Before tile goes down, the slab needs prep. NXT self-leveling underlayment brings the concrete to tolerance. Drytek manages moisture from below. Strata Mat crack-isolation prevents substrate movement from showing through the tile. Oshawa Concrete installs the right Laticrete product for your slab condition, coordinated with your tile installer's spec.
A tile project that specifies Laticrete thinset and grout needs Laticrete on the substrate side too. The warranty path runs through the whole assembly. If the underlayment is a different brand, the Laticrete warranty breaks even if the tile install is flawless.
NXT SLU corrects slab tolerance so the tile installer has a flat, level surface. Drytek addresses moisture rising from below, which can delaminate tile years later. Strata Mat crack-isolation absorbs minor slab movement so hairline cracks do not telegraph through the finished tile. Each product solves a real substrate problem.
We assess the slab, pick the right Laticrete underlayment, and hand off to the tile installer with the substrate ready and the warranty path intact. See our Laticrete waterproofing work for wet zones. Compare Mapei self-leveling and Ardex SLU if another brand is specified.
Recent work
Installation sequence
How Laticrete Underlayment Installation Works
Assess slab and tile spec
We evaluate the concrete surface, moisture conditions, and any existing cracks, then match the Laticrete product (NXT, Drytek, or Strata Mat) to the tile installer's requirements.
Prepare surface per Laticrete
The slab is ground, cleaned, and primed per Laticrete specification. Contaminants are removed and moisture issues are addressed before any underlayment is applied.
Install underlayment system
NXT is mixed and poured to the target depth for tolerance correction, or Strata Mat is laid and bonded for crack-isolation, or Drytek moisture system is installed per the slab condition.
Cure and hand off
After the underlayment cures per Laticrete spec, the substrate is ready for the tile installer. The warranty path stays intact because the whole assembly is Laticrete.
System integrity
Keeping the Laticrete Warranty Path Intact
When a tile project is specified as whole-Laticrete, every layer matters. The underlayment is not just a substrate filler; it is part of the engineered system. Mixing brands at the underlayment layer voids the Laticrete warranty on the tile install above, even if the thinset and grout are Laticrete.
We deliver Laticrete underlayments because that is what keeps the warranty path intact and gives the tile installer confidence in the substrate. Coordinate with the rest of Laticrete services and explore our full brand specialty across all project types.
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 Oshawa 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, Oshawa
★★★★★
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, Toronto
★★★★★
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, Brampton
★★★★★
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, Mississauga
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Concrete Guides & Articles
Practical reading on planning, finishes and caring for concrete in Oshawa.
