For walls that are not plumb, the walls may need adjustment prior to installation. When it comes to choosing between large format tile and regular tile in a commercial construction project, the choice is not always an easy one. For light commercial duty floors, a 1-1/4 thickness is might be recommended. Another aspect associated with large format tiles that makes mortar coverage critical has to do with the manufacturing process. Join Date: May 2014. Ultimate Large Tile Mortar is a polymer-modified mortar that is ideal for installing large format tile over plywood, cementitious surfaces and other substrates. Of course, there will be times during installation when tiles will need to be cut to fit to your floors and walls. You can also find this type of tile in slate, which is just a bit different than ceramic tile. It cannot cure too fast: Otherwise, you do not have adequate working time. This means that a gauged porcelain tile product that is less than 1 meter x 1 meter (39-3/8" x 39-3/8") is considered a large . Keep the sponge clean the entire time by rinsing every few wipes. In addition, its weight makes it harder to handle in both floor and wall applications. Laticrete GLASS TILE ADHESIVE MORTAR. For tile with any side greater than 15" (38.1 cm), CUSTOM recommends using a polymer modified cement mortar specifically designed for setting large format tile. It's also firmer and shrinks less, so tiles stay . Is the specified stone highly porous, such as limestone, or less water absorptive, such as granite? In a worst case, it is an uneven floor that causes a tripping hazard. If this tolerance isn't met, lippage can occur. If you love the look of reclaimed wood, but are hesitant about the durability and upkeep required, Salvage Red Porcelain Tile(below), available in 6x40 planks, is a great option. Because medium-bed mortars can be difficult to trowel, installers often add more water, which can adversely affect the mortar's non-slump performance and its bonding ability. I like the fact that they have universal spacers which means that they come as a cross but two of the tabs can be easily broken off to create a flat or just one to create a tee. When tiling over RedGard, it pays to mix your mortar in small batches. For a contemporary look, Focus GraphitePorcelain Tile(above) has a matte finish and, when partnered with a lighter colored grout, is perfect for a 1/3 staggered offset pattern. So, if you ask me, does large format tile needs mortar, I would say that it doesnt. In most cases this is because a project is a project of just a few days or weeks. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This helps to prevent cracking and lippage, as well as creates a more beautiful end result. Free delivery for many products! Now give all the tile a final wipe with a clean wet sponge. >> This can be achieved by combining the adhesive on to wall or floor using a deeply notched trowel and by back buttering each tile with a skim of adhesive on its back before it is placed into the ribbed adhesive in a twisting motion. These mortars are formulated to keep the tile from slumping into the mortar bed and to not shrink as the mortar cures. This is important for all installations whether vertical or horizontal. The Marble Institute of America's Dimension Stone Design Manual, Version 6 requires a maximum variation of 18 inch in 10 feet for horizontal and vertical thin-bed installations. Highly porous stone, especially, will require a sealer to protect the beauty of the installation. The process of turning clay into the hard ceramic tiles, combined with the very high firing temperatures of around 1200oC can cause some slight variation is shade and shape through the production batch. Based on the factors outlined above, here are some recommendations for the best tile adhesive for various wall tile installations: On receipt of your tiles, it is important that the packs are checked to ensure that all of the packs are of the same batch, shade and size. in the Tile Adhesive area at TilersForums.com, Reply to What tile adhesive is used for large format tiles? It's easier to keep clean sometimes. Deflection can be an issue if the joist span is greater than 16 inches on center (OC) and greater floor thickness is not addressed. This standard is more restrictive than the L/360 for ceramic and porcelain tiles. Thin Set Thin-set mortar mix is the most commonly used tile mortar for both indoor and outdoor projects. Make sure any grout residue is removed from the surface of the tile which can be done using a heavy duty cleaner that is safe for natural stone. In this post we will go over how to install large format tile on a wall, which is not much different then installing it on the floor. White mastics should be used with light-colored stone. When comparing the ceramic wall tile thickness vs. ceramic floor tile thickness, the ones made for floors are generally thicker than wall tiles. View our latest article on large-format tile! The reason why it is not required for tile installations is because the tiles are a much stronger material than the average flooring material and they do not require as much preparation. There are many different patterns when it comes to laying tile. In addition, a 6-foot level and a 10-foot straight edge are valuable tools to measure possible variation in the wall substrate. Planks in these dimensions are perfect to create a traditional wood-look floor when installed in a 1/3 offset pattern. There are actually a number of different ways that you can install mosaic tile, but in order to install mosaic tile, you will have to use ceramic and a special type of cement that allow the tile to adhere to the floor. Epoxy mortars can even be used for installing rubber flooring or wood block flooring. Available for orders above $35. