O/T ceramic tile

Murray2 · Aug 9, 2016

I know this is off topic. Laying /installing ceramic tile, which size tool for spreading the adhesive, I/8, 3/16, 1/4 inch. It's being placed over 3/4" plywood.
Previously I have usually used the 1/8 spreader. Thanks, Murray

RESLLS · Aug 9, 2016

Depends on the size of the tile. Small tile, small notch. Box of tile should have destructions!

Geo-TH,In · Aug 9, 2016

I was told not to put tile over plywood, use cement board or backer board. All my tile is on cement board.

Ultradog MN · Aug 9, 2016

Agree.
Put cement board down first.
As to the notches, as said, that depends on the size of the tile.

MarkB_MI · Aug 9, 2016

Mastic or thinset? Usually you use the small V-notched trowel for mastic and a larger square-notch trowel for thinset.

Read the instructions for the adhesive you're using. The instructions will say exactly which trowel to use.

Kirk Grau · Aug 9, 2016

I'll add a second (third) for the cement board...

Tile/thinset will have notch size specified.

Only do tile on my own place so I'm no expert. U'dogs words should carry quite a bit of weight on this though. Search the archives for some real master pieces he has done with tile.

Kirk

Wheres Waldo · Aug 9, 2016

Cement board is NOT necessary. BUT, you MUST seal the plywood with spar varnish. Otherwise, the thinset will dry instead of cure and it will not hold. I put down 3/4" plywood four years ago with this method as cement board would have made my floor too high for existing kitchen cabinets. I have since moved in a new refrigerator and installed a new dishwasher--no problems whatsoever.

Ultradog MN · Aug 9, 2016

Mark,
A couple of thoughts here.
You make a good point about the type of adhesive.
In my post below I assumed he was applying the tile to a floor. But we don't know that for sure.
He might be applying it to plywood on a wall too in which case bonding it to plywood would be fine.
I would not use mastic on floor tile. It is not nearly as strong as thinset and takes longer (sometimes a couple of days) to dry/bond.
Thinset will set up in just a few hours.
Mastic is quite stiff and is usually used on smaller wall tiles that you can press into the adhesive. Thinset can be mixed real loose and is much better for setting larger tile - floor or wall. Anything over about 6"X6" tile is very hard to press into mastic. On large tiles it is nearly impossible to press them into mastic for an adequate bond.
I rarely use mastic for anything, even small decorative tiles. With thinset you can use a wet brush to clean the excess mortar out of your joints as you go. Whatever residue remains in the joints or face of the tile can easily be cleaned the next day with water and a brush. Do that with mastic and you get a gummy mess on your hands.

MarkB_MI · Aug 10, 2016

I've actually never used mastic. For wall tile I use an acrylic adhesive; very easy to clean up.

North Gower Al · Aug 10, 2016

Actually the thinset drying out is only a problem if you use a non-modified thinset. Non-modified must remain moist to cure and is used when the substrate is not absorbent, something like an isolation membrane. If the substrate is absorbent like plywood you should use a modified thinset, this has an acrylic additive and only sets/cures properly when it can dryout. There are other stipulations regarding acceptable substrates and these are usually spelled out on the bag of thunder.

Al

North Gower Al · Aug 10, 2016

Durn autospell, last word is thinset not thunder

O/T ceramic tile

Murray2

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RESLLS

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Geo-TH,In

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Ultradog MN

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MarkB_MI

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Kirk Grau

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Wheres Waldo

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Ultradog MN

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MarkB_MI

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North Gower Al

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North Gower Al

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