| Author |
Message |
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec
Post Number: 210
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 07:15 pm: |    |
Boy, I thought I'd get a break and leave the office early, still haven't packed - other than the fact that I will need to specify a waterproof membrane between the CT and the Gypcrete - any other thoughts? Pros and Cons? |
David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: david_axt
Post Number: 640
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 07:22 pm: | |
Two words: Schluter DITRA |
David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: davidcombs
Post Number: 114
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 09:05 pm: | |
Ditto. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 04:50 pm: | |
I thought that Ditra was an "uncoupling" membrane...not waterproof?
Besides you already have "depressed" floor for Gypcrete, why not just mortar-bed set tile with sheet membrane (e.g., Nobleseal)? |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 06:13 pm: | |
Ditto Nobleseal. Ditra is OVERKILL. I don't care how many lunches they buy you to specify them... |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 563
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:05 am: | |
Ditra is great if you have a really iffy substrate. Frankly, gypcrete, if that is what is really used qualifies as iffy. I don't use any gypsum based leveling systems, only portland cement based. Ditra can maintain a decent system even when the substrate cracks all over the place.
Nobleseal is excellent if you need sound isolation as well as a waterproofing membrane, but its not so easy to make the joints. You are dealing with sheets that in small spaces can become a real hassle to work with to get it right. If its sound isolation, not a big deal to use this since a seam gap is not really a problem. And if you need both waterproofing and sound isolation, well, its my preferred way to go.
If you need just waterproofing and crack isolation and NO sound isolation, then my material of choice is one of the Mer-Krete products, Fracture Guard 5000, Hydro Guard One or Hydro Guard 2000.
If you want a system warranty that includes the waterproofing membrane, setting system and grout, then specify a system using all products from Laticrete or Custom or Mapei. But it has to be all packaged systems such that the setting bed comes packaged with their sand to get their warranties which can be up to lifetime. And that also includes free chemical analysis of the setting bed to determine should there be a problem if the mix was followed or not.'
I have done all of the above on numerous projects in the past year and extending backwards years.
Now, when it comes to having to use a gypsum substrate though for any reason and I can't avoid it, though I have not personally used it, Mer-Krete has a system warranty with Maxxon gypsum and Maxxon cement based products, Mer-Krete membreane and then Mer-Krete's modified setting bed. They give a 15 year warranty for the complete system including the gypsum or cement underlayment...and, that is for stone or tile laid over wood substate or concrete substrate where the Maxxon underlayments are used.
That might be worth looking into.
Mer-Krete's web site is ...
http://http://www.merkote.com
I have found their technical support very good.
William |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:09 am: | |
As first anonymous, use of Gypcrete presumes "residential" construction; I'd unlikely to spec Gypcrete for commercial construction. That said, I agree with Mr. Pegues (Mer-krete, warranty, etc.) if this specific application is commercial construction, I'd question the expense...and "wisdom" for residential construction. |
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