How to Spread Thin Set Mortar
Use thin set mortar for walls, floors and ceramic tiles. When laying tile, it's important to use the correct size trowel. For a smaller tile, use a smaller trowel. The correct trowel will make spreading mortar easier. How do you use the trowel to spread the mortar? First, start with the mixing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Pour a couple of inches of water into a large bucket.
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2
Empty a little less than half of a 50-pound bag of the mortar into the bucket. It's best to empty controlled and slowly in case the weight of the bag gets away from you and you dump the entire bag into the bucket.
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3
Mix the mortar and water with a wide, sturdy, long stick. Mix until the mixture reaches the consistency of heavy syrup.
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4
Test the mixture on a practice surface, one that you won't use for your real work. Spread the mortar on the surface, and comb it with a notch trowel. If the ridges peak with only a slight lean, then the mortar is the right consistency. If the mortar doesn't peak at all, you'll need to add more mortar from the bag. If the mortar is difficult to spread, you'll need more water.
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5
Spread the mortar on the place where you've marked for your tile. Place your tile on top of the mortar immediately, giving the air barely any time to get to it. The quicker you press the tile, the better it will adhere.
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6
Repeat Step 6 until job is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use a trowel bigger than what you need. If you do, you will spread more on a surface than what you need, and you will have to scrape the excess away. You could use this wasted time for something you enjoy.
Never mix an entire 50-pound bag of mortar at one time-it will lose its consistency. You will have to throw it out, and you'll waste money.
