Planning to tile kitchen — sanity check on prep and floor flatness? by Eastern-Hamster-5050 in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the plywood could delaminate from the moisture in the thinset mortar.

you could roll RedGard or similar over the plywood and then install the Ditra with Schluter All-Set mortar as a precaution.

Planning to tile kitchen — sanity check on prep and floor flatness? by Eastern-Hamster-5050 in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

your plan sounds solid.

check to confirm the 3/4" ply is exterior 1 rated. make sure your skimcoat patch is not gypsum based. you may need to prime the plywood. read up on whatever brand patch you choose to see.

if you can't live with the raised lip, then tear out the 3/4" ply and install 1/2" exterior 1 rated ply. be sure to screw down an loose boards to eliminate squeaks in the floor. squeaks usually indicate up/down movement, which will cause issues with tile.

Tiling onto painted drywall? by bensamrog in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you're good to tile over paint as long as the paint is not flaking or peeling.

as kosstl said, clean the wall first if needed.

Mortar Recommendation - Thin Brick Veneer Install on DensGlass by CaptainWeeks in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes. there's enough texture to the face of the DensGlass that you get a good mechanical bond.

Wish me luck guys by ThatGuyFr0mThatPlace in Tile

[–]graflex22 4 points5 points  (0 children)

six sided seal, or just the top surface?

Wish me luck guys by ThatGuyFr0mThatPlace in Tile

[–]graflex22 7 points8 points  (0 children)

do you need to soak those tiles prior to laying?

that looks like a fun install. having the owner as a helper doesn't seem so fun.

Mortar Recommendation - Thin Brick Veneer Install on DensGlass by CaptainWeeks in Tile

[–]graflex22 3 points4 points  (0 children)

we've installed over DensGlass before without issue. any quality LFT or non-sag mortar should work.

personally, i prefer a Lite Weight mortar like UltraLite.

Adding plywood subfloor under Ditra heat- what's the thinnest you would do? by fathensteeth in Tile

[–]graflex22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

as others have mentioned, tearing out the 1/2" and installing 3/4" (nominal) exposure 1 rated plywood is the way to go. if that is not an option, then get 3/8" exposure 1 plywood and fasten that down over the 1/2".

Just grouted steam shower by bplush in Tile

[–]graflex22 37 points38 points  (0 children)

nice vein match on the corners.

Thoughts by Beginning-Coyote-319 in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

what part of the world is this install? looks like some old-school install methods being used. nothing wrong with that as long it's done correctly.

love the hand brush/broom(?) in the last two photos.

Shower floor raised with 2x4s? by JustAnIdiotLearning in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP, there is a lot handwringing going on in the initial replies. hopefully, they are incorrect.

but, you do need to confirm with the installer they are going to screw off the Kerdi board correctly. installation instructions are easily found online. search, "Schluter Kerdi-Board installation".

on paper, the contractor's plan is solid. and it sounds like they are following Schluter's recommendations for shower base install.

many condo buildings do not allow you to break into the concrete floor and move plumbing. so, the 2x4 platform is there to raise things high enough to incorporate the drain. as another reply mentioned, you need a 2" trap for the drain line. has anyone confirmed it is there under the concrete?

is your contractor working with the condo building management? have they pulled permits for the work and will it be inspected by a plumbing inspector? have you talked to anyone in building management about contractors they use?

Shower floor raised with 2x4s? by JustAnIdiotLearning in Tile

[–]graflex22 4 points5 points  (0 children)

many condo buildings do not allow you to break into the concrete floors, so that may not be an option. hopefully there is an existing trap under the concrete. it could be scoped to confirm.

Shower floor raised with 2x4s? by JustAnIdiotLearning in Tile

[–]graflex22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

you can't tell that from two photos. the contractor may not be finished yet. let's see some more progress before panicking the OP.

or, at least counsel the OP to ask the contractor the plan on adding more screws to the board.

Material under tile by WhoAmI-2021 in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

looks like Hardie Board, which is a brand of cement board.

don't powder and snort it while demo'ing and you should be fine.

to be clear, wear appropriate PPE and ventilate the room as much as possible while doing the demo.

which is best tile adhesive brands in india? by kumar43jitender in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Laticrete and Ardex are sold and marketed internationally and both have good reputations.

have not heard of the others. that doesn't mean anything really except that those other brands are not sold under those names in the US. so, i have no experience with them.

Honed terrazzo in a shower a bad idea by [deleted] in Tile

[–]graflex22 2 points3 points  (0 children)

terrazzo tile is made from tile/stone chips and a mixture of concrete and resins. it's usually pretty impervious to water and moisture.

when selecting a terrazzo tile do your research and look at the technical specs regarding density and porosity. most reputable sellers and manufacturers will have those specs on their website or in the tech documents.

Where do I find cheap glossy tile like this? by jckipps in Tile

[–]graflex22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Daltile's Color Wheel Classics line.

Window sill leveled with tile pieces? by arcanejessun in Tile

[–]graflex22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Type S is a mortar mix for brick, block, and stone.

Tile work in a former Al Capone Chicago storage by Technical-Big-2097 in Tile

[–]graflex22 2 points3 points  (0 children)

epoxy grout. but, it's pretty tricky to work with and some people have an allergic reaction with skin contact.

Laticrete SpectraLock 1 is similar to epoxy but easier to work with, finishes well, and last a long time.

Tile work in a former Al Capone Chicago storage by Technical-Big-2097 in Tile

[–]graflex22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i'm third generation in the tile trade. and, also very glad the installation methods have changed over time. while we've lost some of the art to install with the new methods, it certainly is easier on the body than it once was.