Im fixing to tile my basement den {starting in the morning } I set up a lazer on the floor and found a crack going through the middle. Measures 5/8 to the worst 1 inch high. Thought about running the out sides on level course off the lazer, then using a straight board to keep them running level across. I would have to apply two coats of thin set in the deepest places. Or concrete patch????? Some of you who know please give some advice here. Also thought about using different size thin set trowls. Help me before I mess this up.
Thanks in advance,
Tim Mooney
Replies
Tim,
If I understand you correctly, you currently have a cement floor in the basement. How much of the floor is high? Is it possible to bust up the high area and cement it closer to the same level as rest of floor. This would postpone the actual tiling of the floor, but if I`m following you, it would make for an easier job in the long run.
Jay
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Well its in the middle of a den , running almost the length of the room. I am thinking of grinding what I can , them trying to use a different notched trowels to level the rest.
Edited 4/27/2002 12:05:25 AM ET by Tim Mooney
Tim,
5/8" - 1" sounds like an awful lot of grinding.
I wish you the best! Lemme know how you make out!
JayJ. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Without getting into how sound, stable and clean your slab is, I think you might want to look into using a crack isolating membrane, talk to your supplier. You don't want to use thinset to level that much thickness, talk to your supplier. You don't want to level with notched trowels, talk to your supplier.
crack isolation member is for "isolating cracks"! This is a high spot.
Bust it out...patch.....dry.......then crack isolation member. Unless you are doing a wet mud job......the tile is only as flat as your substrate. Fix the floor first.....then address the crack issues...then tile. Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
I'm sorry, what do you want for the middle of the night?
Ok, Jeff is right, bust the whole f'n floor out and re-pour, that will be best.
Ok guys here is the deal after I got off the phone with two suppliers, and Ive made the best decision in my mind.
They told me first the crack would have to be sealed. One process.
The last is to pour a self leveling floor. I should be able to walk and lay on that in a few hours.
Breaking up the floor would have worked ,but I think I would have been divorced if I would have grinded or busted it up. I ran a grinder inside for five minutes once and got bitching for two weeks the best I can remember . Thanks for the replies,
Tim Mooney