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Tile suction cups which adhere to the front of tiles can help in moving the large format tiles and in cleanly positioning them into the adhesive. Because it is cementitious, thinset is dimensionally stableit will not shrink or contract. This is especially true when it comes to the use of mortar for the project as both options have their pros and cons and it really depends on what the project is trying to accomplish, what material is being used, and how the project will be viewed by the end result. Thanks Kieron, yes I'll be priming aswel, the bathroom was already skimmed and painted but I've removed all the Tilers Forums - THE Forum for all things Tile. The Marble Institute of America (MIA) standard for stone deflection is L/720 - or not greater than 732 inch - of the span when measured under a 300-pound concentrated load. Using a 1/2" x 1/2" square-notched trowel will leave 1/2" ridges of thinset on the substrate with 1/2" spaces between each ridge. Dont make the mistake of overestimating the strength of your walls and the weight of your wall tiles. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Large format tiles come in square or rectangular shapes and are composed of porcelain, ceramic, or stone. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing, This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. Large format tiles come in rectangle and square shapes, and can also be made of different materials, including stone options, ceramic, and porcelain. More often than not it results in a lower quality finish as it can be hard to get a precise, clean-cut result. 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. To do this, use a spirit level or straight edge and hold it across the wall or floor. When I say preparation, I mean that you dont need to mix the aggregate or mix the tiles together in the mortar mix. This mortar can be used in interior, exterior, and submerged installations, and can be used over . When it comes to this type of material, you want to use the best quality that you can afford. Technical Focus: Sufficient Mortar Coverage in Large-Format Tile Installations By Scott Conwell, FAIA, FCSI, CDT, LEED AP Photos courtesy of IMI (Left) This figure represents a 12- x 12-inch tile with 95% coverage (5% voids), as required for wet areas and exterior tile installations. . There are six key aspects to take on board when learning how to fit large format tiles. Boasting a unique, non-sag, and non-slump formulation, our mortar is capable of medium bed applications up to 3/4" and offers sag and slip resistance, ensuring your wall tiles stay in place immediately upon installation. Whats the difference between the $6 bag of thinset and the $40 bag? Does the large format tiles really need mortar? 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. Disclaimer: Almost any DIY project involves risk of some sort. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Simply apply the Norcros Rock-Tite Mortar to your compacted, stable and levelled hardcore base, wait 24 hours for it to set, apply the Norcros Rock-Tite Porcelain Primer to the back of your tiles, lay them in place and when the 15 min drying time has elapsed use the Norcros Rock-Tite Brush In Grout to fill the joints! It's just about tiling in general really, I don't think the pourable thickbed adhesive by BAL will work on walls though. FlexBond-LFT Premium Crack Prevention Large Format Tile Mortar Polymer modified, medium bed mortar for use with large format tiles over difficult to bond substrates and tiles. A common solution involves use of a special non-sag thinset mortar that is designed to stone tile weighing up to 6 pounds per square foot. I recommend a laser level to use as a reference however a 4 level would work as well. To ensure complete coverage it is recommended that you back-butter each tile. Even though it is heavy to carry and more expensive than dry mortar mix, the ease and convenience of premixed thinset mortar make it ideal for do-it-yourselfers. If a thicker floor was recommended,the suitable reinforcement could be2x2 16/16 wire set in the middle of the bed for greater strength. Installation materials. CUSTOM's LARGE FORMAT TILE-LFT Mortar has excellent handling features and Leave a 1/16-inch gap for the joints to allow for expansion and contraction. Having a flat (or plumb) substrate is also critical. Do not use plywood. Choosing Grout. Then, apply the mortar to your wall in two-foot-square sections as you tile. Top Tip:Mapei Ultracolour grout is not only suitable for grout width up to 20mm but is also available in numerous colours, allowing you to coordinate or contrast with your tiles. Advanced installation materials and techniques have improved the overall quality of large-format tile installations while helping to improve the installer's efficiency. This allows the design to look more like it was put together from scratch. Thinset is a mortar made of Portland cement, silica sand, and moisture-retaining agents. If the project you are working on will be more labor intensive, then you will most likely want to use large format tile. Mosaic Tile, In addition to being one of the most popular types of tiles that you can get, mosaic tile is also one of the most difficult to install. For instance, you can make mosaic tile out of wood, stone, marble, and even metal. Type of stone. Mechanical strength is strong, so they hold the tile firmly in place and resist compression. Set in the wall or floor most commonly used tile mortar for both indoor outdoor. At TilersForums.com, Reply to What tile adhesive area at TilersForums.com, best mortar for large format wall tile to tile... 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