I’ve got the shower in and in the process had to take out some of the floor tile. Of course the mortar base came up with it. I have some “Speedset Mortar” and need to know if that would work for the 1″ base. I thought I had this covered until I read the bag and it said to trowel it on with a 1/4″ notched trowel. I have 2 marble thresholds cut and ready to go in front of the shower on top of the mortar bed. Any help would be appreciated.
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Replies
I do not know what "Speedset mortar" is, but assume that it is a bonding mortar, e.g., thinset, that sets up quickly. Here in SoCal, we have a product called RapidSet, which sets up in about 30 minutes. Probably similar.
Thinset of any type is not designed to carry weight in thicknesses over about a quarter of an inch. It will simply crumble. It does not have enough sand. It is mainly a bonding agent, like a glue, and does not provide any structural strength.
What I would do is this: In any hole or divet in excess of about a quarter of an inch, I apply a thin coat of thinset to the bottom of the divet, followed by standard deck mud. This will bond the mud to the bottom of the hole. I buy my mud from DalTile which is $4 for a 94 lb bag, but you can make your own with 5 parts sharp sand to 1 part portland cement. Apply the deck mud to the hole and level it off with a margin trowel. If you are using marble, then the base needs to be as flat as possible, as marble is very soft and will crack if the setting bed is not perfectly flat. Then when it is set up, apply your tile with regular thinset.
I use Custom Buidling Products "VersaBond" at about $15 a bag.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Thanks Boris. I appreciate the help.Frank
Mix that deck mud dry, very very dry. Wet it only enough that it clumps together to form a ball when you squeeze it. Once it starts to hold together in a ball, instead of crumbling away, like wet sand, then stop. You only need enough water to activate the portland cement to bond the sand particles together. Use an Ad-Mix, too, like a latex or acrylic additive to stop the mud from shrinking or cracking. Expect to only add about 1-2 gals of liquid per 94 lb sack of mud.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927