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dorkweed

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Hearth is built. Finished up screwing down the last of the Durock. I've never done a tiling job before, so this'll be a first for me. I've reading doing a lot of reading on the subject; but I've got some questions....

1. Do I tape the Durock seams at the same time I start the tile?? Or should I tape the seams, let it set a day, and then tile?? I've read of guys doing it both ways.

2. Should I tape the seam where the hearth Durock meets the wall Durock??? My house moves a lot, so that's why I ask this.

3. Tile the hearth first, or the wall?? And why??

Thanks.
 
Fiberglass mesh tape and thinset on the seams, let cure, smooth if necessary, then tile. DO NOT tape the joint where the horizontal meets the vertical. Sequence of tiling isn't particularly important, just depends on how you'd like it to look. The joint where the horizontal meets the vertical should not be grouted, but rather filled with a color-matching caulk. Rick
 
Tile the wall first. You don't want to be working with thinset and grout over a finished floor. No matter how careful you are it's bound to make a mess. Ask me how I know...
 
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That's why they make plastic sheeting and duct tape, so you can do it any way you want. ==c
 
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Plastic and duct tape won't help much with a dropped or fallen tile. All depends on the size though. +1 on the color matched caulk for the hearth/ wall joint. Good stuff.
 
Too tape it at all would be my question. And my answer would be: Naaah.
 
Wade A. said:
Too tape it at all would be my question. And my answer would be: Naaah.
Click to expand...

Yeah - by the specs it should be taped. Just say'in.

Rick laid out the procedure well and TheBean pointed out a potential issue with floor first. Have at it my friend - and of course, we will need pics.:)
 
Just curious, but why no grout at the wall to floor joint? I grouted mine and so far so good. It's only been a few months though. <>
 
Waulie said:
Just curious, but why no grout at the wall to floor joint? I grouted mine and so far so good. It's only been a few months though. <>
Click to expand...

On a non-load bearing wall, the floor can move or flex at a different rate than the wall causing cracks. That is why the caulk is used. It will flex.
 
Waulie said:
Just curious, but why no grout at the wall to floor joint? I grouted mine and so far so good. It's only been a few months though. <>
Click to expand...

Differential movement through thermal expansion/contraction. Same as where the backsplash meets a countertop. Any 90° joint is a place where the two tiled surfaces are not likely going to move in concert. Some installations (like showers) are more susceptible to it than others, but if it happens, grout, which has very little flexibility, cracks and falls out over time. Caulk doesn't. You won't know it's a problem until it happens...so why not just do it right the first time and not have to worry about it? Rick

ETA: Or simply refer to Jags' excellent and less verbose explanation above. ;lol
 
Thanks guys for your help and input. I also talked with a Bud of mine that gave me some good advise also. I'll attempt to post pix after the tile is down. I'll probably attempt this this weekend. Pray for me!!
 
dorkweed said:
Thanks guys for your help and input. I also talked with a Bud of mine that gave me some good advise also. I'll attempt to post pix after the tile is down. I'll probably attempt this this weekend. Pray for me!!
Click to expand...
Lol.....You will be fine, this 59 year old female at the time last summer did the whole thing by myself and had never done tile before and it came out fine and still holding up....Knock on wood...Lol
 
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