How do you "float" tub & shower walls?

[HiBuzz]

Can someone explain how to float shower walls in the bathroom. Have read that
this is better way than wonderboard. What do you use on the walls (before the
tile), sheetrock, plywood? What do you use to stick tiles on with, thinset?
Same question for bathroom floors. Include any other info you might think
helpful. Thanks.

[Al Brakovich]

HiBuzz wrote:

Great question. To answer it with enough detail to make it possible for a novice
to attempt it would entail just that...detail.

However simply put, it's the technique of placing mortar on any horizontal or
vertical surface as a substrate for tile, marble, or any stone finishes. In the
case of walls the mortar is placed over guaged, furred wire or metal lathe that
has been nailed in place over construction paper or 15 lb. roofing paper, usually
over drywall. In the case of floors the mortar is floated over metal lathe (with
wood subfloors) to approx. 1" thick. The technique is slightly different over
slabs of course. In either case we then set the tile over the fresh mortar
allowing us to perfectly plane in the adjoining tiles and produce a plumb,
straight, flat, level tile installation using thinset mortar as the setting
agent. Prior to the intro of thinset adhesive mortars we used pure cement as the
adhesive.

In all cases concerning novices attempting this technique I always advise one
seriously consider hiring a professional who's been schooled in this techique.
However for the best info manual I've ever perused concerning the subject I
continue to recommend Michael Byrne's "Setting Ceramic Tile" to any and all. It
has an abundant amount of info about tools, materials, material ratios,
preperation, illustrations, etc;. It's obvious to me that he was taught by a
master, and has been smart enough to have parlayed that experience into an
endeavour to use his brain instead of his back. The only difference between his
instruction and my method is that he promotes setting the tile on the mortar after
it's set up. I suppose that's because to advise a novice to do otherwise could
spell disaster as you can imagine. After seeing the amount of detail he's included
you will see why it is impossible to relay the detailed info needed for mortar
floating in a limited news post.

One other option for you to consider: Pay me $60.00 an hour for one 40 hour week,
with you as my helper on one of my jobsites and I'll teach you. Airfare and
Accomadations not included.;o)

--
Al Brakovich