1/2” Tile Backer vs. 1/4”

[AndyG]

Just had another stupid deal. A client insisted on 1/2” backer for floors and now his tile is higher than his adjoining wood floor. His wife is disabled. He needed no transition.

1/2” backer adds no strength and is made to span wall studs. It does add twice the load.

Use 1/4” unless you have to have more height, always use thinset under it with a 1/4 x 1/4 square notched trowel
And fasten properly. Thinset is vital. Nails work as good as screws, and screws can complicate things if the house moves- they can pull through.

We only use mesh encapsulated boards like Durock. Hardie is too brittle.


Always mesh tape the joints. I have never seen properly installed backer board allow tile to crack - not once.

But I have seen plenty fail otherwise.

You might ask Andy why did you not tell this guy this? Because I’m tired of not being listened to, arguing and striving. It’s a shame people hire you for your expertise and not allow you to run the project.


Andy

 

[WestCoastDan]

I remember having to cut down the floor joists in a bathroom by about 3/8" because the chosen flooring was going to be too high, creating an undesired transition with the hallway and rest of the house.

 

[Mhass]

Why not Kerdi Ditra?

 

[AndyG]

Why not Kerdi Ditra?

Ditra is a good product- if there is no contamination and the height is ok. I have an amazing story about it working on a house that was jacked up after tile was in. It’s ability to handle shear movement is unsurpassed.

The version for heated floors is brilliant.

Kerdi is a waterproofing membrane - both made by Schluter, an awesome German company.

 

[DuckNut]

This should have been discussed beforehand. Now you need to fire him.

He will be telling people at church about how his wife gets stuck between rooms and you did the work.

Tisk, tisk. You know better.

 

[Mhass]

Ditra is a good product- if there is no contamination and the height is ok. I have an amazing story about it working on a house that was jacked up after tile was in. It’s ability to handle shear movement is unsurpassed.

The version for heated floors is brilliant.

Kerdi is a waterproofing membrane - both made by Schluter, an awesome German company.

Ok, i feel better. I used the ditra on my floor and the membrane in my shower.
Both were good to work with and I'm about 18 months in with no issues.
Sorry to derail.

 

[RangerTJ]

You might ask Andy why did you not tell this guy this? Because I’m tired of not being listened to, arguing and striving. It’s a shame people hire you for your expertise and not allow you to run the project.


Andy

I've come to the conclusion that many people who ask for my opinion on things, in reality just want to hear THEIR opinion but now being voiced by you.

 

[AndyG]

Ok, i feel better. I used the ditra on my floor and the membrane in my shower.
Both were good to work with and I'm about 18 months in with no issues.
Sorry to derail.

It was a good relevant comment. It’s a great product and it should be included in conversations about Tile underlayment.

People think that they’re going to have problems from up-and-down movement but probably 95% of the movement that is negative for tile is due to horizontal movement/ shrinkage.

Also I have heard people be concerned about a floor hump causing the tile to crack- A hump will cause the tile to have a hump- and “lips” all over it.

Deflection is a reality but more of a concern with natural stone.

I don’t understand why we say natural stone. Like saying
natural cows.

 

[AndyG]

This should have been discussed beforehand. Now you need to fire him.

He will be telling people at church about how his wife gets stuck between rooms and you did the work.

Tisk, tisk. You know better.

Oh I’ve worked for him before. He’s not complaining because he knows he made the call I’m just sorry that he wouldn’t take any input. He’s a smart guy - And pretty genuine.

And I generally cover everything they can possibly be a problem with people- in writing.

But again he insisted on half inch backer. Ok.

What is even worse he was going to leave in a mudbed- She was going to need a fire truck to get her up on it.

Thankfully he did listen on that one.

 

[DuckNut]

Oh I’ve worked for him before. He’s not complaining because he knows he made the call I’m just sorry that he wouldn’t take any input. He’s a smart guy - And pretty genuine.

And I generally cover everything they can possibly be a problem with people- in writing.

But again he insisted on half inch backer. Ok.

What is even worse he was going to leave in a mudbed- She was going to need a fire truck to get her up on it.

Thankfully he did listen on that one.

Good to hear you have prior relationship with the client.

Reminds me of a visit I was asked to go on a few weeks ago. A lady wanted some work done on her house and while we were there discussing everything she just kept saying "I don't know". She wanted work done, but didn't know what she wanted. A few days later she was given a quote and based on the conversation we really didn't want the job but it was a personal referral, that was so ridiculous we knew she would say no. She didn't take 3 seconds to accept. We got a job we didn't want, at a price that we are not going to be able to spend, and we still have absolutely zero clue as to what she wants done.

 

[AndyG]

Good to hear you have prior relationship with the client.

Reminds me of a visit I was asked to go on a few weeks ago. A lady wanted some work done on her house and while we were there discussing everything she just kept saying "I don't know". She wanted work done, but didn't know what she wanted. A few days later she was given a quote and based on the conversation we really didn't want the job but it was a personal referral, that was so ridiculous we knew she would say no. She didn't take 3 seconds to accept. We got a job we didn't want, at a price that we are not going to be able to spend, and we still have absolutely zero clue as to what she wants done.

I’ve seen situations very similar to that-

Sometimes somebody knows they just want things to change

A lot of times if you can get somebody like that kind of “in a direction “it will go pretty good

Usually it may be a little bit of an eccentric personality type-

The longer you do this, The less anything surprises you.

Look at it this way- You can’t miss the target when you don’t have one