Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Not a sponsored video! Earlier this year, I attended the Schluter innovation workshop at the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma. During this 2 day event Schluter presented their whole range of products including their DITRA, DITRA XL and DITRA HEAT underlayment membranes.The Kerdi Board is a double-sided multifunctional tile substrate and building panel. The KERDI BAND is a waterproofing strip used to seal joints in the floor and wall connections and creates a water-tight seal. Schluter believes that their products are disrupting the tiling industry. They have invented a new way to tile that is faster, smarter, and future-proof compared to existing tiling methods. Rather than discussing their specific products, I’m going to discuss the uncoupling principle that drives Schluter’s DITRA mats.
Tiles have been used for thousands of years. The Florence Cathedral in Italy which was built in the 13th century AD has resilient tile floors that have endured the steps of hundreds of thousands of visitors and worshippers. All these early examples of tiled floors used the “tamped bed” installation method which was ingenious and played a huge role in why they are still intact over 600 years later. Over the structural floor, they laid 4-6 inches of compressed or tamped sand. On top of this levelled base, they laid a thin bed of mortar, which is a mixture of sand, cement and water. Small mosaics and larger tiles were then laid over the wet mortar. The thick layer of sand distributes point loads from the tile to the structural base and enables the tiles to withstand high levels of traffic. The sand also has a low cohesive strength and is a forgiving material, it can move independently and uncouple the tiles from the base.
This evolved into the thick bed mortar method. A cleavage membrane is laid over the structural base allowing the mortar and tile to float free of the substrate. A relatively thick layer of mortar, 1.25” to 2”, is then packed over the membrane to level out the surface. This mortar can also be reinforced with a wire-mesh. Once the mortar bed is set, a thin 1/16” bond coat is applied and then tiles that are soaked in water are set in the bond coat. This functions on principles similar to the tamped sand method. The cleavage membrane uncouples the tile from the structural base while the mortar bed distributes the point loads to support foot traffic.
A new type of mortar was invented that included a water retention agent, the layer only needed to be ⅛” thick. Tiles could be placed directly over it without being soaked in advance. This method caught on because of its ease, convenience, speed of construction and because it was DIY friendly. But, people started noticing a lot more issues with their tile floors, and the reason is that the tiles are no longer uncoupled from the floor below, they are rigidly connected to the structure. Any sort of movement in the foundation was directly transmitted to the tile.
Enter Schluter. They recognized all the issues with the direct bond method and invented a new tile installation method which used a polyethylene membrane with an anchoring fleece laminated to the underside. This membrane is bonded to the substrate with thin set mortar. The top of the membrane has a grid of cavities that are also filled with mortar which support the tiles on top of the membrane. The DITRA uncoupling membrane provides lateral flexibility and allows for independent movement between the tile and the substrate. The membrane also limits the transfer of movement and stress and protects tiles from damage. Schluter’s DITRA membrane bridges the gap between the uncoupling principle of the ancient tamped sand method and the modern convenience of the direct bond method.
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SOURCES:
youtube.com/watch?v=kr68VGG5HNQ
youtube.com/watch?v=2hUIhLsZ9hU
youtube.com/watch?v=dQw5d9sdz48&t=2538s
youtube.com/watch?v=JtqwYrJNCbI
youtube.com/watch?v=7Ds3TIxuoc8&t=239s
youtube.com/watch?v=KidptPSM9AU
youtube.com/watch?v=ifepuwAMoqQ
youtube.com/watch?v=EC0PK_7QpgY
-------------------------------------------------
Honesty by Hallman: Epidemic Sound
Boost by Joakim Karud: soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Music promoted by Audio Library: youtu.be/6z227WiJeJM
--------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This video was created for educational/informational purposes and qualifies as Fair Use. If you are the creator or own the footage featured in this video and have reservations please notify me via Youtube comments or email and I will accommodate you.
#schluter #tile #uncouplingmat #diybuild #conscioucuncoupling
Not a sponsored video! Earlier this year, I attended the Schluter innovation workshop at the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma. During this 2 day event Schluter presented their whole range of products including their DITRA, DITRA XL and DITRA HEAT underlayment membranes.The Kerdi Board is a double-sided multifunctional tile substrate and building panel. The KERDI BAND is a waterproofing strip used to seal joints in the floor and wall connections and creates a water-tight seal. Schluter believes that their products are disrupting the tiling industry. They have invented a new way to tile that is faster, smarter, and future-proof compared to existing tiling methods. Rather than discussing their specific products, I’m going to discuss the uncoupling principle that drives Schluter’s DITRA mats.
Tiles have been used for thousands of years. The Florence Cathedral in Italy which was built in the 13th century AD has resilient tile floors that have endured the steps of hundreds of thousands of visitors and worshippers. All these early examples of tiled floors used the “tamped bed” installation method which was ingenious and played a huge role in why they are still intact over 600 years later. Over the structural floor, they laid 4-6 inches of compressed or tamped sand. On top of this levelled base, they laid a thin bed of mortar, which is a mixture of sand, cement and water. Small mosaics and larger tiles were then laid over the wet mortar. The thick layer of sand distributes point loads from the tile to the structural base and enables the tiles to withstand high levels of traffic. The sand also has a low cohesive strength and is a forgiving material, it can move independently and uncouple the tiles from the base.
This evolved into the thick bed mortar method. A cleavage membrane is laid over the structural base allowing the mortar and tile to float free of the substrate. A relatively thick layer of mortar, 1.25” to 2”, is then packed over the membrane to level out the surface. This mortar can also be reinforced with a wire-mesh. Once the mortar bed is set, a thin 1/16” bond coat is applied and then tiles that are soaked in water are set in the bond coat. This functions on principles similar to the tamped sand method. The cleavage membrane uncouples the tile from the structural base while the mortar bed distributes the point loads to support foot traffic.
A new type of mortar was invented that included a water retention agent, the layer only needed to be ⅛” thick. Tiles could be placed directly over it without being soaked in advance. This method caught on because of its ease, convenience, speed of construction and because it was DIY friendly. But, people started noticing a lot more issues with their tile floors, and the reason is that the tiles are no longer uncoupled from the floor below, they are rigidly connected to the structure. Any sort of movement in the foundation was directly transmitted to the tile.
Enter Schluter. They recognized all the issues with the direct bond method and invented a new tile installation method which used a polyethylene membrane with an anchoring fleece laminated to the underside. This membrane is bonded to the substrate with thin set mortar. The top of the membrane has a grid of cavities that are also filled with mortar which support the tiles on top of the membrane. The DITRA uncoupling membrane provides lateral flexibility and allows for independent movement between the tile and the substrate. The membrane also limits the transfer of movement and stress and protects tiles from damage. Schluter’s DITRA membrane bridges the gap between the uncoupling principle of the ancient tamped sand method and the modern convenience of the direct bond method.
-------------------------------------------------
SOURCES:
youtube.com/watch?v=kr68VGG5HNQ
youtube.com/watch?v=2hUIhLsZ9hU
youtube.com/watch?v=dQw5d9sdz48&t=2538s
youtube.com/watch?v=JtqwYrJNCbI
youtube.com/watch?v=7Ds3TIxuoc8&t=239s
youtube.com/watch?v=KidptPSM9AU
youtube.com/watch?v=ifepuwAMoqQ
youtube.com/watch?v=EC0PK_7QpgY
-------------------------------------------------
Honesty by Hallman: Epidemic Sound
Boost by Joakim Karud: soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Music promoted by Audio Library: youtu.be/6z227WiJeJM
--------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This video was created for educational/informational purposes and qualifies as Fair Use. If you are the creator or own the footage featured in this video and have reservations please notify me via Youtube comments or email and I will accommodate you.
#schluter #tile #uncouplingmat #diybuild #conscioucuncoupling
