How Thick Should Mortar Be For Wall Tile

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

How thick should mortar be for wall tile.

Mortar mix is a critically important building component that must be combined thoroughly. Mortar is the bonding material between bricks concrete block stone and many other masonry materials it is made from portland cement lime sand and water in varying ratios. Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer. Thinset mortar is your default tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications.

It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel. In the case of facing drywall the thickness of the mortar for good adhesion should not exceed 5 mm. The grout should be a thickness similar to peanut butter. The trowel size determines how much thinset to put on the substrate as well as how thick the bed of thinset should be under the tile.

When you use a square notched trowel with the same size notch and teeth i e. They are premixed and come in cans or buckets. When laying on a similar base medium format tiles it is recommended to apply a layer of 3 4 mm. Pick up more thinset mortar with the trowel and spread it onto the thin scratch coat on the cement backer board with the notched edge of the trowel to create a 1 8 inch layer of mortar.

Grout that s too thick or too thin doesn t properly protect the tile and may not last. A 1 2 x 1 2 the bed of thinset will be half of that measurement or 1 4 beneath a flat tile over a flat substrate. The mortar can be applied to a concrete plastered base or screed with a thicker layer. While very minor adjustments in height can be made this method is not appropriate for adjusting the level or flatness of a surface rather the tile will follow the plane of the substrate.

As a general rule the finish thickness of thinset mortar with ceramic tile installations is around one eighth inch once the mud has been compressed under a tile. Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents. Apply a mastic to walls to adhere 12 by 24 inch tiles. Then it is leveled with a comb with denticles of 6 mm.

For example a 3 8 notch trowel will produce a 3 16th inch thick coating after the tiles are pressed in to the cement. Thinset tile mortar. Getting the proper grout consistency is crucial for lasting results on your tiling project.