Tiling a mobile home shower...

[TwoStar]

I have been asked to help out the mobile home factory in a nearby town. They are trying to offer tiled showers as an option. Maybe a few floors, too. I have grouted a few "real" houses that were built in Canada and then moved here. They didn't grout them at the factory.

These guys would like to grout at the factory.

My question is: What products should I recommend? tile, thinset, backerboard, underlayment, grout? Whatever ideas you guys have...lay 'em on me. I know none of this is a GREAT idea, but work with me, OK?

[gueuzeman]

What are the floor deflections of the units?

Crack isolation mats or Laticrete 125? Flexible urethane grout?

Maybe they should consult with a maker of luxury motor homes, some of them are pretty crazy these days, so i hear.

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[gueuzeman]

Forza stone?
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[TwoStar]

I am not familiar with the Forzastone-type material. This mobile home factory first came to me after they tried to use some sort of panel system that really sucked. I ended up installing a tile shower for them after the house was set up on site. They can't afford this, though. I guess I am too expensive.

I don't know the deflection but I seem to remember 24" oc, 3/4" chipboard-looking crap.

[gueuzeman]

Sean- the big problem is the vibration in dragging these thigs down the highway to their destination. And 24" OC joists on a single layer of OSB is not a good place to be for many, most, if not all floors.

Years ago the company i worked for did some work for a manufactured home maker that shipped the pieces to a building site, the sections of the home were assembled, and we did all the grouting and caulking on site. I really don't remember the tile sizes and whatnot, it was a long time ago.

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[Levi the Tile Guy]

I would be very leery about it. I would think you would have to use a urethane grout or an epoxy and that will add cost to each job (which I'm sure isn't what the manufacturer is looking for). Plus during transport I would almost guarantee that you will have a tile crack or grout crack or a tile pop off the wall etc...You will be responsible for going to the site and fixing these things so you will need to put that into your price also.

And what are you going to do for the pans? are they going to be a fiberglass pan with tile on the walls? Besides the obvious issues of plumbing an already tiled pan (which you could get away with I think) I really don't think a mud pan would hold up to the conditions of being lifted to a truck.drug down the highway/then set in place.

[Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Sean

I know none of this is a GREAT idea, but work with me, OK?

No, I wouldn't even begin to get caught up in something like this. Run

[TwoStar]

I have no financial obligation or benefit, just advice. They want to try it a couple times and see how it goes. I am assuming that there are other manufacturers offering this option...I don't know. I won't be building the showers, tiling them, nothing.

So...urethane grout. Ditra on the floors? on walls? I just need to know what is the stickiest...the most flexible...whatever.

I am a flooring guy that installs ceramic tile about 25% of the time. A few showers that haven't leaked yet. I don't have extensive experience with very many products, etc.

I am assuming the pans will be fiberglass or something like that.

[cx]

Welcome, Sean.

If you're in the tile industry, please add some information to your User Profile so folks can see what kind of guy they're having a discussion with and what part of the country you're in and such, eh?

[bulldog tile]

DalTile makes a "pregrouted" tile that comes a little bigger than 1 sf sheets of 4 1/4 tiles pregrouted with silicone. You install and use their silicone in the joints. It's a pretty flexable application and would probably be suited for a house trailor or motor home.