JASON PETTINATO TILE HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A PARTICIPANT FOR UPDATING
THE:
2011 TILE (C54) CALIFORNIA STATE EXAM
Thinset Cheat Sheet
Thinset comes in a wide variety of types and colors. Selecting the right one for your job can be answered by reading the following in order to determine the correct type and color.
Thinset Color - comes in two colors, gray and white. They both have equal strengths. Use a thinset color that will be close to your grout color. So if your grout will be white then use white thinset. Keep in mind that you will also need to know which type to use. Thinset Types - are generally "Modified" or "Dry-Set". Think of dry set thinset as the "generic" stuff that does not contain any types of latex or modifiers. It will not offer any additional protection to substrate movement which is critical with tile installations. Modified thinset is generally the way to go for a few reasons. It bonds better to porcelain tile which is now becoming more and more popular and it works well with minor substrate movement which means less tile cracks! Higher Priced - thinsets are generally due to increased amounts of additives which can increase bond strength and help extend "open air pot life" which is important. You want to apply only enough thinset that can be tiled within 20 minutes or less to create a good bond with the substrate! Some claim to perform well over cracks up to 1/8" wide without any additional crack isolation membranes. You may not need the most expensive type of thinset if your substrate is in good condition. Try to avoid the least expensive as they tend to be less superior in overall performance and workability.
I install tile using Dry-Set thinset for Schluter Ditra Mat and Schluter Kerdi. The following videos are available using these products How To Tile a FloorHow To Tile a Shower.
