How important is the substrate in a ceramic tile installation?
The process for installing a ceramic floor begins with the preparation of the substrate, the base for the tile bed. Common materials used as tile substrates in home installations include concrete, plywood, and drywall. An uneven, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable substrate can seriously affect the life and function of the newly installed ceramic flooring. What is thickset/mud set? Thickset or mud set is the old method of installing ceramic tile. In this method, a thick layer of mortar was applied to a waterproofed and steel reinforced substrate. This provides a strong, flat base onto which the tile can be installed. It is still an effective but a labor intensive process. What is a thinset? Thinset is the modern method of applying the tile directly onto a backer board using a thin layer of mortar. The backer board is nailed to a plywood or concrete substrate. Did you know? Bisque or Biscuit Body is the body of a ceramic tile. When you look at a glazed tile from the side you can see two l
