut diamond blade on a Makita grinder.  Since you are cutting dry, even with their blade, the dust goes everwhare, and a wet saw can't be used on their product.  Plus travertine is alot softer than porcelin. 

   My chiropractor used the porcelin type and said it came out good, but he even had a litlle problem with tile alignment.  I haven't seen it, so I can't comment.  Everybody's eye sees things differently. It takes around a day to do an average bath, start to finish, regardless of the size/shape 35-80sqft 

   Cost wise , for the porcelin tile, it is about the same/cheaper as buying a good tile and buting it down with thinset/grout.  The travertine we bought was on a weekend 20% off all flooring products and we had a 10% Lowes discount coupon.  So we paid around $31.00 perbox of 10 sqft(cheap).  I rturned it to another lowes east of Seattle amd they were selling it for $64.00 per box.  Unfortunitly I had a receipt and only got back what I paid for it.  I spoke to the manger and made sure that the returned boxes were returned to vende for defect in quality. 

   When it was all said and done, I wouldn't use it again.  I tiled the remaining 500 sqft of entry/dining/kitchen/mud room with traditional porcelin on Hardi-Backer.  Plus, you can get a better choice of color/patterns with normal tile.  I would still suggest porcelin.  It's bullet proof

   If you don't have a tile saw, buy a 10" saw from Harbor Freight($200 on sale a times and the online version has it at this price, just print it out and their stores will honor it).  This saw is really good for the price, but it is not the same a as a $700 MK wetsaw.  My cuts looked better than some of the tile setters I have seen over the years.  Also, buy a good MK porcelin sawblade for around $70.  I plan on selling my saw/blade for $150.  I have a huge shop and I still don't have a place to store it.  I don't plan on tileing in the future,either.  My body can't take it any more

   If you do go with the backer board and plan on using screws(along with thinset), buy a battery powered makita impact driver/drill.  Makes the job easier  Seems that most of the tiles guys in my area just use nails instead of screws

   Hope this helps

1. 
   JohnG | Dec 04, 2004 12:36am | #2

   I appreciate your comments and this helps me a great deal on my decision. Thanks: 

2. 
   EricPaulson | Dec 04, 2004 03:24am | #3

   >>The grout in the can is sort of a joke.  Losts of pressure in the beginning, but stuggles to to squirt out the remaining third of the can.  The grout is more like DAP caulking, than grout. 

   That's REALLY FUNNY.

   I'm still shaking my head. What will they think of next?

   EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,

   With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.