Thinset explained. What you need to know

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I am often asked what type of thinset should be used? So to answer this question you first need to know what kind of tile is being installed and on what kind of surface. Thinset mortar is the glue that holds the tile to your substrate, picking the right one for your tile and substrate is of critical importance. There are several material specifications for thinset mortar from the American National Standards Institute or ANSI for short. These specifications are ANSI:
A118.1 Dry Set Unmodified Mortar
A118.4 Dry Set Modified Mortar
A118.11 Dry Set Modified EGP Mortar (Exterior Grade Plywood)
A118.15 Dry Set Improved Modified Mortar

Using a thinset for a tile or substrate that it is not designed to be used for can lead to failures, so it is critical to use a mortar that is suitable for the type of tile and substrate in your tile installation. Thinset is basically a mixture of sand, and cement and other compounds to facilitate the hydration process. Thinset is the “Glue” that bonds the tile to the surface to which it is applied, and it does this by growing crystals as it dries and cures. The crystals interlock and penetrate into the surface of the tile and the substrate, bonding it all together. The longer the thinset is able to grow crystals the strong the bond and the strength of the thinset.
So what kind of thinset should be used in any given application? Well there is unmodified thinset, and modified thinset, and other kinds of thinsets, but we are just going to deal with these two types which are the most widely used. Unmodified thinset is a thinset that has no polymers added to it, a modified thinset is a thinset that has either polymers added to the powder during manufacturing, or an unmodified thinset that is mixed with a liquid polymer on the job site just before it is to be used. Modified thinset is the most widely used mortar these days and is recommended for most applications and types of tile. So why is there polymer in the thinset anyway? Well it is there to help the thinset retain moisture so it can grow those crystals we talked about earlier. Many of the substrates that tile is installed on are very porous and thirsty and will absorb the moisture present in the thinset, which in turn will prevent the thinset from gaining strength, the polymers help with this problem by keeping the moisture in the thinset so it can Hydrate (grow crystals) properly. So when you go to the store you will see that not all thinset cost the same, some are more expensive than the others, well you get what you pay for, the cheaper thinsets have less of the needed components, and the more expensive ones have more, so by extension better. Modified thinsets also add an adhesive quality to the bonding mechanism, as well as flexibility, enhancing the strength of the tile assembly. So modified thinset is used to install porcelain tiles on all kinds of substrates that call for a modified thinset.
All tile installed by Sal DiBlasi, Elite-tile Company, in the Boston North Shore area. This video contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you click on the product link.
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