Countertop install advice (with Schluter profile)

[Hayduke3]

Good morning everyone! My name's Joey and I'm new to the forum (after lurking / searching a bunch). My wife and I are remodelling our kitchen and decided to go with some large format porcelain tiles for the countertop along with Schluter Rondec profiles. I've got all the cabinets in place, with 2 layers of 3/4 plywood (the first layer was original and pretty chewed up from the removal of the old mudbed). That's topped with 1/2" permabase, thinset/scewed/fiberglass taped and ready to go. The plan is to rip 2-1/2" strips of the top tile to use as the edge, with the Rondec as the transition.

Reading through the Schluter instructions, it says to tile one wall (since the Rondec is designed as a wall corner), then apply the profile, and tile over the anchor leg on the remaining wall. Since this is a countertop, I am struggling a little bit with order of operations. Based on the instructions, it seems like I should install the edges first, then install the Schluter with the anchor leg on top of the counter, then tile over that. If it weren't for the profile directions, I'd probably be inclined to lay the top tiles first, then do the edges. I've also read about "filling" the profile with thinset (I think to help with durability/denting), but can't find any documentation.

So, bottom line questions:
1) What order is best for installing edge tile / profile / countertop tile?
2) Should I intentionally fill the profile with thinset (more than would just get smooshed in during install)?

Thanks for any advise you have, I really appreciate it! And FYI, I did already try contacting Schluter, but all the representative did was read me back the instructions, so it wasn't particularly useful.

-Joey

[jadnashua]

This profile may be your better bet https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us...CT/p/RONDEC_CT, but may not work, depending on the thickness of your counter.

Are you planning a profile at the bottom edge of your counter? If not, make sure to deal with that sharp, cut edge. You may need a diamond pad, or a rubbing block to soften that edge...if the tile are glazed, that may not work satisfactorily, as it could expose the core material.

Filling the profile with thinset can help it from being dented...not that it's super easy to dent. The aluminum ones are softer than the SS ones, though. Neither would be easy to remove if it was dented, and you decided you couldn't live with it.

[Hayduke3]

Thanks for the feedback! We wanted to do the CT, but you're right, it doesnt cover enough of the edge (in fact, I already have a stack of the rondec profile sitting in the kitchen ready to go). I plan to hit the botton tile edge with a diamond stone just to ease it a little. The core tile is lighter than the glaze, but it should still look okay.

Any thoughts on the optimal order to install the tile / profile?

-Joey

[jadnashua]

I think that I'd try to make some alignment blocks for the edge tile the expected thickness once you add the thinset and set the tile. You might want to do a quick mockup with some scraps. Then, I'd take those thickness blocks and temporarily attach them to the front of the counter on the edge, and then set the counter tile so that the profile came out far enough to then be flush with the tile you will later attach to the front edge accounting for the thickness of the tile and the thinset underneath. Then, I'd use maybe a grout float to help push the edge tile in so it was just flush with the profile when setting those tile.

You'll probably want to use some tape to hold the edge tile up against the profile until the thinset starts to cure, or, setup a ledger board. Tape would probably be easier.