Thinsets

[MNTileGuy]

Hey guys-

I'm just curious how many of you use VersaBond and what you feel its limitations are. Margins are pretty tight around these parts and it seems to be about the cheapest modified thinset out there. I'll admit though, I'm a little skittish about using it with stone or porcelain, even in slab on grade applications. The problem is that VersaBond Flex is about 1/3 more and the Granite and Marble Mortar is about double the cost around here... I've generally always spent the extra $$$ on the upgraded thinsets, but if it's really not necessary...

Any thoughts???

Brad Bressler
Bressler Tile and Stone

[jay f]

Personally, I use versabond white for just about everything, except for when the job requires something different ( large format on a floor that is slightly out of flat, glass tile, etc.), unless I want to use a different thinset, such as a nonsag for walls.

[Rd Tile]

Use it for just about everything and it's on sale now at HD.

[custombuilt]

I use it for just about everything too......although for a while I was using all Ultraflex 2, but hey, white versabond, as HD for 13 bucks a bag, can't beat that

[Chad Deiter Company]

Another vote for it , use it for everything exept glass and anything with that has that epoxy mesh backing ...

[KCT]

Great stuff for general apps. I like the white. I'd use it on porcelain (just did, actually) but any stone gets medium bed or non sag mortar.

[Dan Kramer]

Just repeating what has been said above, but Versabond is my go to thinset for most applications including Ditra and Kerdi.

[cx]

Originally Posted by Dan

Versabond is my go to thinset for most applications including Ditra and Kerdi.

Dan Kramer goin' straight to hell.









Goin' be down there with ol' John Bridge, looks like.

[Dan Kramer]

I was already on my way before I started using Versabond with Schluter's products.

And hey at least I'll have company.

[MNTileGuy]

It sounds like the consensus is that Versabond is a-ok for just about all applications except maybe glass and large body porcelain and stone?

[TGR]

By customs own standards versbond is not a premium mortar. One company I know of tested polymer content of mortars and versbond tested the second lowest of all mortars tested. I however can’t argue that it seems to work……………………

[ceramictec]

and it's on sale now at HD

yeah, a whole $.70
it was 12.95 here and now it's up front onna pallet for sale for $12.25

they need to drop it to $11

[HS345]

Another vote for Versabond, been usin' it for years on just about everything.

May not be a "premium" mortar, but shore seems to work really, really good.

With the attitude some of the Custom Building Products reps have, and their hard stance against Schluter, I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually discontinue the manufacture of Versabond. I'm just sayin'. Be a sad, sad day if that ever happens.

[william35453]

this summer i did a board test of verasbond, 3N1, ditra-set and marble&granite with same travertine tiles on durock. after a week of curing, all stuck well, but when chiseling tile off the CBU, all thinsets broke in the center -- that is, the thinsets bonded well to the tile and the CBU and broke apart in the thinset itself. all but that versabond . . . it took a chunk of the CBU out with it. also chiseled them out at 3 weeks and 6 weeks with about the same results.

also, recently had to chisel out a few tiles when homeowner decided to install towel rack after wall was complete. this time had to patch the CBU before installation of new tiles because it broke a hole out all the way through the durock. has tremendous material strength-- obviously stronger than the CBU.

[John Bridge]

I think a lot of people know that I'm a Custom's VersaBond guy, but there are other muds our there I would use when they are available. Ditra-set is my favorite dry set mortar, and I've recently used Laticrete 254, which is good stuff. The 254 stays open longer than the others. Haven't decided whether that's good or bad.