On an old concrete slab outside, I want to lay tiles (or relay them). Something quite heavy will be placed on the tiles afterward and therefore I don't want to use a notched trowel.
Can I lay tiles in solid mortar and which should I choose? Not under a roof, should be frost-resistant.
Can I lay tiles in solid mortar and which should I choose? Not under a roof, should be frost-resistant.
I might be misunderstanding the question, but the reason for combing the thinset is to achieve full coverage. When the tile is pressed down into the thinset, air can be effectively evacuated and if the right technique is used, the coverage should be perfect.
Aha. As the tiles are laid now, it is mostly hollow underneath, so it didn't turn out very well, and I'm afraid the load-bearing capacity will be poor.
Yes, if it is "hollow" underneath, (so-called bom) then tiles can handle much less load. But it is due to some other reason than using a notched trowel during installation. For example, too dry adhesive, incorrect adhesive, and/or poor substrate.
Well, you comb the fix to get a certain adjustment range and it often doesn't achieve full coverage. In "heavy duty" contexts, and where the stress is constant like in a swimming pool, I've read that you lay it so the whole tile is guaranteed to sit down in the fix.
If one combs correctly, no air pockets will form underneath.
And how do you do that?Claes Sörmland said:
The most important thing is to comb in a way that the ridges and valleys are parallel. Then the right comb size in relation to the slab and adhesive that is suitably stiff.
When the slab is then pressed down, the ridges push out into the valleys and the adhesive becomes homogeneous. The air in the valleys slips out the side since all the valleys are open.
There are great videos on YouTube showing this with transparent glass slabs instead of tiles.
When the slab is then pressed down, the ridges push out into the valleys and the adhesive becomes homogeneous. The air in the valleys slips out the side since all the valleys are open.
There are great videos on YouTube showing this with transparent glass slabs instead of tiles.