Schluter and 317

[HS345]

Heard from a local supplier today that Schluter is no longer approving the use of Laticrete 317 with Kerdi and Ditra. Anyone else hear about this? John Bridge's little birdie know anything?

[cx]

Have you asked Schluter, Greg?

[Kman]

I haven't heard anything on that at all.

I'll have to say, of the unmodified thinset mortars I've used, 317 was my least favorite, at least when it came to installing Kerdi. It seemed a bit too sandy for my taste.

[HS345]

I called their technical services dept, and the person I spoke to knew of no such prohibition.

[cx]

Seems like the question is asked and answered, then, eh?

[Lazarus]

317 is good thinset. I've used it on dozens of Kerdi installations and have absolutely NO problem with it as an unmodified thinset.

[CASAVANT TILE]

What did this supplier recommend you use instead? My guess is something that they have a bigger markup on.

[HS345]

Originally Posted by Eric

What did this supplier recommend you use instead? My guess is something that they have a bigger markup on.

Yep, 272. Which is a higher quality unmod, and naturally, more expensive. Was told by the supplier that the Schluter rep recommends the 317 only for small format tile. Larger format should only use the 272. A call to the rep was not returned (though his greeting did say he would be in and out of service areas). Schluter technical informed me, a rep can make recommendations on a case by case basis. I am still curious to know what difference the tile size makes.

[cx]

I've never used the 272, but have use the 317 and like it just fine. I'm wondering if Kevin's complaint is not just a regional manufacturering thing.

I recall being very surprised to learn that folks in Yankee Land think VersaBond is absolute trash and would never consider using it, while in my part of the country it's be the default thinset mortar for lots of tilers for lots of years. And the complaint was with the sand being too course and having big pieces and such, which I've never encountered in the same product down here.

And I got no idea why the Schluter rep would mention the tile size. Doesn't compute at all for me.

[Splinter]

Im in Yankee land and I like VersaBond... Decent stuff.

The sand is not nearly as coarse as the TEC stuff I picked up from Blowes a few weeks ago. Didnt even bother using what I mixed of the TEC... Jumped in the truck and ran out for a few bags of VersaBond instead.

[Tiger Mountain Tile Inc]

I'm pretty sure that Laticrete doesn't warranty either of those products for use with Schluter products so maybe it's best to find something different.

[Schluterman]

Not a fan of 317, and im a laticrete guy, Ditra set all the way for me. Although I have a few bags of Ardex x5 in the back of the van for my next small floor im going to try, thanks to the JB forum

[studderin]

never had any problems with 317, hangs kerdi fine.

[HS345]

Okay, the Schluter rep returned my call last night. And left me with more unanswered questions than I started with.

He claims it was the supplier who wanted to stock one thinset which would be suitable for both small and large format tile. He claimed 317 isn't really suitable for large format tile because it is not formulated for such. He claimed that thinsets such as 317 may not have the ability to support a large format tile. He even went so far as to say 317 (and some other thinsets) is labeled to state that when installing tile larger than a 12 x 12 you should contact Laticrete technical services for advice on how to proceed. I see no such labeling on 317.

I think perhaps this rep is a tad bit confused.

[Houston Remodeler]

Yeah, I see smoke too. Danielle can straighten this out.