I just completed laying 12 x12 porcelain tiles....slate type designe and 3/8 thickness..32 boxes of them. When I was ALL DONE, I read the fine (not really fine) print and it said...Not for use on porcelain tiles!!!!!!!! Ooops! Everything appears to be OK. What problems can I expect?

on a floor ? and what adhesive was it and made by who

If it wasnt for use with porcelain then the chances are the adhesive will not hold the tiles.

Sorry....on a cement floor. I am not at the location now (floor was done at my son-inlaws home.

Hi bill....what thin set was it.. we have a few USA members who might know if it is really unsuitable....where abouts in the US are you..?

Thanks Dave......I live on LongIsland New York. Not sure of the Brand of thin set. The bags are at my son in-laws. Going there tomorrow to finish the border cuts. We set the tiles Saturday and Sunday. So far there are a few tiles that need to be reset....they were sort of shaky to begin with. I will get back on here when I find out the brand name. Appreciate the answers.

Bill

Ok Bill we await your return....when you do go over...try popping 1 tile up and see what result you get..

I have heard of a few US fixers using an un-modified thinset with porcelain tiles....but this also depends on what they class as un-modified..

So if you can come back with the make etc then that would be great.

Dave.....The name of the mortar is.....LATICRETE thinset ANSI A118.1 Grey--Gris. Went there today. There were 7 tiles that had popped. I gingerly tried popping around the border (I have not placed the cut tiles down near the walls yet). All of them seem pretty tight. Also could not hear any hollow sounds when I tapped on the rest of the tiles.

I will pass this onto Rob z from the US and see if he has used it...maybe if 7 have popped then it is deffo the wrong thinset bill..

If you hang tight Rob will be a long shortly..

Laticrete are a very cautious manufactuer & would always hope that you chose to use their "Rolls Royce" product and whilst they make quite a few versions of thinset, none that i know of wouldn't bond 30x30 porcelain to slab on grade, even though obviously some would not be your 1st choice - i think you'll be fine, good luck.

Hi Bill, Dave sent out the Bat Signal and here I am

What is the number on the Laticrete bag (other than the ANSI #, which is a classification of the type of thinset)? Do you see 317, 272, 280, etc.?

OR

Did you buy this material at Lowe's, and if so what name did it have on the bag ? If bought at Lowe's, then the above referenced numbering system won't apply. Look at this link at Laticrete's website and see if your bag is listed here:

LATICRETE® International > Homeowners > Products > Thin Set Mortars & Adhesives > Thin Bed Mortar

FWIW, I have used every Laticrete thinset made and am very familiar with all of them. Let's see what you used and we'll take it from there.

Dave...I went to the Laticrete link you provided. I used the 5th item on the displayed list. Laticrete Floor Adhesive. I really appreciate all your help. Let me know what you think. You already realize that we are not pros at this. However, we have completed 2 kitchen floors, one kitchen wall, 3 bathroom floors and walls. They actually look damn good. My son in-law is an electrician by trade and very very detailed. He always reads directions.....this is the first time that I can verify he did NOT read them. On the other hand, I am prone to just glancing at them. lol

Hi Bill,

Now that I see which one you selected, I don't have good news. That thinset that you used is laticrete 280 (labeled for sale in HomeCenters). That is their bottom-of-the-line thinset. The only thing you have going for you is that it is installed over concrete rather than over a wood subfloor.

You could grout it and hope for the best, but unless you have perfect coverage and mixed the material perfectly, I doubt much of a bond developed between the tile and the setting material, or with the setting material and the concrete.

I would try to lift a few of the tiles and see if they come up cleanly...if so, get them up and reset them. Because you will have some junk left on the slab, you could set the tile again with Laticrete 220 medium bed (Lowes usually sells that), and get some 333 additive at a tile shop to mix in with the 220. 333 is quite expensive, but we call it the "problem solver" because it will help out with diffiicult installations and substrates.

Cheets Rob...thanks for that...

Sell the house ! - ( just jokin )

i think you'll be fine - even though it's not the perfect product but definately use the 333 in with yourn grout now !

Thanks to all....Dave...Z...and Nudge. The good news is that the seven tiles we reset have not budged---so far. Also, we have not found any other weak areas!!! Will grout and hope for the best. Just cannot even think about taking up 32 boxes (18 to a box) of tiles. Will let you know how we make out. Thanks again.

Bill Hendrickson-----New York....as opposed to Old York.

Hi Bill, The 333 that Nudge gets in Austrralia might be OK to use with grout, but don't use 333 here with grout. It is extremely sticky and I can't imagine what a mess it would make on the face of the tiles. Instead, use Laticrete 1776 grout additive for superior strength, clean up, and stain-resistance. If you can spend the extra dough, use Laticrete Spectralock instead. It is an epoxy-like grout and it will really lock those tiles in place, and buy some forgiveness with the lack of bond strength that you have because the 280 was used.

Good luck with the rest of your project. Rob

PS Maintain a clean perimeter joint all the way arround the room and this will greatly help the tile installation to stay bonded to the slab.

Hi Bill....let me modify my previous comment...if you want to use the 333 in with the grout, dilute it with water so you mix grout 1 part 333/2 parts water. This will make it work well enough so you will be able to clean up the grout haze.

I still suggest 1776 as the better, more user-friendly option, though.

Rob, Thanks again. We will spend the extra dough and buy the forgiveness!! I did forget to mention that we laid 1/2" pex into the cement floor for radiant heating!! Well, it is what it is!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing this with us bill and best of luck with the grouting and the project staying intact..