Dirty HardiBacker? Screw heads?

Pele2048 · 02-20-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazMan

Well.............? It all sounds right. The only thing you didn't elaborate on is if you added the entire 1/2 bag into the bucket with all the water in it.

5 minutes of mixing then 2 more sounds way too long for me. I don't normally time it, but I'd say 2 minutes and then 30 seconds or so. I mix the initial time till there's no lumps and looks nice. Mixing too long will "burn" the mix, which means it'll set up in the bucket faster. Plus if you're slow you need to stir it now and then.

I mist the Hardie cuz it sucks. Sponging is probably the best method, but I mist. You have to keep an eye on the thinset and touch it with your finger to check it.

The 1/4 x 3/8 x 1/4" trowel sounds right for most 12-14" tiles, but you didn't answer that one. (specific type of tile) As for thinset in the grout joint. Maybe you're sliding the tiles? Are the groove going the same way?

Jaz

The type of tiles is earlier in this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pele2048

The tiles are made by Surface Source.
Item #0016286 / Model #L301123

You commented that it's criminal to sell 97 cent tiles. Well, now you know why I got such cheap crap... So that I don't feel so bad about going in there and smashing them all with a hammer... It's what I feel like doing right about now.

As for the grooves, they're going in all sorts of directions, depending on where I was sitting when I was putting the tile down.
If I was in the middle of a row, they're probably going sideways.
If I was at the end of a row and next to the wall, they're probably going towards me.

I'd lay down one or two square feet of thinset and then put down one or two tiles. Then I'd get up, move my bucket and lay down more thinset, lay down tiles. Occasionally, I'd hit the end of a row and go cut a tile.

Some areas don't even have grooves because I couldn't fit my trowel under the baseboard heater or under the toe kicks of my cabinets. I just did what I could with the pointing trowel there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetSwet

Well if your not jokingly stating what you just said?...lol... then yes you can defeat the hole purpose of trowling thinset if you press down hard enough. Your only suppose to press a tiny bit with your fingers wile slightly moving the tile for better bond of thinset to get the air out between top of thinset lines and tile.

You also should back butter larger format tile like 13" +" this means taking thinset and just like buttering toast on back of tile but I only do that for wall tiles and if you do you have to do them all you cant miss any, some tilers will do it always some do it on the floor.

I've been back buttering them using the flat side of my trowel.

JazMan · 02-20-2013, 10:12 PM

Oh yes, I remember. .97 tile. You probably thought it was "average" quality since it wasn't .58 a ft. Places like that have lowered the quality of our homes. People end up buying junk, and they think they're getting a deal. Average tile is $3-5 a ft. But at least more people are using ceramic.

Did you check for warpage of the tiles or is it the floor? Did you lay a straight edge on the floor yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyt2US_SSBM

Jaz

JetSwet · 02-20-2013, 10:30 PM

Got to support the tile company's, home depot and alike doesnt care that you want to tile your floor they just want you to think your saving money.

Post some pic!!

Pele2048 · 02-21-2013, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetSwet

Got to support the tile company's, home depot and alike doesnt care that you want to tile your floor they just want you to think your saving money.

Post some pic!!

Tile company wouldn't touch this.

I went to Lowes to get a quote on tile installation. They sent a sub contractor out to measure. The guy who measured said I needed to put more screws into the HardiBacker in order for them to guarantee the work.

I put more screws in and called Lowes back. They quoted me double what I had estimated... Charged $200 for moving the stove and refrigerator, adding another $50 for disconnecting the ice maker (Which was never hooked up in the first place.) Then they said that they wouldn't guarantee anything because I had put down the HardiBacker myself.

If I'm paying for installation, I had better get a guarantee... Who's to say that they won't just break all the tiles and then blame me.

Both Lowes and the Contractor actually expected me to remove the HardiBacker, which is installed UNDER my cabinets... And it has Thinset under it holding it to the sub floor.

I'm embarrassed to put up pictures of this crappy job.

Pele2048 · 02-21-2013, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazMan

Did you check for warpage of the tiles or is it the floor? Did you lay a straight edge on the floor yet?

The floor is straight. There's only one joint where the floor is off, and I haven't tiled over it yet.

The tiles are all flat and square.

It's the thinset under the tiles.

JetSwet · 02-21-2013, 08:04 AM

Pele, dont get so discourage it looks good imo. I have seen some horror in my day like hop scotch for the blind....lol

To me looks like your backer board is wavey, put your leve on the cbu and post pics of any gaps under the level. If so you will have to fill with thinset.

JazMan · 02-21-2013, 04:26 PM

Well, just do the best you can and it'll look better once it's grouted and all appliances and furniture are back.

That gap under the level is kinda extreme, but I can't see how thinset caused it.

There must be a slight hill within the plane of the tiles to the right.

As far as BLowes and Home Despot goes.....

They generally use the same contractor to install all floor coverings. Carpet, laminate, hardwood, vinyl tile, vinyl sheet goods and ceramic tile, same contractor, that's ridiculous!

$200 to move two appliances is a bit high unless the house is so small that there's no place to put them out of the room while setting tiles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pele

Then they said that they wouldn't guarantee anything because I had put down the HardiBacker myself

.

And yes, you did the Hardie and no one in their right mind will guarantee the job now. They guarantee that the tiles are set straight etc., but no guarantee if they crack or if the floor is not flat etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pele

If I'm paying for installation, I had better get a guarantee..

You didn't pay for the installation of the base, the backer board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pele

Who's to say that they won't just break all the tiles and then blame me.

Really? And they would do what, they'd smash your floor while you're back is turned? Sorry you're having a bad day.

But look at all the money you saved. You did the job for about $ 2.50 - $3.00 a ft. instead of $5-6 for materials or $10-12 installed.

So, I know this house has been a nightmare, but it'll be fine soon.

Jaz