bob haller wrote:
On Mar 25, 2:28 pm, bob wrote:
preparing to install flooring tile in the bathroom; need to remove
old tile. never done it before so i'm new at the game

folks who know better tell me that once old tile is gone i'll need
backerboard for floor before tile

when i was lowe's today, i saw a new product called 'durorock floor
membrane'. talking with the flooring guy at lowes (yes, i KNOW that's
always a mistake), he said this is designed to replace backerboard

it's a thin epoxy that's placed on the floor. a membrane is then
embedded in the epoxy and this is left to cure. when done, it
protects against cracks caused by up to 1/8" movement in subfloor.
it's stiff and is also waterproof, so good for bathrooms. membrane
can be cut with a razor instead of a sawblade like that needed for
backerboard

anyone have experience with this? any recommendations yea or nay?

thanks much

He is WRONG, start fresh for the best job, if cold floors are a issue
they have a electric grid that goes on between the concrete board and
tile

the membrame is good and will minize cracks but first start over.

you wouldnt want to build a new home on the cracked broken footer from
the previous home in that location?

you haven't defined what is under the the existing tile. what you need to do
to prep the floor is different and dependant upon your situation.

for example, if you have a slab floor and it's been there for years, and
there are no existing cracks, then you don't need either a membrane or
backerboard. if it's a new slab, i'd use the membrane. you don't need
backerboard on any slab.