Ceramic tile base questions

[ironridg]

Just had a sub pour a basement floor 18'x 24' on the raised elevation of 21" above the rest of the basement. this is the great room floor it is to be tiled . the problem is that he screwed up and managed to leave a 1 1/8" hump in the middle gradually tapering out to 0 on the edges, because it is almost 2 feet above the rest of the basement it is really noticeable. This floor also has infloor heat. He tells me that it won't be a problem to flatten the floor out by raising the outside edge all away around with thin set by applying layers. My question is this guy know what he is talking about , will this work? seems like an inch is a long way to fill! Is this guy blowing smoke(you know where)? I have never run into one this severe! Any input appreciated. Thanks

[roger g]

I don't think thinset is designed ti fill up that much of a gap. If you spread your index finger and your thumb apart 1 1/8 inches apart it really isn't that much. To me, it sounds worse than it looks. By the time you have furniture and stuff in that big room no one is going to even notice. I'm actually surprised you could measure it let alone even see it on such a big room. Of course if it really upsets you that much you get get him to pour self levelling concrete at the edge.



roger

[bkrahmer]

I wouldn't use thinset. I agree with Rog, self-leveling concrete (sometimes called floor underlayment). It will take a lot, though. Another alternative, though it would cost a lot more, is get a gypcrete contractor to come out and lay some of that down. They pump it really wet, and will self-level.

[montytx]

Or go rent a grinding machine and grind the hump out. Probably only take a day. I would also bill the concrete guy for doing such an awful job on the pour.

[roger g]

I don't think i would grind it because of the infloor heat. Just for curiosity, who measures their concrete for thickness?


roger

[Tom R]

Tell him it's on HIM to fix it, - - AFTER he gets back from the eye-doctor!! Sheesh!!

[Dragon]

Tom is right.

And no, thinset isnt going to fix it. 1 1/8" isnt thin.

You need self-leveler and that stuff isnt cheap.

[montytx]

You got that right at 15-20 a small bag. You are looking at hundreds of dollars. Still, If he ground out 3/4" then leveled it....I would imagine the infloor heat was laid level. The concrete guy just needs to have his ears checked for level.

[Tom R]

:lol: - - his ears checked - - :lol: Good one.

[ironridg]

Thanks for all the good advice gents!