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tile thinset

updated sat 31 oct 98

 

Linda Blossom on tue 27 oct 98

I have a request for anyone on the list who installs tiles using thinset. I
have been talking with Peter King about thinsets. This is something that he=
is
including in his book on architectural ceramics so it would be good to get =
it
right. In my area there are just a few brands sold. Laticrete, TEC,
Versabond, Mapei... We either ask for latex modified thinset or unmodified
thinset and buy an unmodified grout and a latex admix for it. We can get =
white
thinset for setting marble to prevent the gray color from bleeding through.
Pete talks about wall mix and floor mix when he speaks of the thinset, with =
the
wallmix having a great viscosity for the vertical surface. The brands I buy
here use the same product for walls and floors, not distinguishing between =
the
two. (In fact, the viscosity seems fine for both, except for Laticrete =
which
make theirs just a bit too runny for my taste.) Pete also said that wall mix=
is
white. Now we have come to the theory that because Florida has a much more
developed tile market, there are many more companies selling the setting and
grouting materials than here in the northeast and as a result, there may be =
many
more different manufacturers and a resulting different set of terms used =
based
on where you are. What I would like to know is, if you have bought these
products, does the market in your area conform to his or mine or something
else? By the way, the Versabond product is one I found at home depot - it =
is
not called thinset but instead is called a bonding mortar and is available
modified and unmodified. I like the name bonding mortar as it seems to =
convey
more info than thinset ever did. Plus I found it to be a good product at a
great price. =2411 for a 50 lb bag of modified.

Thanks to anyone who can supply any information about this from their =
geographic
area.

Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
6075397912
www.artscape.com
blossom=40lightlink.com

Jeremy M. Hellman on wed 28 oct 98

Linda,

I don't make tiles, but a few years ago I had commercial tile installed
on top of my existing floor (linoleum squares). One person who'd given me
a quote (a very high quote) told me I had to install a new sub floor on
top of my existing floor or else the tiles would crack. The person who
became my installer (and who sold me the tile from his local
retail/discounted store) told me that newer adhesives would work just
fine because my floor was pretty stable. The test is when you jump up and
down on the floor, does it "give". Mine didn't. He said that they had run
a test in his store, where they had attached a number of tiles to a
plywood board, using in one case the old style adhesive, and in the other
case, the newer adhesives. (Sorry but I never asked for specifics on the
adhesives.) When they flexed each board, the tiles attached with old
style adhesive flew off. The tiles attached with newer adhesives stayed
put and didn't crack. My floor tile still is perfect-- no cracks.

So this long posting is just meant to discuss in very general terms,
which you probably already know, that not all adhesives are created alike.

I hope you and your husband are well.

Bonnie

Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I have a request for anyone on the list who installs tiles using thinset. I
>have been talking with Peter King about thinsets. This is something that
>he is
>including in his book on architectural ceramics so it would be good to get it
>right. In my area there are just a few brands sold. Laticrete, TEC,
>Versabond, Mapei... We either ask for latex modified thinset or unmodified
>thinset and buy an unmodified grout and a latex admix for it. We can get
>white
>thinset for setting marble to prevent the gray color from bleeding through.
>Pete talks about wall mix and floor mix when he speaks of the thinset,
>with the
>wallmix having a great viscosity for the vertical surface. The brands I buy
>here use the same product for walls and floors, not distinguishing between
>the
>two. (In fact, the viscosity seems fine for both, except for Laticrete which
>make theirs just a bit too runny for my taste.) Pete also said that wall
>mix is
>white. Now we have come to the theory that because Florida has a much more
>developed tile market, there are many more companies selling the setting and
>grouting materials than here in the northeast and as a result, there may
>be many
>more different manufacturers and a resulting different set of terms used
>based
>on where you are. What I would like to know is, if you have bought these
>products, does the market in your area conform to his or mine or something
>else? By the way, the Versabond product is one I found at home depot - it is
>not called thinset but instead is called a bonding mortar and is available
>modified and unmodified. I like the name bonding mortar as it seems to
>convey
>more info than thinset ever did. Plus I found it to be a good product at a
>great price. $11 for a 50 lb bag of modified.
>
>Thanks to anyone who can supply any information about this from their
>geographic
>area.
>
>Linda Blossom
>2366 Slaterville Rd.
>Ithaca, NY 14850
>6075397912
>www.artscape.com
>blossom@lightlink.com


"Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too
dark to read" Groucho Marx

" " Harpo Marx

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana" Att. to GM

"You can tune a piano but you cant tune a fish" Old Proverb

"By the time they had diminished from 50 to 8, the other dwarves
began to suspect 'Hungry' ..." -- Gary Larson, "The Far Side"

thehomedepot@my-dejanews.com on thu 29 oct 98

In article <01be00f4$2650c3c0$7e22e8cd@danica-remake>,
Linda Blossom wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have a request for anyone on the list who installs tiles using thinset. I
> have been talking with Peter King about thinsets. This is something that he=
> is
> including in his book on architectural ceramics so it would be good to get =
> it
> right. In my area there are just a few brands sold. Laticrete, TEC,
> Versabond, Mapei... We either ask for latex modified thinset or unmodified
> thinset and buy an unmodified grout and a latex admix for it. We can get =
> white
> thinset for setting marble to prevent the gray color from bleeding through.
> Pete talks about wall mix and floor mix when he speaks of the thinset, with =
> the






I am a contractor that firmly believes in a multi-purpose thinset. The
additive in these thinsets give greater bonding strength. All the thinsets
that you have mentioned are excellent. A good professional installer can use
any type of thinset. All of the thinsets that you mention conform to
standards. Don't read into it that much. All these companies have good
product. All contractors are partial to a brand, and you will find that
everywhere you go. I have used Versabond on many occasions and it is
excellent.

> wallmix having a great viscosity for the vertical surface. The brands I buy
> here use the same product for walls and floors, not distinguishing between =
> the
> two. (In fact, the viscosity seems fine for both, except for Laticrete =
> which
> make theirs just a bit too runny for my taste.) Pete also said that wall mix=
> is
> white. Now we have come to the theory that because Florida has a much more
> developed tile market, there are many more companies selling the setting and
> grouting materials than here in the northeast and as a result, there may be =
> many
> more different manufacturers and a resulting different set of terms used =
> based
> on where you are. What I would like to know is, if you have bought these
> products, does the market in your area conform to his or mine or something
> else? By the way, the Versabond product is one I found at home depot - it =
> is
> not called thinset but instead is called a bonding mortar and is available
> modified and unmodified. I like the name bonding mortar as it seems to =
> convey
> more info than thinset ever did. Plus I found it to be a good product at a
> great price. =2411 for a 50 lb bag of modified.
>
> Thanks to anyone who can supply any information about this from their =
> geographic
> area.
>
> Linda Blossom
> 2366 Slaterville Rd.
> Ithaca, NY 14850
> 6075397912
> www.artscape.com
> blossom=40lightlink.com
>

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Tom Wirt on thu 29 oct 98

On of the very best books on tile setting, including pre-tiling construction,
adhesives, etc. etc., is by Michael Byrne. It's published by Taunton Press,
1-800-888-8286. $19.95,. Steve, you should carry this one.

Tom