TIPS FOR TILES ON A BACKSPLASH THAT I TOOK FROM THE EXPERIENCE.............

MIX THINSET WITH COLD WATER 

MARK SAW CUT LINES WITH A PEN ON SCOTCH 3M 401 HI-PERFORMANCE GREEN MASKING TAPE PLACED ON TILE

MASK-OFF SCHLUTER KERDI TRIM WITH BLUE MASKING TAPE TO CUT SPONGE TIME INTO A FRACTION.

GROUT MIXTURE SHOULD BE LIKE PEANUT BUTTER; SAME WITH THINSET.

SKIM COAT WALL WITH THINSET BEFORE APPLYING THE COMBED APPLICATION. APPLY GOOD FORCE TO KEY IT INTO THE SUBSTRATE.

ENSURE COMBED GROOVES ARE ALL IN ONE DIRECTION [NO SWIRLS OR 'SOIL HATCH PATTERNS']

BACK-TROWEL TILES [SKIM COAT]

WHEN SETTING TILES, WIGGLE THEM PERPENDICULAR TO THE COMBED GROOVES OF THE THINSET TO LET AIR ESCAPE AS THE PEAKS COLLAPSE
USE LARGE GROUT FLOAT AS A HAWK AND USE MARGIN TROWEL TO APPLY GROUT

PULL A TILE OFF THE WALL TO ENSURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST 80% ADHESION.

AFFIX SCHLUTER KERDI TRIM TO WALL WITH STRIPS OF MUSSELBOUND ADHESIVE MAT. SEEMS EASIER THAN USING THINSET. 

AVOID MUSSELBOUND FOR TILES SINCE TILES THAT ARE FRESHLY SAWCUT ARE WET AND PREVENTS ADHESION - UNLESS YOU FIRST DRY THEM WITH A HEAT GUN. ALSO - THIS MAT PREVENTS YOU FROM SLIDING TILES TO REALIGN THEM SLIGHTLY AS TIME GOES ON - UNLESS THEY STAY SECURE FROM FALLING WITH JUST A LIGHT PRESSURE?

AVOID SPONGE BEING TOO DAMP BECAUSE THE EXCESS WATER LIKELY WEAKENS THE GROUT.

SEAL GROUT WITH A GOOD STAIN RESISTANT SEALANT.


7:18 PM 10/24/2024