Mapeii does not reccomend on Ditra !

[bugs183]

As ATS says Ditra has been used to overcome many things it wasn't designed for, but if used correctly it is a fantastic product, we've been using it for over 20 years (started when it was ribbed), and i've never had a failure.
Schluter have always said unmodified in the spec sheet, but how can that effect the uncoupling characteristics of Ditra? I'm no rocket scientist but that makes no sense. When it was introduced we were told that could could fix the Ditra to any substrate with a ready mix adhesive! So things have changed there!!!
So in Mapei's world if you can't use modified on top of Ditra then you can't fix porcelain, or some stone.
Bonkers.

 

[Concrete guy]

Schluter have always said unmodified in the spec sheet, but how can that effect the uncoupling characteristics of Ditra? I'm no rocket scientist but that makes no sense.

The explanation provided by Schluter (at the time) was that the extra polymers in modified adhesive "tack" the adhesive to the Ditra and reduce or negate the uncoupling mechanism.

I saw failure after failure with this product back in the day, I saw so many I never used it again. Since this time though the specs and design of the product seem to have changed.

I read a lot on this (and other) forums about people using this product in all sorts of situations in which it appears not to really be necessary. Quite honestly it looks like it's become the emperors new clothes.

 

[ian158]

When i purchased ditra from a tile shop they said stick it down with adhesive you use for sticking carpet or vinyl floors.

 

[DHTiling]

Schluter UK and Schluter USA give quite different advice which is odd. Modified in the UK and unmodified in America if I recall correctly.

That is correct .. i had an email from Schluter uk stating that fact... use what suits the tile and substrate.

 

[bugs183]

The explanation provided by Schluter (at the time) was that the extra polymers in modified adhesive "tack" the adhesive to the Ditra and reduce or negate the uncoupling mechanism.

I saw failure after failure with this product back in the day, I saw so many I never used it again. Since this time though the specs and design of the product seem to have changed.

I read a lot on this (and other) forums about people using this product in all sorts of situations in which it appears not to really be necessary. Quite honestly it looks like it's become the emperors new clothes.

Go to be honest here ATS i have to disagree with you here. I know that using Ditra has made my jobs more reliable. I've never had a failure whilst tiling onto wood using it, yet virtually every week you see posts where a job that has been tiled to wood directly has failed, ok i never tile to poorly supported wood floors etc, but i've seen enough solid floor fails without uncoupling.
Not sure which jobs you saw all these failures on, so i can't comment on them, but to say that it being a case of emperors new clothes is in my opinion not correct.
Yep it won't replace properly prepared screeds, but it does help i many situations, especially uncoupling underfloor heated screeds.

 

[Concrete guy]

Yep it won't replace properly prepared screeds

I think you hit the nail on the head there. It's being used in a lot of situations to solve problems caused by poor preparation.

 

[On one]

My understanding was that you had to use an unmodified adhesive to fit the Ditra to the floor and an modified adhesive(if required) to lay your tiles on the Ditra.......using modified below and above the Ditra allowed too much movement.

 

[Concrete guy]

Do Schluter have a representative that posts on here?

I'd be interested to pose a few questions and I'm sure many others would like some clarity?

 

[Gazzer]

I believe they have an account but not sure if its one person.

 

[Spud]

The explanation provided by Schluter (at the time) was that the extra polymers in modified adhesive "tack" the adhesive to the Ditra and reduce or negate the uncoupling mechanism.

I saw failure after failure with this product back in the day, I saw so many I never used it again. Since this time though the specs and design of the product seem to have changed.

I read a lot on this (and other) forums about people using this product in all sorts of situations in which it appears not to really be necessary. Quite honestly it looks like it's become the emperors new clothes.

Ditra is a totally different product from what it was 20 years ago Alan when it had hessian backing and had channels instead of dovetailed dimples, part of the problem back then was it was mis-sold as a magic carpet solution for floors with unsuitable substrates i saw many failures at that time too but now I am a believer and think it is a good product when used correctly, it is overly specified at times and some builders still believe it to be the magic carpet solution to badly prepared substrates

 

[Concrete guy]

Ditra is a totally different product from what it was 20 years ago Alan when it had hessian backing and had channels instead of dovetailed dimples, part of the problem back then was it was mis-sold as a magic carpet solution for floors with unsuitable substrates i saw many failures at that time too but now I am a believer and think it is a good product when used correctly, it is overly specified at times and some builders still believe it to be the magic carpet solution to badly prepared substrates

That makes a lot of sense it was just an awful product way back then.