Loose floor tiles on Ditramat - Tile Advice

[Terry Rush]

I'm in Watford, Herts.

 

[Terry Rush]

Tiling was finished in May 2015, UFH wasn’t commissioned until July. Plumber and builder were adamant that it shouldn’t be turned on for many weeks, and then a gradual build up. Luckily it was summer

 

[Terry Rush]

As I’ve said, I’m happy that the builder, plumber and tiler knew what they were doing. The main question raised seems to be over the latex on the Ditra before tiling, which the tiler said he normally did. I’m hoping therefore that you guys don’t try to convince me that I’m sitting on a ticking time bomb. I guess I’m really after opinions as to whether it’s worth trying the Fix-A-Floor Repair Adhesive. It really is only a few tiles loose, out of an 82 sq M floor.

 

[WetSaw]

Take up one of the loose tiles and see what has failed, adhesive to tile or adhesive to SLC.

 

[Dumbo]

I have seen a video by ardex using arditex na levelling compound over the top of ditra matting i have been looking for it on you tube this morning but cant find it .

 

[On one]

Tiling was finished in May 2015, UFH wasn’t commissioned until July. Plumber and builder were adamant that it shouldn’t be turned on for many weeks, and then a gradual build up. Luckily it was summer

The builder and the plumber are correct in saying the UFH shouldn't be turned on for many weeks,but the heating needs to be commissioned(slowly up to operating temperature and back down again) before any tiling commences

 

[Andy Allen]

What has the.. tiler / builder / plumber... Said about the issues...?

 

[Old Mod]

I have seen a video by ardex using arditex na levelling compound over the top of ditra matting i have been looking for it on you tube this morning but cant find it .

Be surprised if you did Jerry, Schluter no longer advocate the use of latex over their products, Ditra E included.

 

[Dumbo]

Honest I did but it was a ardex video and even had with their technical rep about it who called me a clever bunny when I said hat you would be creating a shear point by latexing first . But maybe I can't find it because schluter asked them to take it down

 

[aytiling]

So,why was the Ditra fitted after 2 weeks?
And left for a further 6 weeks before the tiler arrived?
Was the person to fit the Ditra not a tiler?
And where does the commissioning of the UFH come in the timescale?

This is from Schluter
"The recommendation of 28 days is to allow for movement and shrinkage to take place in the green screed. But using Schlüter®-DITRA 25 actually means you can get on to the screed much earlier. Depending on the weather and time of year it could be as little as a couple of days. Basically, you're looking at being able to apply the membrane as soon as the screed can support weight. If you can walk on the screed and your shoe doesn't leave an impression in it, you can install the membrane and tile immediately afterwards. The membrane actually slows down the drying process of the screed, minimizing shrinkage and eliminating most of the cracking which could occur. Also -- especially over floating type screeds where you've got insulation -- it'll minimize the curling effect of the screed, so all in all, using Schlüter®-DITRA 25 on a green screed not only protects the tiles, but gives you a better screed as well. And if you can get off site earlier, because you don't need to wait 28 days before tiling."

 

[Flintstone]

What’s recommended to stick it down with after a few days ?

 

[On one]

This is from Schluter
"The recommendation of 28 days is to allow for movement and shrinkage to take place in the green screed. But using Schlüter®-DITRA 25 actually means you can get on to the screed much earlier. Depending on the weather and time of year it could be as little as a couple of days. Basically, you're looking at being able to apply the membrane as soon as the screed can support weight. If you can walk on the screed and your shoe doesn't leave an impression in it, you can install the membrane and tile immediately afterwards. The membrane actually slows down the drying process of the screed, minimizing shrinkage and eliminating most of the cracking which could occur. Also -- especially over floating type screeds where you've got insulation -- it'll minimize the curling effect of the screed, so all in all, using Schlüter®-DITRA 25 on a green screed not only protects the tiles, but gives you a better screed as well. And if you can get off site earlier, because you don't need to wait 28 days before tiling."

I see what your saying,but .......why put the Ditra down after 2 weeks and then not tile it for a further 6 weeks when it could have been drying naturally....unhindered by the layer of Ditra.
Is the advice you have quoted from Schulter....if the screed does not have UFH?

 

[Flintstone]

I really don’t think the fact the ditra went down and then it wasn’t tiled straight away makes any difference, once the ditra is down, the tiles are irrelevant to the screed.

 

[Old Mod]

Covering a screed with Ditra actually aids it’s drying,
not in the speed but actually slows it down, therefore far less likely to crack or curl.
Screeds should be covered in the same way as a concrete slab, but they very rarely are.

 

[One Day]

I'm going to take a stab and simply say he's spot fixed at the edges. Rushing to get done.