hey folks , has any one used the bondera tile mat . i saw this product at the JLC trade show and it looked pretty nice , im thinking of using it on kitchen backsplash. any one out there use this product yet? would love your input thanks maguire
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Never used it but I know about it. I think it'd be fine for backsplashes. I personally think it's just another gimmick that'll come and go. Good for DIY'ers I spose'. For me when I want to make life easier on wall surfaces I just use mastic instead of mud. Mastic to me is as easy as it gets IMHO. If you need to make it easier than mastic..well...then I guess you're a DIY'er and thats fine. I don't know the cost difference either.
I have no idea how well this product works over time being it's new.
I certainly wouldn't trust it quite yet in wet areas.
Recently, I had a job tiling a backsplash with subway tiles. I used mastic. I had considered using Bondera tile mat, which probably would have worked just fine, but decided against it for 3 reasons: 1) I don't see it as a tried and true product yet, 2) because of obstructions such as outlets, I felt mastic would be easier and 3) the instructions actually required grouting within a limited period of time. That leads me to believe that this product relies on the grout to prevent movement. That may not be an issue, but I have to wonder if it's really as strong as bond as mastic or thinset.
I LOVE Bondera!
I had experience with mastic and I was a little nervous to try something new. I started with a small bathroom backsplash. I was done and ready to grout in a matter of minutes. Just be sure and take your time on the placement of you tile peices. It is possible to pull the peice off and tweak the set a bit, but it is very difficult to, because the bondera is so sticky. The Bondera may have to be cut away if you make a mistake. Just cut and reapply a small patch in that spot and move right on.
Where Bondera saves a lot of time is not having to wait for the mastic to dry. You just slap your tile up in a matter of minutes and then go ahead and grout. It's amazing and a whole lot less messy.