I have a local tile guy coming to the house this afternoon to look at the job.

But, I was thinking about my situation last night....

Why wouldn't putting down some sort of vapor barrier (either heavy mil plastic or a roll-on product like HydroBan) underneath the 2x4 sleepers? Wouldn't that keep moisture from coming up through the concrete?

thanks.
mike

It only needs to keep the moisture away from contacting the furring strips. Strips of poly or HydroBan will work.

well...i think (actually I know) I am gonna take the advice of the pros and have a professional tile guy do this job......pay now or pay later. id rather pay now.

got a quote from a local guy to do the job.....he's a friend of my plumber....

His price for the job is $1360.00
Includes: mud bed for floor, (including bonding agent on concrete and wire mesh to strengthen the mud bed), set floor tile on diagonal. set shower tile all the way to ceiling, one shower niche with shelf.
The only thing I have to do for him is put up the plastic or tar paper on the shower wall studs, then Durock or Hardiboard.
Floor: approx 70 sq ft
Shower: 34x48, with tile all the way to 7' ceiling (but not on the ceiling)...approx 70-80 sq ft.

I got another guy coming for a quote tonight.....but unless he blows his price out of the water, I am gonna go with my plumber's friend.

the saga continues.....
mm

Local guy seems to know what he's doing judging by the job specifications presented.
He gets my thumbs up !

See what contractor number 2 puts together for the job specs and let us know.

Seems very low to me.
Let us know how you make out.

Seems low to me, too. And I'm in one of the lower-paying areas of the country. I would charge more than that just for the shower, but then I don't use the method he is proposing.

Update......3/16/2010.

I am gonna use the first tile guy that came out (friend of my plumber). Nice guy, very attentive to my questions, local family guy, etc.
The second tile guy that came out said he guaranteed I will have no porblem tiling on the sleepers over concrete. RED Flag!? He said he would email me a quote......he never did. oh well.

When I order the tile yesterday, I told the ladies at the tile shop who my tile contractor was....they spoke very highly of him....calling him a perfectionist....hopefully that bodes well for me and my bathroom.

So here are the new specs.....
Bathroom floor:
Mud Bed
[including bonding agent on concrete and wire mesh to strengthen the mud bed]
tile se on diagonal
Radiant heat floor set in mudbed
Thinset
Tile

Shower:
Swanstone Shower pan [34x48]
Durock walls
Thinset/tape seams
Mapei liquid waterproofer (either HPG or AquaDefense)
One recessed niche
tile to ceiling

Look ok?

TWO Questions:
1. Any preference for either Mapei waterproofing products? The HPG or AquaDefense?
2. Question on vapor barrier for foundation wall
One wall of the bathroom is on the poured foundation wall. Do I need a plastic between the cement wall and the insualtion and studs?

thanks.
mm

My preference would be Laticrete HydroBan over the Mapei products.

HPG requires fabric and longer dry times between coats. Light blue color is easy to see layout lines.

AquaDefence requires no fabric and all joints larger than 1/16 need to be filled with thinset. Really dark blue color makes layout lines next to impossible to see. Dries really quick between coats.

Either one will work but HydroBan is far superior.Nice olive green color. Dries real fast and requires no fabric.

Although the above products are waterproof they are not considered as vapor barriers. Only RedGard has a vapor barrier rating.
If you use anything other than RedGard or Schluter Kerdi, then you could install a vapor barrier on the exterior wall studs.
Others are adamant that any waterproofing should not have a vapor barrier and topical waterproofing together for fear of the "moisture sandwich"

This is not going to be a steam shower is it?

RC --

No, it is not a steam shower.
Also, the shower is not on an exterior concrete wall. The toilet and vanity will be on the foundation wall side. The shower is on the other side of the bathroom.....

I've been reading all about the various liquid membrane products....my head is spinning.

The place where I bought the tile recommended the HPG.
Once the Durock is up, my tile guy is going to mesh tape and thinset the seams.
The tile place said I could put the HPG over that with no tape at all?!

So many choices, so many opinions on the liquid membranes......
RedGard, HydroBan, WaterTight, HPG, AquaDefense..........ugh.

Well, since I am not putting plastic or tar paper on the studs, then is my only choice RedGard cause it is a vapor barrier too??

mm

If your shower is not on the exterior wall then why would you need the vapor barrier requirement that RedGard has?

Any of the liquid membranes will work.