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 depth for wall tile.
The terms thinset cement thinset mortar dryset mortar and drybond mortar are synonymous.
90 100 sq ft.
60 70 sq ft.
12 inch 16 inch tile.
A great trowel for installing small ceramic tile such as 4 25 x 4 25 6 6 and 3 6 subway tile is this 1 4 inch square notch trowel.
4 inch 12 inch tile.
This may also be a good trowel size for thicker 5 16 mosaics.
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.
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.
16 inch or larger.
12 inch 16 inch tile.
What size trowel to use for tile tile trowels come in many shapes and sizes generally starting out from a 3 16 v notch up to the 1 2 square notch.
Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents.
For example a 3 8 notch trowel will produce a 3.
Thinset tile mortar.
75 85 sq ft.
Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer.
Spread the mixture using a notched trowel whose notch size.
Use this for 8 8 s and some of the 5 16 thick 12 12 builder grade tile.
Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.
It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel.
Trowel size based on largest dimension coverage based on 50lbs bag mesh mosaics.
A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile.
This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick.
1 4 x 3 8 square notch.
So a 3 8 u notched trowel leaves a 1 8 bed of thinset beneath the installed tile.
A chemical reaction takes place within 30 minutes of mixing that starts the bonding process between the tile and the underlayment or wall.
Twelve inch square tiles for instance are best applied using a trowel with 1 2 inch by 1 2 inch notches.
Thinset mortar is your default tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications.
Mosaic tiles and wall tiles up to about 4 by 4 inches call for a v notch trowel with 3 16 by 1 4 inch notches while larger tiles require a trowel with a square or u shaped notch to obtain proper adhesive coverage.