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I’m have a bathroom redone and I over heard the contractor telling one of the workmen not to tape the cement board joints in the shower area and to use glue to install the tile. The workmen said he’d like to use thin set, but the contractor said use the glue.
The contractor said this is the way it is done now and is a better job. My questions are is this the right way of doing this and am I going to have a problem down the road. Any input would be helpful.
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Cement board joints should be taped and filled.
For tiles in a wet shower enclosure over cement board, modified thinset is my only choice.
Glue? "Mastic?" "Titebond?"
Definitely talk to the contractor and get an explanation. Don't put the tile man in the middle, but you may want to talk to him as well and get his opinion. Again, when you talk to the contractor, tell him what you know...but do not say "the tile man said..."
I'll see if I can hunt down a TCA reference pic for you...TCA 412-01.
There should be no price difference for thinset over mastic.
*Batman,Talk to the contractor yourself. Find out the details first hand.If he is refering to Mastic, then some do in fact use it for installing tiles. Not necessarily a better way, but an acceptable way. BUT... if he is actually refering to some sort of GlUE, then do not let him proceed. And if he says that the "glue" is really mastic, read the container to see for yourself. Glue is NOT acceptable.Find out from the tile manufacturer what THEY recommend for that particular tile ell them exactly where the tile is to be installed, and what the tile is to be installed on (substrate).As for taping the joints - some contractors skip this step. Lazy thing to do, and it is cutting corners. What they do is just spread thinset or mastic into the seams as they go, and install the tile right over the seam. Tell them to tape the joints AS PER MANUFACTURER's DIRECTIONS. Good luck.James DuHamel
*Here's TCA (Tile Council of America) 412-01 graphic for a reference. Hopefully this'll link up okay.
*Mongo thanks for the picture I can use it to see if the tile in the shower area are the same as in the picture.James I think the glue I mentioned is mastic with some type number after it like 1 or 2. I have spoken to some other people and they have said that they would not use mastic in a wet condition like a shower. They all have said it should be done with thin set. So now I'm really lost, is it thin set or mastic?
*batman, some shady characters have been known to use liquid nails(glue)???. anyway id do what the guys said ask the contractor. Remember he is contracted to work for you.
*Latex modified thinset is the only choice under conditions you describe. Mastic ok for decorative tile on kitchen wall or the like. Try Michael Byrne's book for "right to the horse's mouth" info on tile. I can't think of an area where there is so much misinformation floating around (not referring to this thread). I've seen it installed with silicone and all manner of sticky products - all with short life that someone eventually pays the price for. I even had to "educate" salesperson at local supplier who wanted to sell me mastic when I picked up tile I ordered for floor of outside entry porch. Sometimes I just shake my head in wonder. Randy
*Installing tile, especially showers, is one area where there are a lot of contractors that do not know or choose not to follow proper techniques. I would find out what kind of CBU they are using and go to their website and print out the installation instructions. I would also only use a latex modified thinset for the tiles. If I heard my contractor say this I would question the entire shower, find out how they did the pan (if you have a tile floor in the shower)and did they use a moisture barrier behind the CBU walls. Go to http://www.tileusa.com and get yourself a copy of the TCA handbook and ANSI specifications for tile installation. At least they didn't try to use green board for your shower walls.
*I'd just like to thank all who replied to my question. It looks like the bathroom worked out just fine. I have one more question, What's the difference between frame and frameless cabinets? My next project is my kitchen.TIA