–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– TECHNICAL FEATURE High mortar coverage for large-format tile Is it realistic to believe you can achieve high mortar coverage even with very large formats? There are key items that make a difference: tile warpage, mortar type, trowel size and configuration, and trow- eling/bedding methods. Note the following for your next project: 1. Wipe off any residue on the underside of your tile or stone before bedding and be sure to set into mortar while it’s fresh. 2. Tiles that dome in the center or have some warpage, particu- larly rectangular formats, may require back-buttering. Lift a tile after setting to confirm your bedding method. 3. There are mortars specifically designed to support large-and- heavy tiles. This designation will soon be included in ANSI Standards. With these mortars, there’s no need to spot bond to level or support large formats since they mostly are highly thixotropic, and typically con- tain larger aggregates. Some are lightweight, thus resisting slump and lippage. 4. Although there are no stan- dards for contact/flowable mor- tars, these mortar types wet out surfaces easier than standard mortars to assist with coverage. They’re best used on surfaces that have been leveled. 5. Trowel types: Larger tile typi- cally require more mortar. 1/2”x 1/2”square-notched trowels are commonly used, but they SuperiorBilt Premium Notch Trowels make ridges that are easier to collapse for proper coverage Superior ilt remium otch Trowels ma e E amples of brea age and delamination as ac butter large format tiles and lift occas ormat Tile ortar supports the weight of h E amples of brea age and delamination as a result of poor mortar cov ac butter large format tiles and lift occasionally to confirm sufficien ormat Tile ortar supports the weight of heavy tiles and will not slum h Trowels ma e ridges are easier to collapse for proper coverage delamination as a result of poor mortar coverage es and lift occasionally to confirm sufficient coverage. ro ite remiu s the weight of heavy tiles and will not slump on floors or sag on wal Superior ilt remium otch Trowels ma e ridges are easier to collapse for proper coverage E amples of brea age and delamination as a result of poor mortar coverage ac butter large format tiles and lift occasionally to confirm sufficient coverage. ro ite remiu ormat Tile ortar supports the weight of heavy tiles and will not slump on floors or sag on wal Back butter large-format tiles and lift occasionally to confirm sufficient cover- age. ProLite Premium Large Format Tile Mortar supports the weight of heavy tiles and will not slump on floors or sag on walls. TileLetter | October 2018 95