[kustom1271]

A couple of days ago my girlfriend had tile installed in her master bathroom. It's a very small area (3'x5'), the subflooring is a soft concrete and the installer layed Schluter ditra on the subfloor and used Versabond thinset to set the small mesh back hexagonal tile. The next day we noticed the there was insufficient mortar coverage because we could see a lot of the orange ditra between the tiles and there were some low spots in the floor. The installer was a former neighbor and was doing the job as a favor, we didnt notice at the time but after talking with him, post install, it became apparent he may suffer from some sort of mental illness. Unfortunately, we think it's best he not come back to resolve the situation. My girlfriend and I are fairly capable DYIer's and I have installed a tile backsplash before so we will most likely make the necessary repairs, however we would like some advice on the best way to remedy the issues. I have attached some photos below I hope they are helpful. My questions are, is there any way to fill the gaps? Can we salvage any of the ceramic tiles? Do we have to tear it out and start over? There is toilet involved so if we do have to start over, is backerboard over the ditra a good option, or would there be issues with reinstalling the toilet? Can the ditra be salvaged after removing the mortar and tile? Lastly, if you think of anything I may have overlooked please feel free to elaborate. Thank you for your time.

 

[chandler48]

If that one spot of orange is all there is, don't worry about it. I worry more about the membrane. It is supposed to be up on the wall from 6 to 12" and your wall cbu applied over it before you begin tiling. It appears your walls may be sheetrock. Is that so? If so, they need to be removed and replaced with cbu, or covered with Kerdi prior to tiling.

As far as low spots, unless you want to tear it all out, there won't be too much you can do about it.

 

[huesmann]

I worry more about the membrane. It is supposed to be up on the wall from 6 to 12" and your wall cbu applied over it before you begin tiling. It appears your walls may be sheetrock. Is that so? If so, they need to be removed and replaced with cbu, or covered with Kerdi prior to tiling.

Based on the door way, this doesn't appear to be a wet area; no need AFAICT for CBU or anything other than drywall.

OP, if the problem is that the Ditra doesn't go all the way to the wall, I don't think there's anything you can do about it at this point. I think your solution depends on what you plan to do about any wall base. Are you planning on putting in cove base tile, or some kind of base molding?

 

[ron45]

""" The installer was a former neighbor and was doing the job as a favor, we didnt notice at the time but after talking with him, post install, it became apparent he may suffer from some sort of mental illness. """

:sad:

 

[chandler48]

So this is a dry area? If so, why the membrane?

 

[huesmann]

I don't know why, but it's certainly not a shower, unless your showers have door casing.