Thinset Thickness For Glass Wall Tile

Thinset mortar is your default tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications.

Thinset thickness for glass wall tile.

Additionally thinset comes in either unmodified or modified versions. Unmodified thinset is composed of portland cement sand and water retention agents. This thinset helps to eliminate shading and enhance the beauty of glass tile without sacrificing performance. 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.

If a standard traditional thinset or mortar is used unsightly shading can occur behind the glass if it is translucent or clear. For example a 3 8 notch trowel will produce a 3. Laticrete glass tile adhesive mortar. Back buttering is king says ferrante.

It makes a superior bond and eliminates bubbles between the tile and the thinset as you stick the tile to the wall twist it slightly so any trapped air can escape. Spread the mixture using a notched trowel whose notch size. We recommend using mapei adesilex p10 this is a white premium grade modified thin set with non sag properties designed for use with glass tiles and mosaics. A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile.

So a 1 2 x 1 2 trowel will leave a 1 4 high bed of thinset beneath the tile. If applied in a thick layer it will dry on the outside only leaving the inside soft and wet for a long time. Thinset as the name implies has been designed to be applied in a thin layer. Using a u notched trowel and embedding the tile into the thinset leaves you with a bed of thinset beneath the tile a little over 1 3 the size of the trowel teeth.

Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents. When installing glass tile it s important to use a thinset that s formulated specifically for glass. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick. Jun 11 2011 the thinset thickness is determined by the size of the trowel used and the size of the trowel is determined by how the back of the tile is constructed and the size of the tile.

At tile pro depot we highly recommend the laticrete glass tile adhesive mortar. The terms thinset cement thinset mortar dryset mortar and drybond mortar are synonymous. If glass or glass tile is stuck to the outside of this slowly shrinking blob the tile can crack during the long drying process. Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.

Thinset tile mortar. Then before setting each tile back butter it with a smooth layer of thinset about the same thickness. A chemical reaction takes place within 30 minutes of mixing that starts the bonding process between the tile and the underlayment or wall.