What to do with the curb – cement? Concrete? Thinset?
netrate
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Here are pictures of the curb – it is the membrane over 2X4’s with a metal lath on top. I just finished putting the final coat of mortar/cement on the membrane on the pan. Now for the mortar to dry and then I have to put ? ______________? on the curb. What do I use?
a) Thinset?
b) Modified Thinset?
c) the same mortar that I used for the pan?
d) something else?
The curb will be tiled when finished.
Replies
You should have used "deck mud" or "dry pack" for the presloped bed that went under your membrane as well as for the tiling bed that went on top of your membrane. Deck mud is roughly a 5:1 ratio of sand to portland cement. Add just enough water so it sticks together like a fist full of moist beach sand. Then you "pack" it in place.
Deck mud cures to give a strong and stable tiling base, but it does not hold water. Water can pass through it fairly easily, meaning that is doesn't hold water.
The mix in your photo looks pretty wet.
For a shower curb, I'll also use deck mud, but slightly wetter. Since this is your first one, consider using something a little friendlier, like mortar mix. Mortar mix will be cement, sand and a bit of lime. The lime makes it stickier. BUT DO NOT MIX IT WET. If you mix it wet-wet, it'll slump all over. You want it a little wetter than deck mud, but much drier than "standard" mortar.
Here's a photo showing dry pack for the shower preslope:
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Here's a photo showing slighty more moist mortar mix for the curb:
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And the beer-time photo:
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