Before tile goes down, the slab needs to be flat, stable, and moisture-managed. Laticrete NXT self-leveling brings uneven concrete to tolerance. Drytek moisture barriers protect against rising damp. Strata Mat crack-isolation stops substrate movement from showing through the finished tile. Abbotsford Concrete installs the right Laticrete system for your slab condition, coordinated with your tile trade. Free written estimate.
A tile project that specifies Laticrete thinset and grout needs Laticrete on the substrate side too. The warranty path runs from slab through finish, and mixing brands at the underlayment layer breaks that coverage. NXT SLU corrects floor flatness. Drytek manages moisture from below the slab. Strata Mat crack-isolation prevents substrate cracks from telegraphing up through the tile.
We assess the slab condition, pick the right Laticrete product, and install it to spec. The tile installer then applies Laticrete thinset on top, keeping the whole-system warranty intact. This is how tile projects stay protected through seasonal movement and moisture cycles.
We evaluate the concrete surface, check for moisture, look for cracks, and confirm the tile installer's substrate requirements to select NXT, Drytek, or Strata Mat.
Prepare surface to Laticrete standard
Concrete is ground, cleaned, and primed per Laticrete spec. Any contaminants are removed, moisture issues are addressed, and the primer is applied evenly.
Install the underlayment system
NXT is mixed and poured to the target depth for flatness, or Strata Mat is laid and bonded for crack isolation, or Drytek moisture system is installed per the slab condition.
Cure and hand off to tile
After cure time, the substrate is ready for the tile installer to apply Laticrete thinset. The whole-system warranty path stays intact through the tile finish.
Warranty continuity
Laticrete System Discipline Protects the Tile
When a tile project is specified as whole-Laticrete, the warranty covers the entire assembly from substrate through grout. We deliver Laticrete underlayments because that is what keeps the warranty path intact for the tile installer's work on top.
NXT vs Drytek vs Strata Mat, tile-system warranty, substrate match.
NXT SLU for tolerance correction. Drytek for moisture management on suspect slab substrates. Strata Mat crack-isolation for substrates with existing cracks that might telegraph. We pick based on the actual substrate condition.
Yes, the Strata Mat product is engineered to absorb minor substrate movement so cracks in the slab below do not telegraph through to the tile finish. It is essential on certain substrates.
To keep the whole-system warranty path intact. Mixing brands at the underlayment layer breaks the Laticrete system warranty even when the tile install is whole-Laticrete on top.
No, NXT is designed as substrate for tile or other finish. For polished-as-finish projects, a different product is required.
Per Laticrete spec, typically within a day or two depending on the underlayment product and conditions. The tile installer's spec also factors in; we coordinate cure handoff.
Client reviews
What Abbotsford Tile Trades Say About Laticrete Underlayments
Laticrete NXT under my Laticrete thinset. Same brand through whole assembly, my warranty path stayed intact. Substrate was tile-ready when handed off.
Z. K6
Tile Contractor, Abbotsford
★★★★★
They installed Strata Mat crack-isolation on a slab with hairline movement. Two years of seasonal cycle, no telegraph through to the tile. The right tool prevented the problem.
Y. K6
GC, Chilliwack
★★★★★
Drytek moisture system on a basement slab that had unmanaged moisture history. The Laticrete spec saved the tile install from delaminating later. Real engineering match.
Q. K6
Renovation Specialist, Mission
★★★★★
Whole-Laticrete project from substrate through grout. The customer's tile-trade-aware contractor specifically asked for Laticrete; install matched the spec. System discipline paid off.
X. K6
Custom Builder, Langley
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