Great question! In this article, well cover frequently asked questions about mixing thinset, show you the whole process of how to mix thinset in video and picture format, and lastly share 6 helpful tips for beginners. Getting ready to tile for the first time and wondering how to mix thinset mortar for tile? Then, after slaking (you really DO have to wait the specified time, don't try to rush it! For our tile entryway, we were using a large format tile (which is anything where one side is more than 15) so we used a tile made specifically for large format tile. Does anyone know the right ratio to mix this mortar, or what im doing wrong. When you are tiling, you can choose either thinset or tile adhesive (also called mastic) for your glue. This challenges the installers ability to create a flat and even surface. According to Gaetano, the biggest challenge in working with large and heavy tile is getting it placed. mapei ceramic matttroy glendenning Texrite has developed several mortar products for large format tile that allow a setting mortar bed up to 3/4" in thickness. stream (kHwsEdF Dont make the rookie mistake of mixing up the whole 50-pound bag of thinset and then only being able to use half of it before it starts hardening up! stream Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Keep the water-to-powder ratios correct and adhere to the mixing and resting times. Never add more water after youve let mortar set, Tip 4. Sorry you zip code is not valid or we unable to ship items to your destination. edTynesWV-g2KF{ 0"|9FH:-*jH9X8mSZTnB%$=ZS^ EXUEw{\p38JL4oB A&wU$AEPnu= }&p0@% R7p1Y,p%&qMIIu-MH-DP94p/0d[Af7B/cjQDiM"VA370w!f?Nm:=R|CQn#%- MMh=kPcEu5*X.k"{C jJ"GE1_aZ[L`9J4A sX!M2\ - bM:p-9ND8fR0K"U-63)0] :b&rFkT Tj2M&iNt& u4O,|47nIZ$ev1Y s#=SiC`)^:\tVgtLhf%Fj>qgYNxkdIr8$ 9b$x@8c3toMuZ\ '>q#qF.lC97#hL+jv"D]& F`QFB"$Yj&oJ0@VcV Z'" 2@s$L!0] Ridges should be collapsed by rocking the tile back and forth against the ridges.. Usually, it will say on the back of the thinset bag how much sq. If you are using anything bigger than a 1/4" x 3/8" x 1/4" or backbuttering a lot, then you should switch to a medium set mortar, like Custom's Granite and Marble mortar. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. kerabond mortar mapei 7kg Instead of the typical tolerance of 1/4" in 10 ft., a 1/8" in 10 ft. tolerance is recommended, and no more than 1/16" in 12 ft., Taylor noted that Customs VersaBond-LFT is a modified dry-set mortar specifically designed for large-format tile installations on floors. Before you begin your tile project, the first crucial step is mixing your thinset up to the right consistency. Im using Mapei utlraflex1 Mortar to lay 18" ceramic tiles on a cement dining room floor. They enjoy teaching readers how to renovate with confidence. It will likely very quickly burn out the motor because cordless drills simply arent powerful enough to stir thinset. mapei mortar installs ultralite tile format pro Required fields are marked *. MAPEI's Ceramic Tile Mortar should not be used with installations of porcelain tile. Look for products offering ease of mixing, spreading, bedding and support. mapei lft tile ultraflex mortar gray format porcelain sahara sand warm vogue lbs installation materials 50lb floor grey flooranddecor tiles mapei mortar adesilex The manufacturers spend a lot of time and money researching how to make their product work. When thinset is mixed properly it should be the consistency of creamy peanut butter. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. The exact length of how long thinset will last after mixing varies based on your conditions, but typical no longer than 1 hour. The best type of drill for mixing thinset is a power drill that plugs in with a variable speed setting. Let thinset set (or slake) for 5-10 minutes. mortar ultraflex mapei iii tile premium As the tile size increases in any single dimension, so increases the proper mortar thickness from 1/4" up to 3/4". mapei ultralite ultraflex lht rapid lft flooranddecor As you work with it more, youll get faster and more efficient while mixing and applying thinset. So stay on the conservative side and mix up less than you think youll need. Thinset that has too much water will be runny and droop off of the wall and cause the tiles to sag instead of hold in place. Dont use a battery operated drill to mix up mortar. This allows the addatives to absorb the water and become flexible and properly mixable. The tile installer can help advise or inform before installing, but cannot be the catch-all for the final finish in these more than 33% offset tile layout situations, any more than tile & grout color selection. The working time before it hardens varies depending on a few things. Be sure to follow the packaging instructions carefully when mixing. But this will only get you so far, and youll start to notice thinset hardening on your tools. The open time is either the amount of time before it should be re-mixed or the amount of time it can be spread and combed before setting a tile. We use this drill to mix mortar and it works great. I then add the correct amount of thinset and mix well. The thinset Im using in the video above said to use 5.5-6.5 quarts of water for the entire 50 lb bag. The large format tile thinset that we were using required 6 quarts of water for a 50 lb bag of thinset. The second way is to add thinset and mix until you reach the desired consistency (similar to peanut butter). Make sure youre using the right thinset mortar for your tile. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. mapei mortar premixed tile gal thin email Smaller amounts tend to set faster because more of it is exposed to direct air relative to the total mass of the thinset. Using a corded 1/2 drill with a mixing attachment, mix the water and thinset powder together at a low-speed setting. Laticrete LHT mortar can be built up to 1/2" without shrinkage, the company says. According to Russ Gaetano, Ardex tile and stone installation systems marketing manager, Ardex X 77 and X 78 offer a 60-minute open time, allowing for more mortar to be placed on the substrate and more time to place larger, more difficult tiles. mortar mapei thinset ultraflex grout I called manufacturer and asked for the right ratio to mix and they wouldn't help me. Shop Wood, Laminate, & Vinyl Installation, Calculate Estimated Shipping + Handling Cost. Then, figure out how much thin-set to mix, so you have enough for about twenty square feet of tile to start with for your first time. For large tile, a thicker bond coat is required to achieve mortar coverage requirements if there is warpage in the tile. Your email address will not be published. This is great because its accurate and isnt prone to user error. Bostiks best mortar for installing large-format tile is Reflex Ultra-Premium Polymer-Modified Mortar, Swiniarski explained. Adobe d !!##!,##!.333.!>BBBB>DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD"! e@aAWAXFhL Usually, it will tell you to mix for about 2-3 minutes using a power mixer at a slow rpm. We decided to mix up roughly half of the bag of thinset so we started with 3 quarts of water in the bucket (6 divided by 2 equals 3). Tip 1. Professional, Large-and-Heavy-Tile Mortar with Polymer. mapei ultraflex lft mortar In some cases, installers may choose to use a mechanical edge-leveling system to achieve the desired result., When choosing a mortar for large and heavy tiles, Mintie added, I recommend contractors look for complete installation systems from an adhesive manufacturer. Steve Taylor, Custom Building Products director of technical and architectural marketing, put it simply. ~%{_/x If thinset doesnt have enough water it wont stick to the surface or smooth out to an even layer. Items may arrive in multiple shipments. o7;Nf14KE:om!i4 Re5~j4$z67E64$-)!1 R0XABJm+ T8S`LS \REc!80c NHt.HS6YS,nkH0E1NRmN!s !n6`,ZLNajB|$LE0(b.G;7>`\.)d$)6cm&\6q:0,>5x h8W`%0%HoIQDHvSJ'^ |v*5C7uO|jk Both products are for thicker bond coats from 3/32" to 1/2" and offer a smooth and creamy consistency for easy application., He said LHT mortars are formulated for thicker bond coats for several reasons. mapei mortar ultraflex compare Youll know that its too runny if it wont hold a notch when you trowel it on the wall or floor, and youll know its too thick if it doesnt easily stick to the substrate youre applying it to. Long after he had responded to our original questions, he sent an email with even more thoughts on working with LHT. $%&'()*456789:DEFGHIJTUVWXYZdefghijtuvwxyz 1A NEVER add water after the slaking period. You can also use a power drill, although this is hard on drills. Copyright 2022. Were unable to ship this item to AK, GU, HI, PR, VI or foreign countries. Ceramic tile is a versatile and popular material for all kinds of floors. Amount of time item can be stored for next use after opening. There you have it! If youve never mixed thinset mortar before, youre in the right place! Mastic (also called tile adhesive)Premixed, so you dont have to worry about getting the right consistencyEasy to use, which makes it great for beginnersSticky & grabs tile fast, which works great for vertical installationsUse in fairly dry area (like backsplash) that doesnt not get submerged in waterNot recommended for large format tile (over 15 inches on any side)Thinset MortarStronger than mastic (all flooring should use mortar)Can be used in high moisture areas (showers, bathtub, bathroom flooring)Must be mixed and needs to be the right consistency to work correctly (consistency is like creamy peanut butter)Must use all mixed mortar immediatelyTakes longer to dry than mastic, so easier to adjust crooked tiles, but risk of tile sagging when installed verticallyThere are several different types of thinset mortar, which depend on your tile size and tile materials so be sure to read up and choose the right one for your job.