Replies

1. 
   NickNukeEm | May 19, 2006 02:22am | #1

   Thinset.  Mastic should not be used in wet areas.  Even if the towel bar is not in the tub enclosure, use thinset.

    

   "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.

1. 
   Treetalk | May 19, 2006 02:47am | #2

   Ive been told by two old tilesetters to use grout to set the dishs.They claim u have to knock them off with hammer.Apparently has something to do with more latex additive in grout.Last shower i did i tried it/ temporay supports and duct tape and those suckers are on there.

1. 
   JeffBuck | May 19, 2006 03:53am | #3

   any modified thinset is gonna hold better than any grout.

   the old timers are probably scared of the newer modified TSet.

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

2. 
   TBone | May 20, 2006 01:54am | #6

   So should one never use mastic in a bathroom, laundry room, mudroom environment? Shower walls, surrounds, etc?

1. 
   BillBrennen | May 20, 2006 03:55am | #7

   TBone,Correct. Never use mastic in wet areas or on floors.Bill

2. 
   JeffBuck | May 20, 2006 04:57am | #8

   the only place I use mastic is for kitchen backsplashes.

   on remodeling jobs where the tile backsplash is the very last thing to go into the now completely finished kitchen. Mastic is quicker because it's already mixed ... just open the can ... and ... it wipes up easier if I drop a blob on the counter top or cabinets.

   Jeff

        Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   TBone | May 20, 2006 07:48am | #9

   I guess the reason I ask is that I've more or less gotten thrown into the company's tile projects...I like it and no one else does, and I want to learn to do it right since I don't really have any prior experience.So, should I be using TEC or Versabond, etc. thinset for shower walls?And no, I haven't used mastic on floors. I mix thinset up for that.~TBone

1. 
   JeffBuck | May 20, 2006 08:03am | #10

   what ever thinset you prefer.

    

   personally .. I lake Mapei's products. But it all worked.

   for shower walls ... just used Mapei's UltraLite ... found a new favorite TSet.

    

   has great initial stick ... pretty much no slippage. Talked to some guys that hate it ... as there's no slippage ... hard to wiggle or move the tiles to align spacing ... can't lay a whole bunch then go back and adjust. I'll fight that rather than have a whole wall slid over night.

    

   Micheal Byrne's book Setting Tile is a good book to have on hand. And the forums at http://www.johnbridge.com are a great resource.

    

   That's pretty much how I got started doing the fancy tile. I laid backsplashes and bath wall tiles as a kid working with my Dad ... but it was all basic 4x4 straight patterns. One day while working as an employee I overheard the owner tell the lead that the tile setter had quit or got fired and they were screwed.

   I told them I'd done a little bit in the past ... did that small bath floor and I was the new company tile guy. Had to learn as fast as they threw the bigger and fancier jobs at me. Next thing ya know ... I'm the "fancy tile" guy.

   learned how to do a custom mudbed shower floor and never looked back.

   if U wanna make a name for yourself pay close attention to layout. I tell everyone I set tile with the eye of a trim carp. Everythings gotta line up ... no visable "slivers" ... I usually plan on one full day of layout for a medium to big job. I'll layout ... and shift ... and move .. then relay out as many times as I have to for the best over all layout possible.

    

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

2. 
   TBone | May 20, 2006 08:10am | #11

   Thanks for the info. I actually just found that forum and have been looking through it. Was also looking at that book online the other day, I think I might pull the trigger.~TBone

3. 
   Dinosaur | May 20, 2006 09:17am | #13

   Just finished a bathroom remod with a fair amount of tile in it. But I got a surprise when I went into my supplier with the client so she could pick the tiles. They tried to sell me mastic and I had to insist on thinset. I got pretty annoyed as the stock-room creep who works there and thinks he's a genius made it plain by the look on his face when he changed the order at my insistance that he thought I was wasting the client's money. Did this right in front of her, too.

   So I waited till the next day, then went to see the owner, and mentioned that Skeezix needed a lesson in both manners and what kind of goo to use in wet areas.

   The owner looks at me and says, "But all our installers use mastic for bathrooms and showers."

   I said, "Good for them. I hope they like callbacks, cause I don't. Sell me the thinset, and tell Einstein back there if he wants to match his opinion against mine in front of my client, he'd better be ready to explain to you why I took my business down the street."

   Grrrr.

   But the fact their installers are using mastic surprised the snot outta me. Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

4. 
   LEMONJELLO | May 20, 2006 08:11am | #12

   Use white thinset when you can, the gray is fine but the white seems to stain other (things) pretty easy when oops's occur. Seems more pleasing to work with for no particular reason. Though I still use grey with slates and other darker stuff. Some guys end up with their favorite brand based on ease of use, wether you do a lot of tub surrounds, or floors, hot, cold, dry, humid, you'll find out what works by trial. Acrylic added or already modified is up to you, I sometimes add more acrylic and paddle the thinset more than usual to get it stickier when its cooler and humid and stacking walls to get it to grab and not slump too much. Jeff Buck's post is right on, layout, layout, layout. If you can disappear the flaws in a wacked out of square, no plumb wall shower, and with lots of full tiles and minimal cuts. You'll get what it means.Grout on!

   Edited 5/20/2006 1:17 am by LEMONJELLO

2. 
   BUIC | May 19, 2006 06:56am | #4

     Another vote for grout. Done many soap dishes this way (including both my bathrooms) and they're solid like poured concrete.  More then one tile guy has said it's their preferred way to do it....Buic

1. 
   Treetalk | May 19, 2006 01:45pm | #5

   Yep ..dont know the reasoning but as they told me that thing is on there for good.These guys do it all the time im a once a year guy.