I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:17:24 -0700, RickH wrote:

On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.


Thanks for the reply Rick. I am a tad confused. I had 18" tiles I was going to lay down diagonally
until I talked to my friend yesterday, who is a builder. He told me that there is no way I can use
18" tiles over hardibacker boad and that I neeed to mud the floor. Most guys around here charge
about $350 to mud the floor, plus it may not be until a few days that they can do it. I need this
done NOW. So, I returned all of the 18" tile and bought 12" tile and was going to start today. Then,
I checked the floor and notice a tiny slight buldge in the middle.

So, is what you described above considered "mudding" the floor? Is mud the same as the thinset that
hardibacker recommends we use between the subfloor and the board? I have dur-a-flex thinset.

Tony



I wasnt going to "mud" the bathroom because most guys

Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker
board. Right now, I have a plywood floor that I am going to thinset
and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level
down on the right side of the 5' wide floor), the left side is up
at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not
like this small buldge that seems to be in the middle of the floor.
I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile
will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What
is the best way to level this floor?

Step #1 would be to bounce up and down on the plywood and see if it
flexes in the middle. If it does, fasten it down better.



--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Aug 9, 12:36 pm, Tony wrote:
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:17:24 -0700, RickH wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.

Thanks for the reply Rick. I am a tad confused. I had 18" tiles I was going to lay down diagonally
until I talked to my friend yesterday, who is a builder. He told me that there is no way I can use
18" tiles over hardibacker boad and that I neeed to mud the floor. Most guys around here charge
about $350 to mud the floor, plus it may not be until a few days that they can do it. I need this
done NOW. So, I returned all of the 18" tile and bought 12" tile and was going to start today. Then,
I checked the floor and notice a tiny slight buldge in the middle.

So, is what you described above considered "mudding" the floor? Is mud the same as the thinset that
hardibacker recommends we use between the subfloor and the board? I have dur-a-flex thinset.

Tony

I wasnt going to "mud" the bathroom because most guys- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The store should know what you need, it's called mortar mix, basically
a sand mix, trick is not to mix it too wet when using it to screed
level. It's sold mostly for brick laying but I've used it to make a
mortar bed and do leveling just like you described. Your thinset is
basically portland without sand and is NOT made for leveling a floor,
just sticking tile. Just dont mix the mortar too wet, a handful
should stick into a ball but not be a real sloppy kind of wet almost
just damp (with no dry powder pockets of course). The 12 inch tiles
should do fine, he was right about the 18 inch you could easily crack
a tile like that over just plywood. Good idea to transport any tiles
on edge too not laying flat until you are installing them, and never
step on any tile till its setting is under it.

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:42:36 -0700, RickH wrote:

On Aug 9, 12:36 pm, Tony wrote:
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:17:24 -0700, RickH wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.

Thanks for the reply Rick. I am a tad confused. I had 18" tiles I was going to lay down diagonally
until I talked to my friend yesterday, who is a builder. He told me that there is no way I can use
18" tiles over hardibacker boad and that I neeed to mud the floor. Most guys around here charge
about $350 to mud the floor, plus it may not be until a few days that they can do it. I need this
done NOW. So, I returned all of the 18" tile and bought 12" tile and was going to start today. Then,
I checked the floor and notice a tiny slight buldge in the middle.

So, is what you described above considered "mudding" the floor? Is mud the same as the thinset that
hardibacker recommends we use between the subfloor and the board? I have dur-a-flex thinset.

Tony

I wasnt going to "mud" the bathroom because most guys- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The store should know what you need, it's called mortar mix, basically
a sand mix, trick is not to mix it too wet when using it to screed
level. It's sold mostly for brick laying but I've used it to make a
mortar bed and do leveling just like you described. Your thinset is
basically portland without sand and is NOT made for leveling a floor,
just sticking tile. Just dont mix the mortar too wet, a handful
should stick into a ball but not be a real sloppy kind of wet almost
just damp (with no dry powder pockets of course). The 12 inch tiles
should do fine, he was right about the 18 inch you could easily crack
a tile like that over just plywood. Good idea to transport any tiles
on edge too not laying flat until you are installing them, and never
step on any tile till its setting is under it.

