I don't think the other commentors realized what you meant. You're asking primarily about the paper acting as a barrier between the "fat mud" and wall. I was wondering this myself and what purpose the paper serves? I'm new to this so I don't know.
@@infinite6163 The paper is his waterproofing. One of the reasons older tile Setters like myself use Diamond Wire is because we prefer the thicker water barrier than the 7 1/2 pound paper that comes interwoven with the wire as shown here. Yes, that wire and paper is one product.
Excellent job young man. I've been doing tile for 40+ years now. My mentor that trained me in the early 80's came from the 60's era where lathe, scratch and mud set was the only method. And, you even had to soak your 4X4 tiles due to the extreme absorption of older manufacturing methods of the time. That was old school. Keep up the good work.
As a carpenter we run our squares and laser each wall taking as much time to make them perfect now a days. I have tiled showers before and set tub surrounds .I have also watched plumbers struggle with installing. I always stress to my apprentie to be courteous to the other trades and do your job correctly even if it takes more time for you to make the job right. Using strait studs and crowning is always a must ,steel studs are also a option. Installing corner bead and finishing the walls always adds to the variable. Doing the curb with treated lumber and wrapping it with cement board is my standard. You have to realize the traffic that curb will endure over the years. Great video always nice to learn some tricks of the trade.
So cool, glad you're watching from across the pond. I like to watch you guys as well, lot to learn about about the different construction methods you guys use. Love the brick and substantial brick and concrete work that goes into homes and the underfloor heating I wish we had that more commonly here.
Dude, this guy is THE tile master. I've only been doing tile work for about 2 years and there's so much to learn. You have to be real dedicated and passionate about your work to achieve this level of perfection, and I say it with confidence because it is perfection. This is what all tile maestros set out to do and Isaac does it with such ease. Thanks for these videos. I learn so much about this art watching your content, keep up the great work.
One of the best , entertaining and informative video’s , for the DIY. This the type of video a father wants to show his Son , or Daughter what can be done , if someone has the patience to show you. Thank you.
Started as a tile setter here in metro Detroit around 1982. There were no cementitious boards, kerdie or schluter in them days. We pulled mud on all walls and floors. To speed things up we'd use a pinch of baking soda mixed in the mud behind the screed sticks and in the second mud coat. Sets it up fast (15 minutes) That way you could keep going and pull off them right away and knock the finish coat down with the wood float right away. I like that mud you're using. Looks nice and sticky and forgiving. So important. We just make our own using sharp sand, lime and portland. Nice work Isaac. Bringing back some memories. You'd fit right in, in my neck of the woods!
Isaac Ostrom yes it would..fun. lol Back in the old days I've installed tile that same way. Wed sometimes soak the tile in the mortar box. Always made our own grout too. As long as you wanted white or grey. Lol White wall grout made with white Portland and lime. For sanded we'd just stiffen it up with silica sand. Made our own thinsets too! The good old days! Lol
To the people asking why not use cement board or hardibacker, it's pretty straight forward. When the walls are perfectly flat and plumb, which framing will never be, and without extensive use of a planer, neither will your cement board... The setting is gravy! Kerdi can be wet shimmed, but it generally still wont be perfectly plumb, only flat. Mudding greatly improves setting time. Every cut is exactly the same size, and square. not marked point to point. You can rip every cut all at one time. You can spread the wall up much farther since your cuts are already made, and set the tiles without having to pull half of them off and spread more thinset because they are too low or scrape some off when they are too high. You guys have obviously never set tile on a perfect mud float, or you wouldnt have to ask why people still use this method. "Outdated" is subjective. This is the easiest way for me to guarantee perfection.
Not to mention, labor and material cost savings. This mud is cheap. Much cheaper than wet shimming with morter. Even though this took 7 hrs to do vs 2-3 hrs for backer board, it looks to me that you save the cost of not only the backerboard, but will set tile about 30-40% faster in the end. So 4-5 hrs in prep time vs 7-8 hrs in extra tile setting.....with a much much higher chance of a great looking finish
@@mikeo6525 hour? You mean 2-3 hours to demo the walls and take out trash. Two hours to electric plain the studs. Then 2-3 hours to put up plywood and backer board. Seems like the same amount of time if not bigger hassle. Also he does this cause California has seismic activity and floating wall helps the grout not to crack and tiles to move.
On a remodel currently going on. The owner pulled in a crew to do counters and redo the bathtub area. I watched progress at the end of the day. These guys are great. Yesterday I took a square and checked corners all square. Window and nook had a slight slope. The tile setter really knew how to use a tape measure and a level and how to do the math for positioning subway tile. Uniform in cut pieces. It is a beautiful thing to look at other craftsmen work.
You are just a magician. Super clean finish and all straight and perfectly square . Just amazed with this kind of work you put out in the video. I watch all your videos and I have to say ,I get very motivated by your work since I'm also a tile contractor in canada. Gretting and thumbs up Issac
I'm a carpenter/remodeler and a perfectionist as well. It's tough for me to watch anyone else but guys like you who like everything perfect as well. I'm not setting my own tile yet but hopefully soon. Thanks for your videos!
