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#1 |
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Registered User
Trade: General
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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Leveling With Thinset?
I am a general contractor with a tile question... I've been searching/reading for an hour or so and have found much of the info I'm looking for (thanks), one question I couldn't get a clear answer on...
What is the maximum recommended thickness for thinset?I understand that thinset isn't designed for leveling, but there is a minor amount of leveling that needs to be done sometimes. On a small job, it's tempting to correct with thinset. So after setting, what's your recommendation on the maximum amount correction you'll do with thinset before going to a leveling compound? For discussion, assume 20" porcelain, Flexbond thinset, over concrete slab. Last edited by pfbz; 06-10-2009 at 09:54 PM. |
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#2 |
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Official CT Greeter!
Trade: General Construction
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Canton IL
Posts: 590
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?![]() ![]() ![]() :nuk e:![]() ![]()
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"Your problem does not constitute an emergency on my part"
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#3 |
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solar guy
Trade: solar contracting
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Annapolis Md
Posts: 1,883
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Re: Leveling With Thinset? |
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#4 |
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Pro
Trade: Residential Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Jensen Beach, FL
Posts: 10,475
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
There's some stuff called self-leveling mortar/concrete. You SHOULD level the floor prior to doing anything other than carpet.
Tempted to level 20" tile with thinset? You'll be back!!!
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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems. Albert Einstein |
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#5 | |
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bathroom guru
Trade: Bathroom Design Build Contractor
Join Date: May 2008
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,146
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?Quote:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() :wallba sh:![]() ![]() ![]() I think its time to retire for the evening!! |
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#6 |
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Pro
Trade: Tile Contractor-Manufacturers rep. Tile & Marble
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 238
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
CScalf started and ended with a
![]() The directions clearly tell you the 'beat in' thickness can be NO thicker than 1/4" with that thinset as well as all others with the exception of medium bed mortars. The only smart thing however is to fix the floor before you start setting tiles. Otherwise tell the customer to, a: expect the job to look like crap. b: choose a much smaller tile. c: get some one else to do the work 'cuz you are not interested in doing junk work. The floor should be "flat within 1//4" in 10 ft. AND 1/16" in 12" of the required plane." This is a ANSI spec for concrete floors. You need the same for wood floor of course. When the tiles are large and/or smooth and/or shiny, I recommend the requirement be within 1/8" in 10 ft. Jaz |
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#7 |
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tile contractor
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
I agree. Especially with large format tile, that floor needs to be just as flat as humanly possible BEFORE you open the first box of tile, or you'll be fighting it the entire time you're setting, and 9 times out of 10, you still won't get it right.
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"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right." http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com |
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#8 |
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Tile.marble installer
Trade: tileman
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 1
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
I self level small area most of the time with a thinset.but it takes time to dry,better way selfleveling but it is cost more.
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#9 |
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Tile Contractor
Trade: Building Trades-Specializing in Ceramic Tile
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hastings Nebraska
Posts: 1,216
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
The terms "self level" and "thinset" don't belong in the same sentence under circumstances such as this. "Self levelling" with thinset CAN NOT BE DONE.
The higher cost of using real self levelling compound is well worth the extra money you pay for the product. You trade time fixing and grinding and fixing and grinding thinset for the price of the self leveller that would have the task done in a matter of minutes.
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#10 |
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade: home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 917
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
I set thousands of feet of random pattern slate on a job, they were 24" by 24", 12" by 12" and 12" by 24". Not only that, the 3 sizes were different thicknesses. In some places the pad was an 1 1/2" low. I cant remember the brand name of what I was using to set the stuff but the slate came out dead nuts perfect, yeah I used pallets of it though. Lot of work, yes.
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#11 |
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Registered User
Trade: Tile & stone Flooring & slab countertop installer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
all u need is a good level and some and smooth mud and u should be able to level any floor out... i know i can!!
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#12 |
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Tile Contractor
Trade: Building Trades-Specializing in Ceramic Tile
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hastings Nebraska
Posts: 1,216
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
HERE WE GO another shining star.
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#13 | |
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade: home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 917
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?Quote:
There is no "self level" period. Unless youre doing production level crap work. I cost at least twice as much as your average tile setter, and it shows. You want to pay for it, you'll need a automotive type feeler gauge to find problems in my work. Total BS that the floor has to be leveled first. |
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#14 |
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tile contractor
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
WWFB-- although I know what you mean, and I agree with you to an extent, for all intents and purposes, most of the time, the floor doesn't have to be quite that perfect, unless you're using polished or honed stone, or rectified porcelain. You can do a MORE than adequate job with SLC for most work. As for the material you were talking about up above, could it have been Laticrete's 226 Thickbed mortar mix? I've used that before, and although it's expensive as hell, when you don't have a place for mixing sand and cement, it's a lifesaver!
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"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right." http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com |
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 11
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
A bit dated.
But I watched a setter using mortar to level 2x3' granite. He back buttered with thin-set and layed them on about 1" of mortar which he said was 1/2 when he started. He then pulled it back up and added more. Looked like a PITA but it was perfectly flat. |
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#16 |
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tile contractor
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
That's called wet setting. Using thinset as a bond coat on the back of the stone, and on the substrate, and then fat mud to build the stone up to the elevation it needs to be at.
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"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right." http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com |
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| The Following User Says Thank You to Bill_Vincent For This Useful Post: | JohnFRWhipple (10-09-2011) |
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#17 |
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Pro
Trade: General
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 2,703
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
I guess I don't know why anyone is bothering to answer a question that is a little suspect in the first place. No introduction, no location, no real name just what seems to be random letters.
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#18 |
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Registered User
Trade: General
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?
This (obviously) isn't a forum I frequent often, but I did (and do) appreciate those that helped me out two years ago, when I asked the question....
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#19 | |
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He who's held accountable
Trade: General Contractor-Renovations
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: St. Albert, Canada
Posts: 208
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?Quote:
Personally? I do a mudbed if it's outside of these parameters. The cost of SLC will kill on something like that. Cheers, Ron
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The current avatar is a photo of me and my son (Born 25/03 09). Photo taken on the same day. |
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#20 | |
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Pro
Trade: Renovation Specialist.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 948
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Re: Leveling With Thinset?Quote:
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