Hi folks-
My new tub project is coming along. In the next day or so I'll be hanging the cement backer board onto which the ceramic tiles will be placed. The tiles are 8x10 tiles, so each horizontal row up the wall (three sides of the tub) will have about 15 tiles, including partials, and I'll be using a 1/4 inch grout spacing between the tiles (using the little plastic spacers).
I've tiled a floor before, but never a vertical wall.
I think I want to set each row, and let the mortar set up hard before doing the next row, so that weight of each successive row doesn't have a chance to displace the ones below.
I've got the Versabond mortar, but was thinking of using the faster- setting one, Speedbond I think it is, instead.
I've read the Versabond instructions but I'm not sure how long it will take to set up hard enough for my purposes. Any helpful experiences would be appreciated, along with thoughts of Versabond vs. Speedbond.
Also: should I soak the ceramic tiles prior to setting them, so that the additional water will aid in getting a strong cure of the mortar?
Marc