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.
Installing Tile Directly on Concrete
Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete.Epoxy Grout: Epoxy grout is considered by many in the industry to be a superior choice for any kind of tile project. Epoxy grout is durable, doesn't need to be sealed, is stain and chemical resistant, and can withstand high traffic and moist areas.
Thinset, while it is also sometimes referred to as a “mortar” is an adhesive. It's a mix of cement, water, and fine sand.
The Custom Building Products VersaBond 50 lbs. Fortified Thin-Set Mortar is a professional formula, all-purpose mortar, polymer-modified to provide good bond strengths. VersaBond cures quickly and adheres to most surfaces. Suitable substrates include interior and exterior floors, countertops and walls.
They make specific glass tile thinset's which I recommend you use. My favorite is Laticrete's Glass Tile Adhesive. But the ones from Mapei and Custom Building Products work well also. Sometimes the glass tile manufacturer will have specific instructions on which thinset to use.
Thinset is absolutely required beneath backer-board on a floor. Also, backer-board provides no structural strength at all. You can not install it directly over a 1x subfloor; that is way too thin and will deflect. It does not sound as if you have a quality-minded contractor.
Back buttering tile is a highly opinionated and widely-debated topic among tile installers. Although it's recommended for natural stone tile, it's not always necessary or required to get adequate mortar coverage on ceramic and porcelain tile.
Amount of Thinset Needed
A 120 square foot room with 16-inch tiles will take a minimum of three bags of thinset. Divide the square footage of your project by 95 (the maximum coverage of a 50-pound bag of thinset. For example, a 10-by-12-foot room is 120 square feet; divided by 95, the result is 1.26.Amount of Thinset Needed
Divide the square footage of your project by 95 (the maximum coverage of a 50-pound bag of thinset. For example, a 10-by-12-foot room is 120 square feet; divided by 95, the result is 1.26. Round the number up to the next whole number. You'll need two 50-pound bags for this project.If you want a standard look, tile installers recommend grout lines of 1/16 inch for walls and 1/8 inch for floors. For regular-format tiles, between 12 by 12 and 16 by 16 inches, you can stay with those measurements or go up to 3/16, depending on the tile and the look you want.
Uses of Mastic
Mastic can be used to install ceramic and porcelain tiles to walls and floors. New mastics are available that can hold tiles up to 16 inches in size to walls and ceilings. To work with mastic, spread the mortar quickly and twist the tiles into place.You can use thinset to install tile over an uneven cement floor and leave the floor perfectly level. You can also use thinset mortar to level out an uneven cement floor or fill small holes in the floor without installing tile.
The most likely dangers of using it too thick are cracks (see photo), delamination, and lippage. Please note that the thinset being shown as a patch in the previous pictures is one designed to be used on plywood (an ANSI A118. 11 mortar).
Make sure that the surface is as flat as possible before installing the tiles. Adjust and hand set each tile to reduce the risk of lippage. Lift the tiles and add more thinset if necessary, remove mortar to push them down, and so on. Then use the leveling system to ensure and maintain a lippage-free tile surface.
Porcelain tile installation. REFIN's porcelain tiles are characterized by a low water absorption level (less than 0·5%) therefore, it is necessary to use specific high-quality adhesives and it is strongly advised against the traditional installation on cement flush.
Drawbacks of Porcelain Tile
It is as easy to install as other kinds of tile, but any tile installation will be somewhat time-consuming. Porcelain tile itself is very easy to clean, but where you have such tile, you will also have grout, which is notoriously difficult to keep pristine.Getting Started. You may tile over existing tile, painted or unpainted drywall, plaster and textured walls. However, tiling over tile can add quite a bit of thickness, so make sure your wall can handle the weight. You should not tile over wallpaper, glossy surfaces, lead paint or plywood.
Ready-mix adhesives dry by evaporation
The way it dries makes it unsuitable for tiling onto floors or for porcelain tiles (with the exception of weberfix pro lite, which can be used for smaller porcelain tiles).Here is a list of the best glues for ceramic and porcelain we found:
- J-B Weld ClearWeld Quick-Setting Epoxy.
- J-B Weld MinuteWeld Instant-Setting Epoxy.
- Gorilla Clear Super Glue Gel.
- Gorilla Clear Super Glue.
- Gorilla Clear 2 Part Epoxy.
You may have guessed where this is going: porcelain tiles are not waterproof, they are water resistant. That means that if you submerge them in water long enough, then they will eventually allow that water to seep through.
Porcelain Floor Tile
Porcelain tile can be used anywhere you want an excellent performing, good-looking surface. It works great in kitchens as countertops or wall coverings and is also a good choice for showers and bathroom walls.
