mortar bed washroom floor re-do

[jason]

my partner and i have taken on a washroom re-do in a commercial building . there is no tub or shower involved , just the floor and cabinets . once we started chipping up the old 2x2 tiles part of the old mortar-bed starting coming up as well . around the drain it was only 1/2 thick ,with no mesh . the new tiles are 12x12 and the existing mortar -bed is not very level or flat at all! i am thinking the entire mortar bed should come out now , raise the drain to a better height , pound out a new bed , and then tile . any thoughts ? , i'll continue with the wllpaper and electrical and wait for your response ..... oh yeh , the womens washroom is next ! :rolleyes:

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[Art in Stone]

jason,
I still don't understand why you need to raise the drain, but if you can tear everything out and redo the sloped mud bed( and get paid for it) go for it.:D

[jason]

sorry i should have also said that the slope down to the drain is quite steep . i'll measure it tonight . i guess the other question is should i bother mudding the whole floor or just build it up ( sort of subfloor it ) and then tile it. .... so many choices ..... must ...keep ...working ...

[Art in Stone]

Is this over a slab or wood sub?

[jason]

this is over an underground parking structure ( concrete) with blue styrofoam (2") for insulation (i think). so the previous mortar-base was directly on the styrofoam , and then the tile on that .

[John Bridge]

Hmm, don't know how they got away with no wire. If the mud's not bonded to the styrofoam (and I don't know how it could be), it should come out pretty easily. New mud is the least expensive way to go.

[Sonnie Layne]

I'm with John on this one. How large is the floor? you may need to cut a few of those large format tiles.

[jason]

the floor is 8x11 . and as i said , not very flat , with the 2x2 tiles it was fine but with the 12x12 it's going to be a issue . the largest mortar bed i have done was a walk in shower , 3x6 . so i'm a little curious on what sort of procedure you would reccomend for a room this size ( like a little wetter than normal in 8x3 sections ) . also what ratio port. cement to sand ?. and as a side point , all the 2x2 tiles are now off and the only section of mortar bed that came up is about 2x3 around the drain . should i re-mortar that section , grind the high areas down ,and apply some sort of floor leveler to smooth out the floor ?

[Sonnie Layne]

OK, I'll give you an opinion as tho' I were bidding it having not seen it except for as I understand your explanation.

The counters will be set level, that changes the angle of the twangle to the drain in itself.

Then you've got entry, I suspect on one of the 8 ft. walls. That cuts it down to pretty square.

What? No W/C in this area? Even if not, we're still at a point where the footage area is nearly half what you started with.

I'd rip that danged-gum thang up to be sure. then and only then will you be able to lay in a proper slope that you would marry from the critical points.

I'd also advise them that 12x12 ain't gonna work. Not for you, not for them, not for any liar that comes along.

Now, thats' how I'd work it... you do what you want taking that into consideration. Those are big floor tiles to be using in a wash-out that size.

I'm suspecting that they need to be shopping somewhere besides Lowes or Homeless Despot for their materials. Nothing smaller than 3"x3" should be used in a sloped profile of that size. My pesonal insight. Others, more experienced will offer theirs as well...

[Art in Stone]

Jason,
I agree 100%.
Sounds like this bathroom was an after thought.

[tileguytodd]

I guess alot will depend on who you are dealing with.Bldg super? General contractor? architect?I agree it all needs to come out and be redone,and you may want to raise the drain,but what are they willing to pay for??I'm not sure what you do in these situations, but momma dont let me work for free :D