Thank you for posting this amazing video, Mr. Isaac. I had difficulty finding the right "mud" for my project, very skeptical about bagged mud. And once I got the consistency of mix right I was able to get the "mud" up on the wall with great ease. It turn out much better than I expected. You had excellent training. Keep up the great work, and good luck!
Worst dam part about it is when you have to rip the crap out. There is no easy way. It is straight up grunt work. And dealing with that F****** wire and nails.
I learned to scratch coat then set your float guides the next day in a built up mound of mud and a little calcium chloride to kick it off. Then come back and level float. All pans were hot mopped. Nothing compares to old school. Nice work
Working mud with a trowel is an art, you missed your calling as a plasterer! My old man was a plasterer for over 30 years in the New England area. He’s retired now, but will still do small jobs here and there for family members (at 66!). Still just as memorizing to watch him do his thing. Keep up the good work Isaac, great video!
Hey man , my dad is a 65 year old cancer survivor who also had a liver transplant ( where he had cancer ) about 2 years ago. And is still roofing with me , it’s his business but I will be taking over this summer , old timers just have that work till you die mentality , I am so proud of him and I’m sure u are of yours , honestly that will b me when I get that age , GO OLD Timers , remember this country and many more were built by these guys
I learned tile from the old school guys in Reno Nevada. It seems like they taught me a lot of the same things you teach. This old guy told me back in the day if you couldn’t float and set 3 tub shower combos in 1 day that you were washed up! They didn’t use thinset back then and would wet set 4x4 with quarter round.
You're a beast dude... Super clean... I had to float a shower a few months ago and rethought my entire career choice for a few hours lol... Awesome work sir
I use drywall shims on my studs and make sure everything is plumb and in plane. Takes an hour or two at most. This way your kerdi board or cement board goes up super easy and everything is ready for a perfect tile set. Im surprised no one has mentioned this. Its a standard where i'm at in Colorado and where i'm from, Michigan. But if you're as good as him with the mud, no need to change how you do it!
I do really like to just tile over the driwall !! If the driwall is flat , but some time the plumbing straps make drywall humps that’s another reason why the floating has to be done
Yea but if you aren’t framing the shower then his method is the best. As a tile guy I show up to new construction and I can’t just start taking off drywall to fix it lol. So either we mud it or float the tile
Are you using the 1/8 drywall shims? I don't think they're good enough for tile work. Not uncommon to have to go from nothing the 5/8 or 3/4 and thats too much to build up drywall shims.
I still float most of my showers like this. I also was taught by master tile setters in the Bay Area. Must be nice having a good helper. I always work alone. Floating a shower by myself is a very long and tiring day but it makes the tile setting that much easier. With larger format tile I usually don't float anymore but with smaller tile it's almost always a must to float.
@@TileCoach If i'm not going to float I always bring a bunch of 2x4's with me so i can sister them to the studs. This way I can plumb and square the walls. It usually takes a couple hours to do that. then I attach the wallboard. I use this method when i do Kerdi showers.
@@TileCoach I've done two showers in a row now with 24 by 48 inch tile from porcelanosa. You're absolutely right, it is not easy to pull one of those off the wall just to add more thinset. I use a three-quarter inch Notch trowel and back butter. I just use less thinset where I know the build-out is. I agree with you 100% on floating being the best way to set yourself up for an easy tile install. Where is your tile shop located? Maybe I'll come by and introduce myself next time I'm in the area.
This brings back memories. When I was 12 or 13, I used to work helping out masons. We had cement and sand separate, had to mix both together first, then build it in a small wide volcanoe shape, and pour water in the middle, pulling the edges over the small water pool created with a farming hoe. Then bring buckets to the masons, once it was all mixed. Back in the late 80s early 90s.
Great work , retired setter dam you brought back some haunting memories. I did this in Phoenix back in 70/80 When at ten am it was 110, sweatbox glad to see you go to hawk two trowels is rookie. I did shower and tub 8 hour piece work 6 days a week mostly homes in sun City outside Phoenix. plumb and square perfect.
Stapeling into the studs is so important. Great video man. Im down here in LA and hot mop and double paper galvanized steel with 1 inch staples. I scratch coat then float. But tomatoes tomato. I also dont use wall board behind my paper.like you said its creating art. Welcome back 🙏
There's something satisfying about the sound of a trowel, drywall knife, or sharp hand plane going through material. It's something people who haven't done any handiwork can't understand.
