You ll need a design plan before you start attaching the tile.
Thinset for 12x24 tile wall of shower.
So a 3 8 u notched trowel leaves a 1 8 bed of thinset beneath the installed tile.
What s best to use even if it says it s a pre mixed thin set mortar.
Installing ceramic tile for shower walls.
Since thinset tile mortar may crack you may wish to mix it with a special latex additive to increase its strength.
Use the right mortar for 12 24 tile you often hear about using thin set to install tile but in the case of installing 12 24 tile as flooring you ll want to use something called medium bed mortar.
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This type of mortar will work for clay and porcelain applications.
The medium bed holds its consistency better than the thin set which will sag a bit in the middle of the tile.
Today the term mastic is infrequently used and it is difficult to find tile adhesives that go under the mastic banner at your local.
Add up the wall areas and add 10 so you have extra tile for mistakes or future repairs.
Mastic is a vague term that generally refers to fast grab glues for tile.
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.
For our shower we chose a running bond pattern.
A 3 8 x 3 8 trowel will leave a 3 16 bed of thinset beneath the tile.
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.
Insert tile spacers between the tiles.
Because thinset is not affected by moisture it is best for floor tile and any tile in wet areas including shower floors walls and ceilings and tub surrounds.
Traditionally mastic was an organic plant based resin from the pistacia lentiscus shrub and its term is related to the word masticate due to its sticky gummy consistency.
The thin set in a bag would be as much weight once installed as the tile it is adhering even if it was rated to hold.
Determine how much tile you ll need.
Therefore i almost always recommend a pre mixed mastic when installing light subway tiles over a shower wall.
I never recommended using drywall as a base for the installation only a rated tile backerboard as well as the.