Shower Stall WALL and FLOOR Tile - Mortar or Adhesive???

[infiniteMPG]

Finishing up getting all the prep work done in a total rebuild of a tile shower stall over slab in Florida block home. Picking out wall and floor tile and being sort of new at this we have some questions. We're going to use the MAPEI Aqua-Defense in the base and up part of the walls to seal well and it's a base for the tile. Our main question is which is better to use, mortar or tile adhesive for mounting the wall tiles? We've done floor tiling but on the wall we can see the tile possibly "settling" after some of it's up if we just do mortar mounting. But the adhesive looks like it would leave gaps or air space between the cement board and the tile. Suggestions?

And any recommendations on what the best mortar/adhesive is to use for the wall and the floor? And what about the grout and the sealer?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice.

[infiniteMPG]

Finishing up getting all the prep work done in a total rebuild of a tile shower stall over slab in Florida block home. Picking out wall and floor tile and being sort of new at this we have some questions. We're going to use the MAPEI Aqua-Defense in the base and up part of the walls to seal well and it's a base for the tile. Our main question is which is better to use, mortar or tile adhesive for mounting the wall tiles? We've done floor tiling but on the wall we can see the tile possibly "settling" after some of it's up if we just do mortar mounting. But the adhesive looks like it would leave gaps or air space between the cement board and the tile.

Suggestions?

And any recommendations on what the best mortar/adhesive is to use for the wall and the floor? And what about the grout and the sealer?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice.

[dadiOH]

FLOOR I have no idea what MAPEI Aqua-Defense is but if it is cementacious, thinset should do just fine. As an alternative, use what they recommend.

WALL (assuming cement board) Thinset. Go to Home Depot and buy "Custom Blend" thinset. About $5.00 for

50# and no, you don't need to add anything to it (other than water).

If the tile wants to slide you made the thinset too runny. Many tiles have nibs on the edges to space them; if yours do, you need have no fear of tiles sliding once the bottom course has set up a bit; if your don't have nibs, you can buy litle plastic crosses in various widths to space the tile. ____________

Grout is just cement with or without sand. Which to use depends upon the width of the space between tiles. Hint: do NOT use white. The ideal grout color is the same color as the dirt in your area :)

Up to 1/16, unsanded

Wider, sanded. If it is very wide - 1/2" or more - you can use plain old Type S mortar. Type N is OK too, but the S is very little more costly.

When you get into sealers, you get into VERY overpriced snake oil products. Each will tout its very own special benefits but the fact is that many sellers are just buying in bulk and repackaging it.

There are two basic types: penetrating and surface. The surface sealers penetrate too but they can be built up into a surface film. Personally, I like silicone sealer, it's a penetrating type.

[EXT]

I wouldn't ever use adhesive in a shower, it is best for dry locations.

[infiniteMPG]

GREAT ADVICE! The MAPEI Aqua-Defense is a a complete sealing coating you put down on the base before you install the tile. It's supposed to prevent any moisture or water the makes it's way thru cracks or whatever in the grout or tile from getting into the foundation under the shower. Kind of like a liquid shower liner except you can tile right on top of it.

As far as mounting the tile, this is I believe what we've been using, MAPEI Ultraflex 2.

We also already have a bucket of the cross plastic tile spacers but we weren't sure if the gape (I believe 3/16" or so) was proper for shower tiles as what was in there hardly had any spacing between the tiles.

Thanks for the help :O)

[dadiOH]

Width of the grout line is whatever you want to make it. Within reason. Generally, the bigger the tile the wider the grout line can be and look good.

[gpsman]

That's what I call a fast transition from ignorant to well-informed. -----

- gpsman