I’m a new build site tiler in the U.K. I would love to tile a shower that you’ve floated, it would be a breeze. You wouldn’t believe the shoddy plasterboard walls we are expected to tile here on new houses. Your work is outstanding! Keep it up.👍🏻😀
I demolished a bath once that was a very high-quality mud job. I think they must have set the tile on the wet mud as you described, because the tiles were stuck hard enough that hardly any of them came off intact. The bond to the wall was stronger than the tile itself. -jcr
Thanks for the video. Im going to attempt my first mudset shower soon. I need to try it before I start sending on jobs..... Ive screeded concrete and skim coated drywall, Ive feather finished plenty... so now its time to gain this skill also!
Love watching your videos and really appreciate how focused you are on high quality and a product that is as close to permanent as possible. Was hoping to learn how to mud a wall plumb from this video. As a former construction person (decades ago) and still having my hand in it for home projects .... it went like this... "Honey, can you please recaulk my tub? We've been here a year now, and we're empty nesters now... So, it would be great." Little did I know that by taking the caulk off where the tile met the tub, I'd end up having to gut the bathroom, remove useless built in laundry hamper/linen closet, small, useless hall closet (2' x 1'), and completely redo the entire bathroom (except the toilet which had already replaced). So, long and short, the underlying construction methods from the 70's when this home was built were quick, dirty, horrifyingly not to code (maybe it was then, but not now). And, as I round the clubhouse turn for prep for tile, I'm wishing you lived here in South Texas. Would hire you in a minute! Thanks, and keep em comin!
If I did this workout even once a week my body would be in amazing shape. I can't get over how many squats and arm circles were done in this hour! You put karate kid to shame.
I do this for a living (IM A 4 YEAR ROOKIE) and use same float method and I enjoyed watching you work. It's was weird lol thanks man awesome video keep up the squaring, leveling, and plummness:B
This is not a nor cal method, but one that has been used for many many decades way before any types of backer boards were invented. It was universal across the country through most of the last century, and taught to any apprentice tilesetter. It's what I learned in the 70s, and still do today. These types of installs will last until your get sick of the tile. This is solid reliable method that allows for plumbing walls, truing the surface and even squaring enclosures. It is a great asset to anyone installing tile to aquire.
Very nice work, and you have a great attitude- you care about doing the best job possible...the world needs more people like you...I do wonder about your mud set mix for shower floor. I was taught to use 4-1 portland-sand ratio and then mix it very dry so that i barely stay together when you squeeze it ..any thoughts would be appreciated
This work is a masterpiece. Many here would say it’s overwhelming, but this wall will last forever. Durock and other 3x5 sheets or other sizes would not last the same. Not many contractors know how to do it this way.
I learned many years ago (2002) from an Asian tile setter, that if you want sharp outside corners for your mortar /shower pan mud, to add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to your mortar mix. (60 lb bag or 5 gallon bucket), and it will give you the ability to shape it with amazing results.
@@saljablo2767, it’s just the facts. He was like a Mister Myagi (Karate Kid movie reference), and wise in ways most people wouldn’t figure out on their own (aka smart). Maybe I was giving props to the Asian community?
great video mate, wish i watched this a few weeks back when I had to float my kitchen wall, came out okay in the end but still really wish I'd watched this first. I was supposed to be doing some work, but ended up watching this from start to finish
I personally set my float strips on all walls before putting mud everywhere. I can dial the strips in and the mud firms up to prevent moving. Also I tape off the entire perimeter on Sheetrock.
This video taught me to never attempt a job like this as the physical strength required by itself is monumental. He had his arms extended while working delicately and holding weight for way too long. What a pro!
So funny I stumbled on this, we are in Marin and just had to rip out a bathroom built in the 50s because an oak tree’s roots grew between the slab foundation and the shower pan, into the main sewer line and caused a sewage eruption, but the walls were floated! They were crazy difficult to remove and heavy as hell, but a great endorsement for the technique as it lasted forever and wasn’t even part of the issue in the end. I guess floating has been around here for a bit!
As a carpenter, I would just shim the studs to be plumb. 1/4 to zero in 8 feet or whatever it was and then I would hang cement board or I would sister engineered studs (lsl) onto the existing studs and bring the wall out to be true. Or you could screw on metal studs onto the sides of the existing studs. Take your planer and knock off the high spots first. Lots of ways to fix a crooked wall, but you are good with the mud for sure.
bluebird5100 you’re so right because 20 years later someone is going to have to come behind and demo this stuff out like I just did. It was dangerous. An entire wall can come crashing down on you. I cut myself so many times on that damn chicken wire.
This is awesome. I am trying to implement this into my showers. I've watched so many videos, but I haven't found one yet that shows the part before mudding. I am trying to understand the paper and lath that is installed, is that over studs or over backboard? Same with floors, is that over plywood?
He is from Northern California, there they float over Drywall. People like myself, from Southern California go over the studs. We also use Dimond lath, which is far better than wire.
@@LoLoNationalForest the trowel has a perfect 90 degree corner on it. If you use it correctly with the proper amount of pressure on both walls, your trowel makes the perfect 90 degrees.
