CustomTech Flooring Prep
CustomTech – the industry’s leading collection of technologically-superior, easy-to-use, professional grade subfloor preparation products designed for all types of floor coverings.
Surface Prep
Quality begins from the ground up. Preparing your surface is the most critical task of any tile or stone installation. Custom Building Products offers you one source for the needs of virtually any job.
Setting
The foundation of precise tile and stone setting. Whatever the application, CUSTOM® offers the broadest line of tile and stone setting materials in the industry to give the exact performance your job demands.
Grout
Tile grout with dependable performance and color. Look for tile grout with rock-solid durability, consistency and the largest color palette with Custom. Our grouts are easy to work with yet deliver hard, dense joints.
Care & Maintenance
Stains can RUIN Stone & Tile.Protect Yours Now! Stains on stone, tile or grout happen easily - and can leave permanent stains. Protect your surface against both oil-based and water-based stains with the right sealer.
Aqua Mix®
Professional Solutions for Professional Results Offering the largest selection of Sealers, Cleaners, Problem Solvers, Grout Colorant and Stone Restoration products, we provide professionals with the right tools and solutions; making us the #1 Contractor Preferred Manufacturer of Sealers and Cleaners.
Tools & Accessories
Precision demands the best. SuperiorBilt® Tools are professionally preferred for tile, stone and floor covering installations.
Adhesives
Products : Setting : Polymer-Modified Thin-Set Mortars : Porcelain Tile Professional Thin-Set Mortar
Designed to provide superior bonding of porcelain tile to concrete surfaces, backerboards and self-leveling underlayment. Polymer-modified Porcelain Tile Fortified Thin-Set Mortar can also be used with radiant heating system installations. Use it for interior or exterior floors, walls or countertops.
Features/Benefits
Documents
Technical/Installation
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — ANSI A108.5, A118.4, A118.15 and A118.11 of the American National Standards for the Installation of Ceramic Tile ASTM International (ASTM)
Resilient Floor Covering Institute - (RFCI) Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings Tile Council of North America (TCNA) - TCNA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation, TCNA Method EJ171ISO 13007-2
Installation must comply with the requirements of all applicable local, state and federal code jurisdictions.
Porcelain Tile Fortified Thin-Set Mortar is a dry, proprietary Portland cement based mixture that includes vinyl copolymers, inorganic aggregates and chemicals.
Custom® Building Products is committed to environmental responsibility in both products produced and in manufacturing practices. Use of this product can contribute towards LEED® v3 certification:
USE CHEMICAL-RESISTANT GLOVES, such as nitrile, when handling product.
Surfaces must be structurally sound. Remove all grease, oil, dirt, curing compounds, sealers, adhesives or any other contaminant that would prevent a good bond. Glossy or painted surfaces must be sanded, or abraded, and stripped of all contaminants. Concrete must be cured 28 days and accept water penetration. Concrete must be free of efflorescence and not subject to hydrostatic pressure. Concrete slabs should have a coarse finish to enhance the bond. Plywood flooring including those under resilient flooring must be structurally sound and meet all ANSI and deflection requirements. For questions about proper subfloor installation, call Technical Services. Smooth concrete surfaces, existing glazed tile, terrazzo, or polished stone should be scarified. Sheet vinyl must be well bonded and stripped of old finish. Roughen the surface by sanding or abrading, then rinse and allow to dry. Expansion joints should never be bridged with setting material. Do not sand flooring materials containing asbestos. Ambient temperature should be maintained above 50° F (10° C) or below 100° F (38° C) for 72 hours to achieve proper bond.
Movement joints are required for perimeters and other changes of plane in all installations. Expansion joints and cold joints, as described in ANSI A108.01, should never be bridged with setting material. They must be brought through the tile work and filled with an appropriate elastomeric sealant, such as Custom's 100% Silicone. Contact Custom's Technical Services for the proper treatment of control or saw cut joints. Refer to TCNA EJ171, F125 & F125A.
This product contains Portland cement and free silica. Avoid eye contact or prolonged contact with skin. Wash thoroughly after handling. If eye contact occurs, flush with water for 15 minutes and consult a physician. Do not breathe dust; wear a NIOSH approved respirator
Concrete or plaster must be fully cured and must accept water penetration. Test by sprinkling water on various areas of the substrate. If water penetrates, then a good bond can be achieved; if water beads, surface contaminants are present, and loss of adhesion may occur. Contaminants should be mechanically removed before installation. Concrete must be free of efflorescence and not subject to hydrostatic pressure. Concrete slabs should have a coarse finish to enhance the bond. Smooth concrete slabs must be mechanically abraded to achieve proper bond.
Lightweight or gypsum based underlayments must obtain a minimum 2000 psi (13.8 MP) compressive strength. The underlayment must be sufficiently dry and properly cured to the manufacturer’s specifications for permanent, non-moisture permeable coverings. Surfaces to be tiled must be structurally sound and subject to deflection not to exceed the current ANSI Standards. Surfaces shall be free of all grease, oil, dirt, dust, curing compounds, waxes, sealers, efflorescence, or any other foreign matter.
