| Author |
Message |
Hank 80 MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 4:35 pm: | |
Can anyone provide info on what type of mortar and grout to use when installing tile in a coach? I seem to remember a post some time ago that mentioned a flexible mortar/grout that was used to keep tile from cracking.
Thanks for your replies. |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 5:00 pm: | |
I believe you are looking for latex modified thin set (mortar) & latex modified grout. You will also need a solid base to minimize deflection.
I posted the following on another thread, a little more appropriate here:
8 years ago, I installed 12" sq tiles in my church rest rooms. The tile mfgr's told me to use 1" thick ply-wood under the tile (and latex modified thinset & grout), anything less would cause the grout to crack. I did & it still looks new and no cracks.
I also put in 1/2" concrete backer board although it was not required by the tile mfgr.
The tile mfgr's said to not use wafer board as it is 'unstable'.
Good luck
Kyle |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:53 am: | |
In two RVs (and a house), I used standard construction glue
in the standard calking type gun, and stuck bathroom floor tiles
down to the existing flooring. Over linoleum in one, bare wood
in the other and finished hardwood in the house, all held up fine.
It depends on the area you're trying to cover. Mine were just
bathrooms of less than 5x5. The latex grout held fine, but I
covered the entire tile/grout area(s) with clear polyurethane.
Construction/project cement will hold a deck together without
nails, glass to a wall, or a metal roof to the rafters. Why not tile?
But.... depends on the area. |
don (Bottomacher)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 8:13 am: | |
The important part of a tile job is the substrate; if it moves, the tile will move with it. Tile that is bonded with epoxy or other super adhesive will stick like crazy, but if the backer expands and contracts very much, the tile will simply crack, leaving cracked tile that is hell to remove. If the air around the tile is subject to alternate high and low humidity (like an RV), the substrate is going to expand and contract. Use good adhesive and the best FLEXIBLE grout that you can find in your area. Make the backer stiff and stable. Talk to a real tile supplier, not a former shoe salesman at the local home supply, when you buy your materials. |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 11:52 pm: | |
Hey, that's a good point, Don! Although my tiles didn't crack,
I can understand a strong possibility of it happening. And you are
absolutely right about it being hell to remove, if they did crack.
With that.... I will respectively retract my suggestion.
There -is- a new adhesive on the market, that's said to remain
flexible throughout it's life. They use it to hold the newer wood
"nail less" flooring, but can be used with tiles also. The name
has drifted from my head, but the local flooring guys should
know it. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 12:06 am: | |
My bus had the tiles set with constsruction adhesive 23 years ago. It eventually dried out and tiles loosened. I had to reset them. Liquid nails type adhesive did not stand the 20 year test in this case. The flexible thin set I saw at Florida Tile should be all anyone could want. |
H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 12:55 am: | |
Flexible thin set is called "FLEXBOND"
Ace |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 8:27 am: | |
Stephen-
It lasted 23 years? If my work will last 10, I'd be happy.
The biggest problem with using any material inside a coach, is the
amount of change that will take place regarding heat, and the amount
of flexing it may be subjected to.
Road vibrations never seem to be mentioned on these forums, but
vehicle engineers always consider the type of threads a screw should
have, to keep it from backing out at various road speeds and
conditions. That's something bus converters never seem to do..
Vibration can play hell with any material, including glued and
cemented mixed materials.
The temperature inside a closed coach sitting in storage, under the
hot southern sun, will expand everything. The extreme sub-zero cold
up north, will shrink it all. And both, to enormous amounts.
Since construction adhesive is used for both roofing and sill work,
and is subjected to all variances of weather, it was the choice for me.
I didn't consider the future removal, or replacement of cracked tile,
or the possibility of the glue not allowing the tile to be free of the
movement of the sub floor and -that- causing the tile to crack.
I did use the RV up north in minus 0 conditions, and it did sit in
the Florida summer sun for months... and I did not find any problem
with either the wood floor or tile sections.
Many commercially built RVs have roofs, floors and cabinet components
held together with the same project cement. But, a "stick and staple"
is the reason we build our own...
I will not recommend it for use, only due to the possibility that it
absolutely can be a problem in circumstances and conditions that
I personally did not experience.
Flexible thin-set may be a better choice. I would check the temperature
range and material use before using it, however. |
Michael Lewis (Puffbus)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 1:01 pm: | |
Everybody knows that an MCI rides so smooth that road vibration is never an issue...... ;-)
Michael |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 1:34 pm: | |
Michael, eating lotus blossoms and smoking whatever will only allow you to approach conversion completion in your mind, not in the real world!
[Nice tongue in cheek comment, actually!] |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 7:56 pm: | |
HAR! Mike... You and Marc should do the Letterman show... |
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