New Tiler Questions

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Oh ok, insulation board? What is that like king span or something? when you say cement board is that the stuff I think it's called hardibacker I've seen in some builders merchants? How is that fixed? Still screwed? What about the rolls of plastic I have seen de coupling membrane? Is that something I could use on say caberboard floor? Thank you all for the help!

Hi Adam,

For me this is the best decoupling matting on the market today

View: http://youtu.be/cTn8cj6PZ2o

 

[Jaimie Tiling]

Hi all, thanks for all the advice !! I went with a tx 700 in the end!! Lovely machine can't wait to use it now!!!

Where did you buy it? thx

 

[adam skitt]

eBay. 280 quid.

 

[Stef]

I know one guy that's having trouble with the BAL rapid mat not sticking as at the end of the roll the mat is twisted.
I don't think you can beat Ditra for a decoupler,

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Hiya Stef ,

Yeah I used ditra for years , cracking stuff don't get me wrong but I,ve been using this bal rapid mat for a while now and find it quicker and easier to work with than Schluter.......but never had any problems with it sticking.......bonds like a dream in my opinion as its lightweight.......the heavier thicker stuff like dural durabase I came away from for that reason.......bal rapid mat the decoupler of choice for me now.......have u used it much yourself?.....

 

[Stef]

Hiya Stef ,

Yeah I used ditra for years , cracking stuff don't get me wrong but I,ve been using this bal rapid mat for a while now and find it quicker and easier to work with than Schluter.......but never had any problems with it sticking.......bonds like a dream in my opinion as its lightweight.......the heavier thicker stuff like dural durabase I came away from for that reason.......bal rapid mat the decoupler of choice for me now.......have u used it much yourself?.....

I haven't as I heard issues about it when 1st released.
I don't use a lot of decouplers as I'm normally over boarding with Hardie or thermal & think it's over kill to fit a decoupler as well.
I'm moving more & more to thermal as I believe that the foam slightly decouples the board from the floor.
If I'm fitting stone then I will decouple.

 

[One Day]

Bal rapid mat fits a purpose but no way at all does it work the same way as Ditra.
Those dovetails are what make it so much more effective as an uncoupler.

Use whatever works for you. For the price difference though I'll go with Ditra every time.

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

I know one guy that's having trouble with the BAL rapid mat not sticking as at the end of the roll the mat is twisted.
I don't think you can beat Ditra for a decoupler,

I know one guy that's having trouble with the BAL rapid mat not sticking as at the end of the roll the mat is twisted.
I don't think you can beat Ditra for a decoupler,

Hiya Stef ,

Yeah I used ditra for years , cracking stuff don't get me wrong but I,ve been using this bal rapid mat for a while now and find it quicker and easier to work with than Schluter.......but never had any problems with it sticking.......bonds like a dream in my opinion as its lightweight.......the heavier thicker stuff like dural durabase I came away from for that reason.......bal rapid mat the decoupler of choice for me now.......have u used it much yourself?.....

Oh and it's less than 1mm thick

Bal rapid mat fits a purpose but no way at all does it work the same way as Ditra.
Those dovetails are what make it so much more effective as an uncoupler.

Use whatever works for you. For the price difference though I'll go with Ditra every time.

hi impish.....

When you say dovetails are you talking about the cut back cavities that locks the adhesive into the schluter 25 that makes it more of a quality decoupler??

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

That's definately a bett

Bal rapid mat fits a purpose but no way at all does it work the same way as Ditra.
Those dovetails are what make it so much more effective as an uncoupler.

Use whatever works for you. For the price difference though I'll go with Ditra every time.

Don't they do the same job tho even tho the design with Schluter 25 is different with the cut back cavities bal rapid mat has been specifically engineered to accommodate for lateral movement and contraction/shrinkage in new screeds/under tile heating??

Reading up on

Bal rapid mat fits a purpose but no way at all does it work the same way as Ditra.
Those dovetails are what make it so much more effective as an uncoupler.

Use whatever works for you. For the price difference though I'll go with Ditra every time.

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Bal rapid mat fits a purpose but no way at all does it work the same way as Ditra.
Those dovetails are what make it so much more effective as an uncoupler.

Use whatever works for you. For the price difference though I'll go with Ditra every time.

Can't be that bad can it......