"Dry mix" vs. concrete screed and which is stronger and price differences? - TilersForums.com

[Ronin63]

Good morning everyone!

I am a contractor for interiors and have an inquiry about ceramic tile fixation. I have a contractor, that has quoted for concrete screed , for the tile fixation. On site, he did a dry fix, now,,i'm not a mason, and i did some youtube searches, and ,,please clarify this....youtube vids, seem to show the dry fix method, to be a sand/cement , with a sprinkling of water, and level the mixture up to required levels. then they let it dry??or i got that wrong..because my contractor, simply mixed the sand/cement mixture, got the required levels, then through down the ceramic tiles after splashing a whitish cement(glue)?? on top of the sand/cement mixture.
Now i paid for screed, because in my opinion pouring a concrete screed and letting it dry, will give me a solid foundation to lay my tiles down on, with an appropriate tile adhesive.
Is my understanding of the dry mix method misunderstood?? and shouldn't the dry mix method be significantly less in price for installation,,since i am paying for screed??

Thank you.

 

[Dumbo]

Why would think that when there is the same amount of material going in . Why is he doing it this way do you have time constraints .

 

[Ronin63]

No, there is plenty of time. I have seen plenty of contractors doing this method and i feel it is far inferior of an installation method. I realize that they are doing this, to save time, because they can throw down the sand/cement, then install the ceramic tiles immediately. No waiting for a proper screed to dry.

 

[One Day]

Are you in the US?

 

[Ronin63]

DubDu

 

[Ronin63]

Dubai

 

[Bill]

Before adhesive - fixing in sand and cement was the only way to have a solid bed.

If I have the chance to lay tiles into my own screed on jobs, I do. It is quicker for the client even if it costs more to hire the tiler, the tiler is saving money on not having a floor screeder/concreter. (is that a made up word?)

 

[Spud]

It is also called monolithic tile fixing it is a reliable method if done correctly

 

[Blunt Tool]

I would think that over in Dubai the sand and cement fix method is still the most popular and what the tiler is used to, as long as he makes a good job why have him change what he is used to?

 

[Ronin63]

Please clarify my concerns. Firstly, what they have been doing for years, doesn't mean its the best way to fix/install things, that's why they hire westerners like me to come and run their construction works.
So, firstly, this "dry fix" method, as they do it here( dumping a load of sand/cement, mix it with a hand shovel, throw it down, level up, then splash a whiteish concrete liquid on top, then throw down the ceramic floor tiles,...exactly as i described it, is it correct? strong? or, is it better,stronger, more durable/reliable, as i prefer, to mix up a wet concrete screed bed, make my levels, let it dry for a few days, and then install the ceramic floor tiles with a tile adhesive.
Also, shouldn't the installation costs be higher for concrete bed? and if so, what percentage higher cost should concrete screed bed be? since they quoted me and i issued my lpo for screed and they installed dry mix?
Finally, even if i considered dry mix,,and i don't, is there a minimum thickness of dry mix?