Awesome job Isaac, yes you have got it down to a fine art, beautiful! The video is well done for us learners - thorough, precise and suitably paced. Thanks a lot. Just one thing I missed was how you squared up the float strips with each other to get your walls so plumb.
if you want a "perfect" float you pretty much have to do a scratchcoat. then float the main walls. Later you float the window, niche and damn. Three days of floating. Its hard to see all the imperfections in a float from a video. When you go to set tile is when youll start running into problems. Then again it doesnt pay to do things perfect anymore.
Here's an idea that I've done for three days, first day scratch coat, second day finish coat everywhere except for the inside lip of the window and the inside lip of the soap dish. Third Day set all of the tile such that you can then fill in the finished coat around the soap dish and window part using the tile that have allready set as a line against which you can screed. Two hours later you can set those trim pieces.
This is an amazing video, great lesson. Isaac, if you are reading this I have to ask as to the steel troweling you're doing at the end of the process. It closes the pores in the mortar to run a steel float over and leaves behind a brittle surface coat that's sure to unbond easily over a short time. That's just what I've learned, and unfortunately, experienced a few times before learning it. Wood, magnesium and are fine to use though. Do you have any thoughts on that? Did you already know or does it somehow not matter for what you're doing? Thanks
Great work and very educational but I do have a question, I live in a country where all walls are block and cement/sand render. Could I dap and set walls with cement board/ hardie?
You float exactly like l did for 25 years ! 2 trowels and corner-aid for outside corners ! Good hot mopper that specializes in water recieptors and shower pans and mortar bed floats are the only way to do stall showers in my opinion !
Great video and very good job. I would recommend to install protecto wrap on the recessed shampoo and around the pipes to go on top of the black paper.
What is the open working time of the mud once it's mixed? Also, for a shower assembly like this, what is the substrate behind the paper? Thanks for sharing your experience and skill. I could watch this all day
Isaac, do you have another vid where you tile this? I want to see how you trim out the shower wall termination. Plumbing that left wall seems like it would create an issue where it meets the bathroom wall. 1/2" at the top and 1" at the curb. Thanks. Another good video and job well done.
Good to know I'm not the only one floating showers out here in California LOL I'll take that shower over a Kerdi shower any day good video see you around tiling the world
awesome job I start a bathroom remodelling with a friend this videos help a lot in my country Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 we have concrete houses your of water proofing shower 🚿 are awesome I’m start to learning how to make one
thanks tile coach! what would next steps on this be? is the hot mop a tar on the bottom instead of a vinyl sheet? does this get coated with a sealant before Thinset?
Isn’t it real important to screw the wire to the wall? If not, what is holding all the tile to the wall? The paper will act as a barrier.
Nails works too
Most people use staples ..
0:53
I don't think the other commentors realized what you meant. You're asking primarily about the paper acting as a barrier between the "fat mud" and wall. I was wondering this myself and what purpose the paper serves? I'm new to this so I don't know.
@@infinite6163 The paper is his waterproofing. One of the reasons older tile Setters like myself use Diamond Wire is because we prefer the thicker water barrier than the 7 1/2 pound paper that comes interwoven with the wire as shown here. Yes, that wire and paper is one product.
Excellent job young man. I've been doing tile for 40+ years now. My mentor that trained me in the early 80's came from the 60's era where lathe, scratch and mud set was the only method. And, you even had to soak your 4X4 tiles due to the extreme absorption of older manufacturing methods of the time. That was old school. Keep up the good work.
We still do them like that in southern CA !
As a carpenter we run our squares and laser each wall taking as much time to make them perfect now a days. I have tiled showers before and set tub surrounds .I have also watched plumbers struggle with installing. I always stress to my apprentie to be courteous to the other trades and do your job correctly even if it takes more time for you to make the job right. Using strait studs and crowning is always a must ,steel studs are also a option. Installing corner bead and finishing the walls always adds to the variable. Doing the curb with treated lumber and wrapping it with cement board is my standard. You have to realize the traffic that curb will endure over the years. Great video always nice to learn some tricks of the trade.
For the kids watching... LIKE A BOSS. Dude loves his job and is good at it. Big fan from london england
So cool, glad you're watching from across the pond. I like to watch you guys as well, lot to learn about about the different construction methods you guys use. Love the brick and substantial brick and concrete work that goes into homes and the underfloor heating I wish we had that more commonly here.
This was probably the best, most comprehensive tutorial I've seen on this subject.. Great video guys! Thanks for sharing.
Dude, this guy is THE tile master. I've only been doing tile work for about 2 years and there's so much to learn. You have to be real dedicated and passionate about your work to achieve this level of perfection, and I say it with confidence because it is perfection. This is what all tile maestros set out to do and Isaac does it with such ease. Thanks for these videos. I learn so much about this art watching your content, keep up the great work.
One of the best , entertaining and informative video’s , for the DIY.
This the type of video a father wants to show his Son , or Daughter what can be done , if someone has the patience to show you.