All Lightweight cement or Gypsum surfaces should be primed with a properly applied sealer or a primer coat of RedGard, consisting of 1 part RedGard diluted with 4 parts clean, cool water. Mix in a clean bucket at low speed to obtain a lump free solution. The primer can be brushed, rolled or sprayed to achieve an even coat. Apply the primer coat to the floor at a rate of 300 sq. ft.l (7.5 sq. m/L). Drying time depends on site conditions, but is normally less than 1 hour. Extremely porous surfaces may require 2 coats. At this point, RedGard can be applied to the primed lightweight or gypsum based surface. Refer to the individual product data sheet or packaging directions for application instructions. Expansion joints must be installed in accordance with local building codes and ANSI/TCNA guidelines. Refer to TCNA EJ171.
Plywood floors, including those under resilient flooring, must be structurally sound and must meet all ANSI A108.01 Part 3.4 requirements. Maximum allowable deflection: L/360 tile L/720 stone. See TCNA F150-13 Tile Installations, TCNA F141-13 and F250-13 for Stone. For questions about proper subfloor installation requirements, call Custom technical services.
As an alternative to an additional layer of plywood, WonderBoard backerboard may be installed over plywood subfloors for ceramic tile installations. Refer to TCNA F144-13 tile installations, TCNA F250-13 stone installations. Call Custom technical services when installing natural stone over plywood subfloor.
Existing Ceramic Tile, Resilient Flooring or Plastic Laminates: Resilient flooring or plastic laminates must be well bonded, as well as clean and free of all contaminates. Roughen the surface by sanding or scarifying; rinse and allow to dry. Do not sand flooring that contains asbestos. For existing well bonded ceramic tile, mechanically abrade the surface. Rinse and allow to dry. When sanding, an approved respirator should be used.
Adhesive layers must be removed, as they reduce mortar bond strength to cement surfaces. Use extreme caution; adhesives may contain asbestos fibers. Do not sand or grind adhesive residue, as harmful dust may result. Never use adhesive removers or solvents, as they soften the adhesive and may cause it to penetrate into the concrete. Adhesive residue must be wet scraped to the finished surface of the concrete, leaving only the transparent staining from the glue. To determine desirable results, do a test bond area before starting. Refer to the RFCI Pamphlet, "Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings" for further information.
Mix 6 qts (5.67 L) clean water per 50 lb (22.68 kg) bag of mortar.
Mix by hand or use a low 150 – 200 rpm speed 1/2" (13 mm) drill to achieve a smooth, paste-like consistency. Let the mixture slake or stand 5 – 10 minutes; stir again and use. Stir occasionally, but do not add more water. When properly mixed, troweled ridges will stand without slump.
Installation must conform to ANSI A108.5. Use a properly-sized notch trowel to ensure proper coverage under tiles. Using the flat side of the trowel, apply a skim coat of mortar to the surface. With the notch side of the trowel held at a 45° angle, apply additional mortar to the surface, combing in one direction. Press the tile firmly into place in a perpendicular motion across ridges, moving back and forth. The perpendicular motion flattens ridges and closes valleys, allowing maximum coverage. With some tile, back-buttering is advisable. Adjust the tile promptly and beat it in with a beating block and rubber mallet. Mortar can be applied up to 1/4" (6 mm) thick after beat in. For thicker applications, use a medium bed mortar; periodically pull up a tile and check the back to ensure proper adhesive coverage. If the material has skinned over (not sticky to the touch), recomb with the notch trowel; if too dry, remove and replace the dry material with fresh material.
Curing time is affected by ambient and surface temperatures and humidity. Use the following as a guideline. Allow 24 hours before grouting and light traffic, and 7-10 days before heavy or vehicular traffic. Before exposure to heavy or vehicular traffic, assure assembly is rated “Heavy or Extra Heavy” per TCNA Service Requirements. As necessary, use plywood or other load distributing protection when moving heavy equipment across tiled assembly.
Clean with water before the material dries.
Store in a cool dry area.
Properly installed product requires no special maintenance.
Properly installed tile will last for more than 60 years.
Ordering Information
Warranty Information
Obtain the applicable LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY at www.custombuildingproducts.com/product-warranty or send a written request to Custom Building Products, Inc., Five Concourse Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30328, USA. Manufactured under the authority of Custom Building Products, Inc. © 2017 Quikrete International, Inc.
When Porcelain Tile Fortified Thin-Set Mortar is used as a part of a qualifying full installation system of CUSTOM products, the installation can qualify for up to a 15 year system warranty. CUSTOM will repair and/or replace, at its discretion, the affected area of the system. For more information, find details and limitations to this warranty at custombuildingproducts.com.
SQUARE FOOT COVERAGE PER 50 LB BAG (SQUARE METER PER 22.68 KG)
Recommended minimum coverage (80% for dry areas and 95% for wet areas and exteriors). Back buttering may be necessary.
Note that mortar coverage does not include backbuttering tiles. When backbuttering, consider the tile underside pattern and depth to estimate thickness and usage to add to your estimate.
Chart for estimating purposes. Coverage may vary based on installation practices and jobsite conditions. For more sizes, use the material calculator at CustomBuildingProducts.com or contact CUSTOM Technical Services at 800-282-8786.
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