How Thick Should Thinset Be For Wall Tile

Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.

How thick should thinset be for wall tile.

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. Thinset tile mortar. Ridge on a wall with smaller square notched than with a larger u notched. Tile set by the thinset method is adhered to the substrate with a thin layer of thinset cement.

It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel. 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. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick. Spread the mixture using a notched trowel whose notch size matches the thickness of the tiles.

The key with ceramic and porcelain tile installation is to apply an even amount of thinset under each individual piece. A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile. For thicker tiles larger notches are recommended. Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer.

Excess thinset will squirt out of the grout lines and create unneeded hassle. For most tile installations a square notched trowel with 1 4 inch notches produces grooves of the right thickness. 1 mix the thinset mortar. If the mortar starts to harden while you work either on the surface or in the bucket discard it and mix a new batch.

At this point the thickness of the thinset on the wall must be thicker than the tiles. The terms thinset cement thinset mortar dryset mortar and drybond mortar are synonymous. So a 3 8 u notched trowel leaves a 1 8 bed of thinset beneath the installed tile. 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.

Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents. For wall tiles that is typically 1 4 inch. Ceramic and porcelain tile are properly installed with a tradition notched trowel at depths of 1 4 inch to 3 8 inch.