For thicker tiles, larger notches are recommended. For found-object mosaic, we sometimes use a grouting bag fitted with a Wilton brand cake icing nipple. Thinset is your go-to tile mortar for most indoor and outdoor applications. Amazon Deals: Try Amazon Prime 30 days for free = These techniques are very different than the technique used for applying thinset to large areas. Then trowel more thinset into the channel using your plastic notch trowel and install the mosaic tile. Cutting curves in mosaic tile is tricky. Let the mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes, then mix it again without adding more water. Dean says that one of the most important tips for any tile-setting job, including mosaics, is to start with a perfectly flat surface. Be sure to use a thinset that is compatible with your substrate and environment (i.e. The Second and third are just a little out of my “norm” meaning i just have never laid Mosaic tiles on a floor application. He’s done everything from single-tile repairs to an 8,000-sq.-ft. floor, and he currently runs Sorem Tile & Stone in Hudson, WI. Place a piece of plywood on top and gently press the sheets into the mortar. Coat the Wall with ThinsetMix thinset in a bucket. You can find what amount of water to add per pound by dividing the amount of water recommended for the entire package by the weight of the package. Thinset mortar is a type of cement used for the adherence of tiles and flooring to substrate, or subfloor materials. If the mortar starts to harden while you work-either on the surface or in the bucket-discard it and mix a new batch. I used a 1/8″ x 1/8″ notch trowel as a template, marked out the notches with a sharpie, and cut the notches with my tile saw. Finally Dean is ready to embed the decorative band in the thin-set. Mist the thinset sparingly if you see it drying. We use Versabond brand, which we buy at Home Depot, and I suspect your local contractors are using the same or something more or less the same. Keep in mind that you can create a lot of dust after the water is added to the powder by stirring to rapidly. On those type of tiles, it's a good idea to wet the back of the tile with water before applying the tile to the wall. wet areas or exterior areas). Hold the block so the face is parallel to the surface and bounce it up and down to set the tile. If this happens to you, wait for the thinset to firm up a little. Polymer-Enriched Thin-Set Mortar Mosaic & Glass Tile Mortar is a regular-setting, polymer-enriched (“modified”), bright white, multipurpose mortar designed for installing sheet-mounted mosaic glass or stone tiles or individual tiles in thin-set … Then the mortar is allowed to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and then it is mixed again for a minute or two. For a small area, you could use glass tile mortar (which is suitable for glass, thin marble, and porcelain tiles). smaller plastic containers for scooping and weighing, trowel for scraping buckets and stirring tools, wet rag floating in a bucket 1/4 full of water. You can use that same ratio of 1 part water to 4 parts thinset to mix up tiny batches of thinset, such as 1 ounce of water plus 4 ounces of thinset. Carefully set the mosaic sheets into the mortar; you cannot slide them more than a quarter-inch or so. An aluminum ice scoop or a large steel kitchen spoon can be used to scoop out the thinset powder, but you can also use a recycled plastic container (such as used for cottage cheese or yogurt) and just store this improvised scoop in your bucket of thinset. Detail from Heat, Each Decade Hotter Than the Last. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Starting … Mist with a spray bottle to control dust. Get the Right Substrate. If you’re working with thin mosaic tile or glass mosaic tile that isn’t painted on the back, apply the thin-set with a notched trowel and then flatten it slightly with the flat side of the trowel before setting the tile. Thinset is a bonding mortar, which means it is a portland cement (the same as used in concrete) with polymers added to make it sticky and extra strong. Glass tile is installed on a bathroom shower using a high polymer content thin-set recommended for glass mosaic tile. If you find a dip in a wall, flatten it by screeding a layer of setting-type joint compound over it as shown here. Tile installation requires grooves in the thinset to create air pockets which facilitate the adhesion of the tile. He is also an avid DIYer at home. After marking the curve on the sheet of mosaic tile, he brings the sheet to the saw, where he removes individual tiles for cutting. Thinset tile mortar provides a very strong bond and is resistant to moisture and mold growth. The tamping block Dean uses has beveled edges to make it easier to hold and a thin sheet of rubber glued to the face to protect the tile. Here’s how Dean solves the problem. Once the thinset has cured, we flip the mosaic. As with glue, thinset can be used in either of two ways: It can be spread on a small area on which tiles are then placed, or it can be applied to the back of each tile individually. The bigger the gap, the more rows you’ll have to spread to make an inconspicuous cheat. The slot in the bed of most tile saws is so wide that small mosaic tiles will fall in, making them difficult to cut. The temptation to use mastic instead of thinset for backsplash tile installation may be appealing, but … Mastic Vs Thinset for Back-splash Installation; I am about to install a tile backsplash in our kitchen, using these tiles, in 2" x 4" "mosaic… Thinset is extremely sticky and meant to be spread with a trowel to mount large tiles or sheets of tile, but with a little care and planning, you can use it mount tile one piece at a time for detailed mosaic artwork similar to how glue is normally used in that mode of working. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! Fill in the Tile Field Continue setting more tile sheets within the tile field, from side to side. Flattening will prevent the ridges and air pockets from showing through transparent glass tile. In all seriousness, you will notice that it takes some strength to mix up larger batches. When installing glass mosaics, excess thinset will bleed through the grout lines and create a disjointed, uneven tile project mess. Recently we added a liquid concrete dye to Versabond thinset, and we used many, many times the recommended dosage for concrete without any noticeable loss in bond strength or hardness as far as we could tell, although we make no guarantees. Even the sand in grout and thinset is enough to stop up some plumbing systems. First Dean carefully calculates how wide the band will be by measuring the width of the tile band and adding the width of two grout spaces. Here Dean is removing the spacers after the adhesive behind the surrounding tile has set up. Next, Dean creates a custom screed by notching a plastic putty knife. A video in the intermediate Library demonstrates that. Skim (flatten) the surface of the thinset application with the long flat edge of the trowel. Install the mosaic or glass tile accent band. Thinset (or mortar) isn’t an attractive word or in most people’s books the most appealing aspect of mosaics, but in this blog post about using thinset for mosaics, Julie shows us how this most mundane of substances can be used to create stunning effects. If you get to the end of a wall or up against an object and are left with a gap that’s too narrow to fill with tile but too wide to caulk, you can close it by spreading the rows of tiles slightly. Spread Thinset. A margin trowel is very useful for scraping the sides of the bucket and making sure there aren’t pockets of unmixed powder down in the edges of the bottom of the bucket. Divide your work area into a few sections. (Keying or burning in allows the tile mortar to bond better with the substrate by increasing your bond to the pores or texture of the substrate. Take care to mix all the way to the bottom of the bucket and scrape the edges to make sure that no powder, lumps or clumps remain. The solution is to place a thin scrap of plywood under the sheet of mosaic tile as you cut it. Here is a list of items recommended for mixing thinset: For small batches of 1 pound or less, we mix it up in a 32-ounce plastic yogurt container and use a putty knife or old butter knife to stir. Cut the mesh between the rows with a sharp utility knife. Apply the mortar or mastic in the same manner as the rest of the wall and place the tiles. Since thinset tile mortar has … 4. Thinset Mortar comes in 25-pound bags. The scraping power of the trowel comes in handy during clean up too. Bags leak. The grouting bag with nipple allows us to dispense the thinset in a very controlled way as if from a bottle of glue. Expert tile-setters recommend a 1/8-inch V-notch trowel thinset application in even strokes for installing glass mosaic tiles. He makes the depth of the notches equal to the thickness of the tile band, plus about 1/8 in. Whether you spread the thinset in small patches or put a smear of thinset on the backside of each tile will depend on your style and pace of work. (A good test is to cement a few rocks together, wait about 6 days, and then bust them apart with a hammer and look for crumbly material or a lack of adhesion.) The built-up thin-set base ensures that the surface of the mosaic band will be perfectly flush with the surrounding tile. After the thinset is mixed, concrete dye can be blended into it if the thinset will be used for grouting and a custom color is desired. For detailed mosaic artwork where you are placing each tile by hand, you will probably want to mix 1 to 3 pounds at most. Generally speaking any vertical tile installation should be done on cement … A tradeoff to skimming is that the notch ridges would have strengthened the thinset's bond. To compensate, press the tile sheets into the thinset very firmly. Then grout and finish as desired. If you’re working with thin mosaic tile or glass mosaic tile that isn’t painted on the back, apply the thin-set with a notched trowel and then flatten it slightly with the flat side of the trowel before setting the tile. For outdoor and wet mosaics, thinset is recommended instead of adhesives. He spreads a layer of thin-set in the band area and uses the notched trowel to screed the thin-set to the right thickness. Even if you take all the standard precautions, you’re bound to get an occasional bit of thin-set oozing out between tiles, especially if they’re really thin like these glass mosaics. Take your same putty knife and turn it into a notched trowel. For Versabond thinset, we add 1/2 cup or 4 oz of water per 1 pound of dry thinset powder. spread thinset and set tiles. Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes. This technique can also be used for flat tile. Then apply mortar: 1. Apply thin-set adhesive to the wall using a notched trowel. For floors or walls in wet areas, use thin-set instead of joint compound. For detailed mosaic artwork where you are placing each tile by hand, you will probably want to mix 1 to 3 pounds at most. Mesh can stick out into the grout space and cause grouting trouble. Start by keying the thinset in to the substrate using the flat side of the trowel. Rinse away any residue with enough water so that you don’t leave a white limestone scum on the grass, which could kill it if conditions are dry. Most thinset is used only for attaching tiles, and so there is no need to dye the thinset if it will not be visible. Note that these gloves are much thinner and offer much more dexterity than the thick grouting gloves. But this doesn’t work with mosaics. The nitril gloves we sell are ideal for this purpose because they are latex-free and powder free and are more durable than the latex medical examination gloves we used to sell. Best wishes on your project. Although you should wear a dust mask when scooping and mixing the thinset powder, it is best to control dust at the source by slow careful scoops and stirs and never pouring or dumping the powder. 57 sec.) It helps to control dust if all the mixing happens near the bottom of the bucket. Mix thinset to a peanut butter consistency (Image 1). Thinset is very sticky, and if it has set for more than a few minutes, it will likely take more than a squirt nozzle to remove it. For most tile installations, a square-notched trowel with 1/4 inch notches produces grooves of the right thickness. Often, the tile used for a decorative band is thinner than the tile that surrounds it. Buckets with lids don’t. Using thinset for your adhesive works best if you can "butter" the backs of your tiles before laying them in place. The mesh, plastic or paper backing that holds mosaic tiles together can get in the way if you don’t trim the edges. You can break the plastic handle off your wife’s favorite spoon or bend a thin piece of pipe in a hurry if the batch is large enough. Grouting takes a LONG time so don’t start at 11pm. Every so often, pick up a sheet and make sure all the tiles are sticking to the mortar. This page explains how to mix and use thinset mortar for detailed work with glass mosaic tile and other tesserae for outdoor and wet mosaics where PVA adhesives such as Weldbond should be avoided. No matter how you handle the thinset, you will occasionally get some on your fingers. To install a mosaic tile backsplash in a kitchen: Lay out the location of the backsplash on the wall. It's important to have something like the thinset on the ball so that the tiles don't fall off when it gets wet from sitting outside. To avoid this, before the application of thinset, I “pregrout” my mosaics by applying on top of the mosaic a mix of thinset and grout on top of the tesserae. We have a concrete mixing attachment that fits into our electric drill, and we use it for batches of 5 pounds or more. In a pinch, just use a block of wood, but keep the face free of grout, which could scratch the tile. Gradually add the thin-set powder, mixing it thoroughly. Flattening will prevent the ridges and air pockets from showing through transparent glass tile. Then he spreads another layer of thin-set over the base layer and uses the notched trowel to create an even layer of adhesive. 1 Mix the thinset … Trying to apply thinset to a large section of your mosaic all at once can sometimes cause your thinset to be too thick and then it will come up too high on the sides of your tiles, filling in where your grout needs to go. Flattening will prevent the ridges and air pockets from showing through transparent glass tile. For larger batches, we mix in a 5-gallon bucket so that we can mix vigorously without slinging out any material. And protruding backing can prevent you from pushing adjoining sheets close together. Equip the tile saw with a tile-cutting blade or use nippers to complete the cuts. ... How to Install Mosaic Tile on a Shower Floor. Cover the countertop with plastic sheeting held in place with masking tape. A smaller bucket (2 gallon) can also be used, but keep in mind that you don’t want to fill any container more than half way full, ideally a quarter full or less. Photo and mosaic: @Julie Sperling. Go ahead and buy a 5-gallon bucket with a snap on lid and keep your material in there. Once you finish the bottom row, move to the second (top) row. If the tile making up the decorative band is large, you can simply apply an extra-thick layer of thin-set under it and press it in until it’s flush with the thicker tile. Thinset, grout, concrete, and other products that contain portland cement are mildly caustic and can dry out the skin very rapidly and cause irritation. The pallet knife was ergonomically designed to manipulate pastes on flat surfaces WITH MINIMAL BENDING OF THE WRIST and makes a butter knife just seem clumsy.). There is only a tiny amount of water in a fine mist, and so you don’t have to worry about it messing up your unused thinset or throwing off your measurements, but it is highly effective at getting the dust out of the air. Let the joint compound or thin-set harden and you’re ready to set tile. Then he carves along the line, using the blade like a grinder. Mosaic & Glass Tile Mortar Thin-set mortar for glass and mosaics. Moorman for Mosaic Art Supply, LLC. Make sure that you get proper mortar coverage on the tile. Dean Sorem installed his first tile in 1979 and has been a professional tile setter ever since. We can use thinset for up to 4 or 5 hours this way. I foolishly … Home House & Components Fixtures Bookcases. Spread thinset in area using a 1/4 x 1/4 square notch trowel (Image 2), then begin to set tiles (Image 3). Thinset is used for outdoor mosaics, or mosaics which may come into contact with water, such as in a shower. Use the DIRTY rag if needed, but try to use as little as possible. This video shows how to achieve a full coverage of the thinset on the back of the glass mosaic tile. All rights reserved. If you’re working with thin mosaic tile or glass mosaic tile that isn’t painted on the back, apply the thin-set with a notched trowel and then flatten it slightly with the flat side of the trowel before setting the tile. Occasionally tap the tiles with the one-by-four and the hammer to flatten them, especially where tile sheets meet. You have to pour the water in gently and stir slowly at first to avoid creating dust before the powder is wetted. HOWEVER, if you live some place with extreme cold or extreme wet, it never hurts to go to your local building material store and ask what contractors are using in your area before choosing a paint or a roofing material or a sealant or anything like that. Dip fingers in bucket of water with WET rag. Flatten the Thin-Set. We use the following materials to keep the work clean and efficient: The plastic tray or recycled container lid holds a small amount of thinset for use. But he says a wood float with a handle on it works great too. plastic bucket or plastic container for mixing. Website, Text and Images © 2003-2018 J.E. You don’t want to leave thin-set between the tiles because it may show through the grout. It will also help keep thin-set from squeezing out between the spaces of thin mosaic tile. He eliminates the bulk of the waste with straight cuts, or by making a series of fingers and breaking them off. Before you begin tiling, check the surface with a straightedge. We sell Thinset Mortar in 2lb containers. Position the tile over the mortar bed and press it in place. This is concrete not cookie dough! To ensure that the tile is fully integrated and that the faces of all tiles are aligned … Keep in mind that we used a concrete dye and not acylic paint or some other source of pigment that might interfere with the adhesive additive. Mix the mortar until it has the consistency of dough with no lumps. Avoid pouring the bag into the bucket, which would make a large dust cloud. Sometimes the thinset shows between the tiles, leaving no space between them to apply the grout of the right color. Glass tile installed on a kitchen backsplash using a high polymer content thinset suitable for glass tile. For either technique, a painter’s palette knife is the ideal tool for handling the thinset. APPLYING ADHESIVE: Apply a good quality latex-modified thinset approved for use with glass or vitreous/porcelain tile. Adjust the saw’s cutting depth so you’re not cutting into the plywood. Dean lets this layer of thin-set firm up before moving on to the next step. On some fired tiles, the tile will soak the water form the mortar extremely quickly. Prepare Mortar To prepare powdered thin-set mortar for natural stone and mosaic tile, fill your bucket with water in the amount listed on the package. Make sure you clean up outside and do not pour unused thinset down drains. Then use a toothbrush to clean the thin-set out of the grout spaces. When used to tile walls it’s strength allows you to set tile, and if you’re good with eyeballing, you can set tile without the use of spacers. The installation method for any tile but especially a mosaic is to comb the area in a direction, sit the tile on the area, then gently press the tile into the thinset perpendicular to the thinset streaks back and for… , plus about 1/8 in after the adhesive behind the surrounding tile minutes, then mix again... 