Normal way for tile on slab

[Kirk Grodske]

If you were going to put tile on an old slab, like in a condo, and there were no obvious problems, cracks etc., what procedure would you follow?

Just thinset it and be done, or laticrete first and then thiset it just in case there is moisture in the future? Assuming a sucessful overnight taping of plastic to the slab.

Quick drying thinset and then grout the same day? I am thinking about small entry ways from 3x3 to 10x10.

Kirk Grodske

[Jason_Butler]

Kirk,

I would set the tile directly on the slab- assuming no cracks.

The small areas you describe should be fine. Thinset sets up fast enough here in this Texas heat. I don't use rapid set - it would harden before I got from the truck to the floor. I would set the tile on Day 1 - grout on Day 2

Jason

[tileguytodd]

I'll just add a little bit to jasons.If you check the slab with a straightedge first, you'll see if you need to do anf floating of low area's.I use a rapidset alot for small jobs under 50 s/f up in this country.If its over that,i would do like Jason.We do not generally advise a rapidsetting product to a do it yourselfer.If you have some experiance, its a real timesaver but it is expensive.I generally use it only to save myself the 40 mile+ trip back to grout the next day on small jobs.........

[Davy]

Kirk, I agree with Todd and Jason. I might add, moisture shouldn't be a problem in the future. I've installed a few tile murals on swimming pool bottoms using plain O thinset, never a problem.

[Kirk Grodske]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am mostly looking for a cost effective approach to setting these small tile areas. I have heard most of you charge around $200.00 for this type job(Simple, one color, 4x4 tile entry). I need to make $260/day and if I have to return the next day to grout and even another day to seal the grout, I can't imagine it being profitable.

On a recent job, I had to pull back and cut the already installed carpet, install new tack strip on two sides, scrape the pad glue off the slab, thinset, grout and seal and then tack the carpet down. Add to this the cost of the tile, thinset, grout and sealer, I can't imaging doing it for less than $500.00

Addmittedly I won't need to be there the full day each day, but how easy is it to fill the other hours of the day? So I would prefer to set and grout in one day and then let them seal or face an additional charge for a return visit.

I am usually doing other work for the client and it is often hard to find a tile setter to do these small jobs without disrupting the schedule.

Kirk Grodske

[Jason_Butler]

I can tell you I wouldn't do a 10x10' entry for 200 bucks. Maybe $350. If I had to do carpet work ( bless the client on this), it would be a bit more.

For the smaller entry ways ( say ...6x6 or so) I might use rapidset. I would cut all my tile first though. Set the tile before luch...grout afterwards.

Jason