So, if I do the morter mix as you suggested, can I use 18" tile safely over it? I was never going
to put it on the plywood. I was going to put it on top of the hardibacker board until my friend said
it still wouldnt be sturdy enough to hold it without the tile cracking eventually.

I am confused about the screed process you mentioned. How do I know if the screed is level. In other
words, what is to stop me from holding it on a slant, preventing me from getting a true level
surface? What if I holding it higher on one end than the other as I screed it from one end to the
other?

Also, is this what everyone refers to as Mudding?

Tony

"Tony" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:42:36 -0700, RickH
wrote:

On Aug 9, 12:36 pm, Tony wrote:
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:17:24 -0700, RickH
wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker
board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid
a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down
on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one
point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not
like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid
it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will
do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is
the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.

Thanks for the reply Rick. I am a tad confused. I had 18" tiles I was
going to lay down diagonally
until I talked to my friend yesterday, who is a builder. He told me that
there is no way I can use
18" tiles over hardibacker boad and that I neeed to mud the floor. Most
guys around here charge
about $350 to mud the floor, plus it may not be until a few days that
they can do it. I need this
done NOW. So, I returned all of the 18" tile and bought 12" tile and was
going to start today. Then,
I checked the floor and notice a tiny slight buldge in the middle.

So, is what you described above considered "mudding" the floor? Is mud
the same as the thinset that
hardibacker recommends we use between the subfloor and the board? I have
dur-a-flex thinset.

Tony

I wasnt going to "mud" the bathroom because most guys- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

The store should know what you need, it's called mortar mix, basically
a sand mix, trick is not to mix it too wet when using it to screed
level. It's sold mostly for brick laying but I've used it to make a
mortar bed and do leveling just like you described. Your thinset is
basically portland without sand and is NOT made for leveling a floor,
just sticking tile. Just dont mix the mortar too wet, a handful
should stick into a ball but not be a real sloppy kind of wet almost
just damp (with no dry powder pockets of course). The 12 inch tiles
should do fine, he was right about the 18 inch you could easily crack
a tile like that over just plywood. Good idea to transport any tiles
on edge too not laying flat until you are installing them, and never
step on any tile till its setting is under it.

So, if I do the morter mix as you suggested, can I use 18" tile safely
over it? I was never going
to put it on the plywood. I was going to put it on top of the hardibacker
board until my friend said
it still wouldnt be sturdy enough to hold it without the tile cracking
eventually.

I am confused about the screed process you mentioned. How do I know if the
screed is level. In other
words, what is to stop me from holding it on a slant, preventing me from
getting a true level
surface? What if I holding it higher on one end than the other as I screed
it from one end to the
other?

there's level, and then there's flat. you only need flat to tile on, it
doesn't have to be level, although it's nice if it is.

you prevent unlevel-ness by attaching boards to both sides of the room and
having a long enough straight edge that it spans the width and rides on the
boards.

it's nbd if it's a little off level. it is a bd if it is off being flat.

Also, is this what everyone refers to as Mudding?

no. mudding is laying down a thick bed of mortar and using that as a base
instead of plywood and hardibacker.


Tony

there's level, and then there's flat. you only need flat to tile on, it
doesn't have to be level, although it's nice if it is.

you prevent unlevel-ness by attaching boards to both sides of the room and
having a long enough straight edge that it spans the width and rides on the
boards.

it's nbd if it's a little off level. it is a bd if it is off being flat.

Also, is this what everyone refers to as Mudding?

no. mudding is laying down a thick bed of mortar and using that as a base
instead of plywood and hardibacker.


