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What is a Jersey mud job (for ceramic tile installation)?

10 years ago

What exactly is a "Jersey mud job" for installing tile? Is it the same thing as a "modified mud job with mesh"?

A flooring store owner said that my tile would be installed using a "modified mud job with mesh" onto my plywood subfloor (the mesh is an up-charge). I then asked the store owner if this was a Jersey mud job, and he said he's never heard of a Jersey mud job. Is it even possible for someone to be in the flooring business for almost 50 years and not know what a Jersey mud job is?

What's the best way to have ceramic tile installed onto a plywood subfloor to avoid cracks in the tile or other issues?

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Comments (7)

cold_weather_is_evil
10 years ago
Is it right to read into this that you are belittling a store owner because he doesn't know your strange pejorative labels? Harsh.
toobie-ornot
Original Author
10 years ago
@cold, not sure if you're being serious here. But I have no clue what a Jersey mud job is, and I'm not sure if the installation that the owner is proposing is actually a Jersey mud job or something entirely different. I didn't insult the owner by asking him if the installation is considered a JMJ.
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oops didnt click email postings. first post. yeah thats why i fired him, he was saying things that just didnt seem right but i went with. this is my first home. now, i buy my own tools and do it myself. i cant remember but i think it was a rusted, original, cast iron sink in place. The tile had to be cut to gain access to the sink mounting hardware. Thats where the ruff edges are in the picture. due to the old design and dimensions, this was his solution. i bought an above mount sink, and he custom "cut and grinded* the sink to fit in the space. he said later he would put tiles over it. i have the actual tiles thank gawd that are actually a damn good match for it. i was thinking to use waterproof construction adhesive to the steel (it is juusssttt bout level to the tiles if i do that). it is used for exterior flashing so i know it will hold. silicone around the the bottom edges and fill in with grout. but once again i dont know if that will work. i would have no idea how to remove it. its glued in place. if i had to get a bigger sink, that would be 200 bucks down the drain because taking this thing out would def render it un-usuable. i will check out that tile forum and see what they say. will post back later. thanx!
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geoffrey_b
10 years ago
A Jersey Mud-Job is a subpar. This is where they staple mesh to the floor, and skim it with a thin mortar bed.

The type of tile and the floor defection. The deflection is the amount of 'give' bending of the floor. The deflection is dependent upon the size and spacing of your joists + the subfloor.

Google John Bridge. You will get all the info you need.
toobie-ornot
Original Author
10 years ago
Geoffrey, thanks for the info and that web site. I happened upon the John Bridge site last night, and it's really informative.

I asked the flooring owner if my floors are suitable for tile, and he said "I'm sure they are." He hasn't checked out the construction, but he's assuming that since the floors are new, they will be suitable for the heavy tile. Not sure if he should be making this assumption.
geoffrey_b
10 years ago
The reason to be concerned is obvious: Tiling a floor is mess / time / money.

If in a year your tile starts cracking / tenting / grout cracking what happens?

I would tell the flooring store guy that you are concerned about the possible deflection of your floor, and does you subfloor meet the TCNA (tile council of North America) specs?

What kind of warrany does he offer - in writing.
StoneTech
10 years ago
I agree. Don't care HOW long he's been selling tile. If he doesn't even go out to LOOK at the job, how can he advise you on suitability?

A Jersey Mud Job isn't a pejorative term...that's what it's called...and it is a substandard way of setting tile and has been for years, but it IS cheap! (lol)

If your home is not on slab, go back to the John Bridge site and check out the "Deflecto" calculator in the blue bar at the top of the forums page.
Andrew Hebson
3 years ago
Wait? What is the substrate?

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