Tile Joints

[preschool mom]

I realize this is a dumb blond question but here goes . . . "we're" (OK I'm supervising and did all the research on the Ditra Mat) laying tile a tile floor over ditra . . . how much of the UNmodified thinset needs to be cleaned out between the tile joints?????

Does the joint need to be clear to where you see the orange mat????

Thanks!

[Kman]

The general rule is about 2/3 the depth of the joint. If your tile is 1/4" thick and you've got about 1/8" of thinset underneath, then about 1/4" below the face of the tile.

Is it already dried, or are you in the process of laying the tile now? It's much easier to keep it clean as you go as opposed to cleaning it later.

[preschool mom]

Thanks for the response. We did a small area last night - maybe 7x7 - so I took a putty knive and dug it out. Is it possible to clean it out too much? I actually scraped some of the 1/8" that's on top of the mat. My husband says I have OCD. :-)

[Kman]

It won't hurt to scrape it out down to the mat.

But see your psychiatrist if you do.

[preschool mom]

Have you been talking to my husband????????