Thank you.
Wow, thanks!
Started as a tile setter here in metro Detroit around 1982. There were no cementitious boards, kerdie or schluter in them days. We pulled mud on all walls and floors. To speed things up we'd use a pinch of baking soda mixed in the mud behind the screed sticks and in the second mud coat. Sets it up fast (15 minutes) That way you could keep going and pull off them right away and knock the finish coat down with the wood float right away. I like that mud you're using. Looks nice and sticky and forgiving. So important. We just make our own using sharp sand, lime and portland. Nice work Isaac. Bringing back some memories. You'd fit right in, in my neck of the woods!
Isaac Ostrom yes it would..fun. lol Back in the old days I've installed tile that same way. Wed sometimes soak the tile in the mortar box. Always made our own grout too. As long as you wanted white or grey. Lol White wall grout made with white Portland and lime. For sanded we'd just stiffen it up with silica sand. Made our own thinsets too! The good old days! Lol
To the people asking why not use cement board or hardibacker, it's pretty straight forward. When the walls are perfectly flat and plumb, which framing will never be, and without extensive use of a planer, neither will your cement board... The setting is gravy! Kerdi can be wet shimmed, but it generally still wont be perfectly plumb, only flat. Mudding greatly improves setting time. Every cut is exactly the same size, and square. not marked point to point. You can rip every cut all at one time. You can spread the wall up much farther since your cuts are already made, and set the tiles without having to pull half of them off and spread more thinset because they are too low or scrape some off when they are too high. You guys have obviously never set tile on a perfect mud float, or you wouldnt have to ask why people still use this method. "Outdated" is subjective. This is the easiest way for me to guarantee perfection.
Not to mention, labor and material cost savings.
This mud is cheap. Much cheaper than wet shimming with morter.
Even though this took 7 hrs to do vs 2-3 hrs for backer board, it looks to me that you save the cost of not only the backerboard, but will set tile about 30-40% faster in the end. So 4-5 hrs in prep time vs 7-8 hrs in extra tile setting.....with a much much higher chance of a great looking finish
An hour with an electric planer will save you all this hassle
@@AOmega72 But he's not in a colder climate?
fuse98 I thought he is in northern Cali? Is t it cold there in the winter? Freeze thaw’?
@@mikeo6525 hour? You mean 2-3 hours to demo the walls and take out trash. Two hours to electric plain the studs. Then 2-3 hours to put up plywood and backer board. Seems like the same amount of time if not bigger hassle. Also he does this cause California has seismic activity and floating wall helps the grout not to crack and tiles to move.
If only everyone could have the same pride in their work as you do. The quality of your work really shows
On a remodel currently going on. The owner pulled in a crew to do counters and redo the bathtub area. I watched progress at the end of the day. These guys are great. Yesterday I took a square and checked corners all square. Window and nook had a slight slope. The tile setter really knew how to use a tape measure and a level and how to do the math for positioning subway tile. Uniform in cut pieces. It is a beautiful thing to look at other craftsmen work.
You are just a magician. Super clean finish and all straight and perfectly square . Just amazed with this kind of work you put out in the video. I watch all your videos and I have to say ,I get very motivated by your work since I'm also a tile contractor in canada. Gretting and thumbs up Issac
Amazing attention to detail! One of the best channels for anything tiling on TH-cam.
I'm a carpenter/remodeler and a perfectionist as well. It's tough for me to watch anyone else but guys like you who like everything perfect as well. I'm not setting my own tile yet but hopefully soon. Thanks for your videos!
Dido!
Therapeutic to watch someone achieve such good quality. Nice work.
Impressive process! I'm not a tiler, but I am a perfectionist, so I can really appreciate the artistic nature of floating. Very nice indeed!
Nice work. Tile contractor here. A little different process than mine but it is the first time I see a proper float. Doesn’t get any better. Nice job
Thank you for posting this amazing video, Mr. Isaac. I had difficulty finding the right "mud" for my project, very skeptical about bagged mud. And once I got the consistency of mix right I was able to get the "mud" up on the wall with great ease. It turn out much better than I expected. You had excellent training. Keep up the great work, and good luck!
I learned tile in San Luis Obispo. Floating is the best installation method period. We used to mix 40 batches with sand, cement and lime.
Nice! I'm in Los Osos!
Yes did it same way.Labor intense
I been tiling since I was 15 and I'm 50 now and I have done mud most my life but let me tell you once you hit 50 you don't want to do it anymore lol
Worst dam part about it is when you have to rip the crap out. There is no easy way. It is straight up grunt work. And dealing with that F****** wire and nails.
Absolutely beautiful work. That’s an art form right there, and you’re much more in your own element here it seems to me.
I learned to scratch coat then set your float guides the next day in a built up mound of mud and a little calcium chloride to kick it off. Then come back and level float. All pans were hot mopped. Nothing compares to old school. Nice work
Working mud with a trowel is an art, you missed your calling as a plasterer! My old man was a plasterer for over 30 years in the New England area. He’s retired now, but will still do small jobs here and there for family members (at 66!). Still just as memorizing to watch him do his thing. Keep up the good work Isaac, great video!
Hey man , my dad is a 65 year old cancer survivor who also had a liver transplant ( where he had cancer ) about 2 years ago. And is still roofing with me , it’s his business but I will be taking over this summer , old timers just have that work till you die mentality , I am so proud of him and I’m sure u are of yours , honestly that will b me when I get that age , GO OLD Timers , remember this country and many more were built by these guys
Nice job! When it looks easy you know how much work went in to master the art
I learned tile from the old school guys in Reno Nevada. It seems like they taught me a lot of the same things you teach. This old guy told me back in the day if you couldn’t float and set 3 tub shower combos in 1 day that you were washed up! They didn’t use thinset back then and would wet set 4x4 with quarter round.
You're a beast dude... Super clean... I had to float a shower a few months ago and rethought my entire career choice for a few hours lol... Awesome work sir
You're welcome... I have learned a few new techs from you so thank you also. Always nice to see things done from another perspective
I use drywall shims on my studs and make sure everything is plumb and in plane. Takes an hour or two at most. This way your kerdi board or cement board goes up super easy and everything is ready for a perfect tile set. Im surprised no one has mentioned this. Its a standard where i'm at in Colorado and where i'm from, Michigan. But if you're as good as him with the mud, no need to change how you do it!
I do really like to just tile over the driwall !! If the driwall is flat , but some time the plumbing straps make drywall humps that’s another reason why the floating has to be done
Yea but if you aren’t framing the shower then his method is the best. As a tile guy I show up to new construction and I can’t just start taking off drywall to fix it lol. So either we mud it or float the tile
Are you using the 1/8 drywall shims? I don't think they're good enough for tile work. Not uncommon to have to go from nothing the 5/8 or 3/4 and thats too much to build up drywall shims.
I still float most of my showers like this. I also was taught by master tile setters in the Bay Area. Must be nice having a good helper. I always work alone. Floating a shower by myself is a very long and tiring day but it makes the tile setting that much easier. With larger format tile I usually don't float anymore but with smaller tile it's almost always a must to float.
@@TileCoach If i'm not going to float I always bring a bunch of 2x4's with me so i can sister them to the studs. This way I can plumb and square the walls. It usually takes a couple hours to do that. then I attach the wallboard. I use this method when i do Kerdi showers.
@@TileCoach I've done two showers in a row now with 24 by 48 inch tile from porcelanosa. You're absolutely right, it is not easy to pull one of those off the wall just to add more thinset. I use a three-quarter inch Notch trowel and back butter. I just use less thinset where I know the build-out is. I agree with you 100% on floating being the best way to set yourself up for an easy tile install. Where is your tile shop located? Maybe I'll come by and introduce myself next time I'm in the area.
Never have done my curbs or nitches that way. But i am totally going to try it. Thanks for putting it out there.
Impressive, you make it look easy, that's anything but. A true work of art. Thank you for all the videos.....a fan!
It's amazing how clean you keep your levels 👍
This brings back memories. When I was 12 or 13, I used to work helping out masons. We had cement and sand separate, had to mix both together first, then build it in a small wide volcanoe shape, and pour water in the middle, pulling the edges over the small water pool created with a farming hoe. Then bring buckets to the masons, once it was all mixed. Back in the late 80s early 90s.
Watching your stuff. I feel like im gonna kill it in my installer apprenticeship. Excited.
I'd like to see a video of the prep before the float. Great video coach and merry Christmas from south louisiana
Great work , retired setter dam you brought back some haunting memories. I did this in Phoenix back in 70/80 When at ten am it was 110, sweatbox glad to see you go to hawk two trowels is rookie. I did shower and tub 8 hour piece work 6 days a week mostly homes in sun City outside Phoenix. plumb and square perfect.
Stapeling into the studs is so important. Great video man. Im down here in LA and hot mop and double paper galvanized steel with 1 inch staples. I scratch coat then float. But tomatoes tomato. I also dont use wall board behind my paper.like you said its creating art. Welcome back 🙏
These are beautiful towels... I love them. Lol so funny. I feel the same way about tools too
There's something satisfying about the sound of a trowel, drywall knife, or sharp hand plane going through material. It's something people who haven't done any handiwork can't understand.
I don't even do tile work but I can't stop watching these videos.
real craftsman, learned alot,
I’m a new build site tiler in the U.K.
I would love to tile a shower that you’ve floated, it would be a breeze.
You wouldn’t believe the shoddy plasterboard walls we are expected to tile here on new houses.
Your work is outstanding!
Keep it up.👍🏻😀
Glad I’ve been in the drywall & stucco gig before getting into tile.
Floating mud is all I do....
Awesome work Isaac! Nothing’s better than mud. Thanks for the stucco corner bead trick, that’s genius
Each of your video is very-very educational for me, thank you so much for sharing your experiences! :)
I demolished a bath once that was a very high-quality mud job. I think they must have set the tile on the wet mud as you described, because the tiles were stuck hard enough that hardly any of them came off intact. The bond to the wall was stronger than the tile itself.
-jcr
Thanks for the video.
Im going to attempt my first mudset shower soon. I need to try it before I start sending on jobs..... Ive screeded concrete and skim coated drywall, Ive feather finished plenty... so now its time to gain this skill also!
Love watching your videos and really appreciate how focused you are on high quality and a product that is as close to permanent as possible. Was hoping to learn how to mud a wall plumb from this video. As a former construction person (decades ago) and still having my hand in it for home projects .... it went like this... "Honey, can you please recaulk my tub? We've been here a year now, and we're empty nesters now... So, it would be great." Little did I know that by taking the caulk off where the tile met the tub, I'd end up having to gut the bathroom, remove useless built in laundry hamper/linen closet, small, useless hall closet (2' x 1'), and completely redo the entire bathroom (except the toilet which had already replaced).
So, long and short, the underlying construction methods from the 70's when this home was built were quick, dirty, horrifyingly not to code (maybe it was then, but not now). And, as I round the clubhouse turn for prep for tile, I'm wishing you lived here in South Texas. Would hire you in a minute!
Thanks, and keep em comin!
If I did this workout even once a week my body would be in amazing shape. I can't get over how many squats and arm circles were done in this hour! You put karate kid to shame.
Art it certainly is! Thankyou for sharing your process
People don't get on how much skills and practice it takes for completing what you just did. I hope you got the big bucks you deserve.
That Table is awesome, your Back will say Thank You in the Future!!
I do this for a living (IM A 4 YEAR ROOKIE) and use same float method and I enjoyed watching you work. It's was weird lol thanks man awesome video keep up the squaring, leveling, and plummness:B
This is not a nor cal method, but one that has been used for many many decades way before any types of backer boards were invented. It was universal across the country through most of the last century, and taught to any apprentice tilesetter. It's what I learned in the 70s, and still do today. These types of installs will last until your get sick of the tile. This is solid reliable method that allows for plumbing walls, truing the surface and even squaring enclosures. It is a great asset to anyone installing tile to aquire.
Very nice work, and you have a great attitude- you care about doing the best job possible...the world needs more people like you...I do wonder about your mud set mix for shower floor. I was taught to use 4-1 portland-sand ratio and then mix it very dry so that i barely stay together when you squeeze it ..any thoughts would be appreciated
This work is a masterpiece. Many here would say it’s overwhelming, but this wall will last forever. Durock and other 3x5 sheets or other sizes would not last the same. Not many contractors know how to do it this way.
I learned many years ago (2002) from an Asian tile setter, that if you want sharp outside corners for your mortar /shower pan mud, to add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to your mortar mix. (60 lb bag or 5 gallon bucket), and it will give you the ability to shape it with amazing results.
Him being Asian was important to mention why?
@@saljablo2767, it’s just the facts. He was like a Mister Myagi (Karate Kid movie reference), and wise in ways most people wouldn’t figure out on their own (aka smart). Maybe I was giving props to the Asian community?
great video mate, wish i watched this a few weeks back when I had to float my kitchen wall, came out okay in the end but still really wish I'd watched this first. I was supposed to be doing some work, but ended up watching this from start to finish
Good job.! So on vacation . . I'm sure you're the guy building the best sand castle on the beach! 👍🏼🙃
quite obviously an art, love your content O
Hey Isaac, thanks for this, what do you do with all the mud that accumulates on the floor as you're working? Are you cleaning it up as you go?
I personally set my float strips on all walls before putting mud everywhere. I can dial the strips in and the mud firms up to prevent moving. Also I tape off the entire perimeter on Sheetrock.
Nice work and great skill to have. Hello from a Sacramento area owner builder/remodeler
This video taught me to never attempt a job like this as the physical strength required by itself is monumental. He had his arms extended while working delicately and holding weight for way too long. What a pro!
So funny I stumbled on this, we are in Marin and just had to rip out a bathroom built in the 50s because an oak tree’s roots grew between the slab foundation and the shower pan, into the main sewer line and caused a sewage eruption, but the walls were floated! They were crazy difficult to remove and heavy as hell, but a great endorsement for the technique as it lasted forever and wasn’t even part of the issue in the end. I guess floating has been around here for a bit!
As a carpenter, I would just shim the studs to be plumb. 1/4 to zero in 8 feet or whatever it was and then I would hang cement board or I would sister engineered studs (lsl) onto the existing studs and bring the wall out to be true. Or you could screw on metal studs onto the sides of the existing studs. Take your planer and knock off the high spots first. Lots of ways to fix a crooked wall, but you are good with the mud for sure.
bluebird5100 you’re so right because 20 years later someone is going to have to come behind and demo this stuff out like I just did. It was dangerous. An entire wall can come crashing down on you. I cut myself so many times on that damn chicken wire.
