Which trowel (nothc size) for 9x12 porcelain tile on drywall

5173 Views 28 Replies 3 Participants Last post by french_guy, Jun 5, 2016

french_guy

Discussion Starter · Apr 29, 2016

Hi

Want to tile a toilet, directly on the drywall
Tiles are 9x12 porcelain, which trowel should i use?
Thanks

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

JazMan

· #2 · Apr 29, 2016

Yeh French guy, we don't tile toilets here! :surprise: Just walls, floors and counters. How you doing? Decided to be a DIYer. Tile on a wall in a dry area is about as simple as it gets. :wink2:

I would use a 1/4x3/8x1/4 as the base trowel for any manufactured tile 8" and over up to 13-14" or so. But it all depends on how you mix the thinset, the angle you hold the trowel and of course the thickness of the tiles. Be sure you also back-butter those tiles.

Direct to drywall, must be a powder room huh?

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 29, 2016

JazMan said:
Yeh French guy, we don't tile toilets here! :surprise: Just walls, floors and counters. How you doing? Decided to be a DIYer. Tile on a wall in a dry area is about as simple as it gets. :wink2:

I would use a 1/4x3/8x1/4 as the base trowel for any manufactured tile 8" and over up to 13-14" or so. But it all depends on how you mix the thinset, the angle you hold the trowel and of course the thickness of the tiles. Be sure you also back-butter those tiles.

Direct to drywall, must be a powder room huh?

Jaz

Hey neighbor......I'm doing good, thank you
Ooops, yes I meant powder room.........:wink2:

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 11, 2016

JazMan said:
Yeh French guy, we don't tile toilets here! :surprise: Just walls, floors and counters. How you doing? Decided to be a DIYer. Tile on a wall in a dry area is about as simple as it gets. :wink2:

I would use a 1/4x3/8x1/4 as the base trowel for any manufactured tile 8" and over up to 13-14" or so. But it all depends on how you mix the thinset, the angle you hold the trowel and of course the thickness of the tiles. Be sure you also back-butter those tiles.

Direct to drywall, must be a powder room huh?

Jaz

By the way, what is the optimal angle for the trowel against the wall? Is it 90 deg, which will give the thicker layer of thinset?

JazMan

· #5 · May 11, 2016

It's impossible to hold the darn thing at 90 deg. and apply pressure with the thinset against the surface. I'm guessing the best angle range will be close to 50 deg or so. I'd have to be doing it and I'd know by the feel and results. Make sure you apply more than enough thinset, then remove the excess with straight even strokes.

Did I mention to "burn" the wall with thinset using the flat side of the trowel first, then apply more to gage, and butter the backs?

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 11, 2016

JazMan said:
It's impossible to hold the darn thing at 90 deg. and apply pressure with the thinset against the surface. I'm guessing the best angle range will be close to 50 deg or so. I'd have to be doing it and I'd know by the feel and results. Make sure you apply more than enough thinset, then remove the excess with straight even strokes.

Did I mention to "burn" the wall with thinset using the flat side of the trowel first, then apply more to gage, and butter the backs?

Jaz

"Burn the wall"......like a Crème brûlée, with a propane torch?:vs_lol:
Seriously, it's like a skim coat?

JazMan

· #7 · May 11, 2016

Yup, that's it. :biggrin2::chef: Skim the wall to get a good mechanical bond, then apply the normal amount.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 12, 2016

OK, so which thinset would you recommend, that i can find at HD or Lowes (yeah.....I know) which is easy to work with?

JazMan

· #9 · May 12, 2016

Any modified thinset will work, I'd use white. Spend min. mid teens per bag. The good stuff is closer to $30, but you don't need it for this project. It'll say modified or polymer modified or enhanced etc. It meets ANSI A118.4 and/or A118.11 The latter is better.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 12, 2016 (Edited)

Something like that:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-B...-lb-Fortified-Thinset-Mortar-MTSW50/100091767
And I assume mastics (like Omnigrip or Acrylpro) is not so good?

JazMan

· #11 · May 12, 2016

Versabond is plenty good enough for this project. Leave the pre-mixed stuff on the shelves to collect dust.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 15, 2016

If needed, can I flatten the wall with thinset? Should I prime the walls with latex first?
Is Versabond OK for that too?

JazMan

· #13 · May 15, 2016

No priming needed or wanted. You can float the wall to remove shallow waves up to ¼" with thinset. May have to do more than one app. Versabond will work just fine. Be sure to mix it correctly, otherwise it will droop on the wall.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 15, 2016

For floating, should I mix it per the instructions, or should I make it more...."viscous" (probably not the right term, but that's what comes to mind !!!)

JazMan

· #15 · May 15, 2016

No, too thin is not good for any purpose. Nice and thick as normal like mashed potatoes.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 15, 2016

So "nice and thick as normal" is what I should get if I follow the instructions?
6 qts of water for 50 Lb bag?

JazMan

· #17 · May 15, 2016

Well, you don't wanna mix #50 at a time. Start with 10-15 lbs depending on what you're doing. I never measure, just pour some water in bucket, then add powder till it's right. But you can measure and weigh until you get the "feel".

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 16, 2016

Was not planning to mix 1 full bag at a time.....
May be a quarter, to see how it goes?

JazMan

· #19 · May 16, 2016

of course................. All I know is what you write.

Jaz

french_guy

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 18, 2016

JazMan said:
No priming needed or wanted. You can float the wall to remove shallow waves up to ¼" with thinset. May have to do more than one app. Versabond will work just fine. Be sure to mix it correctly, otherwise it will droop on the wall.

Jaz

Once the wall floated, how long should I wait before I can tile?

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

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