Hello,
I had asked Custom building product’s (HD’s thinset/adhesive vendor) advice about which of their products I should use on a tile backsplash I was working on.
The surface is primed drywall – away from the sink, so no water problems, and they suggested their premium modified thinset with a 1/4″ x 1/4″ notched trowel.
I told them I was setting mosaic sheets of 1.5″x 1.5″ ceramic tile with 1/8″ grout joints and they still said they suggest the thinset product.
So, because I used the 1/4″ trowel – I spent a good couple hours getting all of the dried splooge from in-between the tiles before I could apply grout. I didn’t do it when it was wet cause I didn’t want to screw up the tile placement.
So, a few questions: With a 1/8″ grout joint – isn’t a 1/4″ notched trowel too large? It seems like when you use the thinsets – that’s as small as you can go with the notches. Whereas with tile adhesive – it recommends 3/16″ angled trowel notches.
And speaking of tile adhesive – WTF is it good for? The can says floors – be they tell you, no, don’t use it on floors… I was thinking it’d be great for the backsplash job but they said no, use thinset.
So what the hell do you use premixed tile adhesive for?
I know about the John Bridge forum, but there must be enough folks that do small tile jobs here for a bit of advice.
Thanks,
Julian
Replies
I'd have used mastic for a tile backsplash and with a 1x1 mosaic a 3/16" V-Notch.
There is no reason why mastic wouldn't work for a backsplash so long as you do not plan on getting it soaked.
Who ever told you to use a 1/4" square notch for 1x1 mosaic has never set tile in his life.
I'd venture to say the same about using thinset, but there are some die-hards out there.
I would have used thinset with a smaller notch. But for a kitchen backsplash, even behind the sink, mastic would have been a good choice.
Your first problem was asking the sales nut at HD, rather than looking at the Custom website. Or the tile web site.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt