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Construction & Contractors/16 inch Travertine breaking

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Expert: - 8/28/2006


Question
Tad, I'm using a 3/8 trowel and white thinset morter (Acrylpro). It's when I am trying to set one tile to the level of the next that it breaks.
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Followup To

Question -
Hey Tad,

I'm 'trying' to install 16 inch travertine on my bath floor, but the plumber left concrete humps when they dug up and repaired the waste pipes. I've leveled and leveled again and although the floor appears to be level, when I install the tile and wait 24 hours, then walk across it some tiles snap in half! It's getting very expensive and time consuming. Should I start over?

Answer -
Eric,
It sounds like you are not using thick enough mortar bed to account for the humps in the floor. If you use enough mortar and get complete coverage, you should not have any breakage. Are you using a notched trowel? what size? What type of thinset mortar?
Tad Dixon

Answer
If it breaks while setting it, you are either using too much pressure to press it in place (do not use a rubber mallet to pound it down) or using too much mortar. Setting stone floor well requires a certain amount of skill and experience. The larget format tiles (16") is even more difficult. I assume you are using tight joints also. This requires even more skill. If you want you may call me on my cell phone for further discussion and suggestions.
Tad Dixon
406-360-1684

Construction & Contractors

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Torin Dixon

Expertise

Questions concerning Natural Stone Fabrication and Installation including: Marble, Granite, Limestone, Slate, Soapstone, Bluestone, and Travertine in Slabs and Tiles. Expert in natural stone cleaning, sealing, protection and restoration. Distributor of HMK Stone Care Products; Sealers, Cleaning Products, Stone Maintenance. Expert in stone and tile flooring, sealing and maintenance issues. Stain removal from stone. Importer and Distributor of slab stone for residential and commercial applications. Stone carving Stone restoration

Experience

I have worked in the Dimensional Stone Industry since 1977.
California Contractors License 1989
Former owner of Prestige Marble & Tile (So. Calif.)
Current owner of Elegance in Stone (Missoula, MT)
Current Owner of Montana Stone Gallery,LLC Missoula, MT
Owner of Stoncareonline.org Distributor of natural stone maintenance products

Organizations
Missoula Building Industry Association
Montana Building Industry Association
Flathead Building Association
National Association of Home Builders
Member of the Marble Institute of America
Former member of the National Tile Contractors Association

Publications
Slippery Rock Gazette-Stone Industry Publication

Education/Credentials
Journeyman Marble Mason, Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman Union #2
California Contractors License 1989-1997
Montana Contractors Registration #42969
Importer of natural stone slabs. Owner-Director of Montana Stone Gallery a regional Importing and Distribution company located in Missoula, MT

Past/Present Clients
Thousands of commercial and residential installations of stone slabs and tile in bathrooms, kitchens, showers, flooring, fireplaces over a 34 year professional career.

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