Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - thin set/ mastic

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04-26-01, 05:04 AM
my question is; what is the difference between thin set mortar and mastic. also when to use what? i will be tiling the floor in the bathroom, and also the tub and shower surround using backerboard as the final surface to adhear the tile to. the place where i bought the backerboard said that i could use thin set to fill in the joints of the backerboard, using a mess tape. is that the way it is done. thanks, margie

05-10-01, 12:48 PM
Thinset is specifically used for clay and ceramic tile. Mastic is generally used as a sealer on roofs.

Yes, use the mesh tape if you wish. The thinset will also seal the joints between the backerboard.

Use the proper notched trowel for the thinset and make sure you measure and snap chaklines before you start slobbering the thinset down. Some people even "butter" the tiles with thinset in certain places.
05-20-01, 09:16 AM
deciding which adhesive to use is determined by which type of backing or surface the tiles will be set on. If a cement-board type backer is used, thin-set will give a stronger bond, if you're setting the tile on sheetrock or some painted surfaces, mastic is better suited for this application.