(661) 831-2659 / Open 7:30 am - 4:00 pm PST Monday - Friday / Products available ONLY in Kern County, California
Select Page

Substrate Variations

When installing tile adjacent to thicker materials, with the intention of the two tiles finishing in the same plane (flush), the substrate must be brought up to a level such that the tile can be installed with the recommended amount of thin-set. This should be accomplished in one of three ways depending on the amount of variation between the uninstalled tiles and installed surrounding material.

 

For Variation between 1/8″- 1/4″

Step 1 Apply a build-up layer of a recommended thin-set, screed to the desired substrate depth and cure for a minimum of 48 hours.

Step 2 After the build-up layer of thin-set has cured for a minimum of 48 hours, install and grout the tile per the installation instructions.

 

For Variations between 1/4″- 3/4″

Step 1 Using a recommended thin-set, install a piece of ¼” or ½” cement board. Use a notch trowel size and cement board thickness that will render the desired substrate depth. Cure a minimum of 24 hours.

Step 2 After the installed cement board layer has cured for a minimum of 24 hours, install and grout the tile per the installation instructions.

 

For Variations between 3/4″- 1 1/2″

Step 1 Apply a thin layer (bond-coat) of a recommended thin-set.

Step 2 While the bond-coat is still tacky, apply a cement mortar bed (4:1 sand & cement mixture per ANSI A108.1B). Screed the cement mortar bed to the desired substrate depth and cure a minimum of 7 days.

Step 3 After the cement mortar bed has cured a minimum of 7 days, install and grout the tile per the installation instructions.