WHAT TYPE OF MORTAR DO I USE? YOU MUST USE PREMIUM POLYMER-MODIFIED THINSET MORTAR THAT MEETS ANSI A118.4 (FOR PRODUCT WARRANTIES) OR ANSI A118.15 (FOR A LIFETIME WARRANTY). PLEASE REFER TO THE PROVA WARRANTY DOCUMENTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

THE COMPETITION RECOMMENDS UNMODIFIED MORTAR FOR THEIR PRODUCT WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND PREMIUM MODIFIED THIN SET MORTAR? PREMIUM MODIFIED MORTAR CONTAINS LATEX WHICH PROVIDES A STRONGER BOND OVER UNMODIFED MORTAR. MODIFIED MORTAR WILL ALSO ADHERE WELL TO WOOD SUBSTRATES. WE HAVE TESTED THIS WITH TTMAC AND TCNA ALONG WITH MORTAR MANUFACTURERS AND THEY ALL RECOMMEND PREMIUM MODIFIED THIN SET MORTAR.

CAN I INSTALL TILE RIGHT AWAY? YES YOU CAN BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE BOND FROM THE TILE TO THE PROVA- MAT IS STRONGER THAN THE BOND FROM THE PROVA-MAT TO THE SUBSTRATE WITHIN THE SAME DAY. IF YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE TILE IN THE SAME DAY, IT MIGHT PULL THE PROVA-MAT OFF THE SUBSTRATE WHICH WILL CREATE A LOSS OF BOND. SAME THING IS TRUE FOR THE PROVA PAN. YOU CANNOT WALK DIRECTLY ON THE PROVA PAN WITH THE PROVA-MAT PAN LINER IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION. PROVA-MAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DRY AT LEAST 12 HOURS BEFORE TILE IS INSTALLED TO AVOID LOOSENING BOND. NOTE: PROVA PAN SHOULD BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES UNTIL TILES ARE INSTALLED AND SET.

CAN I CUT THE PAN TO FIT? YES, BUT TRY TO CUT EQUAL AMOUNTS OFF BOTH SIDES IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

WHAT IS DRY PACK? IT IS A SAND AND CEMENT MIX PURCHASED WHERE YOU BUY YOUR MORTAR. MIX IT WITH JUST ENOUGH WATER TO FORM A BALL, WHICH HOLDS ITS SHAPE.

I PUT THE PROVA MAT ON YESTERDAY AND WHEN I PULLED BACK A CORNER TO CHECK IF IT WAS ADHERED IT PULLED OFF REAL EASY. IS THIS A PROBLEM? NO PROBLEM AT ALL. MORTAR TAKES 28 DAYS TO FULLY CURE BUT IN 7 DAYS IT IS 75% CURED. IF YOU TRY TO PULL IT OFF AFTER 7 DAYS IT WILL BE HARD TO DO, AND IN 28 DAYS YOU WILL HEAR THE SCRIM TEAR APART. THE AREA THAT WAS PEELED BACK MUST BE REFASTENED TO THE WALL WITH FRESH MORTAR BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE TILES.

WHAT TILE SIZE CAN I PUT ON THE PROVA PAN A MINIMUM SIZE OF 2” X 2” TILE CAN BE LAID IN THE PROVA PAN. ANY SMALLER MIGHT GET CRUSHED WITH HEAVY WEIGHT. FOR ANY TILES LARGER THAN 3” X 3”, INSTALL THE TILES TO HONOR THE AXIS LINES ALONG THE PAN. THIS WILL ENSURE THE TILE INSTALLATION TRAVELS ALONG THE PLANES OF THE PAN WITHOUT PEAKING UP ALONG THE CORNER.

CAN I PUT HEAT CABLE ON THE PROVA PAN? YES, THEY DO NOT GET HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A PROBLEM. YOU CAN INSTALL PROVA FLEX-HEAT OVER THE PAN, INSERT THE HEAT CABLES, AND COVER THE ASSEMBLY WITH PROVA-MAT TO AVOID WATER POOLING IN THE CAVITIES OF PROVA FLEX-HEAT.