I am not concerned about the floor being completely level. It is not flat, so I guess it is a big
deal. If I lay a level across the floor, there is anywhere from 1/4 - 1/2" difference. If I lay a
tile down, it rocks back and forth. Is there a way to do this with hardibacker board or is mud my
only and easiest answer?

Tony

"Tony" wrote in message
...
there's level, and then there's flat. you only need flat to tile on, it
doesn't have to be level, although it's nice if it is.

you prevent unlevel-ness by attaching boards to both sides of the room and
having a long enough straight edge that it spans the width and rides on
the
boards.

it's nbd if it's a little off level. it is a bd if it is off being flat.

Also, is this what everyone refers to as Mudding?

no. mudding is laying down a thick bed of mortar and using that as a base
instead of plywood and hardibacker.


I am not concerned about the floor being completely level. It is not flat,
so I guess it is a big
deal. If I lay a level across the floor, there is anywhere from 1/4 - 1/2"
difference. If I lay a
tile down, it rocks back and forth. Is there a way to do this with
hardibacker board or is mud my
only and easiest answer?

Tony

you cannot flatten a floor with hardibacker, as it is flexible and will
conform to the floor that already exists when you lay it down. you need a
product that is non-flexible or will conform to the floor unevenness on one
side, but will remain flat on the other side. the ways to do that are to
either rip up the entire floor down to the joists and build it up again
shimming the floor to make it flat, or put a moldable material on top to
make it flat. THAT is what we've been trying to tell you.

On Aug 9, 3:43 pm, Tony wrote:
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:42:36 -0700, RickH wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:36 pm, Tony wrote:
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:17:24 -0700, RickH wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:00 pm, Tony wrote:
I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

Screed it all the way across with some dryly mixed mud bedding and a
long sturdy aluminum straight edge (a piece of aluminum angle stock or
something cut to room width). So that the mud brings the low spots up
to the bulge peak (peak itself does not need to be buried). If you
can screed the full width of the room at one pass it will be perfect.
Let that dry. Now thinset the floor tile as you normally would. You
may need to screed both directions the 5 foot and the 8 foot depending
on how the peaks run, toilet flange in the way, etc.

Thanks for the reply Rick. I am a tad confused. I had 18" tiles I was going to lay down diagonally
until I talked to my friend yesterday, who is a builder. He told me that there is no way I can use
18" tiles over hardibacker boad and that I neeed to mud the floor. Most guys around here charge
about $350 to mud the floor, plus it may not be until a few days that they can do it. I need this
done NOW. So, I returned all of the 18" tile and bought 12" tile and was going to start today. Then,
I checked the floor and notice a tiny slight buldge in the middle.

So, is what you described above considered "mudding" the floor? Is mud the same as the thinset that
hardibacker recommends we use between the subfloor and the board? I have dur-a-flex thinset.

Tony

I wasnt going to "mud" the bathroom because most guys- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The store should know what you need, it's called mortar mix, basically
a sand mix, trick is not to mix it too wet when using it to screed
level. It's sold mostly for brick laying but I've used it to make a
mortar bed and do leveling just like you described. Your thinset is
basically portland without sand and is NOT made for leveling a floor,
just sticking tile. Just dont mix the mortar too wet, a handful
should stick into a ball but not be a real sloppy kind of wet almost
just damp (with no dry powder pockets of course). The 12 inch tiles
should do fine, he was right about the 18 inch you could easily crack
a tile like that over just plywood. Good idea to transport any tiles
on edge too not laying flat until you are installing them, and never
step on any tile till its setting is under it.

So, if I do the morter mix as you suggested, can I use 18" tile safely over it? I was never going
to put it on the plywood. I was going to put it on top of the hardibacker board until my friend said
it still wouldnt be sturdy enough to hold it without the tile cracking eventually.

I am confused about the screed process you mentioned. How do I know if the screed is level. In other
words, what is to stop me from holding it on a slant, preventing me from getting a true level
surface? What if I holding it higher on one end than the other as I screed it from one end to the
other?

