Replies

1. 
   andybuildz | Nov 24, 2003 02:16am | #1

   after you repair your crack (gee, that sounds pornographic) put some tape over it for a good month or so and see if the tape rips....if not, than go for the tile work.

   By the way....caulk won't work. Don't even think about it.

   Go to your local "mason supply yard" and get the right cement filler.

   Probably something mixed with a liquid latex additive. MAybe even thinset with the additive.

   I find myself saying that so often.

   Would also be cool if you can make the current crack in the grout line of the tile rather than through the center of it.

   Be well filled   :)

                        andy

   My life is my practice!

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

2. 
   JeffBuck | Nov 24, 2003 02:58am | #2

   find a tile store...

   ask for some "crack isolation membrane".

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

1. 
   davidmeiland | Nov 24, 2003 04:22am | #3

   Definitely use a crack isolation membrane. The last time I had it done the tilesetters used a Laticrete system. They rolled out a layer of a thick mastic-like material on the concrete, laid down a sheet of tight mesh fabric (several courses of it, actually, since it was 3 or 4 feet wide and the slab was 40 feet), and then another layer of the mastic over that. They went to a lot of trouble to embed the mesh in the mastic. Once it dried they thinset the tile directly to it. This was over an older slab with some minor cracks and a place where we cut out and replaced a failed section. Never heard of any problems with that install since we finished.

1. 
   silver77 | Nov 24, 2003 07:47am | #4

   Crack isolation membrane and mastic- on my go list for tomorrow...thanks to all for the advice-

   silver

1. 
   PeterYost | Nov 24, 2003 10:37am | #5

   Sounds like some good information from all, although the laticrete product for crack isolation may have been "mastic like" I don't believe it was mastic.  I have had good luck with some peel & stick material myself.  I feel Laticrete products have been overpriced. In any case you might check the manufacturers specs on spanning and overlapping, good luck.                                                                  Peter Yost                                                                     Portland ORAsk me how my day went...It will either be fantastic or tomorrow will be a better day.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Nov 24, 2003 06:55pm | #6

   That's what I had in mind ... the peel/stick stuff ...

   looks kinda like ice shield.

   For a smaller area ... which I this pictured in my head as ... the peel and stick would be much quicker/easier.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

2. 
   davidmeiland | Nov 25, 2003 06:53pm | #7

   I'm having a hard time imagining any sort of peel 'n stick substrate being a good surface for thinsetting tile. Can you point me to a specific manufacturer or product for this? I'd like to read the spec for it. Anyway, I have a hard time with a lot of newer building materials.

3. 
   jc21 | Nov 25, 2003 07:35pm | #8

   Not peel and stick but NobleSeal CIS is one brand of isolation membrane.

   http://www.noblecompany.com/cis.html

    

   Edited 11/25/2003 11:39:47 AM ET by jc

4. 
   silver77 | Nov 25, 2003 07:57pm | #9

   Hello, This is to ALL but that doesn't seem to be an option,

   I appreciate your feedback...and I tried to find crack isolation membrane yesterday with no luck.

   I called a tile guy I know and he told me if I used membrane I would have to use it on the entire slab?? He told me he would use wall tile adhesive over a crack like this??  Says it won't dry and will remain flexible??

   I also have some low spots to fill so he suggested topping mix with a 10 to 1 ratio of thin set with additive and brush latex additive on areas to be topped first.

   And wash entire slab with muriatic acid to remove residue before topping....

   Doesn't sound like a bad plan???except for the part about using wall tile adhesive over the crack...but for lack of a better plan... 

   cheers,

   silver

5. 
   Scooter1 | Nov 25, 2003 10:19pm | #10

   Laticrete Blue 92 is what you want. Home Despot won't have it, but any good masonry supplier will have it. It is a liquid with a fiberglass mesh reinforcing the whole shebang.

   Try DalTile for sheet membranes that do the same thing.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

6. 
   silver77 | Nov 26, 2003 06:33am | #12

   Right on Boris...that sounds like the right stuff.

   I'll try to find some around here tomorrow...

   cheers,

   silver

7. 
   caseyr | Nov 26, 2003 06:24am | #11

   So, what are you planning on having give way if the crack enlarges over the next several years? 

8. 
   silver77 | Nov 26, 2003 06:40am | #13

   Hmmm...that crack has been stable ever since it opened up shortly after the pour 5 years ago in a spot where it runs into bedrock and is only 6 ' wide at that point. 

   And this is in my basement so if it does get worst, I tear up and re-lay 10 tiles but as you can see I am searching for the best solution so I only have to do it once...

   silver 

9. 
   JeffBuck | Nov 26, 2003 07:12am | #14

   call another tile guy.

   and to who asked about a specific product ... go to a tile store ...

   as Boris said .... HD and Lowes ain't tile stores.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry