WHAT IS FRESH SETTING??? - BIG PORCELAIN TILES 

Man I love setting tile like this we still do it here and there with marble or travertine learned from my pops I’m 28 now. I’ve been helping him since I was 15 during the summers. I’m glad I learned how to install all of this the old skool way it takes time to learn this but very appreciative. MUDDAWGS!!!

legend has it that hes still tiling that floor .

Kudos to you guys, I would probably lose half of my installers if I asked them to use this method. We would normally just screed the whole floor first .

4 tiles set and that guy wishes hes never seen this method for another 31 years

From what I understand, this is basically doing a screed and tiling at the same time. This is interesting, because I’ve seen a lot of Asian tilers tiling using very similar method where they would build up the floor with some kind of mud as a substrate, and then bond it with a thinned out adhesive, almost water consistency, and bond the tiles to that. Your method seems very similar to how they do it in Asia. Very very interesting! Thank you for sharing, learn a lot from your videos. Got to be one of the best tilers on RU-vid!

I see this type of installation done very often in Eastern countries , but instead of thinset they just use liquid concrete , same result at the end and solid bond! Well done coach love your work 👍👍

I thought I was the only white boy doing this. Good to see ya keeping these old techniques alive. I learned it from the Romanians in Sacramento area back in the 80's.

Isaac thanks for the videos mate . I've found them very helpful not just for tiling but for business etiquette and positivity towards customer service etc. Appreciate it. From South Wales,UK

So great to see old school. I was taught this method 36 years ago. Still do it to this day. I like your style.

Haters will hate isaac your a hell of a tile setter this method is very interesting keep up the honest quality work man

I’m 26 getting ready to take over my dads tile company and it’s scary. But thank you, those last words were very encouraging. New subscriber!

Wow this is exactly the video I was looking for. I have a patio where the tiles started popping up do to a wall shifting. The tiles were initially raised with gravel on the concrete subfloor and then thinset poured over the gravel. But the gravel doesnt bond with the concrete subfloor. So I tried using about an inch of thinset and yes it gets extremely messy. Now I could use these tips and get going with deck mud! Thanks.

Deck mud is a new concept to me. It a wild concept that is a pretty amazing technique. Granted I'm just a homeowner with limited tile knowledge. Just love these videos.

Thank you tile coach I'm actually from Modesto but I live in Dallas Texas it's really nice to see the old style of tile setting coming back it's more than just putting tile down it's a thank you again bro

Fresh setting was popular at one time, thanks for showing this process. Straight portland cement for slurry and setting works great for that application. A string line also would work great for application.

All that extra mortar and work for a drain that's 1" high? I would put my time on fixing/adapting the drain personally.

Drypack is all I INSTALL!!!!ITS AN ART...GREAT JOB GUYS!!!

that's a pretty cool, old and forgotten method. I sure there are plenty of people that would try and build up with thinset and spot bond and that's sure to fail within a short time period. Im still trying to figure out why the home owners had you demo that deck in the first place, lol it was beautiful. Like you mentioned in your last video travertine was real popular material in the early 2000's. I remember when I first started working as a helper we did a tone of trvertine. I recently landed a contract for a rebuild from the 2018 sonoma county wildfire and all five bathrooms are travertine showers and versie floors. Im really looking foward to this project because it reminds me a lot of when i first started in the trade 14 years ago and its a refreshing change from the gray and white bathrooms we've been doing for the last 6 or 7 years.

I've had to do this 4 or 5 times over the past 25yrs,, (don't have the patience to do it anymore). But it is the perfect technique when self-leveling cements aren't an option, for uneven and sloping surfaces, indoor or outdoor.

Hello from Canada I did this I used the same system in a few jobs and it works amazing, customers were happy and I was happy with the job.

I was taught this method when i done my apprenticeship in the 80's. Rather than putting adhesive on the backs of the tiles we poured a slurry mix of neat cement onto the damp screed and beat the tiles straight into it. Used to fix Terrazzo and quarry tiles onto factory floors, station concourses and supermarkets. Rock solid fixing method. Not sure if this method would work on porcelain though due to it's low porosity. On a side note. Not used this method in years and tbh im quite thankful of that. Bloody hard back breaking work!

Now all you need to find are some tools made in the 50s! I actually really enjoyed seeing this… complete with my 75 yr old father’s Saturday evening music! Love the old school application! He’s been doing tile for 31 years… his funeral will be on this floor!

This is what you call a tedious job. Awesome video!

I actually absolutely hate doing construction type work. But I love to watch these videos because it’s filling my head with more knowledge. And it’s amazing how talented you guys are at what you do. Basically artists.

Issac, thanks for posting this. I have been putting off getting some tile down in an area that is too big for me to get all the deck mud mixed and set in one go single handed. I was going to try doing the deck mud in sections and then go back and set the tile. This makes a lot more sense.

Sweet dude! I have known this method as wet setting. This is how tile is set in Italy. Caught a little tip from you on this video too! This is my first comment ever but just letting you know I appreciate you and all your videos! Alex - Rochester, NY Elite Custom Tile & Stone

Fresh-setting.....took me a couple years to learn. awsome work! great video!

Keeping mud alive. Thank you!

This is the best type of install. I do it a bit differently. I fluff up the mortar bed, dust the mortar bed with dry Portland powder then wet it down so that the thinset has a wet surface to grab on to. I don’t like to put wet thinset down on a mortar bed like that without dry cement and water but there’s lots of different ways of installing marble other than mine

Hands down this is the best way to have a flat perfect install. It's a little more work but final results is perfect

Well done guys! Wet setting goes wayyyy back! still works and was def needed to this project!

Those little hand rakes for gardening work well for this method. This is the best way to get tiles flat on large heavy tiles without using clips.

I have never seen tile set like this, absolutely amazing. So cool.

Using this method now on a 4,000sf floor. It works really good. Nice video isaac

Isaac, you are one of my favorite people to watch and learn from (tiling and how you carry yourself). Therefore, I know this is a character flaw of mine. I couldn't walk by a job site without ruining the clothes you're wearing.🤔 You were able to helpnout and stay camera ready.🤵📸 Ladies always tell me I look good in green. Maybe they mean envy? Great video!

This is a good method if you're trying to achieve a level surface with a large format tile. Very common in Florida with installations of marble. Now trying to slope it as you go seems really time consuming.....

Why dont you just float the floor with dry pack mortar bed then set tiles like normal install with thin set? Seems like it would be much faster, and slope would be more accurate.

We call it dry packing bottom thin set middle cement spec mix thin set on the back of tile love it good job coach

This is how we set flagstone, just don't use thin set. We use a slurry of straight portland to butter the concrete and flagstone with a layer of light mix stone mortar. Lasts forever.

Amazing skill, artistry, and hard work. Bravo!

Thanks so much for your great videos; they’ve shown me so many new tricks and things to watch out for. You do amazing work bro

When we install this way we use a stiff fat mud with thin-set slurry under the mud and on back of tile and rubber mallet it to the desired height/level. No pulling up 3 times before final set. One and done.

I really like this method,ive used it couple of times and i can say that is the best for durability and tile level.

Nice work! This method is also performed with contemporaneous screeds which can be helpful in maintaining continuous slope while reducing anomalous deflection especially in long runs. Because this base has a high water permeability consideration could be given to using a drain with weep holes or even retrofitting installed drain with perforations just at the substrate. Base drainage can be particularly important in colder sub freezing climates.

You would think its impossible to build up that high with just thinset. But I have seen some real idiots do it. Absolutely crazy people out there who are not interested in doing things the right way. Great job.

This method would have never crossed my mind as I would have wanted my anti-fracture on top of my mortar bed. Though I can see where this would work well! Good job fellas!!

Still looking for an apprentice that can cut a tile faster than the time it takes for me to get up and cut it myself.

