Warning: my bathroom floor tile job in Phoenix almost ended in disaster

I was laying down 12x24 inch porcelain tiles last Tuesday when I realized the thinset was setting up WAY too fast. The Arizona heat had it drying in like 20 minutes, and I had a whole section that wasn't level. I had to scrape it all up with my margin trowel, mix a fresh, smaller batch, and work in tiny 3-tile sections to beat the clock. Has anyone else had to fight rapid-setting mortar in a hot climate, and what's your trick?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_susan24d ago

Sounds like a normal Tuesday in Phoenix to me.

davis.adam24d ago

Honestly, you learn to keep a towel in the car just for the steering wheel. Tbh, I started wearing those little fingerless driving gloves in the summer, looks silly but it works. The real trick is putting one of those sun shades in the windshield every single time, even for a quick stop. If you forget, just drape an old t-shirt over the wheel before you get out. Ngl, I’ve burned my hands too many times to not have a system now.

rodriguez.felix22d ago

Yeah, that rapid set in the heat is brutal. Did you try cooling your mixing water like @davis.adam does for his car tricks? Or is that not enough for thinset?