How To Mix Thinset Mortar for Tile | 6 Beginner Tips Before You Start

Before you begin your tile project, the first crucial step is mixing your thinset up to the right consistency. The process of how to mix thinset mortar for tile can feel overwhelming to a beginner. So today we’re breaking it all down!

In this article, we’ll cover frequently asked questions about mixing thinset, show you the whole process of how to mix thinset in video and picture format, and lastly share 6 helpful tips for beginners.

If you’ve never mixed thinset mortar before, you’re in the right place! Have no fear. Let’s dive in.

This how to mix thinset mortar for tile tutorial contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

FAQs about mixing thinset

What is thinset?

Thinset, sometimes called “mortar” or “thinset mortar”, is a setting material to attach tile or stone to a surface. This adhesive material is made from Portland cement and fine sand. Some types of thinset also have polymers or other ingredients added to help make the thinset more workable and stronger.

Is there a difference between mortar and thinset?

Great question! It can be pretty confusing because many people use the term thinset and mortar interchangeably.

• Mortar is a bonding materials to attach tile, stone, bricks and more to another surface. There are several types of mortar used for different applications.
• Thinset is just one type of mortar. So although mortar and thinset are used interchangeably, thinset is really a type of mortar.

How long will thinset last after mixing?

Thinset will start to set up fairly quickly after mixing, so you should only mix up what you can use within 20 minutes or so. The exact length of how long thinset will last after mixing varies based on your conditions, but typical no longer than 1 hour.

What happens if you put too much water in thinset?

If thinset has too much water in the mixture, it will be too thin and squish up in between the tiles when they are laid into place. It will also not hold the notched ridges when applied with the trowel. Thinset that has too much water will be runny and droop off of the wall and cause the tiles to sag instead of hold in place.

What happens if you don’t put enough water in thinset?

If thinset doesn’t have enough water it won’t stick to the surface or smooth out to an even layer. Thinset with not enough water will harden quickly, be clumpy and won’t hold the tiles into place.

How To Mix Thinset Mortar for Tile – Video Tutorial

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How To Mix Thinset – Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1. Measure out the water and put it in bucket.

Because thinset hardens quickly you never want to mix up more than you can use within 20-30 minutes, so never mix up a whole bag of thinset at one time.

The ratio of water to thinset on the back of your bag will likely be for the whole bag of thinset, so you’ll need to do some quick math to figure out how much water to use to make a smaller batch.

For example, our instructions said to use 5-6 quarts of water for the entire 50 lb bag. We decided to mix up roughly half of the bag of thinset so we started with 3 quarts of water in the bucket (6 divided by 2 equals 3). To mix up 1/4 of the bag, we’d use 1.5 quarts (6 divided by 4 is 1.5).

You should always use cool water to mix thinset. Warm water will speed up the chemical reaction of the thinset faster than it needs to be.

Step 2. Add thin-set mortar powder from the bag.

Depending on how much thinset you’re planning to mix up at once, pour that amount from the bag into the bucket with the water. It doesn’t have to be exact here, it’s ok to estimate.

Step 3. Mix water and thinset together.

Using a corded 1/2″ drill with a mixing attachment, mix the water and thinset powder together at a low-speed setting. Continue mixing and moving the drill up and down throughout the bucket to get all of the pockets of thinset.

If needed, add more water to get the thinset mixture to a consistency similar to that of creamy peanut butter.

Step 4. Let thinset set (or slake).

Once mixed, let the thinset slake (which is a fancy word for don’t touch it) for 5-10 minutes.

Step 5. Mix one more time after the thinset has rested.

Once your timer goes off, the rest is over and it’s time to get to work! Stir it up one more time and it’s ready to use.

Feel free to mix again if needed while you’re tiling, but don’t add more water.

What do I do with extra unused mortar?

Unused mortar should be scraped into a spare bucket and allowed to harden. The bucket can be thrown in the trash (or taken directly to the dump). If you want to try to reuse the bucket, you could use a hammer and chisel to break the mortar up and remove from bucket. However, we find this is usually more trouble than it is worth and the buckets are fairly cheap.

There you have it! Everything you need to know about mixing up your first batch of thinset for tile! This first important step of tiling doesn’t have to be overwhelming as a beginner.

Armed with the knowledge you learned in this article and first and foremost always reading and following the manufacturer’s instructions, you’ll be on your way to mixing mortar like a pro!

Do you have any other questions about thinset or tiling?

Let us know in the comments below!