I just learned how to do this a year ago . Great method. We call it mud setting out here in Gainesville FL.

I have done it that way ,then pour pure cement over the mud then the tile sticks like glue .great job

Wow that’s a lot of work. I’m surprised they didn’t opt for pavers or something thicker.

Isaic, I did this type of install for years, mostly with natrual stone. Where is the mixing box for the deckmud? Your guys use a Drill? Where is the pile of sand and the bags of portland? those bags of deck mud might be convient but it adds up. $25.00 for a yard of sand and 6 bags of portland way cheeper. How do esstablish you elevations without string lines to guide you?

This guy is a legend in his own mind, just screed the floor to correct falls and tile as normal, if you want to be professional about it

Perfect!! I've never seen that method here in the netherlands. I've seen mud dried and than thinset to apply the tiles, and i've seen mud set to hight and than sprikle with water to set the tile. Maybe this is the perfect combination!

Just lower the drain . This is Insanity in it's purest form!

I agree this method will work. But I think there was better option. Like pavers, think stone, or prelevel with dry pack or deck mudd.. Great video still great video and work. I'm only giving an opinion nothing wrong with what you are doing.

As a plumber I couldn't imagine doing all this work to avoid lowering the drain. You get one tile down about every 10 minutes. What a slow process, sure looks good though.

thats dope im a new school tile setter in boise, wow i really like these old school techniques. that floor would survive huricane katrina

Dude in loved this video! First time I comment something like this

We use a concrete topping on top of this floor for ceramic tile. For terrazo tile we use mud with plenty Portland cement. This way we do the whole floor in one day

Hey Issac great video as always. Couple of questions. Why wouldn't you install the drain lower so you don't have to build up so much to get to the height of the drain? Something like this I think I would rather do some kind of screed strips and deck mud to get the slope to the drain. Then install the tiles on the dry deck mud. Although who knows maybe you would be too high on the perimeter or something to match existing sidewalks and finishes. In the video it seems like you are more or less guessing on the slope of the initial tiles. Which I'm sure for you and Kurt is all fine because you have tons of combined experience. But how do you decide on a slope on something with this large of an area, and how do you keep it consistent for the entire floor while contouring to the ever changing slope and direction of slope of the concrete or substrate? This seems like a really material and labor intensive job, it would be interesting to know what you have to bid something like this a sq/ft to make money. I am blown away with the amount of work this would take! I feel like I owe you something in return for all the great content you have on YT. I have made good money learning from your channel and watching your videos (also including Sal with Elite Tile). And the best part is that I know I am doing stand up work that I am confident in and it will stand the test of time. Keep up the good work and God Bless!

a) saw cut and jackhammer concrete around drain, lower fix same day, proceed as normal b) dry pack either wet set or float the whole thing and let dry still needs wire roll ( just like concrete does ) only thinner gauge c) guessing on slope with level based on bubble is no bueno, where’s it ending up? above doors? left side higher than right? d) only one drain? sometimes you gotta a drain or two, even landscape channel drains for the perimeters to meet flush and end up looking great

Man that looks fun I've never set like this and would love to learn how.

You can pull string lines for the height,

You have to continue that level all the way through the job, if you try to work your way down to a normal 3/8"-1/2" notch you will create a hump in the floor where you started to deviate.

Tip: use a small hand brush in order to wipe off the excess of deck mud on the edges of the laid tile. Using the side of your trowel may peel off / damage the redguard coat.

30 years in the trade and never heard of mudset, that’s all we do here in Florida, well most of my installation is marble and stone

Back in the days here in southern Cali we call it dry pack tile installation

Mapai 4 to 1 Deck Mud here in NC used to be $10/bag around the time you made this video but now Lowe's has jacked it up to $28/bag which is beyond ridiculous.

Union teaches you everything with great benefits and pay

Thanks man you are a rock star in the tile world

Called setting in dry pack and dope . We do it with granite all the time in Boston

Man oh man. Nice finished product but I could never charge enough for this method. You’d be setting for half a year lol

Get a plumbers torpedo level it has the lines that shows you slope 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 in per foot, it rally helpful in situations like this.

That was awesome to watch

Why did you call a plumber to fix the drain height or at least drill some weep holes and pack gravel ; it looks like you’re going to end up with the same problem with water damming around the drain over time.

I literally almost cried a few minutes into watching this. We have lived in a old commercial building since January 2004 that we converted to a house. It is nothing but a mess of a concrete floor with uneven areas and drains. It’s been a long time trying to figure what to do, but it looks like this might be our answer!!! Any suggestions on how to proceed? We have about 5,000 sq ft. Is this for only drained areas or can I use it throughout the house?

Love your videos/ Tips!!! Keep up the good vibes!!!

Howdy coach. Is there a building code specifying why you can't cut a slice off the top of the drain pipe? Also, do you need weep holes in the drain pipe so the water that accumulates in the deck mud has someplace to go? Cheers

Why not drypack the whole floor first and then tile? Here in Toronto we drypack first and then let it dry for a few days. This way we let the concrete crack first, and then we install the tile.

Used to be called "mortar set". It's quite hard to find experts to do or demonstrate today as it's a forgotten and better way to install.

I'm from the 305 all the floor I do used thinset and type S mortar just like this and I always have perfect levels the old school way is the best way

I appreciated this video

Once I did something like that at bathroom and I was wondering if it’s going to bond . But it was only one tile under the toilet. So far so good no reclamation. But nice, nice way to do it as perfect as it’s possible.

Good job to the guys doing the work

Wouldn't it be cheaper and faster to replace the drain, maybe even with an adjustable one?

I use this method all the time to set plank tile and also run up walls with it. Nicely done. I call it mud setting. Aren't a few voids ok since youll back butter the pieces and it acts as support? I have had a little voids under the dry set and combed the back of the tile and I would think its ok.

But I never used the mini leaf rake. I love it !!! I will be getting me one of those ASAP. Thanks for the tip

First time I’ve seen this technique for setting tiles, & it’s freakin awesome. Also right, using thin set to build up that high would be horrible, & then taking a tile off to reset....what a pain & mess it can become. This is a sweet way. So this is how you set the Travertine Tile 7 yrs ago (think it was) when you did the install? If so, when you were demoing & showing the coverage on the tile, it really was 100% coverage, & not sure you ever did find any hollow spots. Thanks for sharing, showing, & teaching. Stay Safe✌🏼

Lots of work there

That was really cool. I have set tile for many years and I have never seen anything like that. Awesome job! This is definitely my favorite video you have done so far. Keep up the good work!

Monolithic flooring when you trap moisture under tiles, gives a very high strength, would have just screeded the area first though, then bonded tiles with SBR and cement mix.

Ya could of screeded the whole area and then stick em down after it’s dried?

These algorithms maybe insanely creepy. I have to fix some large, outdoor, natural tile and I haven't done any searches on it. Coincidence?

I'm from Jamaica i do that alot of times depending on the floors got alot of tips for

Guaranteed full coverage, boom

You can also add smoke water via a little sponge action if the mud is slightly higher than what is needed. The water causes the mud to compact and compress

this is so cool never heard this before

Man I remember the days of running this crap up stairs after mixing it down on the street.

If he's been doing it for 31 years he should be familiar with all aspects of tile fresh mud and so on fresh mud all it is is sand and cement that's all it is no big secret and if you want a good Bond the best Bond you set tile on fresh mud it will bond it will not come off guaranteed a lot of guys don't know the old school let's see if this guy does.

Thanks for u video.Another lesson ;) Im tile guy in Canada ( 9 years exp) and im still learning.Yours videos and Startile are the best ones.The only thing i would say here is this metod is time consuming. All methods have pros and cons but imagine do whole 1000sqft (lets say) with this method.I believe it will take lots of time.Why not used drypack (deck mud) do whole area perfect level and then install tiles?