When we put the hardiboard on this area, do we lay it in the same fashion as Option A (put it on the vertical riser first and lay the sheet in the kitchen over that to form a 90-degree step)? This is how we planned on doing it, but I just wanted to double check. Although "the book" says it doesn't matter, The OCD in me says you're right-- riser first and cap it with the floor. We have tiled 2 bathrooms and a kitchen, but we have never used tiles larger than 12x12's...Any advice for laying the 19x19s? A couple. First, make sure your subfloor is as flat as possible. Even the slightest deviation in the subfloor will translate into a tile edge sticking way up. Secondly, use a medium bed mortar instead of thinset. The only difference is that it's got a coarser grain sand in it so it can be applied a little heavier than thinset. Lastly, use what might appear to most, a HUGE notched trowel. The notch I prefer with tiles that big is 1/2" wide by 3/4" deep. You CAN get away with 1/2x1/2", but then you need to backbutter each tile, as well. Lastly, (ok this is 3 questions), do you have any comments about ditra underlayment? It seems to be the latest thing, but is it really any better than hardibacker? It's more betterer than you could imagine. :-) Hardibacker, or ANY of the CBU's provide one thing, and one thing only, and that's a more stable bonding surface. What Ditra provides is not only a better way of bonding, but also protection from structural expansion and contraction of the house, which translates into a longer lasting floor.

Hi, Part of what I have gone through with my Step-mother is here...http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/step/msg0812243515628.html?46. I commented a few years ago to this post, so you will need to scroll down to where I commented to read about us. There is more to the story, but that was all I wanted to write when I was 16. I am 20 now. There is more about my Half-brother in this forum somewhere that I have included in another comment. If this seems like a story that you would like to hear more about, please comment on here that you would like to know more, and I will type more of my story. Hope this helps you. AR_Dramaqueen

i had an ex who had a lot of interests, and didn't spend time with me very often. He went away for a weekend, and i learned that i was more lonely when he was home than when he was away. We broke up soon after that. Luckily there were no kids involved.

Karen I can see what you are saying as you don't know me. I did accept their marriage did not rock the boat. Or protest their marriage. As I said I tried to ignore the mistreatment especially at the beginning. She was a person that was selfish and very controlling. A person that was always trying to find fault. She even made comments about my Mother's family which there was no reason for that in fact they all lived far away and did not bother them. Actually I never did wish any harm on their marriage. But I think everyone involved need to be treated fairly unless the step daughter is trying being evil and stir the pot but that was not me. But I desereved a relationship with my Father she did not want me to have that. Actually I had thought of walking away thinking he'd be happier but I decided that I had a right to have a relationship with him. As they had a right to be married. She was a very jealous person. At some point I had to stick up for myself. Right before he died he did tell he was sorry for everything. I am no way implying that I am a perfect person. I tried to do right but with her nothing was ever good enough. This went on for years. I know I should just forget it and I am better than I was. Her own son said if anything happened to his wife that he would not remarry because she would not want his Grandkids. Now what he says and what he would do I don't know. I still believe that step families don't usually work but I did not believe that when they first married was very accepting. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and must make their own choices