Hello,
I hired a contractor to demo my fireplace (including removing existing 12 x 12 granite tile on the face and hearth). We now have a very uneven surface and an underlayment that is very difficult to remove. (See attached photo – sorry it is so large.)
Here are my questions:
– can I use a self-leveling product over what is there currently or do I have to remove the underlayment? if I cover the existing jagged underlayment with a self-leveler or something else (what)?, what product should I put over it to set the tile (marble)?
– if I have to remove the underlayment, how should I do it? the contractor suggested sawing through and trying to take it out in pieces. what type of saw should I use?
– if I remove the underlayment, should I lay down Hardi-Backer and attach it with their screws?
– the contractor recommended that I fill the gaps in the area below the firebox with a fire-retardant spray foam insulation. Home Depot (no comments, please) didn’t have a fire-retardant product. Can anyone recommend a brand and where to get it (HD suggested Orchard Supply, which I haven’t checked yet)?
Many, many thanks.
Jocelyn
P.S. In case you are wondering why I don’t have the contractor do all this extra work for me, the reason is we are out of money. I also wanted to learn how to lay tile myself and this whole underlayment disaster is a big distraction!
Replies
I don't have a widescreen laptop, so I resized the pic.
Thanks. I didn't see any disaster there though. Did it show up in the bigger photo?
Just looks like a one third finished job to me. Somebody got paid to do the easy work.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
What a nice spot for a raised hearth.
Shame for me for suggesting this, but sounds like a nice application for an artifical stone. If done slowly and carefully, it can be a satisfying DIY solution to your problem. Although the material will cost.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I already have the tile picked out (and in house waiting for me to figure out what to lay it on!).
Jocelyn
removal of all that thinset from the marble will make a mess easier to cover/level it can use thickset mortar Ardex products also makes a portland cement based leveler which is strong, can be troweled smooth across those surfaces either way, use thinset mortar to retile the cracks around the fireplace... is it a zero clearance unit? wouldn't use foam maybe the mortar or ardex leveler, or from a plumbing supply house a high heat boiler cement from the pix, doesn't look like you need the heat protection though
it's not a disaster like you say, just a newly demo'd area to be cleaned up for new work plan ahead for a border around the new tile, look at the schluter systems that go on just prior to (and under) the tile or a wood border to be tacked down w brads
best of luck
I'll look into the thickset mortar and Ardex. Thanks.
Here is a company with fire rate foam, but it appears that it is only available is large sizes.
http://www.fomofoam.com/Fire-Foam1.html
But what kind of areas are you talking about.
You can get fire rated caulk.
What is the material of the current base.
It has the look like it might be somekind of partical board or untempered hardboard.
Is the fire place a masonry wood buring one?
I was looking to fill in the area above the face and below the firebox before I lay down the tile. The concrete of the foundation (the support of the firebox) broke up a bit when we pulled off the tile. Too big an area for caulk, I fear. There is particle board under the previous tile. Not sure what is under that. Looks like plywood. It is a wood-burning fireplace.
Thanks.
Jocelyn
I would think that you would just patch that area with mortar.
The partical board is not really a good backer for the tile. Rip it out and replace it with backerboard.
I had a similar situation. Read this, you might get some ideas. Yours doesn't look too bad, and I agree that somebody got paid good money to do the easy part.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=45267.1
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
There's no way that I would sand down the uneven texture as you described in this thread. This is in my (finished) living room and sounds like a huge mess. I think leveling is the way to go.
One thing that concerned me in this thread was the discussion about trowel notch size. I got a 1/2" trowel for the 12x12 tile. Hope that's okay. Apparently I know even less than I thought I did. :-(.
Thanks.
Jocelyn
I would think a 1/2" trowel would be a tad big for 12" tile. 1/4" x 3/8" would be better, but use what you have.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt