So I am ready to tile bathroom, except I need help determining the notch size on the trowel for spreading the thinset. Bathroom tiles are ceramic 2 1/4″ squares on the flexible type matting. I have tiled before but never with this style. What is the rule of thumb for determining the notch size of the trowel. I have looked online for this answer but to no avail. Thanks in advance for all your help/advice.
Brian
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I generally use a 1/4 X 1/4 and then press the tiles in with a grout float...enough to hold, but not enough to completely splooge the joints.
3/16 X 1/4 just seems too small to me.
Check this site out for some info. Or do a search over at John Bridge.
Thanks TBone, the kid at the big box store sent me home with a 1/4" x 1/4" trowel so am set. I just didn't believe that was the correct trowel with that small of a tile, I had anticipated pressing it down with a larger tile but the method you described sounds logical. I really appreciate your help.
You mention Big Box store. Me hopes that you mean Lowes. I, and some other tile guys I know, have sworn to never use HD again. They carry Custom brand mortars that we have found to be less than acceptable. Lowes has Laticrete which isn't bad.
I'm new to this forum, is this called a hijack?
Your last post concerns me - I've got a kitchen and bath ready to lay with 18" Travertine. I had been using (1 other bath) HD's Custom Marble and Granite Thinset - What kind of problems have you run into?
Jamie
it seems to be a watered down version of the better materials you can get...
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Again, I do know some guys who use Custom without any problem...so you might be ok.But we installed a 12x12 Travertine with that stuff and 75% of the floor popped. Seeing as how it was Travertine we may not have properly cleaned it...but we did back butter and it still popped. (So make sure you wipe it down and back butter when you do your install)After telling a couple guys the problems we were having...they knew what mortar we were using before we told them.If you haven't noticed a problem yet...you might get lucky. Just keep an eye on it.This to say...use Full Flex by Tec if you can find it. Hydroment is another great one. We stay away from Custom Can't pay us to use it.That help?
I and a lot of guys over at the Johnbridge forum really like the Customs Marble and Granite. I'm a DIY'er and put down 550 Sq Ft of Travertine with it. I wet and wiped the back of each tile before burning it. It only took me six months!
Edited 12/18/2007 8:45 pm ET by pwd
The size of the tile is irrelevant.What is important is the thickness. A quarter inch trowell will put about an eighth of an inch of thinset. If your tile is an eighth of an inch thick, then thinset will be oozing up through the grout lines. I would start with a quarter inch V knotch and go up or down from there. Try it on a scrap of CBU. You want good bonding, but no squeeze out between tiles.Regards, Scooter"I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow." WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
NO It is actually neither.....Menards a regional box store. I have been quite happy with most of their products....but the staff is very understanding and quite helpful/knowledgeable.
Product line is "Florcraft" it is a gray premixed thinset .....and the notching guidelines are on the back of the plastic pail. Should have looked when i bought it. duh!!
After reading, it says that I shouldn't use this in conjunction with luan as a subfloor. Will this be a problem....I have done this before and floor seems fine.
they recomend:
1/4 x 1/4 for wall/floor tile 18" and less.
3/16 x 5/32 v notch for wall tiles up to 8"
1/8 x 1/8 U notch for mosaic tiles.
2 more questions...
should I stick with this product or go with a mastic seeing how they frown on using this with Luan U/L?
Which notch trowel....I am leaning on the 1/8" U notch.....
Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated!
Luaun's glue usually won't hold up, and it could delaminate. But, the isolating membrane could help you out. Good luck.
I would NOT use premixed thinset (it's actually mastic) on any floors and not on any walls that will get wet. Even if the instructions on the plastic bucket of mastic says it's okay!
I would not use premix thinset for the floor, nor luan underlayment which is ok for sheet vinyl. You need a powder thinset and hardiebacker underlayment."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
Looks like your questions have been answered, but I'll chime in anyway.Never use luan as an underlay. As has been pointed out, it's likely to delaminate. Use Durock or Hardibacker. Comes in either 1/4" or 1/2".Premixed thinset is great for backsplashes or quick repairs. I'd never use it on a floor though. Actually just pulled up a floor that was installed that way and the customer was lucky all the tiles hadn't cracked. They just popped right off the floor.Those notch sizes look pretty good. I don't really go by a guideline. I generally use 1/4x1/4 for pretty much everything up to a 12x12. Anything bigger and I go 1/4x3/8 or 1/2x1/2.
Thanks to everyone, looks like i will redirect and start over with different underlayment product and adhesive.
.....anyone need a couple of pieces of luan look me up. you can have em if you can get them peeled off the floor.
Check the back of the thinset bag, there's usually a table to tell you what size notch for a given tile. Having said that I think 1/4 x 1/4 is to big for 2 1/4" tiles, probably a "V" notch would be more appropriate for mat type tiles. Check the Laticrete web site
Geoff
You think a V-notch is enough setting bed for a floor tile?Just curious.
I'm laying 4x4 travertine wall tile on a kerdi shower, and 3/16 V provides great coverage. When I did the 2x2 on the base I started with a 1/4 square and quickly switched to the 3/16 V...too much squeeze out for me...but I could of been trying to set them with too much pressure as well.
FWIW, on larger tile as others have said, a quick cleaning, then I always toss on a thin back buttering. So far no pops and has worked well for tumbled travertine and slate from he!!.
I will weigh in here, since you say you have not done this size before.
When using small tiles, it is important to get the floor absolutely level, or at least to not have imperfections that can transmit through to the surface.
Don't overdue the amount of thinset. You don't want it squeezing up through the joints.
If you are using white grout, make sure you use white thinset. This will minimize the above problem.
It can be a nightmare trying to get the tile level. While installing, you should only have to worry about getting the tile in the right position. Take care of the leveling before you put down your thinset.
Do not tile over luan. No exceptions.
Do not use premixed thinset on a floor, or in wet areas. No exceptions.
Custom's product line is fine. Laticrete's is fine. Mapei is fine. Those are the only three that I'd use.
Don't just buy "thinset". For plain ole portland thinset, there are different types. Dry set (unmodified), lightly modified, heavily modified.
More modifier means more $$ but it gives a better bond.
Still, it depends on what your trying to stick and what you're trying to stick it to.
Mongo
Ever used Hydroment? Much stickier than the three you mention. Only thing that comes close is Tec
Mapei Ultracontact is pretty sticky."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
Only used Reflex. Problem is that no one carries Bostik's stuff where I live.
That's unfortunate. Their plant is about 20 minutes from me. I keep trying to get a tour but haven't figured out how yet.Apparently they also make plastic dashboards for cars and trucks.