Also, is this what everyone refers to as Mudding?

Tony- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

In lieu of a mud bed some will screed it flat, let dry (as discussed)
AND thinset with wide notched trowel DuRock backer board rough side
down (which is just a 1/2 inch cement board), let dry. Tile it.

I think Hardiboard is a fiber/cement product and IMO probably not good
for 18 inch tile backer on floor, I dont know.

Assuming you have no flex at all in the plywood, especially that high
spot, the DuRock over thinset job might be good enough. But you are
taking chances any time 18 inch is going over something other than a
concrete slab or mud base.

you cannot flatten a floor with hardibacker, as it is flexible and will
conform to the floor that already exists when you lay it down. you need a
product that is non-flexible or will conform to the floor unevenness on one
side, but will remain flat on the other side. the ways to do that are to
either rip up the entire floor down to the joists and build it up again
shimming the floor to make it flat, or put a moldable material on top to
make it flat. THAT is what we've been trying to tell you.


I wasnt asking if I can flatten the floor with hardibacker. I was asking if there was a way to put
something under the hardibacker board (like thinset) that would make a flat surface under it. So, I
have a choice of mud or rip up the floor and put another down. I am assuming that the higher part of
the floor is where the joist is. Couldnt I take that one piece of plywood out and plane it down a
bit. The rise is only in one section of the floor that seems to be where the joist is. Please excuse
my ignorance about this. I am a computer consultant, not a builder. I have learned a lot since
buying this house 3 years ago and this is an area I have never dabbled in.

Tony

"Tony" wrote in message
...

you cannot flatten a floor with hardibacker, as it is flexible and will
conform to the floor that already exists when you lay it down. you need a
product that is non-flexible or will conform to the floor unevenness on
one
side, but will remain flat on the other side. the ways to do that are to
either rip up the entire floor down to the joists and build it up again
shimming the floor to make it flat, or put a moldable material on top to
make it flat. THAT is what we've been trying to tell you.


I wasnt asking if I can flatten the floor with hardibacker. I was asking
if there was a way to put
something under the hardibacker board (like thinset) that would make a
flat surface under it. So, I
have a choice of mud or rip up the floor and put another down. I am
assuming that the higher part of
the floor is where the joist is. Couldnt I take that one piece of plywood
out and plane it down a
bit. The rise is only in one section of the floor that seems to be where
the joist is. Please excuse
my ignorance about this. I am a computer consultant, not a builder. I have
learned a lot since
buying this house 3 years ago and this is an area I have never dabbled in.

Tony

i am a computer consultant too, for about 40 years, however, i know where my
library card is and am not afraid to use it. you may find that reading a
book on tiling may help you better than continually asking the same question
over and over.

no, you cannot plane down plywood. no, you do not need mud. there are, or
should be, multiple joists under your floor. yes, you have to level the
floor. yes, you have to use a cement type of product to do so. yes, there is
a product you can put under the hardibacker to make it level. that is the
cement type of product that we all have referred to. no, it is not mud. a
mud floor would typically be approximately 1.5" of cement, screed out to be
both flat and level. you only need a very thin layer of screed material,
only enough to fill in the low spots. you would then put the hardibacker on
top of that hardened material.

On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 14:53:11 -0700, "charlie" wrote:


"Tony" wrote in message
.. .

you cannot flatten a floor with hardibacker, as it is flexible and will
conform to the floor that already exists when you lay it down. you need a
product that is non-flexible or will conform to the floor unevenness on
one
side, but will remain flat on the other side. the ways to do that are to
either rip up the entire floor down to the joists and build it up again
shimming the floor to make it flat, or put a moldable material on top to
make it flat. THAT is what we've been trying to tell you.


I wasnt asking if I can flatten the floor with hardibacker. I was asking
if there was a way to put
something under the hardibacker board (like thinset) that would make a
flat surface under it. So, I
have a choice of mud or rip up the floor and put another down. I am
assuming that the higher part of
the floor is where the joist is. Couldnt I take that one piece of plywood
out and plane it down a
bit. The rise is only in one section of the floor that seems to be where
the joist is. Please excuse
my ignorance about this. I am a computer consultant, not a builder. I have
learned a lot since
buying this house 3 years ago and this is an area I have never dabbled in.

Tony

i am a computer consultant too, for about 40 years, however, i know where my
library card is and am not afraid to use it. you may find that reading a
book on tiling may help you better than continually asking the same question
over and over.

no, you cannot plane down plywood. no, you do not need mud. there are, or
should be, multiple joists under your floor. yes, you have to level the
floor. yes, you have to use a cement type of product to do so. yes, there is
a product you can put under the hardibacker to make it level. that is the
cement type of product that we all have referred to. no, it is not mud. a
mud floor would typically be approximately 1.5" of cement, screed out to be
both flat and level. you only need a very thin layer of screed material,
only enough to fill in the low spots. you would then put the hardibacker on
top of that hardened material.


Charlie,

I have a library card and I took out a book just last week (Home Depot tile book). It doesnt mean I
understood everything I read. I also get tons of contradicting answers from everyone I ask. That is
why I ask here. And you misunderstood what I said. I never suggested that one could plane plywood.
I asked if I can plane the joist (whatever it is made of, 2x4?). That is what I asked. I already
have the jardibacker in my house and I really do not want to use cement board on the floor, so I
dont think I will go that way. I will probably go for the mud. Does it have to be 1.5" thick? Can it
b 1"? I ask because I do not want the bathroom floor to be higher than the hallway.

Tony

Tony wrote:

I wasnt asking if I can flatten the floor with hardibacker. I was
asking if there was a way to put something under the hardibacker
board (like thinset) that would make a flat surface under it.

Let me offer a *possible* methodology. Others will comment on its
possible efficacy, I am sure...
________________

All you really need is to get more thinset under the side edges of the
cement board so as to get the board level edgecenteredge. Your
room is 5'X8'. Cut your cement board into three approximately egual
pieces each 5' by whatever (cut them a bit less than 5' too...1/2" -
1" less). They need to be sufficiently narrow so that you can reach
from one long edge to another without having to lean on the board when
it is on the floor.

Now generously slop out thinset in an area to accomodate one piece of
cement board. Mix the thinset a bit on the runny side - use enough
water so that peaks collapse slowly. Slop out additional along the
low edges. The goal is to have more than enough and for it to be
runny enough to flow a bit under moderate pressure.

Now stand one piece of board on edge and let it fall onto the thinset.
Before dropping it, assure that the edge is resting on the floor so
the cement board will fall where you want it. For example, if there
is a tub at the end of the room butt the edge against it. If all goes
well, the excess thinset at the sides should ooze out. Assure that
the cement board is flat and level by using a board & level across it,
pressing down on the leveling board as necessary.

Clean up excess thinset and repeat the above for the other pieces of
cement board. On those, be sure to also check for flat and level
relative to already laid pieces.

Let it sit for a while before walking on it - 24 hours absolute
minimum, a week is better.
________________

All the above does is use the thinset to level the plywood relative to
the cement board. Net effect should be the same as screeing a layer
of material onto the floor and then laying the cement board on that.

I see no need for mechanical fasteners...it can't move laterally as
the gaps at the wall should be filled with mortar. It can't rock as
you have removed the height differential. It isn't going to lift up
as it is heavy and will be heavier still after you lay the tile.

AFAIK, there is no reason you couldn't lay your tile - even the 18" -
in the same way; i.e., no cement board, leveling tiles one to another
with extra thinset.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:00:36 -0400, Tony
wrote:

I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

We had our bathroom floor retiled last year. Though we're pretty handy
around the house -- for example, we did 90% of our kitchen renovation
-- we hired someone to do it.

