Thin set and DUROCK

[raddksn]

Hi all, I'm starting a tile job in the kitchen this weekend. It's 12x12 porcelain layed on 1/4" DUROCK. USG's website tells me use thinset mortar on the subfloor to bond the DUROCK, but the sticker on the DUROCK boards say smooth side mastic rough side thinset. I'm under the impression I need to set the tiles in thinset also, I'm confused do I have the wrong backer board?

My second question is how much working time do I have with the thinset? I have VERSABOND POLYMMER MODIFIED, the instructions on the bag say 6 qts cool water for the whole bag? I'm working by myself should I just mix a 1/2 bag at a time?

Thanks for any insight/advice/or tips

 

[stroked89coupe]

Is this on a wooden subfloor? I assume so.



Yes. I always thinset the backer board to the wooden subfloor and fasten with weatherproof deck screws. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra on any head but a phillips (Torx ect) to avoid stripping out the heads and if you have a drywall gun it really helps with the depth setting so you can counter sink the fasteners.

I prefer hardi backer board although I have used nothing else. Durarock seems like it would be messy and hard to cut. Use a scoring knife to score and break the hardi backer if you decide to go that route.


If your doing it by yourself mix about 3 gallons of finished product at a time in a 5 gallon bucket using a paddle bit mixer on a drill.

 

[rustyjames]

Versabond is good stuff, you could even usethe cheapest thinset for the underlayment. Yes, you can mix half a bag if you want, that'll help get the feel of it, but in cool temperatures you'll have plenty of time to work it.

 

[stroked89coupe]

I used quick drying thin set once. I can't remember the exact time frame that it dries in. Something like 30 minutes and you can walk on it.


No lie there.



And, I realized how slow at laying tile I was. I lost count of how many buckets I threw away that night. Anyway, Don't get that stuff.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Working past three days around the guy who is/has built a tile shower in a tiny bathroom in a mid 1800's house for a friend of mine. He said not to use the thinset Home Depot sold, it was "like sand" and he uses the Lowes thinset in a white and bright blue bag. Boy does he make it look easy.

House was a "shotgun" house originally with a wide hallway front to back with doors both ends. The back door was closed off and a window set in its place and a 42 inch wide bathroom was walled off across the 10 ft or so wide hallway. House and the bathroom was amazingly square, the only tiles he had to cut on a taper were the small tiles he used for the floor of the shower, and there is only a very slight front to back taper of the shower walls. He used the ¼" thick Hardy board with the square pattern of grooves in one side for adhesion. May try to post pics when it is done.

Charles

 

[hh76]

I'm in the same spot. I used thinnset to set the durarock to the floor, and will use thinnset on the tiles. I put the stickers up.

 

[raddksn]

Thanks for all the replys, it is on plywood subfloor, and I have square drive hardy backer screws (stroked89coupe). I think I can keep up with mixing half bag at a time. I'm going to precut and lay the board dry and just thinset whatever half a bag will cover.

hh76 where at in NE Wisconsin? I'm in crystal falls MI about 15 miles north of Florence WI.

 

[hh76]

Thanks for all the replys, it is on plywood subfloor, and I have square drive hardy backer screws (stroked89coupe). I think I can keep up with mixing half bag at a time. I'm going to precut and lay the board dry and just thinset whatever half a bag will cover.

hh76 where at in NE Wisconsin? I'm in crystal falls MI about 15 miles north of Florence WI.

I'm just south of Green Bay, but I'll be just across the border from you for opening weekend.

 

[Angelfire]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's the point of thin setting the durock to the wood substrate? Seems to me unless you use a highly modified thinset, the stuff will just come loose when the wood moves. Seems like adding the durock with just screws will allow a little movement underneath yet preserve the bed of tiles above? Just curious.
Cheers.

 

[raddksn]

The way I understand it you want to eliminate all movement in the substrate so the tile or grout doesn't crack. The thinset I have is polymer modified and says on the for use on plywood.

 

[raddksn]

I'm just south of Green Bay, but I'll be just across the border from you for opening weekend.

Good hunting be safe and be ready for lots of snow in the woods up to 2'!!!

 

[stroked89coupe]

The way I understand it you want to eliminate all movement in the substrate so the tile or grout doesn't crack. The thinset I have is polymer modified and says on the for use on plywood.

Exactly