Resin backed marble

[tilelayer]

How do you guys install this stuff? Do you use epoxy? Tec says you can roll multipurpose primer on the backs on the materials and use regular thinset to install it as long as its a Tec premium thinset. Any other methods?

[Westside1]

I was always under the impression that Resin Backed marbles or any other resin backed materials (some onyx) need to be installed only with an epoxy thinset.

I've heard of horror stories of the tile de-laminating from the resin backed sheet on shower walls when regular thinset ws used.

[Hank B.]

I have used keraset/keraply. it wasn't right, but it hasn't been a problem. was just a little bit of marble though, wouldn't consider that on a larger job. more often than not it seems the resin/ mesh is poorly bonded to the marble. I've never really felt comfortable with the product though and usually pass. I've called the manufactures in the past and gotten mixed info, seems none of the companies selling this stuff want to stand behind the bond between the marble/resin regardless of what you use between the resin/substrate. been years since I've done any homework on it though.

[Crestone Tile]

Mapei Eco Prim Grip applied to backs of marble. Set with Ultraflex 2. The Eco Prim Grip has an aggregate that provides mechanical bond.

[tilelayer]

if the resin is bonded poorly to stone i dont see how these products mapei and tec make alter that bond.

[Mountain Tile]

I did one over Ditra, bathroom floor, used versabond. about 3 to 4 yrs ago, pipe burst in that bath while they were away for a week, no problems with the stone floor, I was just there this morning, been back doing more and more work, no problems.

[Crestone Tile]

Originally Posted by Rick

if the resin is bonded poorly to stone i dont see how these products mapei and tec make alter that bond.

The bond of the resin to the stone shouldn't be an issue if it's a decent product. The challenge with resin backed products is getting cementitious material to bond to the resin. Using the advanced prep products like Mapei's primer with aggregate provide an alternative to having to use an epoxy to get proper bond strength.

[CSS]

Don't do it Rick. I did one 2yrs ago. Tile supplier said good multi purpose was all I needed. So I used mega-lite instead of epoxy. 2 years later first a couple tiles by shower started poping loose then all over. Cost me thousands even though I asked the question and was told OK. This was a light colored polised cream of marafil 12x12 with 1/16th grout. Caulked at perimeter. Epoxy or bust.

[cx]

Rick, if you'll look in the front of your current TCNA Handbook you'll find a note about Fiberglass Mesh Reinforced Stone wherein it says that backing is not standardized but frequently an epoxy or polyester-based adhesive to which Portland-based bonding mortars will not reliably bond. The recommendation for setting such stones is to use an epoxy bonding mortar.

If TEC offers an alternative and is willing to stand behind the method and you're happy with it, use it. I'd stick with the epoxy.

[Dave Gobis]

I am with CCS and CX on this one. Unless someone is going to warrant their product for that purpose and your going to do the perfect install so they can't wiggle out of a claim if it happens, stick to epoxy. I have had 3-4 of these failures so far this year and the installers ate every one. Always hear about this thing called a Yeahbut when it happens. Always either a Yeahbut, or I been doing it 30 years and never had a problem before when something does go wrong.

[Arimert]

Ive done a few where the resin had a poor bond,so i scrapped it all off.
why dont the manufacturers use a cement based product ?would be much easier for the installer.

[tilenewbie1]

Were the failures a result of the resin separating from the stone or from the thinset not sticking to the resin, I know some of the resins they use on the tiles really do penetrate into the stone and others easily chip of the surface?
Hard for me to imagine that any decent thinset with good coverage would just fall of the wall in a shower due to not having a good enough bond to the resin.

[java]

I won't install any of it.

If it is resin backed it's junk.

[tilelayer]

I rolled them with Tecs Multipurpose primer, I attended a tec semiar where the rep was pushing the stuff and this was a bonus part of the installation. I am going to use a premium tec thinset to install them.

[tilejoe]

Good luck. Crappy scenarios we face daily.
How much you gotta do?