I am tiling over concrete. 17x 17 tiles. The concretre has been saw cut in places . What do you recommend to prevent the tile/grout from cracking during freeze/thaw cycles? The tile store sells a membrane to place over the cut but it sells for $2.75 sq ft. As an alternative Home Depot sells a Schluter product called DITRA at half the price. This product is made to roll out over the entire floor, not just over cracks. I was thinking of using it only over the cut , but I wanted to get some of your opinions. Thanks.
| .1 Schlüter¯–DITRAis a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square, cut-back cavities and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. In conjunction with tiled coverings, Schlüter¯–DITRAforms an uncoupling, waterproofing, and vapor pressure equalization layer. | 7.1 Schlüter¯–TROBAis a reliable and durable sub-surface drainage system for use over horizontal waterproofing layers. It consists of a pressure-stable, polyethylene sheet with perforated studs, which enable the water to flow freely to the sloped waterproofing layer and on to the designated drainage exit. | 7.2 Schlüter¯–TROBA-PLUSis a durable sub-surface drainage system that permits water to drain off freely and reliably. The closely positioned, cone-shaped studs are covered by a water permeable filter fabric. The studded mat supports the floor covering over the entire surface, thus creating a continuous drainage area above the waterproofing layer. | 8.1 Schlüter¯–KERDI is a polyethylene, waterproofing membrane, which is covered on both sides with an anchoring fleece. It is suitable for waterproofing in conjunction with tiled surfaces on walls and floors. | | | | | | |
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Schulter's Ditra is an excellent isolation membrane.
Frankie
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You mention Freeze/Thaw, is this tile being laid indoors or out?
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If it is indoors, I would recommend only that you put Schluter joint control strips at the sawcuts, and break your tile patterns there.
Outdoors, I would do the same, but additionally, use the Ditra membrane.
Membrane or no, if you tile right over those sawcuts, you will risk the tile cracking.
I am tiling indoors in the basement. I was told that if the membrane is applied over the mortar and then the tile applied over the membrane, the tile would not crack. The tile store said that since these are saw cuts and not seperate pours of concrete, you can tile over the defect. If these were seperate pours you would not be able to tile over them unless you could live with the crackes tile/grout.