Replies

1. 
   Tim_Kline | Oct 17, 2000 01:14am | #1

   *
   b WBA At Your Service

   Don,
   Don't use thinset for buildup. Our tilesetter uses mud (portland cement, lime and sand mixed crumbly dry) over galvanized diamond mesh mechanically fastened to the concrete. In a situation where he wants to come up exactly 1/4" or 1/2", he will use cement board laid in thinset onto the concrete floor. The cement board generally is not fastened mechanically. Mapei makes an excellent variety of thinset products.

1. 
   Karen_Kissler | Oct 17, 2000 03:15am | #2

   *DonI'm thrown my the layout. Is the drain in a shower which is built in the basement? Or, is the drain there to drain the entire basement floor? If the latter is the case, I can't see why a latex modified this set (I like Hydroment) wouldn't work. You coul dfloat the thing, but I don't think you need lime in the mud mix (it's a floor) and for only a 1/2", I don't thinkI'd use mesh.Any other thoughts, anyone?

1. 
   Don_Papenburg | Oct 18, 2000 01:48pm | #3

   *Karen , the drain is in the shower , I have two other drains for the main part and another for the laundry room. I will basicly taper to the drain so I think that a cement board would not work in this case . the shower is aprox.3' x 5' and I only need to build up at the door.

1. 
   James_DuHamel | Oct 19, 2000 02:35pm | #4

   *Don't use thinset for more than 1/4" buildup. It was not meant to be used in thick applications. They make a mid set (between a thinset and full mortar bed application) for applications requiring buildup between 1/4" and 1". It looks and works the same as thinset, but it has a lot more strength. You can find it anywhere tile materials are found. I have sloped many shower floors using mid set, and have never had a problem. Full mortar beds and metal screening is just too much work, and a little overkill (IMHO) for your application.Just a thought...James

1. 
   Karen_Kissler | Oct 20, 2000 04:41pm | #5

   *JamesWho makes your mid-set? (I use Hydroment products.) I use Fix-All to build slope if it's going under a membrane. I like the toasty warm feeling when it's setting up. Dan- going to float a mortar bed?

2. 
   mark_cadioli | Oct 21, 2000 01:15am | #6

   *Don,Any mud jobs I do I try to keep a minimum of 1 inch at it's thinest point. Thats not to say you can't go thinner, but you have to make a few adjustments. Use a bonding agent for the mud job to stick to the existing floor..this can be a slurry of neat cement ( the bed has to go in before the slurry drys off) or a combination of Bondcrete and slurry ( any PVA white glue will do the same job). When making a thin bed I also add a little PVA to the mud...it really strengthens it up.One finall comment...12 inch tiles in a shower are going to be a pig to get fall with..go for something smaller or be prepared for a less than satisfactory job.kind regardsmark

3. 
   Don_Papenburg | Oct 22, 2000 04:06am | #7

   *Mark, I never heard of using PVA with mud . How much do you use as a rule of thumb? I have only done one job with tile ,it was in a shower with a cement base and I used cement to lay the tile and for the grout . outside of the shower I laid the tile on 3/4 ply with a waterproof adheasive and used the cement for grout. This job was with 6x6 glazed tile . That is the extent of my tile laying . Never thought that the 12" tile would be a problem I might go with a 6" in the shower and use the 12" in the laundry . Karen, I think I will sculpt the floor with concrete and try the PVA thing or use bondcrete ,then use thinset for the tile. Tanks everybody for your input ,and if you think I'm making a mistake some place let me know. Don

4. 
   Don_Papenburg | Oct 22, 2000 04:09am | #8

   *That is supposed to be Thanks not Tanks

5. 
   mark_cadioli | Oct 22, 2000 04:52am | #9

   *Don,Around a cup to a 5 gallon drum of mud...you may want to add it to the water rather than the mix...better distribution that way. By the way..if you arte wet bedding..don't forget to soak the tiles first ( untill there are no more bubbles rising ) let them drain before laying....also the biggest must..a heavy dusting of neats over the screeded base before tapping the tiles down ...have fun.kind regardsmark

2. 
   Don_Papenburg | Oct 22, 2000 04:52am | #10

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   I plan to tile my basement floor , 4" concrete with a rough trowel finish. I want to raise a small area by the shower door and slope to the drain . can I do this with thinset? The floor is already sloped ,but I want to make it slightly taller 1/2" If not what should I use? What is the best type of thinset , premix or dry ? Should i use a mortar mix or portland cement? I have 12" ceramic tile . Is expanded metal/ chicken wire needed over concrete?