How Thick Should Thinset Be For Wall Tile

This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick.

How thick should thinset be for wall tile.

Thinset mortar is your default tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications. Today many glass tiles are produced in thicknesses matching ceramic tile but there will always be cases when the problem of various tile thickness needs to be addressed. For most tile installations a square notched trowel with 1 4 inch notches produces grooves of the right thickness. Dec 15 2016 find the right tile trowel size following this step by step guide for professional tile as well as how thick the bed of thinset should be under the tile.

For thicker tiles larger notches are recommended. Ten or fifteen years ago when nearly all commercial glass tiles were 1 8 thick installers had a recurring problem of having to fit thin glass tiles into a thicker ceramic tile installation. It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel. 1 mix the thinset mortar.

Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer. Ridge on a wall with smaller square notched than with a larger u notched. Excess thinset will squirt out of the grout lines and create unneeded hassle. For wall tiles that is typically 1 4 inch.

If the mortar starts to harden while you work either on the surface or in the bucket discard it and mix a new batch. Ceramic and porcelain tile are properly installed with a tradition notched trowel at depths of 1 4 inch to 3 8 inch. Mar 20 2019 the 2011 tile industry standards define the minimum bond layer thickness to be 3 32 after beat in but the maximum thickness has more to do with the manufacturer of the thinset mortar you are using. The terms thinset cement thinset mortar dryset mortar and drybond mortar are synonymous.

At this point the thickness of the thinset on the wall must be thicker than the tiles. The key with ceramic and porcelain tile installation is to apply an even amount of thinset under each individual piece. Spread the mixture using a notched trowel whose notch size matches the thickness of the tiles. Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.

Thinset tile mortar. A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile. Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents.