Versabond Mortar Consumption

Hi All,

What would be the normal Vesrsabond Mortar consumption for 12x12 porcellain tiles (Italian made, about $12 in Home Depot). How many bags of mortar will I use for 1000 sq feet of the floor? Tiles will be installed on the concrete floor.

13 bags should do it! As far as Versabond for porcellain tiles, I don't like it, use Supper Flex by Tec, its made for porcellain tile! They stand behind it. It cost more, but you can't go wrong with it.

17 bags-- figure 60 feet per bag

60 ft. Per bag is right. As a ceramic tile installer for many years I learn things by experience and I would love to use Tec Super Flex for every job but cost prohibits me (except for exterior and over old floors I will always use Super Flex) I find that Versabond is excellant for all my tile installations including porcelains. Just back butter each tile in addition to spreading the floor for 100% coverage. I've done some no-no things with versabond and been amazed at its depenability.

Does it say on the versabond bag FOR PORCELAIN TILE? Better take a look. Buy a better product one that works with porcelain tile and says it will.

Has anyone had experience with Custom's Flexbond for use on porcelain? (It's a step up from Versabond) Thanks!

I'm not very familiar with Custom Building Products' line, but if it says on the outside of the bag that it's a latex modified thinset, then it's fine. If it doesn't, then it's not.

I am trying to estimate mortar comsumption. I will be installing 190 sq feet of 1/4 inch cement board then the same in 12 x 12 tile. The cement board will be insalled with a 1/4 inch trowel and the tile with a 3/8 or 1/2 inch trowel. Any ideas?

YES! The spread ratios are on the thinset bags. You can figure 55 to 75 square feet of coverage per 50 pound bag.

What mix and mix ratio would you use to do apply a layer to a concrete slab to cap it with a glossy stamped finish?

Jim, are you talking about stamping and staining the concrete? If so, I'm usless here. I don't know the first thing about it.

Use the Versabond, it is the best for porcelain tiles.

David,

Thank you for searching a thread to push VersaBond for Custom. You must have been looking because this thread is over 4 years old. Chances are Yury is done by now?

Where did you get the idea that VersaBond is the best for porcelain, or for any kind of tile for that matter? Not even close. VersaBond is a cheap entry-level modified mortar. It will work fine for most installations, but it's considered to be about as cheap as a modified thinset can be made.

Jaz

Just to add my lousy (0.02) in the mix, I use Versabond for just about everything, works great.

I am removing grout from about 800 sq ft of tile. The reason is the grout is coming out. The reason the grout is coming out is because the tile are popping up. Over half of the tiles are coming up. The thinset used was Versabond over Wonder Board. The tiles are porcellain. From the trowel marks of the dried thinset suggest the tiles were back buttered. Do I use Versabond with porcellain, NO. The job was done some 6 years ago. Spend the money and buy quality thinset.

CDRJIM

I also use versibond (for porcelain) and have had GREAT luck with it. I think if you ve experienced a failure, chances are the problem was with the install method, not the product. The mud may have been sitting too long before tiles were placed into it, the tiles may not have been pressed into the mud enough, some setters trowel on too much thin before laying tile. If used right, versibond is a great product. I admit I use it because its what is supplied by my store, but ive learned to trust it. When setting certain porcelain tiles, as we all know, after you get going, its always a good idea to pop one back out to check the bond you are getting, if your getting a poor bond, adjust accordingly, like key in mud over the back of the tile before setting, this could be true of any thinset with 'certain' porcelains. Sometimes mud just wont stick to it very well.

I agree that the problem was in how the work was done. Could be many reason as already mentioned. Remember though, VersaBond is a good product, it is an "entry level" quality thinset, it is NOT a premium product. In other words, it is good for a cheap thinset.

Please do not refer to thinset as "mud", it is NOT mud as known in the tile business and will only confuse some. The term is often used loosely by tile-hacks to make people think they are getting a better installation than they actually are.

Jaz

In the context of the phrase "key in mud over the back of the tile" it is pretty obvious the word 'mud' was in reference to thinset and not a dry mixture of portland cement and sand. On a job site situation a port/sand mix is usually called 'deck mud' or 'dry pack mud' or 'pan mud' and the word 'mud' can and is used to describe thinset, joint compound, or various mortars, when tradesmen are talking to other tradesmen, like here in this thread, as the questioner has been gone for four years.

If you had anytime in the biz you would call it mud. I have been doing tile for ten years and im no hack! Versabond is a very very good product for the money. I still have shower walls still standing that are ten years old. Its the installer. If you dont know how to use the product dont bash on it! The concreate slab will suck the water out of the thinset so you need to be a little qick with getting the tile on the ground once you spread the thinset. B

No one calls thinset mud. People call screed mud. If you have any time in the business, if you called thinset anything but thinset, you would call it L&M. I would hope that if you installed shower walls they would still be standing after 10 years, thats no tall feet. Versabond is not a real professional grade thinset, its not bad, but there are tons better and I wouldnt use it on porcelain installation. Why are we commenting on a 8 years old thread anyway?

Finito!