DIYer here. I am planning a backsplash for a kitchen stove. Appliance is black and I am planning to use 12″x12″ black granite. The space is 24″h x36″w so six pieces will do, butted, not grouted. My plan is to place a temp ledger strip at the bottom and set the tiles with mastic rather than thinset (it is over primed and painted drywall). Is this a good way to go? Butter tiles or spread mastic on the wall? What trowel tooth depth? Which is the best mastic for this aplication? All suggestions appreciated … Thanx!
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I would use thinset, but I just don't like mastic so maybe I'm not the best one to give advice. Whatever the guys at the tile store recommend.
The ledger idea is good. I would back butter the tiles to save on cleanup. 3/16" or 1/4" trowel.
Why no grout? I would grout it with black grout. It will look unfinished otherwise. The grout lines can be very small and with black grout you won't need to seal it.
I wouldn't use mastic near a stovetop -- heat + steam = glue failure. But there are those who do, so YMMV. Thinset is not that big a deal. Why not go with it just to be sure?
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Ditto Woodguy. I would use thinset, but then I have no use for mastic anywhere. 1/4" notch trowel. The ledger board is definately the way to go, otherwise you would have to hold the tiles in place until they set. And I agree on grouting the joints with black unsanded grout. I hate black grout, it is a real pain to deal with. You can install the tiles with a very small joint, less than 1/16" if they are all cut true, and the grout will just make it look like a finished job.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"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
Sounds like you have a decent plan. Thinset is better, but I normally use mastic for kitchen backsplashes too and have not seen it fail.
Notch size is generally based on type and size of tile and type of surface or lugs on the back side. 1/4" is too thick for a smooth tile on smooth wall with mastic. Might be fine for thinset though. I would use a 3/16" V-notch.
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