Floor patch advice needed

[L5281]

I moved a wall in my bathroom to get a little more space and now need to bring the newly exposed floor up to the level of the existing tile floor (metal mesh and mortar bed) so that i can tile over the entire floor. Attached is a picture of the current stage of the project. Looking for advice on how to proceed from here to build up the floor. The exposed area is 17x29 (in2). The entire floor area is 4x5 (ft2). The maxium depth of the exposed area is 1-1/16 (in); the dpeth ranges from 7/8 to 1-1/16 (in).

[cx]

Welcome, Pappy.

1. Do you intend to remove the existing tile on the rest of the floor?

2. Is that tile included in your depth calculation for the un-tiled portion?

3. Have you evaluated the joist structure under that floor? You can use our Deflectometer in the dark blue bar near the top of the page to give you an initial go/no-go reading.

[L5281]

Thanks CX,


1. Do you intend to remove the existing tile on the rest of the floor?

No.

2. Is that tile included in your depth calculation for the un-tiled portion?

Yes.

3. Have you evaluated the joist structure under that floor? You can use our Deflectometer in the dark blue bar near the top of the page to give you an initial go/no-go reading.

Yes.

[L5281]

the deflection calculated is 0.105 inches.

[cx]

Deflection amount doesn't tell us anything without knowing the unsupported span of the joists, Pappy.

The joist spacing is important, too, in evaluating the subflooring.

No really standard method of doing what you wanna do. The most proper approach is to remove all the existing tile and deck mud and start over with a reinforced deck mud bed of a minimum 1 1/4" thickness to closely approximate what you currently have.

Second most proper would be to remove everything, install a minimum of nominal 1/2" exterior glue plywood and then a tiling substrate of your choice, either a CBU or other.

If you're not inclined to use one of those methods, you could put down a cleavage membrane, staple down some metal lath, and make a mud bed to flush with the top of your existing tile. Several reasons that will not in any way meet industry standards, but it might work in such a small area. You would absolutely want to use an anti-fracture membrane of some kind over the entire floor before tiling.

My opinon; worth price charged.

[Davy]

I would take up the entire floor and use the same substrate over it all. A mud bed would be best in my opinion but not the easiest to accomplish if you've never done it.

[L5281]

Okay. How do i take up the existing floor without taking off the base tile?

[cx]

You probably don't. The baseboard would be replaced as well.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[L5281]

I got an estimate from a tile guy to remove the tile and mud floor and replace everything for $760. This price seems a little steep, for a 4ft x 5 ft floor, with one opening (toilet flange), so im getting another estimate. What do you all think?

[cx]

We'd need more detail to even guess, Pappy. There's no geographic location in your User Profile and we really have no idea what "replace everything" might include.

[John28]

Originally Posted by L5281

I got an estimate from a tile guy to remove the tile and mud floor and replace everything for $760.

I'm not a contractor or know the going price, but even for a small area, I don't think that's bad? But put it this way, how many hours do you think it will take him doing it correctly with no shortcuts? And how much would you want to make an hour?

[L5281]

Sorry CX. Scope of work that that the contractor estimated was to remove the tile and mud base down to the wood subfloor, then install a new mud base, and new tile. He said he could remove the existing floor without removing the base board tiles ( see previously posted pictures). Also I'm in Aiken, SC.

John28, the contractor said it'd take him about 10-12 hours to do the job. The new tiles are about $75 (20 tiles @ $3.50/tile). Not sure what the mud base (1.8 ft3), thinset, and grout costs, but i'd guess around $75. So if the materials are $150 total, he'd be making $51-$61/hr.

[Davy]

It's going to kill a day to remove the old mud, put down the paper and lath and then mud it. He will have to let it set over night. The next day he could use speed set and install it and grout it after it sets a couple hours. It will kill 2 days all together. I don't think that price is too high.

[L5281]

Thanks Davy ... Im getting another bid too.

[dhagin]

As Davy noted, that's a 2 day job - he's grossing under $40/hr. If he does the job properly and well, I'd say it's a bargain.