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If using mortar you should use a mix of 6 parts sharp sand (grit) to 1 part cement or stronger. It’s usually recommended to use a mix of 4:1 or 5:1. Your mortar bed should be around 30-40mm thick. If you’re using a full concrete base then we advise you adhere the tiles using a suitable exterior grade tile adhesive.
How thick should mortar be when laying tile?
The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer – typically not greater than 3/16th thick. For example, a 3/8″ notch trowel will produce a 3/16th inch thick coating after the tiles are pressed in to the cement.
Does porcelain tile need special thinset?
ANSWER – Porcelain Tile should be installed with a latex modified thin-set or a polymer modified thin-set. The Custom Marble Granite Mortar I believe is a polymer modified thin-set. For larger tiles 12×12 or larger should use a 1/4″ sq. notch trowel.
Can tile mortar be too thick?
The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer – typically not greater than 3/16th thick.
What size trowel should I use for porcelain tile?
Size Matters All tile manufacturers offer a recommended trowel size. Mosaic installations up to 2 inches can use a 1/8-inch notch, as can wall tiles of up to 4 inches, as a general rule. 16-inch tiles need a 1/2-inch-deep notch, and anything over 24 inches should use a 3/4-inch notch.
Is back buttering tile necessary?
For ceramic or porcelain tile of any size, back buttering (also known regionally as “Keying In”, “Burning”, “Back Parging,” etc.) promotes transfer of the bonding material to the back of the tile. Back buttering is not required to achieve necessary coverage and support.
Is mortar the same as thinset?
Thinset, while it is also sometimes referred to as a “mortar” is an adhesive. It’s a mix of cement, water, and fine sand. Due to its cement ingredients, thinset should be made up in small batches as needed.
Can you use unmodified thinset on porcelain tile?
Just to clarify Danny’s answer; You need to use a modified thinset with porcelain. The only time you can use unmodified is when the manufacturer of an associated system advises to use something else such as with Ditra and Kerdi installations. So unless you’re going over such a system, you have no choice.
Is premixed thinset any good?
Thinset mixed from a powder is not that hard to work with. Mix smaller batches for less waste, cures by chemical reaction not evaporation, and is just as smooth. I have never used premixed and can say that powdered is very user friendly.
Can I use ceramic thinset on porcelain tile?
When it comes to thinset for porcelain tile, most people suggest using modified adhesive to achieve an optimum bond. This means if you only have non-modified thinset on hand, you’ll need to add a latex polymer admixture. If your thinset is too thin it reduces bond strength.
What happens when thinset is too thick?
In addition to producing an uneven surface, applying too much thinset can create costly cleanup headaches and add unnecessary time to a project. Simple installation rules eliminate the possibility of this potential problem.
What does 1/2 thinset compress to?
So a 1/2” x 1/2” trowel will leave a 1/4” high bed of thinset beneath the tile. A 3/8” x 3/8”’ trowel will leave a 3/16” bed of thinset beneath the tile. Using a U-notched trowel and embedding the tile into the thinset leaves you with a bed of thinset beneath the tile a little over 1/3 the size of the trowel teeth.
How thick is too thick mortar?
The building code for weight-bearing brick walls calls for mortar to be no more than 3/8 inch thick. The thickness of the mortar can vary in other types of structures from 1/8 inch to ¾ inch, according to the MC2 Estimator’s Reference website.
How do I know what size trowel to use on tile?
Finding the right trowel for the job is quite simple when you know that, generally speaking, the trowel size should match up to the tile size – the smaller the tile, the smaller the trowel; the larger the tile, the larger the trowel.
What size spacers should I use for 12×24 tiles?
Installing 12×24 Tile: Grouting We used 1/4 inch spacers to achieve the perfect grout lines that you see here and I would definitely recommend using them, even if you think you’re pretty comfortable with tiling.
What direction should tile be laid?
It really depends on what you hope to achieve visually for this room. If you run them vertically you are giving the illusion of lengthening the room, run them horizontally and you are widening the room. General rule of thumb is to run them the length of the room, but this dosen’t always have to be the case.
What size tiles need back buttering?
Back buttering is especially important for tiles which are slightly bowed, uncalibrated or where the back of the tile is uneven. British Standards state that 80-100% coverage is needed with large format tiles and 100% for any tiles in wet areas, regardless of size or material.
What does back buttering tile mean?
Back butter is defined as the spreading of a bond coat to the backs of ceramic tile just before the tile is placed. Bond is defined as the adherence of one material to another. Coverage is defined as a measure of the amount of material required to cover a given surface.
Do subway tiles need spacers?
Yes. Most subway tile has grooves on the sides so you don’t need to use spacers at all because it’s an automatic 1/16″ grout line.
Can I use thinset instead of mortar?
Thinset is an adhesive cement used to secure floor and wall tiles to concrete surfaces. The word “thinset” is sometimes used interchangeably with “mortar,” because it’s a type of modified mortar made specifically for tile.
Is Mastic better than thinset?
Thinset is a stronger material than mastic, making it a better choice for horizontal applications such as flooring that get a lot of pounding. Dry-mix thinset is inexpensive and easy to use.
Can thinset be used for leveling?
Thinset mortar is a type of cement used for the adherence of tiles and flooring to substrate, or subfloor materials. You can also use thinset mortar to level out an uneven cement floor or fill small holes in the floor without installing tile.
