When Mud Is Not The Answer

Applications where Fastcrete should be used in place of mud

When Speed Is Required

Traditional mud (mortar-bed, dry pack, deck mud, etc.) requires a curing period of at least 12 hours

Fastcrete is sufficiently hard enough to set tile within 1 hour. Applications such as shower pans and bathrooms can be leveled, pitched, and tiled the same day

Mud Pan Built out of Fastcrete

For Thin Applications

In most instances mud jobs range in thickness from 1.25” to 2”. Mud jobs thinner than this are prone to delamination and failure

Fastcrete applications can range in thickness from 1/8” to 3”

When There Are Height Restrictions

Mud requires a minimum thickness of more than an inch. This can pose problems with finished height such as:

• Doorways

• Transitions

• Drains

Fastcrete Application Feathered To High Spot

Concrete Slab

High Spot

Heavy FastcreteFill

FastcreteFeathered atHigh Spot

UnaffectedDoorwayHeight

Concrete Slab

High Spot

HeavyMud Fill

Thick MudBed OverHigh Spot

AffectedDoorwayHeight

Mud Application Raised Over High Spot

When It Needs To Be Feathered

Mud cannot be brought to a featheredge. When mud is applied too thin, it is subject to:

• Cracking

• Delamination

• Breaking Apart

Hanging Level Wall Tile From TopFastcrete Used To Feather Out Low Spots in Slab

Fastcrete will not crack, delaminate or break apart when feathered out

Feathering Out Low Spots In Slab With Mud

Mud will crack, delaminate and break apart when approaching a featheredge

When Logistics Become A Problem

Mud requires: -Large mixing area -Usually two people mixing -Bulk sand -94lb bags of Portland Cement

Fastcrete requires: -One person and a drill/paddle mixer

Drawbacks To Other Methods

Method #1 Flashing with Thin Set Mortar

• Takes a day to dry

• Bubbles

• Cracks when applied thick

• Needs to be stoned smooth

Method #2 Mud The Entire Area

• Requires a day to cure

• Requires much more material than necessary

• Poses logistical problems

• May cause issues with finished heights

• May cause weight/load issues

Method #3Don’t Level And Try To Correct

By Building Up The Tiles With Thin Set

• Takes at least three times longer

• Essentially turns a ceramic tile job into a marble job

• Heavy thin-set applications take longer to cure

Trying to Correct The Substrate By Building Up The Tiles With Thin Set

Don’t just take our word for it…

Fastcrete Application With Peter Guarino, Port Morris Tile, Boston

Application Type: Feathering To High Spot In Center

Fastcrete Application With Ed Callabritto,Port Morris Tile, Boston

Application Type: Thin Fill/Ramping