Mortar Bed Thickness For Wall Tile

Then it is leveled with a comb with denticles of 6 mm.

Mortar bed thickness for wall tile.

If you are installing tile the mortar bed should be 2 3 inches thick on the outer edge and slightly less at the drain. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick. Thinset mortar is not usually recommended for large heavy or uneven tiles. 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.

A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile. In the case of facing drywall the thickness of the mortar for good adhesion should not exceed 5 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. The tile installation method includes how the surface is prepared the materials to be used and the type of tile to use.

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. A good way to tell if you have the right dry pack consistency is to make a ball with the mixed mortar similar to a snowball. The mortar can be applied to a concrete plastered base or screed with a thicker layer. Thinset represents a modern alternative to the traditional mortar bed.

Learn all about it here. A thick set or mud set tile installation consists of finish tiles set over a 1 1 4 to 2 thick portland cement mortar bed. If the thinset is combed with a 3 8 inch notched trowel when a tile is pressed into it and the grooves flattened the resultant thickness of the mortar is 3 16 of an inch the recommended thickness for thinset. 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.

When mixing the mortar use only enough water to obtain a dry pack consistency. It consists of cement water and very fine sand resulting in a thinner mortar generally applied no more than 3 16 inch thick. Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer. Suitable sub floors for thick set tile installations include concrete slabs and properly installed wood.

So a 3 8 u notched trowel leaves a 1 8 bed of thinset beneath the installed tile. The mortar bed sits over the sub floor and provides a smooth and stable base for the tile installation.