You need to be VERY concerned with it. With granite tiles, you're setting them extremely tight, with a just a slight chamfer on the edge. They're a very unforgiving tile, and you'll see the slightest up and down. Let me ask you-- what exactly do you have so far? The reason I ask is I have a feeling the cement board might come off before we're done here, but I'll tell you for sure one way or the other once you let me know what you've done so far. You might check my backsplashes and countertops page for reference:

Here is a link that might be useful: My Website's Backsplashes and Countertops Page

The cement board has already been attached with mortar and screws to the plywood. For the most part, it is level, but there are a couple areas where I placed a 4ft level and noticed some gaps underneath, less than 2mm. One area though, looks like it might be about 3mm. I was wondering if I could patch these areas somehow, maybe with more mortar and fiberglass tape?? I will look at your site too. Thanks for helping!

I'm sure that would help a whole lot. My reason for asking about how it was put together is because most people don't use enough plywood.

Completely off topic-- I take it you're a bass fisherman? If so, do you own a 481vs?

ranger481vs, yes it is better to compensate in advance than to hope you'll be able to compensate during tile setting.

Which cement board is it? How much distance between screws? Who did the mortar and screws? Did you notice anything during the installation? Are there seams? Which fiberglas tape are you thinking of? How can you explain the 2-3mm height difference?

I did the installation and I believe the level differences arise from not having a consistent mortar bed underneath the "Denshield" backer board. Live and learn! There are a few seams that will need taping (fiberglass) and feathering over with mortar. The screw pattern I used was about 4" apart around the perimeter of each board and about 6" or so apart throughout the rest of the board. As for the type of fiberglass tape, I don't recall what I bought, but I have the means to get whatever is recommended. - Thanks.

So, based on this info I've posted, I'm hoping to get advice on how to even those areas out before tiling.

Bill, did not see your last post.

Anyhow, I used 3/4" AC2 plywood, and then Denshield 1/2" backer board. I will plan to level out those areas with extra mortar and fiberglass tape, unless there is more specific things I should. It's only a couple of small areas, but I want to make sure things are right before laying the tile.

Oh and yeah, I'm a bass fisherman and I do own a '96 481VS - Love that boat!

While troweling, holding the trowel at the same angle to the surface, at all times troweling, will help ensure you put the same amount of thinset onto A/ the tiles (if you back butter them) and also onto B/ the flat surface being tiled.

In the meantime, leveling out the dips will help you a lot when tiling happens because it will be one big thing already taken care of.

There are two kinds of fiberglas tape. One is for drywall. One is for cement. This is the right one. It costs several times more than the drywall tape.

hth

I never met a Ranger I didn't like. Ta HELL with Skeeter and Triton!! :-) (so am I)

Oh yeah.... this is the KITCHENS forum. Listen to David-- he gave you some good tips. LOL

Thanks Guys. One more question on the troweling. When I pull the trowel through the thinset, should I be scraping all the way down to the surface to the point where basically what is left is the raised lines of thinset with almost no material between the raised lines?

Bob, I could talk a lot about Rangers and fishing, but you're right... this is a kitchen forum! :)

Pretty much. You want to stand the trowel up at about an 80 degree angle to the countertop. Don't scrape real hard, but keep a firm even pressure with it.

Just a teaser from prefishing a tournament about a month ago. You can bet this old girl wasn't there the day of the tourney!! :-(

Okay, I think I'm good to go then. Nice kicker fish!

How is your project going? Planning a granite tile kitchen counter top myself and really would like to see photos. Please post!

I don't have a final pic yet, but here's the best photo I have at the moment. Grout is already applied in this pic, but since then I applied an enhancer to darken the grout so it really matches the granite well and blends in. Turned out great! Laying the tile was tedious, but was able to manage it. Still have many things to finish in the kitchen before it's done -- new flooring, backsplash, lighting, etc. But I'm glad to have functioning countertops and a sink again!
{{!gwi}}

Very nice....how did you do the edges? Did you buy your granite somewhere that has those pieces? The edges is what concerns me the most.

Check into Benissimmo Granite Solutions for some nicely done granite tile edges. We installed them four kitchens ago. Loved the way they looked and the preformed edge sure made the installation easier. Nice bass Bill!

I like the way that turned out. Its the way I want to do mine. But I'm looking at using the 12x24" tiles. How wide was that grout line?