We realized quickly that if we did it, it would cost more to fix our
mistakes than to simply pay someone to do it right the first time.

Tile isn't easy to fix, especially if there are already some problems
with the floor.

--Nan

On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:39:32 -0500, nb wrote:

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:00:36 -0400, Tony
wrote:

I am about to tile my 5x8 bathroom floor. I am using Hardibacker board. Right now, I have a plywood
floor that I am going to thinset and screw the hardibacker to. I laid a 4' level across the floor.
In the middle of the floor (horizontally), if I press the level down on the right side of the 5'
wide floor), the left side is up at least 1/4" and almost 1/2" at one point. While I have no real
problem if the floor is slightly off level on the whole, I do not like this small buldge that seems
to be in the middle of the floor. I tool a smaller 1' level and laid it all over the floor and it
slightly rocks back and forth. If the level does this, the tile will do this too.

Will the thinset under the hardibacker board level this out? What is the best way to level this
floor?

Tony

We had our bathroom floor retiled last year. Though we're pretty handy
around the house -- for example, we did 90% of our kitchen renovation
-- we hired someone to do it.

We realized quickly that if we did it, it would cost more to fix our
mistakes than to simply pay someone to do it right the first time.

Tile isn't easy to fix, especially if there are already some problems
with the floor.

--Nan

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. In the end, I spoke to my friend (a builder) and he
gave me the phone number of a tile guy he swears by. For $2000, he will mud and tile the entire
bathroom, not matter what patterns or sized tile I want to use. He said he takes so much pride in
his work that he will not tile over walls that arent plumb and will make them if needed. He also
bevels tile instead of using bullnose, etc. So, even though I could use the money, I think that it
will be wisely spent by getting a professional. I know if I do it myself, I am going to run into
problems like the walls not being plumb and all that. This will add a few years of life .

Thanks again, I have saved all of these posts in case I ever decide to re-do my smaller bathroom in
the basement (sink, toilet shower - no bathtub).

Tony

Tony wrote:
I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. In the end, I spoke
to my friend (a builder) and he gave me the phone number of a tile
guy he swears by. For $2000, he will mud and tile the entire
bathroom, not matter what patterns or sized tile I want to use.

What a bargain...only gasp $50 per square foot.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:19:56 GMT, "dadiOH" wrote:

Tony wrote:
I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. In the end, I spoke
to my friend (a builder) and he gave me the phone number of a tile
guy he swears by. For $2000, he will mud and tile the entire
bathroom, not matter what patterns or sized tile I want to use.

What a bargain...only gasp $50 per square foot.

From what I understand, here on Long Island, that is a bargain. I had another guy here who said he
would charge $2400 and he flat out told me that if the wall isnt plumb, it isnt going to look any
better after he installs the tile. This new guy will make the walls perfect before he tiles.

Aside from that, there wasnt anyone that would mud my 5x8 floor for less than $300. So, since that
is included, the tile job is only $1700 to me. My wife's cousin is a tile installer and does great
work and when I was originally only going to tile the floor (40 sq/ft) and the shower area
(50sq/ft), his great family discount price was $1400 and that did not include the mud floor. So,
this new guy is charging $300 more to tile another 180 sq/ft than my wife's cousin.

Labor rates vary by geographical location. My buddy has houses in Delaware and they charge less than
half to do anything over there. So, you are probably in one of those areas where it doesnt cost much
to live. I just bought a small ranch (1000 sq/ft witha full finished basement, but you dont count
the 1000 sq/ft down there because it's a basement) and I paid $350,000. That was a major bargan. I
couldnt find a crappy fixer upper for less than $450,000 30 miles closer to NYC where I was
originally brought up. Prices are all relative. $50 sq/ft is a good deal by me and, the guy is
great. he wont do the shoddy work like the guy who came here a few months back (from the major tile
store) and I banned them from ever coming back in my house again. You get what you pay for.

Tony