We are in the process of having to replace a tile floor that has failed over radient heat. We are not sure of the exact cause of the failure but want to avoid this happening again. Can you advise me of the cure time for the thinset before turning the heat on?

Most cement based products don't fully cure for 28 days. THin sets with their high latex content will take longer in damp conditions. Now, your original floor may have failed for other reasons. Even if the floor had been there for 10 years, you have to gradually raise the heat on a tile floor. IF you just turn it on, the resulting expansion can loosen the tile from the sub floor, because they will expand at different rates...being 2 different products. What do you have as a sub floor now? Is it concrete, wood, gypcrete ?? And was the tile adhered directly to this surface, or was a membrane such as Ditra installed first?

So Bri, what process would you recommend for turning on the new floor heat?

Ralph

As Bri mentioned, it takes min 28 days for cement based products to fully cure.
Any manufacturer of heating cables will always tell you to wait until the thinset has cured.

I tell my clients to wait absolute min 21 days before turning on the heat systems.
As it takes some time for the floor to reach the set temperature you can just set the stat to the desired temperature or setback mode and let it run.

Thanks Randall, I'll just wait it out shivering, here in cold ol' Victoria.