I am laying 12″ X 3/4″ tile on a concrete slab next to a wood floor that is furred off the slab by 3/4″ of an inch. I know that typically, if a slab is flat and in good shape, you can set tile directly on the clab, but it will be about 1/2″ to 3/4″ too low relative to the finished HW.
Any recommendations on how to bring up the height of the tile? I have never done a morter bed before, and I fear that with my L-shaped, 12’x10′ room a morter bed would be a lot of work and I am likely to screw it up. Backer board doesn’t seem feasible since I can’t secure it easily to the slab.
Thx
Replies
Attach the backer to the slab with thinset. Don't forget to use "protection", though -- a membrane.
get ditra, use thinset to bed the ditra onto the slab. The ditra is also an anti fracture membrane as well, this will severely prevent cracks from transfering to the tile when your slab moves.
http://www.schluter.com/english/products/2002/sectionf/ditra/601-index.html
dirta's only gonna give him about an 8th ...
I say thinset .. lay ... and tapcon ... the backerboard.
or ... pour some mud.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Tec makes a cementitious floor leveler that's self leveling and made for tile. It can be applied from feather thin to 1½" thick, or up to 5" thick with supplemental aggregate. It's absolutely critical to measure the water exactly according to instructions, not mix it by eye. All your openings have to be filled or it will just run down through any cracks or openings.
http://www.tecspecialty.com/product_list.asp?catId=1&subCatId=34
I go with Dan. Thinset and wonderboard should be just fine. I've done it many times with no callbacks, even in my own house. Use a really large notched trowel with the board.
Another vote for thinset and backerboard.what the heck was I thinking?