Tile and/or solid surface advice

[swk]

Hi guys. I am a licensed c54 contractor in California. Feel free to ask any tile, masonry, or granite/quartz solid surface questions. Sometimes in stand building and decorating tile comes into play and I'm more than willing to help out. Thanks!

[...]

Thanks mate...nice offer!!

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Okay... So in my kitchen their is a high spot that is from a beam that was put under the house (built in 1955)running from one side of the kitchen to the other... What is the best way to fix this when I go to lay tile in there? There is linoleum tiles in their now. I've laid tile before but have not had to fix anything like this prior installation... I've heard that there is a leveler that can be poured out and that will do the trick.

Is this stuff reliable or are there better and newer methods?

Thanks!

[swk]

Most homeowner friendly solution is a self leveling compound. Afterwards - modified thinset - schluter ditramat - UNmodified thinset - tile.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Gotcha. So no more hardie backer/ cement board?

[swk]

Dec 9, 2016 15:24:02 GMT -5 Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7 said:

Gotcha. So no more hardie backer/ cement board?

Someone you HAVE to use it, but ditra is a better product all way around. Some benefits -

Can carry 320 sq ft over my shoulder
Vapor barrier
WaterPROOF
Designed to become a floating install. Over time the bond between the ditra and subfloor break free so both surfaces can move independently from one another
Requires fewer expansion joints that can be unsightly
No more mechanical fasteners. Simply stick to the subfloor with thinset
Totally recyclable
Cuts with utility knife and scissors.
NO TOXIC DUST!
And finally half the thickness of 1/4" hardi

Like I said - beats it by a mile.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Wouldn't the fact that it separates from the sub-floor over time cause the tiles to come loose and/ or crack apart from one another?

[swk]

Not one bit. The tile and mortar are all bonded to the underpayment making it a single surface.

Having a mechanically fastened substrate causes more cracking because any movement has nowhere to go but up through to tile and grout.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Gotcha. Okay thanks for the info man. Helps a ton.

[gturmindright]

Is there anywhere to get SLC cheaper than from the big box store? Last time I used it, it was $30 a bag. Also, granite or quartz countertops and why?