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The ceiling above my tub, should I use mastic or thinset your fingers thin... The face is parallel to the second ( top ) row provides a controlled..., and then it is mixed again for a large dust cloud to tile ceiling! Into a notched trowel to screed the thin-set in handy during clean up.. Tile as you stir and scoop it is mixed again for a minute two. Out into the bucket, which is non-porous and difficult to bond securely adhesive! Wall with ThinsetMix thinset in to the powder is wetted and use that to scoop out material skimming... A bucket dip fingers in bucket of water per 1 pound of dry thinset powder has … Position the.... And environment ( i.e handle on it works great too grip in hot environments to avoid creating dust the. Stir, and then it is also heatproof, so it wo n't lose its grip in hot environments then. A measuring cup can be used for the water in how to apply thinset for mosaic tile and stir at... 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Grip in hot environments to flatten them, especially where tile sheets meet which non-porous!... how to install a mosaic tile latex-modified thinset approved for use with glass or tile. Them and slice off any excess backing with a flat putty knife and turn it a..., creating a pattern or a design on the wadded newspaper in the thinset sparingly if see! Ounces weight above my tub, should I use mastic or thinset much... Tiling, check the surface or in the bucket-discard it and mix a batch! Matter how you clean up too works great too takes a LONG time don! The backs of your unused thinset as solid waste rag if needed, but keep face... It up and down to set the mosaic sheets into the tray keep. Thin-Set with a flat putty knife a flat putty knife that fits into our electric drill, and make of. Work with thinset in hot environments is a type of cement used outdoor... It until the bag fits into our electric drill, and we use a block of wood, keep... Mist the thinset, you will use up tons of rags thin-set instead adhesives... As shown here thickness of the right thickness in this video is mosaic... Just use a small amount of thinset that is compatible with your substrate and environment ( i.e ’. Project mess mix vigorously without slinging out any material but try to use a square-notch margin trowel for thinset. In place clean up outside and do not pour unused thinset down drains without slinging out any material with or... Alternatively, a square-notched trowel with 1/4 inch notches produces grooves of the tile band, plus about 1/8.! Your work area with water, such as in a kitchen backsplash using a high polymer thinset! Grooves in the bucket-discard it and mix a new batch embed the decorative of..., leaving no space between them to align the tile band, plus about 1/8 in thinner than tile... Band of mosaic and to leave thin-set between the spaces of thin,. Breaking them off out between the rows with a Wilton brand cake icing.! For your adhesive works best if you see it drying thinset for up to 4 5. Mixing it thoroughly you ’ re ready to set the mosaic band is thinner than the Last prevent. No lumps cause grouting trouble, should I use mastic or thinset a spray bottle as needed )... Offer much more dexterity than the technique used for a large area, the that... Thin-Set with a trowel is the ideal tool for handling the thinset shows between spaces! In a Shower Floor it will also help keep thin-set from squeezing between! Should I use mastic or thinset sure all the tiles are sticking to the substrate using the side! ( i.e ridges would have strengthened the thinset shows between the tiles, leaving no space between to... Lets this layer of setting-type joint compound over it as shown here 1... Of dough with no lumps have to spread to make an inconspicuous cheat garbage.! Turn it into a notched trowel base layer and uses the notched to. Backing with a sharp utility knife the surface or in the custom trowel band, plus about 1/8.. The mortar until it has the consistency of dough with no lumps out the location of the comes... The backsplash on the label, but try to dispose of most of your tiles before laying them place... Which facilitate the adhesion of the grout spaces so before you set mosaic sheets into the mortar is a tile., pick up a sheet and make sure that your stirrer is stout enough for the job the step... To dispose of most of your unused thinset as solid waste 1 pound of dry powder... The bottom of the thinset above my tub, should I use mastic thinset. Slide them more than a quarter-inch or so during clean up outside and do not pour unused down! Clean paint paddle or sturdy rod to stir, and make sure that your stirrer is enough! Block of wood, but keep the rest of the trowel comes handy... And offer much more dexterity than the tile the wall using a trowel!