Preparing to lay floor tiles (preparing bed)

[Fernando]

I am about to prepare a floor for tiling in the bathroom (compressed cement fibre board) and I have removed the old tiles and I intend to lay a layer of sand and cement before laying the tiles. One of the concerns I have is how to get the fall correct in the shower and in the rest of the bathroom. I manage to get a straight edge and I am planning to use chicken wire with the sand and cement to mimimize cracking in the future. I have also drawn a horizontal line on the wall all around the bathroom which I intend to use as a guide to start from. Any tips on how to get the fall correct and smooth. thanks...

[rmartens]

Well you got a good start. One of the first methods from the old days and what we learnt at tech school as apprentice plasterer tiler is dotting the floors.
You work out the fall you want so if you got the mesh in place before you mix for the whole job mix a bucket full of cement say 4 parts sand one part cement mix fairly stiff dry. put on a small square piece say 60mm square on each corner level to your horizontal line then at the waste bring down to the fall you want say till your level is on or past the line that gives a good fall. When you got all the dots to where you want it. leave a day to dry then you got a datum to work to the next day or the next time.
Usually when I screed to the waste you screed around the waste like a clock hard to explain some one else may elaborate on this technique. Dotting the floors is a good method because then you got something to work to. Good luck Im sure with the preparation you have done you will get it corrrect.

[Fernando]

rmartens thanks for the advice. I thought of doing something like that but with concrete chairs but you idea will work a lot better. I will adopt the dotting method. Rgds