These photos are of the basic preparation for ALL major builders in many areas of Ontario. The seams if taped at all, are taped with drywall compound. In this case there wasn't even anything laid upon the jacuzzi frame . Exposed 2"x8"s is what the tile setter is expected to set the tiles onto. In most of the cases the installer will use mastic to bond the tiles and hope to hell the installation will hold so there won't be a call-back within a year.

If you see this type of preparation in your new home, confront the builder and have him do it right. It isn't asking for an upgrade .... it's simply asking for the right installation of ceramic tile.



Try to imaging what will happen to the tile installation as these boards cure over time while humidity levels are always changing in this room.


The boards will twist, shrink and expand causing the tiles and grout to loosen and crack while allowing moisture to pass through into the greenboard which will cause noticable problems with the entire installation.
Just remember, the one year warranty doesn't protect the home buyer ... it protects the builder.

Thanks for posting that Harry. That is what I see everyday.Not to mention the 2 inchs of drywall dust everywhere, that they expect the next guy to clean for them. It's even worse when there is an access panel for the jacuzzi tub, and they still haven't roughed in the plumbing for the taps yet. Personally, I don't think the tub should be installed before the tile anyway. It's like installing the kitchen sink before the countertop. :rolleyes:

UGGHH!

I wish I had a picture for you..but....I thought that since the tub drain wasn't attached yet to the soaker tub, that it would be a lot easier to just take it out, set the tile around the deck, and let the plumber put it back it after the tile was finished. So, I thought....I tried to lift it out,but it wouldn't budge...Hmm...maybe I'll go downstairs and look underneath to see how it's fastened.....Nothing..Hmmm....went back up and tried again....maybe it's just wedged tight in the opening....hmmm...?...I gave it another tug and it came loose. I lifted it out of the opening, and for goodness sakes..THEY GLUED THE TUB TO THE SUBFLOOR WITH CONTSTRUCTION ADHESIVE! :rolleyes:

hey bri, sounds like your plumbers went to the same school as the ones here in the states, ive never seen such a bigger bunch of dopes in my life, and the best part, they charge $65 an hour and $100 if they work past 4:30, i guess they need to replace those reciprocating saws alot,ha ha give me a break. Of course at the end of the day I wonder who the bigger dope is me or them cause there makin more than me. talk to ya.

In response to Bri's comments regarding tile first--I am installing slate--should I tile first before dropping in the tub? The directions that came with the tub show the tile being laid after the tub had been installed. I thought it would look much cleaner if it was laid after but I am afraid of the slate cracking or chipping with the added weight. What do you think?

Hi London .... I usually install the tile under the edge of the tub but if you're using ungauged slate tile, try to pick the tiles with equal thickness for this purpose. Most of the weight will be on your base and not on your deck if installed properly. You can install butted up to the edge of the tub too if you have to .... just make nice clean cuts with your wetsaw.

In alot of my work I see many builders try to save money by using normal plaster board around the shower area where the building regulations say it SHOULD be tile backer board.
I suppose the way they look at it is it's cheaper for them to put normal plaster board which is a fraction of the price of backer board and if the odd one has water penertration and they have to replace it all they will.
I try to tell them that it takes only one pin hole to allow water to seep through and gypsum board will soak it like a sponge.
Certainly keeps me on my toes regards my grouting and fixing

It's funny (NOT) how builders expect us to make their shoddy workmanship look good, and when it all falls apart, WE'RE the ones who get all the blame!!

I hear you loud and clear Bill. It's a damn shame that the building codes aren't in line with the TCA and TTMAC standards.
You'd think that with the health problems associated with the growth of mold and the structural damage caused by water, the codes would be upgraded to protect the home buyer.

Wow...what a mess!! So..Harry...? Now that we have seen what NOT to do, do you have any pics of what the ideal situation is? Just curious, altho I am not planning a deck-type installation of my Jacuzzi...(no space, gotta go with a prefab deck.)
SS

Hi Susie
There are some photos linked from the main page of this site which show proper methods of prep for tile, but ideally ... the cement backerboard should be installed over straight kiln dried lumber and taped along all the edges and mudded with thinset mortar.

Ah....now that makes sense! I was sitting here looking at the pics and reading your comments thinking that it would be like painting over the studs instead of dry-walling first. Guess I had the idea...hmm? I keep running the scenario over in my head where I step in the tub and the tiles fall to the floor on the edge...lol. Guess Ill hang out here and learn all the things I need to learn before building my dream house...

*thinset mortar..thinset mortar..thinset mortar...just drummning that into the space between my ears*

Alot of the directions that come with the tubs show the tub sitting on the lip of the deck.I always insist the tub sits up higher than the deck or is removed altogether before the tile goes in.If the tub is set properly most of the weight will be on the mortar that is set onto at the subfloor anyway and there will be very little weight at the tub deck itself.
Water will migrate through most tile so it does bot matter if there is a pinhole or not in the plasterboard cause the moisture will go through the grout and/or the tile and soak the board anyway thus causing failure.There is a movemnet here in the states that is banning the use of the greenboard around wet areas,don't know if Cananda is in that or not is it?
Been around a few of tile sites around the net and this is one of the few where you guy's know your stuff. Nice to know there are some around who care about what they do still.

TAlked to a Plumber buddy of mine. The best way for a tub like this to be installed is for it to be set in place with mortar on the floor. Setting the Tub in place like this will then take all the load bearing weight of the Deck top where the Jacuzzi sits. All the weight will be on the floor.

I agree. I sometimes use the spray tubes of insulation (the stuff that expands). The tub should be almost full of water though when you do it otherwise the tub will be closer to the ceiling than you want it.

Here's a link to a job I'm doing right now. It inludes building the shower and jacuzzi frame / deck. It's quite a contrast to how most builders prepare for tile work.
Shower and Jacuzzi from scratch.