Tile & Stone Installation

Floor Mud (833)

SGM Floor Mud 833 is a professional grade factory blended mortar designed to deliver reliable results for contractors who need dense and durable mortar beds. Created with a balance of Portland cement, graded silica sand, and proprietary additives, this product offers consistency that traditional site mixed mortars cannot match. Every bag is pre measured and quality controlled, allowing installers to focus on application rather than worrying about variations in blend or performance.
The primary purpose of Floor Mud 833 is to create a strong base for ceramic tile and dimension stone installations. By forming a dense and moisture resistant bed, it provides stability that supports both residential and commercial projects. Showers, countertops, wet areas, and high traffic floors all benefit from a mortar bed that is specifically engineered to resist breakdown over time. The reliable structure prevents water intrusion and delivers the level support needed for demanding applications.
Ease of use is central to the product’s design. To prepare Floor Mud 833, installers only need to add clean potable water. The mortar quickly mixes into a plastic and trowelable consistency that spreads evenly and is simple to float into place. This streamlined mixing process saves time and labor while reducing errors. With less jobsite waste and faster preparation, contractors are able to complete more work efficiently without sacrificing quality.
Another defining feature is versatility. Floor Mud 833 can be used for floating mortar beds in showers, sloped surfaces in wet environments, or even as a solid underlayment for stone and tile on wood subfloors. In countertop installations, it provides a dependable setting base that ensures long lasting results. When paired with a cleavage membrane and metal lath, it adapts to challenging surfaces and delivers consistent performance.
While Floor Mud 833 provides excellent strength on its own, it is also designed to integrate seamlessly with other SGM products. When mixed with Southcrete 30 High Strength Admix instead of water, the mortar gains additional flexibility and bond strength. This option allows installers to enhance performance in environments where extra durability is required. In addition, tiles can be set directly into the plastic mortar using Portland Cement Bond Coat methods, allowing for efficient installations without compromising integrity.
Moisture resistance is one of the reasons Floor Mud 833 is widely chosen for showers and wet areas. The dense composition resists water penetration, protecting tile and stone from common failures associated with inferior substrates. When used according to industry standards and paired with proper waterproofing systems, it contributes to a complete installation designed to last for decades.
Contractors benefit from the reliability of a product that is ready to use out of the bag, while distributors value the reduced risk of inconsistent performance. Stocking a mortar that meets professional expectations with every application builds trust and repeat business. For homeowners, Floor Mud 833 ensures that the investment in tile or stone is supported by a substrate that will hold up under daily use and exposure to water, heat, and movement.
SGM supports every bag of Floor Mud 833 with technical literature, installation guidelines, and decades of expertise in the tile and surface industry. The product is a cornerstone of the company’s integrated system, which includes preparation materials, mortars, grouts, and maintenance products. Each component is engineered to work together, and Floor Mud 833 plays the foundational role in that system.
Behind every successful tile or stone installation is a substrate built to last. With its factory blended consistency, moisture resistant performance, and versatile applications, SGM Floor Mud 833 provides contractors and property owners with confidence in every project. It is the professional solution for dense mortar beds that support surfaces beautifully and reliably year after year.

Product Details

LIMITATIONS

SGM Floor Mud Surface Preparation (833) is not an adhesive mortar; use on substrate only. For additional strength and adhesion, use Southcrete™ 30 High-Strength Admix in lieu of water. Tile can be set with SGM Floor Mud Surface Preparation (833) while still plastic using neat Portland Cement Bond Coat conforming to ANSI-108.1 guidelines.

CHARACTERISTICS

  • Saves Time and Labor
  • Water Resistant
  • Quality Controlled Mix
  • Vermin Proof

PREPARATION

SGM Floor Mud Surface Preparation (833) may be used only over properly prepared substrates. Floors must be twenty-eight (28) days cured and free of moisture. All floors must be free of any wax, oil, dust, or paint overspray. Hence, any further cleaning shall be done using SGM Safe Clean Crystals (refer to SGM Safe Clean Crystals label directions). Remove all liquid curing agents. All materials and areas to be tiled should remain above 40°F (forty degrees Fahrenheit) 24-hours prior and 72-hours after installation.

  • Countertops and Wood Floors: Place a cleavage membrane, such as fifteen (15) pound roofing felt, or four (4) mil polyethylene film. Reinforce with metal lath. Float to a minimum of ? inch.
  • Shower Floors: A minimum of 1¼” thick Floor Mud Surface Preparation is required. For shower receptors, follow the appropriate Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook 2019 Methods B414, B415, and B416 for installation. Shower floor membrane as required by local authority having jurisdiction. Tile installation to conform to appropriate ANSI method.

MIXING AND APPLICATION

Add sufficient cool potable water to dry mix approximately 3/4 – 1 gallon per fifty (50) pounds of Floor Mud Surface Preparation. Mix until mortar becomes trowable. Apply floor mud to subsurface using sufficient pressure to insure a good mechanical bond. Float Floor Mud Surface Preparation to desired thickness. Follow TCNA Handbook Method EJ171-88 for expansion joints.

CURING

Minimum cure is reached 12—24 hours. Tiles may be set while floor mud remains plastic. Setting time may vary according to atmospheric conditions.

COVERAGE

  • 24 sq. ft per 50 lbs. bag at ¼ inch thickness.
  • 12 sq. ft per 50 lbs. bag at ½ inch thickness.
  • 8 sq. ft per 50 lbs. bag at ¾ inch thickness.
  • 6 sq. ft per 50 lbs. bag at one (1) inch thickness

CLEAN UP

Clean up hands and tools with warm soapy water before material dries.

CAUTION

WARNING — EYE IRRITANT CONTAINS PORTLAND CEMENT. Product is alkaline on contact with water. Use paddle for mixing to avoid splashing into eyes or contact with skin. During mixing or application avoid contact with eyes. In case of such contact, flood eyes repeatedly with water and CALL A PHYSICIAN. Wash thoroughly after handling and before smoking or eating. Do not take internally. CONTAINS FREE SILICA — DO NOT BREATHE DUST. Prolonged exposure to dust may cause delayed lung disease (Silicosis). WARNING: This product may expose you to chemicals, including silica, which the State of California recognizes as a cause of cancer. For more information, visit the Proposition 65 Warnings Website (www.P65Warnings.ca.gov). Use NIOSH approved masks at all times to handle silica dust. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

MAINTENANCE

None required.

SGM Inc. warrants this product will perform in accordance with its intended use for a period of one year from the date of manufacture. Any claim for defective products must be submitted in writing to SGM Inc. and samples of the defect must be provided. SGM Inc. ‘s sole obligation will be to replace any product determined to be defective by SGM Inc. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, SGM INC. MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SGM INC. BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, WHETHER ARISING BY CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. SGM INC.’S SOLE OBLIGATION WILL BE TO REPLACE ANY PRODUCT DETERMINED BY SGM INC. TO BE DEFECTIVE.