QUESTION
I have a commercial job where we installed 12″×24″ porcelain tile with a rapid thinset and grouted next day with an epoxy grout.
Two weeks later, we had to remove some tile since it sounded hollow. The thinset was still wet, dark gray color and was scraped easily with a construction knife.
Do you think this is normal?
ANSWER
A few years ago I installed a new tile floor in a hospital. The work was done at night and was walked on four hours later. For this reason, we used a rapid thinset. We typically grouted the following day with high-performance cementitous grout.
Six weeks later, there was a tile that was chipped and needed to be replaced. I removed the tile and had the exact same scenario. The thinset was still damp – very firm but definitely not hard – and I was able to remove the mortar with a razor scraper.
I contacted the manufacturer, and they said since porcelain tile was installed on top of crack-isolation membrane, the moisture had no place to go. They said that since porcelain tile and crack membrane allows such little amounts of moisture through, that they were not concerned about the moisture, or early bond strength, and eventually the moisture would work its way out.
That was 5-7 years ago and not one single tile has needed replacing or had any bonding issues. I’d recommend they confirm their situation with the manufacturer. – Randy Fleming, NTCA Technical Trainer
