However, my tile guy didn't apply the thin set. Maybe Ill just caulk it all instead of grout! Wear great knee pads or a use a cushion. The thinset and mesh tape are to strengthen the seams. According to the TCNA, dry-set mortar is Portland cement mixed with sand and additives that impart water-retentivity, and … I was wondering how many of you use thinset under the wonderboard before you nail/screw it down. Then,m it was a matter of mounting the numbers. How to Minimize Thinning During Curing. The floor underneath is plywood, at least 1.5 inches of it. You should not try to tile and build up areas at the same time. These grades or levels are dictated by the ratio of cement to sand used in the mix. Thinset only serves a functional purpose; doesn’t serve any aesthetic purpose, hence no need for multiple color options: Grout may or may not contain sand. Types Of Mosaic Tiles Knee Pads For Floor Work Best Knee Pads For Flooring Work –Review September 26, 2016 March 30, 2018 mmandal2 0 Comments This specialized Knee pad which are Layered with Gel is the most comfortable knee pads. However, when it comes to certain types of tile, it’s important to use to appropriate bonding agent, otherwise you […] Additionally, screws don’t take the place of thinset either. Unmodified thinset is composed of Portland cement, sand, and water retention agents. If you just want to leave the corners untreated that will probably be fine, because that seam won't split the center of a tile. And notes the OSB should be Exposure Rating 1 or better). It'll keep the cement board from moving up and down. Thinset under wonderboard is an excellent precaution if you are putting it on an upstairs bath or a kitchen countertop or a wood subfloor. It is there to fill in the voids bwteen the ply and the cement board so no compression can occur. The boards fit tightly enough that there was no need to screw anything. It is required by the manufacturers of all CBU and you lose the power of their warrnaty if it is not used. With and without the thinset under the boards. Some thinset manufacturers recommend 36 to 48 hours drying time for thinset under backerboard, so checking the directions is a good idea. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer - typically not greater than 3/16th thick. The tile will be on plywood like so: plywood > thinset > backer-board > thinset > tile. By Tom Meehan Download the PDF version of this article. I guess some will say go ahead and thinset cement board to the OSB. This is 1st area of confusion. 2 Answers. You can also apply it over waterproofing membranes. Inorganic and composed of materials mined from the earth, thinset is inexpensive and can be purchased either in wet, pre-mixed or dry, powdery form. Thinset typically contains cement, fine sand, and a water absorbent element. That long term flexing can lead to problems down the road. It's very sturdy. Tara, The reason for the layer of thinset between the cement board and the subfloor is to fill the voids/gaps between the two. (136.32 kB) Q: What is the … When we tiled over concrete slabs, cement board, drywall (gypsum board), or similar products, we used dry-set mortar with no latex additive. Cement board, commonly sold under trade names such as Durock, Hardiebacker, and WonderBoard, is now the standard underlayment used for ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile laid with thinset mortar adhesive.Cement board is used for most floor tile and has all but replaced plywood and drywall backer materials for wall-tile applications in wet areas, like showers and tub surrounds. Modified or Unmodified Thinset: Key Characteristics to Keep in Mind. Use a crack-isolation membrane under the thinset… Yes: you are better off tiling directly to the wood subfloor than installing cement board with no thinset. It is usually used to attach tile or stone to surfaces such as cement or concrete. An unmodified thinset (Masterblend) is fine between the Hardi and the subfloor. When it comes to modified or unmodified thinset, there are different grades that you need to take into account. He cut and screwed down all the hardibacker with no thinset under the hardibacker and no 1/8" joints where the harbibacker seams meet. For example, a 3/8' notch trowel will produce a 3/16th inch thick coating after the tiles are pressed in to the cement. Ill just finish it and move on. If that’s the case, unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for this problem other than removing the tile and cement backer board and starting over. cement backer board fine You need near 100% contact between the hardibacker and the underlying plywood, or the hardibacker will flex and cause your tiles to pop or crack. thinset noun: (also called thinset mortar, thinset cement, dryset mortar, or drybond mortar) an adhesive mortar made of cement, fine sand and a water retaining agent such as an alkyl derivative of cellulose. Backer board installs to a subfloor with a layer of thinset. The thinset is not meant to ‘stick down’, adhere, or otherwise attach your backerboard to your subfloor. The idea is to add coarse sand with the fine stuff sifted out. Knee pads! Instead, he first put a layer of "black paper", then 1/4" hardi board, then Master Blend thin set from HD to set the tiles. How to Remove a Backer-Board Attached With Thinset. Grout may also contain cement, but it's much thinner to make it pourable. Both layers of thinset must reach a minimum of 3/8 inch. Types of thinset. Remember, thinset shrinks or thins as it cures. Since you are putting down hardie board on boards with small gaps, I would not recommend trying to put down thinset under it. Backer board: For backer board on floors, specifically cement board and fiber cement boards (think Hardibacker), it’s my understanding that it doesn’t matter which thinset you use. Not too thin, but thin enough it’s pourable or it falls off the mixing knife. Tips: Use a flat rubber trowel to apply the first layer of thinset and a square notched trowel to back butter the tile. Thinset underneath cementitious backerboard is an absolute must. Its purpose is to adhere the tile to its designated surface. What Is Modified Vs. If you don't thinset, it is actually worse than not using any cement board at all. Thinset is a mixture of cement, sand and an agent that helps the mixture retain moisture. It just feels better knowing that every single inch of the board is supported firmly. Using thinset mortar and special tape to seal the seams between the sheets is also necessary. You apply it between drywall, cement board, a concrete slab or a subfloor and tile. Once laid into the thinset bed the floor becomes a solid, fully supported substrate for your tile – that’s what you want. My question is, is it necessary to put thinset under the backer-board? My father says that it will help keep the tile from cracking in the future but it seems to me that the thinset on top of the backer-board will serve the same purpose. You do need to have thinset under the Hardi or any other brand of CBU. Both layers, together, can add another 1/8 inch to the … Dec 15, 2016 … The trowel size determines how much thinset to put on the substrate, as well as how thick the bed of thinset should be under … Another layer is necessary for installing the tiles. All backerboard manufacturers recommend the use of thinset under the backerboard.The thinset is not there to adhere the cement board to the substrate, it is there to fill the voids that are created when the fasteners are installed.. Additionally, how much thinset do you put under Hardibacker? I also use a notched trowel.Maybe overkill but I'll keep doing it. Thinset: Very often, people refer to thinset as mortar, and it does serve the function of getting tile to stick to a surface. I was just wondering if anyone had any solid Facts as to weather or not using thinset under the boards makes that much of a difference. And when we tiled over plywood substrate, we used latex-modified mortar. As I'm reading the forum, I found out that "a layer of thinset" is required between the hardi board and subfloor. It not only helps to even-out and flatten the wonderboard, it also provides an extra seal for moisture just in case and does prevent the tile from cracking later when the wood beneath gives with temperature changes. I’ve done it both ways. Tile Thinset . cant crack that! Click to see full answer Similarly, it is asked, why do I need Thinset under backer board? Just sucks cause I thought I did alot of research and the floor will stand longer than the house in an earthquake. No Thinset underneath the backer board “The thinset goes ON TOP of the cement board to stick the tiles!” … Cement board is a different product and it needs to be installed in its own way. As mentioned before, the thinset fills the small gaps between plywood and cement board. As mentioned before, the thinset fills the small gaps between plywood and cement board. If you are going to tile over the cement board, you should tape the seams. Be sure to let the first layer of thinset cure properly before setting the tile. Modified vs. Unmodified Thinset. Only mix enough thinset as you can use in 15 or 20 minutes. First let’s look at what each type of thinset is composed of and how the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) describes the two types. Versatility of Use-it’s not advisable to use grout in place of thinset. Additionally, thinset comes in either unmodified or modified versions. The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. You can also find epoxy or resin grouts. It will make an enormous mess under the house (or whatever is under your bathroom). I showed him in the Tile Your World book where it says you CAN'T skip the thin set step under … Some procedures have to be done as recommended---setting backerboard and tile are one of those procedures with no short cuts. While using 1/4” thick—rather than 1/2” thick—cement backer board is acceptable, how you install the backer board and attach it to the plywood subfloor is as important as how you lay the tile on top of it. (This is in addition to the fine sand aready in the thinset.)