Concrete – Self leveling underlayment – should I tile first

If I understand your question you are creating a raised floor section, 2 1/4 inches higher than the floor below it and you want to place you tub at this height.

I think that you have some sort of frame in place into which you want to pour the LevelQuik, filling it up, so that it will cure into a level surface.

I suggest against that. The maximum thickness of the LevelQuik is stated because, among other reasons, it may not cure properly when poured too thick and it may lose structural integrity when poured too thick.

I'd suggest you use a Deck Mud mix and scree it to your level. If you're nervous about the trueness of the level you could pour the Deck Mud slightly below your line than pour LevelQuik on top of it.

You have to take it out or live with it.

1. You don't thinset between the cement board until you are tiling. This ensures that you will have a chance to flatten things out.

2. So knock out tile and all thinset, including the stuff between the cement board. You should be able to get this with a hammer and chisel pretty easy.

3. The retile, filing in the gaps during the tiling process. If they don't get all the way filled in perfectly, shit happens.

4. Tile again. You did a really good job on the actual tile work. Thinset maybe a little too much or maybe you need to clean your joints faster but a great first tile job.

What you learned is that 80% of tiling is prep work - you had a small hiccup here. That is why on those reno shows they are dumbasses acting like they are great at tiling showers when the contractor did all the prep for them.