The Uses of Thinset for Glass Tile
When installing glass tile, it’s important to use a thinset that’s formulated specifically for glass. If a standard, traditional thinset or mortar is used, unsightly shading can occur behind the glass if it is translucent or clear.
At Tile Pro Depot, we highly recommend the Laticrete Glass Tile Adhesive Mortar. This thinset helps to eliminate shading and enhance the beauty of glass tile without sacrificing performance.
Laticrete Glass Tile Adhesive Mortar
Laticrete’s Glass Tile Adhesive Mortar is a one-step, non-sag, polymer fortified adhesive mortar. It is specially formulated to use in glass tile installations. This thinset has fantastic workability and garners an ultra-white finish. The white finish helps to enhance the look of glass tiles, mosaics, and translucent tile or stone. It has a consistent coloring across the entire work surface, and combines a variety of superior characteristics including superb bond strength, minimal shrinkage, a smooth and creamy consistency, and Microban antimicrobial protection that is Greengard certified. This powerhouse of a thinset also exceeds ANSI A118.4 and ANSI A118.11 bond strength requirements when mixed with water.
Apart from glass tiles, the Laticrete Glass Tile Adhesive Mortar can also be used with porcelain and ceramic tile. This allows for great versatility in one product, ensuring you get more bang for your buck. It is designed for all types of interior, exterior, and submerged installations. This mortar can be used when you’re installing glass tiles over concrete, over exterior glue plywood (interior, dry areas only), and a variety of other surfaces.
When installing glass tile or mosaics with the Laticrete Glass Tile Adhesive Mortar, take care to prevent ‘mortar voids’. Mortar voids are caused by the ridges created in the mortar by the trowel, and are essentially air pockets between the tile and the mortar. In traditional tile setting (opaque tile) these voids aren’t visible, but when installing clear glass tile, they can be. To avoid these air pockets, utilize a method called ‘back buttering’. Back buttering is simply applying a thin, even layer of mortar to the back of a glass tile along with the standard layer of thinset on your tiling surface. This method traps the air pockets between the two layers of mortar, concealing them from view. Utilizing this method will guarantee a seamless, beautiful glass tile installation every time.
At Tile Pro Depot, we not only carry thinset for glass tile, but a variety of thinsets for various applications. We also carry all the tile installation tools you need for a successful tile installation job, whether it’s traditional ceramic tile or something more unconventional. At Tile Pro Depot, we aim to be your premier online resource for all things tile installation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding thinset for glass tile – whether it be products or the actual installation – don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us online, give us a call at 844.751.2625 to speak to one of our representatives, or send an email to customerservice@tileprodepot.com. We’ll be more than happy to assist you however we can.