Hello Guys,
I thought I'd pass this one on to you.
The masterbath I'm tiling has a nice, big whirlpool type soaker tub going in. The tub deck has already been built and I'm about to tile it.
I was working on automatic pilot while installing CBU on the top, but started getting concerned when installing it on the face. It seemed to be a "bit" off. I went and set my level on top and realized it was WAY off.
It's an 8' long tub deck and it's got a 1 5/8" slope from one end to the other.
I asked the lady of the house about it and she said she remembered her husband discussing this slope with their "carpenter/handyman"
Seems they didn't realize the unit had slope to the drain designed right in and they wanted to be sure and have the tub drain properly.
I told her the tile backsplash around the tub would look hideous if it is left this way, so Monday I'll be floating it level with mud.
Anybody ever run into this?
Garrison

I often see bathtubs that have been installed crooked.The plumbers who have set them that way explain that it helps to drain the tub.Huh? :rolleyes:

I get that day in day out on site, plumbers and kicthen fitters just throw them in and they expect me to tile to them, sorry i get my stabila level out draw me a line and stick to that.
As one of the members here says dont make your work wrong to make anothers right.

Ron, have you ever seen one 1 5/8" off? It doesn't seem like you'd be able to sit in it without sliding toward the drain.

Danny, Stabila's the only way to go.

Garrison

Garrison, the Germans know how to build a level, since coming on this site Im learning so much about different stuff, over here no one ever talks about any tile cutters but rubi, but you guys use, sigma, montilit and ishii cutters.

I have never seen a tub deck built like that to accomodate slope. What size of tile you putting on Backplash?

I've been using kerdi a lot for tubs. the framing is always way off. Mitering corners is a real b*tch. I think the main problem is that other trades don't understand that when you build something and lets say paint it, everything looks fine. But as soon as you try to set tile on it it always looks way off no matter what you do. Then of course it turns into our problem. Gets tiring after a while. :rolleyes: really need to practice more mudding at home here.

Alberta Tile Guy, I'm using 8" X 10" tile for the deck and splash.
RandyL, yeah I've found that ceramic tile installation is a real mystery to most of the other trades
I don't get many opportunities to float mud either so whenever I can find a good excuse to do it... I do it.
Garrison

I know what you're saying.If I didn't know how to float mud,there'd be a lot of jobs that I'd have to run away from or do it and it would look like crap.

The last one,the framing was so bad for the shower walls and ceiling that I just decided to mud it.Didn't get paid extra for it but it sure made it a breeze to set the tiles.Probably took me 10 hours longer than if I just used CBU,the prep work anyway.

I really enjoy the mudwork if I get paid a lot for it.