This is awesome. I am trying to implement this into my showers. I've watched so many videos, but I haven't found one yet that shows the part before mudding. I am trying to understand the paper and lath that is installed, is that over studs or over backboard? Same with floors, is that over plywood?
Yes I was wondering the same thing..
Ditto! Also would like to understand the very first steps better.
He is from Northern California, there they float over Drywall. People like myself, from Southern California go over the studs. We also use Dimond lath, which is far better than wire.
Thanks for showing how I learned something new today.
Always good to see professional work!
Can you explain more about how you made sure your inside corners came out as perfect 90 degrees.
Wondering this myself
@@LoLoNationalForest the trowel has a perfect 90 degree corner on it. If you use it correctly with the proper amount of pressure on both walls, your trowel makes the perfect 90 degrees.
Awesome video!! Learned so much and can’t wait to practice these techniques.
Awesome job Isaac, yes you have got it down to a fine art, beautiful! The video is well done for us learners - thorough, precise and suitably paced. Thanks a lot. Just one thing I missed was how you squared up the float strips with each other to get your walls so plumb.
That's old school right there, very nice.
Great job you're a master of your craft! Definitely the old school way of doing it, but why not just use cement board?
It is very difficult to get flat and plumb cement board on the walls. This method guarantees it.
Outstanding work!
This is a master class.
Muy profesional amigo me gusta tu trabajo 👍
Great job ,real professional
if you want a "perfect" float you pretty much have to do a scratchcoat. then float the main walls. Later you float the window, niche and damn. Three days of floating. Its hard to see all the imperfections in a float from a video. When you go to set tile is when youll start running into problems. Then again it doesnt pay to do things perfect anymore.
Here's an idea that I've done for three days, first day scratch coat, second day finish coat everywhere except for the inside lip of the window and the inside lip of the soap dish. Third Day set all of the tile such that you can then fill in the finished coat around the soap dish and window part using the tile that have allready set as a line against which you can screed. Two hours later you can set those trim pieces.
this float looked pretty good too me...why do a job in 2 days when it can be done in 1 ???? no logic..time is money
So cool. Nice work, Isaac 👍
This is an amazing video, great lesson.
Isaac, if you are reading this I have to ask as to the steel troweling you're doing at the end of the process. It closes the pores in the mortar to run a steel float over and leaves behind a brittle surface coat that's sure to unbond easily over a short time. That's just what I've learned, and unfortunately, experienced a few times before learning it. Wood, magnesium and are fine to use though.
Do you have any thoughts on that? Did you already know or does it somehow not matter for what you're doing? Thanks
Great work and very educational but I do have a question, I live in a country where all walls are block and cement/sand render. Could I dap and set walls with cement board/ hardie?
You float exactly like l did for 25 years ! 2 trowels and corner-aid for outside corners ! Good hot mopper that specializes in water recieptors and shower pans and mortar bed floats are the only way to do stall showers in my opinion !
Nice job Isaac love the mud work!
Bravo!!!!! Primo craftsmanship!!
Great video and very good job.
I would recommend to install protecto wrap on the recessed shampoo and around the pipes to go on top of the black paper.
Man coach. Thats beutiful, absolute skill
You have a lot of knowledge Isaac in the various ways around the shower, you must of had a great mentor or mentors. Great job!!
@@TileCoach well ive noticed a few standards not adhered , or you guys call it codes
Very very good instructional video.
What is the open working time of the mud once it's mixed?
Also, for a shower assembly like this, what is the substrate behind the paper?
Thanks for sharing your experience and skill. I could watch this all day
Thank you....I needed that....
Very informative and I like his work!!!
Damn that was satisfying to watch
Could you tell me when you'd choose to float a wall vs wet shimming with a kerdi type foam board. Thanks for all the great tutorials!
If your mud sticks past the existing wall, how do you finish off the tile edge? Thanks for your videos.
Isaac, do you have another vid where you tile this? I want to see how you trim out the shower wall termination. Plumbing that left wall seems like it would create an issue where it meets the bathroom wall. 1/2" at the top and 1" at the curb. Thanks. Another good video and job well done.
A TRUE PROFESSIONAL!!
Good to know I'm not the only one floating showers out here in California LOL I'll take that shower over a Kerdi shower any day good video see you around tiling the world
awesome job I start a bathroom remodelling with a friend this videos help a lot in my country Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 we have concrete houses your of water proofing shower 🚿 are awesome I’m start to learning how to make one
Very educational video. Thanks Coach
thanks tile coach! what would next steps on this be? is the hot mop a tar on the bottom instead of a vinyl sheet? does this get coated with a sealant before Thinset?
We call it metal lathe here on the East coast. It has a smaller diamond shaped pattern which gives the mortar more surface to grab onto.
Outstanding!