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Hello
I recently had to tear into one of the walls of my 1950 all-brick colonial to do some emergency plumbing repair (the cast iron 3″ drain cracked….). Ok, plumbing repaired and so now I am trying to replace the wall 4X4 tile (I found replacements), and herein lies the challenge.
These tile were originally set in approximately a 1″ thin-set mortar that is adhered to a metal lath attached to the studs 16″ OC. What should I use to make this mortar? Is it 6 parts smooth sand, one part portland type II cement and one part lime, mixed to an oatmeal consistancey, trowled onto the metal lath, let set for 2 hours, scratched, set for 24 hours and then another similar mix applied in a 1/4″ layer over this surface with the tile pressed into place while the second thin coating is still wet?
I’ve been doing construction for many years, but this is one thing I have not yet done 🙂
All assistance much appreciated.
Bruce M
Replies
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Man, if I give away all my secrets I'll be out of work. Oh, WTH: a better ratio is 4:1:1. Did you secure the new lath to the old? I sometimes use bailing wire. Or, sister in some 2x. Don't forget to paper. Yeah, you can set the tile with the method you detailed, here are some tips:
Nip the self-spacing tabs off the tiles to allow you more latitude in lining up the new tile with the old tile, use spacers for joint width. Soak the tiles in water for ten minutes--at least--before setting. After applying brown coat--but while still wet, 1-2 hours--spread a neat coat of pure cement on the brown coat. Now, set tile.
*Sorry, I meant wedges, used for spacing; not spacers.
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Hi Rich
Thanks for the response.
When I exposed the underlying cast iron pipe, I just peeled back the metal lath, which I have rolled back and nailed into place on the studs.
What do you mean by 'don't forget to paper'?
Bruce M
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Hello
I recently had to tear into one of the walls of my 1950 all-brick colonial to do some emergency plumbing repair (the cast iron 3" drain cracked....). Ok, plumbing repaired and so now I am trying to replace the wall 4X4 tile (I found replacements), and herein lies the challenge.
These tile were originally set in approximately a 1" thin-set mortar that is adhered to a metal lath attached to the studs 16" OC. What should I use to make this mortar? Is it 6 parts smooth sand, one part portland type II cement and one part lime, mixed to an oatmeal consistancey, trowled onto the metal lath, let set for 2 hours, scratched, set for 24 hours and then another similar mix applied in a 1/4" layer over this surface with the tile pressed into place while the second thin coating is still wet?
I've been doing construction for many years, but this is one thing I have not yet done :-)
All assistance much appreciated.
Bruce M
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Good, so you do have some lath integrity in that you were able to put back in place the same lath. And that it is secured to the studs.
What I meant about the paper was that you should put a layer of construction paper--at least, water resistent--between the studs and the lath. Make sure to tuck it in properly, if able, behind the existing paper. If you can't, then use an additional layer at the seams. Otherwise you are likely to fill in the stud bay with way too much mud.