Bathroom Tiling - Preparing Thinset Requires Precision
When tiling a bathroom, or other areas in your house, the steps in preparing thinset cannot be overlooked.
If the thinset is too stiff or if tile doesn't readily stick to it, the tiling job could give quite unfavorable result.
When mixing thinset, follow the directions on the bag to the letter.
One requirement is that the mixture slake, or rest, in the bucket for 15 minutes after the initial mix.
Then mix it again before use.
Occasional stirring may help keep the thinset workable, but don't add any more acrylic admix or water much after the second mixing.
I use a 1/2-in drill to turn a mixing paddle between 300rpm and 400rpm.
Taping the joints between pieces of backer board helps prevent cracks later.
I use 2-in.
-wide fiberglass mesh, bedding it in a layer of thinset.
Make sure that the seams between sheets are completely filled.
After you apply the layer of adhesive and tape, you'll need to put down another layer of thinset over the tape with the flat side of a margin trowel, holding it at 45-degree angle and pressing the tape firmly into the thinset.
If you tile the floor in the same day, you can tape as you go so that you won't walk or kneel in wet adhesive.
But if you wait overnight, make sure not to leave any lumps of thinset at the seams.
When applying the thinset to the backer board for the tile, use the notched side and hold the trowel at 45 degrees to the floor so that an even amount of adhesive is applied and no air is trapped.
What you want is 100 percent coverage of both the backer board and the back of the tile, with about 3/32-in of thinset between the two surfaces.
Large tiles may have uneven backs, which will require you to back butter the surface with with the flat side of a trowel.
Place the tile on the thinset with a slight twisting movement to help embed the tile fully.
It's also a good idea to pull a tile off the floor near the start of the job to make sure you're using enough thinset.
If the back of the tile is not fully covered, you'll know to adjust your technique or trowel or both, assuming the thinset has been mixed properly.
Look on the label of the thinset bag for the proper notch size.
If, after a while, the thinset becomes too stiff or if tile doesn't readily stick to it, throw it away and mix a fresh batch.
Before the thinset dries completely, you should clean the excess from the joints.
If you don't the grout may be too thin or will hydrate unevenly -- two conditions that make a weak grout line.
If the thinset is too stiff or if tile doesn't readily stick to it, the tiling job could give quite unfavorable result.
When mixing thinset, follow the directions on the bag to the letter.
One requirement is that the mixture slake, or rest, in the bucket for 15 minutes after the initial mix.
Then mix it again before use.
Occasional stirring may help keep the thinset workable, but don't add any more acrylic admix or water much after the second mixing.
I use a 1/2-in drill to turn a mixing paddle between 300rpm and 400rpm.
Taping the joints between pieces of backer board helps prevent cracks later.
I use 2-in.
-wide fiberglass mesh, bedding it in a layer of thinset.
Make sure that the seams between sheets are completely filled.
After you apply the layer of adhesive and tape, you'll need to put down another layer of thinset over the tape with the flat side of a margin trowel, holding it at 45-degree angle and pressing the tape firmly into the thinset.
If you tile the floor in the same day, you can tape as you go so that you won't walk or kneel in wet adhesive.
But if you wait overnight, make sure not to leave any lumps of thinset at the seams.
When applying the thinset to the backer board for the tile, use the notched side and hold the trowel at 45 degrees to the floor so that an even amount of adhesive is applied and no air is trapped.
What you want is 100 percent coverage of both the backer board and the back of the tile, with about 3/32-in of thinset between the two surfaces.
Large tiles may have uneven backs, which will require you to back butter the surface with with the flat side of a trowel.
Place the tile on the thinset with a slight twisting movement to help embed the tile fully.
It's also a good idea to pull a tile off the floor near the start of the job to make sure you're using enough thinset.
If the back of the tile is not fully covered, you'll know to adjust your technique or trowel or both, assuming the thinset has been mixed properly.
Look on the label of the thinset bag for the proper notch size.
If, after a while, the thinset becomes too stiff or if tile doesn't readily stick to it, throw it away and mix a fresh batch.
Before the thinset dries completely, you should clean the excess from the joints.
If you don't the grout may be too thin or will hydrate unevenly -- two conditions that make a weak grout line.
