When you thinset the seams typically there is a slight hump so the skim coat evens the surface out and makes it flatter.
Shower tile thinset or mastic.
Powdered thinset is by far a 10x better product.
Today the term mastic is infrequently used and it is difficult to find tile adhesives that go under the mastic banner at your local.
Shower floors thinset.
Thinset tile mortar.
When moisture is present it will not return to a liquefied state as mastic would.
After tile board he would thinset the seams with fiberglass tape and then skim coat the entire board with modified thin set.
99 of tile setters will most likely refuse to use a mastic in a shower situation.
Although thin set is not waterproof it is isn t water soluble.
Traditionally mastic was an organic plant based resin from the pistacia lentiscus shrub and its term is related to the word masticate due to its sticky gummy consistency.
Thinset tile mortar has a smooth slippery consistency similar to mud.
Now on with the battle of mastic vs.
Shower walls thinset.
Thinset is a mortar that is made of portland cement silica sand and moisture retaining agents.
It is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel.
Mastic is great for dry locations its a terrible idea for a shower.
This skim coat has to dry properly.
He then set the tile with latex mastic.
To demonstrate the difference between mastic and powdered thinset i set up two pieces of hardiebacker.
Mastic is a vague term that generally refers to fast grab glues for tile.