The goal was to make full contact between the fleece matting and the mortar. Pro-Talk:Slaking is the process of leaving the thinset undisturbed toallow the water to completely penetrate the dry ingredients. Subsequently, drying takes place only through the tile joints. DITRA is approved for use with ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile. DITRA matting and tile help the unmodified thin-set retain more of its moisture as it cures, and this creates a stronger bond than modified thin-set can achieve. How to Install Carpet Tiles With Hardwood Flooring on Half of the Room. Just keep a bit of distance from the chalk line so you dont blow it away with the hair spray. By the way, contractors sometimes refer to this product simply as DITRA, and we will too. Items may arrive in multiple shipments. In addition to showers and tub surrounds, you should consider using a waterproof barrier in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or basement. Schluter does not recommend using a latex-modified thinset for the next steps because it cures differently than unmodified thinset. Pro-Tip:DITRA can be walked on immediately after; theres no need to wait for the mortar to cure. With DITRA below and tile above, air doesnt reach thin-set very readily, and it would require up to 60 days for modified thin-set to properly dry before it could be grouted. Mix the thin-set fairly loose but firm enough to hold a notch. Heres a step-by-step DITRA installation guide. Ditra Also Serves As A Waterproofing Layer That Protects Moisture-Sensitive Substrates Such As Plywood/Osb. To ensure a waterproof seam where the wall meets the floor, use a 10 wide strip of KERDI-BAND centered in the corner using the same method outlined for waterproofing seams. Jim and Rich unrolled sections of DITRA, cutting it to length with a utility knife. ugh. Step 1: Bring the matting up to room temperature, Step 2: Measure and cut the material needed, Step 3: Back-roll the section to take out the memory. Step 2: Mortar application Apply thin-set to the area where the DITRA is to be installed, using the correct trowel size: x 3/16 (6mm x 5mm) v-notch OR A DITRA trowel: 11/64 x 11/64 (4.5mm x 4.5mm) square-notch. DITRA, as a decoupler, helps prevent substrate movement from damaging flooring; When using CBU, the tile is mortared directly to the board, and expansion or shifting of the subfloor is likely to crack or pop the tile or grout. He is using the Ditra underlayment, and it is being placed over a concrete floor. Ditra is sold by the linear foot. KERDI-BAND is a waterproofing membrane designed to bridge the seams in DITRA. How do I remove the memory from a role of DITRA? Pro-Tip:Precutting and laying out all the DITRA gives it a chance to flatten out. (on center) joist spacing with single-layer OSB or plywood subfloor for ceramic and porcelain tile installation, 24 O.C. I think I learn something new with each article I read, no exception here. (19 mm)tongue-and-groove Step 1: To start with, choose a quality thin-set mortar for sticking the DITRA to the subfloor/substrate. You will be notified by email when the item arrives. Theyve used DITRA extensively on many jobs and highly recommend it, especially over cracked concrete. Its available on eBay too. In addition, DITRA-XL and standard 5/16 tile creates a floor height that is level with standard 3/4 hardwood flooring. If you had correctly used a ditra trowel or one of the stipulated options at the correct angle your mortar bed beneath the ditra should be just over 1mm. It can be installed over a variety of substrates including plywood, OSB, existing vinyl, structural planks, and concrete. Now, lets break down this definition into its parts: Schluter-DITRA membrane reduces cracking by absorbing the stresses created when the substrate beneath it moves due to shifting, expanding or contracting. We have adjusted the number of products entered as the maximum quantity threshold is 9999. Many professional tile setters believe that the higher cost of DITRA is offset by the fact that it takes less time to install than CBU does due to its ease of use. This eliminates the transfer of stresses from the substrate to the tile covering. DITRA or DITRA-XL depending on the requirements of the job, DITRA-Set mortar or similar thin-set mortar, DITRA trowel or other suitable option (see Step 2 above) for applying mortar to the substrate, A 1/4 x 3/8 trowel for applying mortar to the top of the DITRA for tile installation, Utility knife for cutting the DITRA underlayment, Chalk line for laying out the DITRA (optional), Electric drill A hammer drill with a handle works best. Does Schluter recommend filling of voids before laying tile? They also scraped away excess mortar that oozed underneath the drywall. Any problems with thinset applied over filled voids? This is because you used too much thinset to bond the ditra to the floor substrate. Which thickness you choose depends on the needs of the project youre tackling. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Check out the installation handbook for even more information and certifications. Wood Substrate: OSB, plywood and framing members should be covered with a material such as DITRA underlayment because wood is very susceptible to changes and to moisture. ft. of substrate. My husband is trying for the first time to install a tile floor. Allow the mortar to sit for 5-15 minutes before using it. If full coverage has not been achieved, remove, verify proper mortar application and reapply the DITRA membrane. Your email address will not be published. After about 24 hours, itll be ready for tile, and meanwhile Jim and Rich are getting started on the over half. It does not have to be uniformly covered. Step 5: Apply the thin-set to the substrate with your notched trowel at a 45-degree angle. The thinset is also so thin (and absorbed by the fleece layer) that it isnt displaced by foot traffic either. ya. Ditto. Schluter recommends mixing the thinset to a fairly fluid consistency (but still able to hold a notch).. A waterproof barrier can be created using Schluter-DITRA because it is made from waterproof polyethylene. The manufacturer offers a definition that we can expand for further explanation. Heres why. bag of mortar per 150 200 sq. Installing tile directly on concrete WILL result in significant cracking of the flooring within a short period of time when the concrete expands and contracts with changes in temperature. Using the spread lines, Jim troweled the Ditra-Set over half a section. SchluterDitraand SchluterDitra XL Feature: SchluterDitra comes in 39" width rolls. After the guys had laid out the DITRA, they used pencils and chalk to mark spread lines along each joint. Heres an overview of the locations where you can take advantage of the performance DITRA offers. See A Word About DITRA Thickness below for more information on your options. Option 1: Spray hairspray over the lines. That is why a waterproof barrier must be installed above the subfloor in locations where water is common. The type of thin-set mortar (modified vs. unmodified) used to install DITRA depends on the substrate. Jim and Rich advise against spreading too much Ditra-Set at one time to prevent it from drying too quickly and because its easier to keep the DITRA lined up. If the mortar is too thick, it may not transfer to the bonding fleece under the DITRA as required. Also, what size trowel is recommended for laying the Ditra. In fact, you dont even have to top coat before you lay tile you can put the thinset on in one step. How do I achieve proper thin-set coverage? This item will be SHIPPED and should arrive in 714 days. the space is left for expansion and contraction. DITRA is installed directly onto the wood subfloor, and tile is installed on top of the DITRA. One reason was that they couldnt use the chalk line on the ditra mat. Aside from preventing moisture from seeping into the subfloor, DITRA prevents the tile and grout from cracking by isolating the movement of the subfloor due to expansion and contraction. Jim and Rich are professional tile contractors with decades of experience. Im continuously impressed with the level of work I see from Jim and Rich. When installed, the orange, square-pattern surface of the DITRA should face up. Now we dont know what to do with those gullies and dips. That said, the most important part of the whole thing is the ditra itself, specifically its uncoupling from subfloor, substrate, etc. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. If they had begun laying tile, Jim and Rich would have filled a small section of cut-back cavities and then combed additional mortar over the DITRA. Does it need to be uniformly covered like in the pic? After the DITRA was in place, Rich used a grout float to firmly press the DITRA into the mortar, and the guys paid special attention to the edges. For instance, to install DITRA over plywood, a modified thinset mortar should be used. Measure the room's dimensions with a tape measure. Mix thinset mortar in a 5-gallon bucket with an electric drill and mixing attachment. Schluter advises that at this point its perfectly acceptable to begin laying tile with an unmodified thinset. Specifically Designed For Ceramic And Stone Tile Installations Ditra Provides Uncoupling To Prevent Cracked Tile And Grout. Note: Schluter and Bostik generously donated the DITRA and the Ditra-Set Mortar for this project, enabling the development of this Pro-Follow guide. Step 10: Comb additional thin-set mortar over the DITRA with a notched trowel and solidly embed the tile into the mortar. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. See A Word About Unmodified Thin-Set below for an explanation. Or maybe I am wrong altogether and DITRA set is magical and does not conform to the laws of physics like gravity and displacement (the most likely explanation). Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, You're reviewing: Schluter DITRA and DITRA XL Membrane, Schluter ALL-SET Modified Thin-set Mortar, Schluter KERDI KERECK F Waterproof Corners, Schluter KERDI-KM Prefabricated Seal - 7/8" Pipe Seal (Set of 5), Schluter KERDI-FIX Sealant & Bonding Compound - White - Caulk Tube, Miracote Poly Fabric 40" x 1' - Sold by Linear Foot, Laticrete Blue 92 Anti-Fracture Membrane and Waterproofing Fabric, Protecto Wrap Whisper Mat CS - Sound Control Crack Suppression Membrane - Per Ln Ft, Schluter KERDI Waterproofing Membrane - Shower Pan Liner, NobleSeal CIS 6' - Crack Isolation Sheet sold by LnFt, Protecto Wrap AFM-WM Waterproofing Membrane - Sold by Linear Foot, Exclusively designed for ceramic and stone tile surfaces, Neutralizes stress between the subfloor and tile surface, eliminating the main cause of cracking, Waterproofs and allows moisture in the substrate to evaporate, Allows ceramic tile installations over single-layer plywood (at least 5/8" thick over 16" o.c. Mark the DITRA with a marking pen and cut it to size with a utility knife.