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Hi,
This is all new construction.
1) If I am going to tile the bathroom do I put in a plywood subfloor in and then Durarock (or the like) on top or do I forget the subfloor?
2) For cultured stone chimney on the outside of our now Tyveck’ed house,do I just screw in diamond lathe on top of that or is there something that goes between the lathe and the tyveck?
3) Do I put a scratch coat on first or just put mortar on the lathe and butter the rock?
I know there are a lot of pros on here and a lot of experience so any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason
Replies
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Jason,
I'm going to preface my reply by recommending that you do quite a bit more reading before you proceed with these projects.
First, for tile info, consider getting the installation book from the Tile Council of America. There's a lot of good installation info in that book. Yes, it will set you back $15, but with your proposed install you're looking at grievances that will add up to much more than that.
Read, read, read.
For more basic tile info, here's a generic one on installing tile and here's one on grouting.
What do I recommend? For joists 16" on center, I use 3/4" T&G ply subfloor, covered by a screwed down half-inch ply underlayment, covered by half-inch cement board that is secured to the 1 1/4" of ply with thinset and screws. Don't use drywall screws! All joints in each layer are taped and filled. Then tile over the cement board using a modified thinset.
For the cultured stone, you don't mention what you're installing it over...a framed chimney, a CMU chimney? If you've already chosen what product you're going to use, simply get an installation sheet from the manufacturer and follow their recommendations. One technique...some installers like to install the cultured stone from the top of the chimney down do falling mortar doesn't muddy any work below.
*Yep, Mongo's right. You've got to study before you do this. And definitely install the cultured stone from the top down.Mongo, I had assumed he had a framed chimney chase due to the tyvek--haven't seen that over CMU's but I'm sure someone's done it...i or do I forget the subfloor?Huh?
*The caveat on the cultured stone is that some of the selections, such as the dry stack look we have, require a bottom-up installation. Drips and drops are easy to clean as long as you let the mortar dry for a few hours before scraping it off. Too soon and it smears; too long and it adheres.Agree with advice on reading instructions--the ones from Cultured Stone, Inc are quite clear.
*I did a dry-stacked looking chimney last year over a plywood chase. We used 30# felt over it, then stapled the diamond lathe on, then a scratch coat, then layed the stone...bottom up. A couple guys suggested the top down approach , but in dry-stack with TIGHT joints, it ain't feasible. Make sure you fill your joints WELL, then rake them out, so weather can't find holes.
*Mad Dog, I skipped right over that one. I bet you're right.With regards to top-down or bottom-up for the cultured stone...it does depend on what type you're using.Regarding cultured stone (hijack in progress, squawk 7500 and leave the flaps down for taxing in)...any of you guys have a favorite manufacturer that has consistantly good product, or recommendations to stay away from a certain product due to inconsistancies?
*Mongo, I've used both Cultured Stone and Eldorado. Don't have much advice for Jason ("forget the subfloor"?)but but from these two projects I found that type N mortar holds better than S. (or I just got better on the second project using type N). Eldorado recommends using S but Cultured Stone recommends N. S is for high compressive strength but you don't need this for veneer. N, with more lime, seems to adhere better.
*I've used Cultured Stone and visited a Coronado distributor. CS is awesome and Coronado dull by comparison. I judge in detailing and variety. In >700 sq ft of CS, never saw two the same. And the detailing is tremendous. Kinda like I can see fuzzy w/o glasses (Coronado is flat and dull) but crystal clear with (CS). I think my tile store carries El Dorado, and it reminded me of the Coronado. But on the chance I remembered the wrong name...
*DIYer here, so be warned! LOL!We used a fieldstone looking rock from Centurion Stone. It looks awesome. Our neighbor refused to believe it was fake until we showed him a chip. He thought we were pulling his leg. We added some portland cement to our mix and it stuck like glue. We used quikrete mason mix. So maybe we did it all wrong. All I know is it worked!With the fieldstone, we found it easiest to do the corners first, then the top, then the bottom and fill it in. I guess whatever works for you and your rock.Paula
*Go look at some real stone walls to see how to lay up a stone wall . Don't throw them up any old way like they were dumped from a truck . I think I would use a felt 15# or 30# like you would use for stucco . Peble dash with big pebles?
*Forget the metal lath and scratch coat, spend a couple bucks and cover over the tyvek with durarock or similar material, butter your stones, stick em on and be done with it.