I’ve had occasion to place new ceramic in a shower stall floor which was built on a concrete base.
The existing ceramic floor was in good condition except that it was completely flat instead of sloping slightly toward the drain.
I’ve tried applying new tiles over the old ones but am still left with a flat surface and would like to create a slope to encourage the proper drainage.
I have two questions:
- How can I install the new tiles over the existing ones so that a minimal slope is ensured?
- Am I creating a future problem for myself in applying new tiles over existing ones?
Jack
Replies
Greetings Jack,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
If not, you might find what you need at:
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
Thanks Razzman, the resource you've provided seems pretty complete. I'll have to take some time to explore it.
Jack
Edited 12/23/2005 8:42 am ET by jaxhere
I have never put new tiles over old ones I have always busted them out.
Sloping is actually pretty easy.
Rip cheater sticks out of 1 x 2 boards
Cut them to desired length
determine how much slope you want 1/8" per foot 1/4" per foot etc.........
draw line on board from shalowest point (drain) to thickest point (wall)
Cut on the line
Place boards on floor trowel in thinset even with boards while mud is still wet pull boards fill in with mud & voila you now have a sloped base to work with.
thats how I do it,,,just don't forget the wire lath and use the mud to prop up the high end of the sticks the 1/4". I always go 1/4 per foot in a shower stall.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Hello puumbbill,
You've used a lot of terms which I'm not familiar with, but basically I get the idea that you create a sloped base by adding supplemental height to the form borders and filling this with material.
What I'm not sure about is what is meant by "mud". Is this the concrete mixture that you use to form the base or is it the adhesive mixture used to bond the tile to the base? (or is there an additional layer between the concrete base and the adhesive?)
Jack
Mud was a loose term.
When thinset is wet I call it mud
I use thinset if I'm only doing minimal build up.
A good concrete mix for anything over 3/4" ---- but that's me others do it differently.
As for applying new tiles over old - if were mine, I would take the time to break out the old and not have the worry.
If I was going to the trouble of breaking out and replacing a shower floor, [which I agree, sounds like you need to do], I would take a hard look at the pan/drain system. modern drains are designed to work w/ vinyl or epdm shower pans to ensure a succesful installation. not saying you have a problem, just something you might want to look at.
Thanks for the advice, but we seem to be focused on what to do to prepare a base for a new tile installation (or replacement).
I'm supposing that if I rough up the surface of an existing tile floor, considering that there won't be any flexing or movement of the surface, it would seem that a new layer of tiles should not be a problem because it seems that the tile will adhere to the old surface.
Other than the fact that most people would rip out the old tile, (ie "it's always been done this way"), is there any other reason to not try putting a new layer on top of existing tile? Has anyone ever had any experience doing this? (either good or bad results)
If I go the route of leaving the old tile, would I then place a thin layer of concrete on top of the old tiles to provide a sloped base then apply the adhesive and new tiles on top of this base?
You are getting a lot of mixed advice, some of it so so but not exactly wrong or bad.
You can tile over tile with the proper thinset with no problem.
Still doesn't solve your slope issue though. You can create that slope with thinset if you want, but technically, thinset is not supposed to be applied thicker than 1/4" I believe. read the label.
I might try it depending, in fact I have used thinset to build up and had no undesirable results doing so.
It's not a lot of work to bust it up and do it right if that's what you want.
I would say that it is NOT a DIY job though.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
i guess most of my problem revolves around getting up a picture of how you'rr going to get drain to new tile thing sorted out.