How Thick To Mix Thinset For Wall Tile

The trowel size determines how much thinset to put on the substrate as well as how thick the bed of thinset should be under the tile.

How thick to mix thinset for wall tile.

If the mortar starts to harden while you work either on the surface or in the bucket discard it and mix a new batch. A chemical reaction takes place within 30 minutes of mixing that starts the bonding process between the tile and the underlayment or wall. Thinset mortar is made of cement. Never mix large batches of thin set unless you are installing a large area of tile on a floor.

Check the manufacturer s instructions to determine the amount of water. Thinset mortar is your default tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications. Read the back of the thinset bag to see how much water you need for the entire bag. Spread the mixture using a notched trowel whose notch size matches the thickness of the tiles.

It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel. You can either continue to use your margin trowel or use a inch drill with mortar mixing paddle to speed up the mixing process. Run your drill at a very low speed. Mixing thinset mortar is easier than mixing cake batter.

Step 1 add water. How to spread thinset evenly for tile walls. Never use thin set right after mixing let it sit for 10 minutes mix it again then you can use it. For most tile installations a square notched trowel with 1 4 inch notches produces grooves of the right thickness.

Then figure out how much thinset to mix so you have enough for about twenty square feet of tile to start with for your first time. It is a vital part of any tile job. For thicker tiles larger notches are recommended. Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.

Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents. When you use a square notched trowel with the same size notch and teeth i e. It bonds tiles securely to floors and walls. Never use thin set that is too thick or too watery.

At this point the thickness of the thinset on the wall must be thicker than the tiles. For wall tiles what is a thick bed installation. This will prevent air from being trapped in the mortar which makes the bond weaker. By following these instructions you can master the art of mixing thinset mortar.

For the thinset i m using in the video above it said to use 5 5 6 5 quarts of water for the entire 50 lb bag. Never use a margin trowel to try to mix thin set. 7 rake the notched trowel through the thinset to create the furrows that enable a strong bond with the tile.