Why use thinset

It's not suitable for retaining walls, which will be in constant contact with earth and moisture. In turn, they are less suitable for fine work, and their higher ratios of Portland cement and sand to lime result in greater skill and care needed to work with them correctly.

Because porcelain is so smooth and nonporous, most mortars have difficulty grabbing onto it and forming a bond with it, requiring special additives. Although all of these products contain cement, sand and water, the ratio between them all as well as the presence of other substances are what make them more suitable for one application over another.

It's important to read product specifications to make the best possible choice for the project you have in mind. Concrete is a tremendous building material, but its strength lies in forming structures and shapes in and of itself rather than bonding other materials together.

This is partly due to the presence of large pieces of gravel in addition to the sand that helps to form its base. If anything, concrete could be thought of as a kind of mortar binding all of those irregularly shaped pieces of gravel together into a single, cohesive structure. Don't assume that any thinset will do for your tile installation project. Based on the characteristics of your individual project, you'll find that there is a specific thinset to use for that application.

We definitely recommend that you speak to a Tile Outlets of America sales representative and explain the project details, including any materials being used and we will help you select the correct product. Ultimate 6 Plus is a polymer-modified high performance mortar with exceptional non slag and slump characteristics.

It's ideal for installing LHT large heavy tile including:. This product has been tested and approved for installing tile on uncoupling membranes. It reduces the need to back-butter tile and it features an extended open time when mixed while providing the ability to be grouted in 6 hours.

Permaflex LHT is a quality thinset mortar that is essential for installing large heavy floor tile. Sturdilight has been specially formulated to provide 50 lbs. It can be applied over plywood, cementitious backer boards, and other substrates. You'll find that it's ideal for installing glass, metal, ceramic, stone, and porcelain tile s. For the most part, thinset or mortar have nothing to do with grout -- except for one product. It is mold and mildew resistant, and ideal for small jobs or repairs.

When grouting it is recommended to use a grout float. This tool will provide a smooth surface to properly spread the grout into the grout joints, and not scratch the tile. Make sure to select the correct trowel size for your project regardless of the type of tile installation you are undertaking.

You'll want to use a smaller trowel for small tile and a larger one for large tile. In many ways, you'll want to mix thinset the same way you mix grout: pay close attention to the manufacturer's instructions. Always double check the manufacturer's instructions on the tile you purchase for exact product requirements and installation guidelines.

Thin-set should be mixed to the consistency of peanut butter. While specific instructions vary by manufacturer the basics are the same. Due to its cement ingredients, thinset should be made up in small batches as needed. It also should never be washed down a drain, as it will harden in your pipes. Proper mortar coverage is critical to preventing failures.

Mortar coverage becomes particularly important as tile sizes get larger and longer think wood plank tile. This applies to any tile with any side 15 inches or longer. What seems to work for small tiles no longer works. Make sure that you get proper mortar coverage on the tile.

Start by keying the thinset in to the substrate using the flat side of the trowel. Keying or burning in allows the tile mortar to bond better with the substrate by increasing your bond to the pores or texture of the substrate. Hold the flat side of your trowel at 45 degrees to the substrate and pull towards your body changing direction with each pull leaving a thin layer behind. Let us know if we've missed a question you have about thinset or mortar and we'll add it to this article.

Please be sure to visit your local Tile Outlets of America location. Moisture is another consideration. Tile is installed in a range of moisture conditions, from areas that experience high amounts of water to zero-water places. Typical residential places with high and prolonged amounts of water include shower pans, hot tubs, and swimming pools. Areas on the other end of the moisture spectrum include any interior residential space that is not a bathroom or kitchen, wall wainscots, kitchen head-guards, kitchen backsplashes , and bathroom backsplashes.

When laying ceramic or porcelain tile , liquid adhesives are necessary for the tile to fulfill all of these conditions and to firmly stick to its substrate.

Mastic and thinset mortar are types of adhesives most often used for ceramic, porcelain, and glass tile installations. Both materials can be confusing because of several overlapping applications. Which should you use and where should you use them? Inorganic and composed of materials mined from the earth, thinset is inexpensive and can be purchased either in wet, pre-mixed or dry, powdery form.

Additionally, thinset comes in either unmodified or modified versions. Unmodified thinset is composed of Portland cement, sand, and water retention agents. Modified thinset contains the same elements, along with liquid latex polymers to aid with strength and increase the working time.

A feature of thinset that is both a plus and a minus is that it is slow to set. This is a plus because it affords a longer working time to fix any misaligned tiles. It can be a minus when working with vertical applications such as bathroom walls and kitchen tile backslashes because this extra curing time also allows the tile to sag.

Plastic tile spacers, liberally placed, are the solution for tile sag. Some areas that work well with thinset include:. Mastic is a vague term that generally refers to fast-grab glues for tile.

Traditionally, mastic was an organic plant-based resin from the Pistacia lentiscus shrub, and its term is related to the word masticate, due to its sticky, gummy consistency. Today, the term mastic is infrequently used, and it is difficult to find tile adhesives that go under the mastic banner at your local home center.

Henry Ready Set Premixed Mastic Adhesive is one of the few exceptions that actually incorporates the word mastic. For the sake of clarity, look for tile adhesives advertised as fast grabbing with no-sag qualities that are generally used for porcelain, quarry, stone, ceramic, and mosaic tile. Some areas where tile mastic may be used:.