Thickness Of Floor Tile And Mortar

Tile set by the thinset method is adhered to the substrate with a thin layer of thinset cement.

Thickness of floor tile and mortar. 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. The tile is adhered to the mortar bed either while the mortar bed is green just beginning to dry or after the mortar bed has cured. Many thinsets max out at 1 4 in a single layer. A 3 4 inch plywood subfloor on a joist structure with 24 inch spacing needs the extra thickness of cementboard or the floor will flex and the tiles will crack.

Since the product is installed with medium bed mortar adjustments can be made to accommodate for different floor tile thickness to ensure the floor is level. There is more to that requirement such as complete coverage beneath all four corners of the tile but those are the basics. The terms thinset cement thinset mortar dryset mortar and drybond mortar are synonymous. When laying on a similar base medium format tiles it is recommended to apply a layer of 3 4 mm.

In the case of facing drywall the thickness of the mortar for good adhesion should not exceed 5 mm. For most tile installations a square notched trowel with 1 4 inch notches produces grooves of the right thickness. Large format tiles such as 18 by 18 inch and 24 by 24 inch can run up to 1 2 inch thick. Proper thinset mortar coverage means a minimum of 85 total coverage beneath a tile for a dry area installation most floors fireplace etc and 95 minimum total coverage in a wet area showers tub surrounds etc.

For thicker tiles larger notches are recommended. 1 mix the thinset mortar. 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. What is a thick bed installation mortar bed installation or thick set installation.

When it is combed on with the notched trowel it varies depending on the depth of the notch on the towel but as the tile is pressed down into the mortar to bond it to the adhesive it squishes the mortar in place and smears it around the back of the tile. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer typically not greater than 3 16th thick. Uncoupling membranes aren t recommended for tiles smaller than 2 inches square and should not be used when covering old hardwood flooring due to adhesion problems. Chinese slate tiles of 16 inch by 16 inch can have a thickness of 1 2 to 9 16 inch whereas indian slate tiles of the same size can vary between 7 16 and 1 2 inch in thickness.

If the mortar starts to harden while you work either on the surface or in the bucket discard it and mix a new batch.