Subway tile dos and don'ts. Specifically back buttering.

[@bradleyb.425]

Thanks Sal. You're the Master of Tile, and as a professional tile setter I defer to you regularly.

[@maydanlex]

The knowledge contained within Mr. DiBlasi's videos was integral to my success in doing my first bathroom tile job ......using 12 X 24 tiles no less.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@Titantitan001]

How long did that take ya? I always suggest against home owners doing the prep cause water proofing gets goofed up so much. Ive lost count at this point. But bravo mate

[@kayBTR]

Thanks Sal for showing how to trowel the thin-set in a straight line and slide that tile in the opposite direction of the line. GREAT VIDEO.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@martinradtke5181]

Thank you Sal for explaining via common sense and examples when to back butter tiles. I’m impress by your tiling talent - I just started my shower and it took me 3 hrs to do 10 sq ft. I’m getting the hang of it but this reminds me of drywall mudding. You pros make it look easy but for this retired Medicare Old Man it’s hard work. Creaky arthritic joints…wife likes the results!❤️

[@phillipkirby502]

I hope everything turned out great! 🙂

[@robjovic642]

I just installed a 4”x12” rectified porcelain tile kitchen backsplash and didn’t put any mortar on the walls at all...just troweled it onto the back of each tile and came out amazing!

[@rchealy]

I did the same thing when doing the herringbone in my shower because needed to slow my roll from slapping the tiles up too quickly.

[@williammartin9450]

If you want any tile to bond better to a cementitious adhesive a little moisture always helps... hence sponging a wall before burning in. If the subway tile is extremely dry and porous, and on hot days, I will often spray the back of the tile with a bit of water before setting to increase the bond strength.

[@philliplively1905]

Take a drink everytime he says back butta

[@SalDiBlasi]

😊👍

[@themodernhandymanchannel1223]

😂😂

[@Alex-V.S]

I am intoxicated and might not make it alive by the end of this video. 🥴

[@demondub.]

Played this with water but now I'm a fish

[@nowornever_t2d]

I love to hear folks with that style of accent speak. I hope they don't take offense with my smile.

[@mykidsaresupercute]

Thanks! We have been back buttering our 4x12 subway tiles which I now know it the right thing because they have grooves on the back.

[@michaelnitzel4738]

Great video, Sal! Answered all of my back buttering questions quickly and clearly. Thank you!

[@neppiesworld9432]

I just love your videos! They’re so informative!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad you like them!

[@MM-gl1xz]

You're a great teacher! Love that you explain the why's and show it!

[@SalDiBlasi]

😊👍

[@shawnfisher1301]

"Only back buttah when ya have a deep patten " 😂😂😂

[@marcuscicero9587]

greetings Mr. DiBlasi. great videos and I complement you on your work ethic

[@SalDiBlasi]

Much appreciated

[@leeedwards3783]

True. Is there a set depth of adhesive a certain sized trowel will leave if you need to calculate where to set your studs do the tile finishes at an almost exact point. So 95mm stuf, 12mm kedi board, adhesive and 24 x 24 tile at 10mm thick. Hope that makes sense. Thanks Sal.

[@chevyhighrider]

Sal, my 3x9 porcelain subway tile is not sticking to my Schluter Allset. I mix to the instructions on the bag, I’ve tried the wetter and drier end of the range of water and same thing. I’ve started having to backbutter every one :/

[@Nikkimac80]

Great video sal. Love the knowledge.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks for watching!

[@xuser9980]

What a about mastic? Even though my 5x14 tiles have flat backs (no ridges), I've been back buttering. My drywall is a bit wavy so I'm not getting 100% coverage. Is that ok with mastic?

[@Scottmd714]

Great video Sal. Does using mastic instead of thinset make any difference when deciding when to back butter and in choosing the trowel size?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Mastic is junk and has very limited uses. Only in Dry areas and small tile. No Porcelain.

[@jacobmccormick2637]

I took a drink every time he said Butta and now my belly hurts and thank God it was beer

[@rrjones6667]

Hi Sal great instruction as always. I have a lanai that I want to tile can you give me advice on prepping the surface as it is painted cool deck.

[@SalDiBlasi]

You need to grind off the paint.

[@jamesderbaum9678]

Are you going over slab? I've been doing tile for over 40 years

[@I-TILE]

Yes nicely shown here 100% coverage

[@seandaliege]

What about a 2.5 x 16 inch ceramic tile? Should i back butter this size?

[@burtrussel1535]

Great video! What kind of thin set mortar did you use in this video? It looks like it's great to work with.

[@I-TILE]

I’m a huge fan of back buttering

[@tonyedwards7801]

Hi there, do you have any videos discussing soaking tiles prior to usage vs. dry tile application. Thanks 👍

[@SalDiBlasi]

That is a thing of the past, not needed today.

[@jhscolombianito7598]

Hi my friend, thank you for explaining. What kind of material do you use to tile ( thinset or mastick ) ?

[@bubbalands]

Would back butter a 6x12

[@BZ1340]

Is Mapei your go too Thinset for porcelain and ceramic subway tile. It seems I see all kinds of Thinset being used for subway installs.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Depends on the tile and substrate. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWmTeImdab5ng7c

[@honestabe7349]

how do I keep tile joint size even on 3x6 subway tiles. Do I use spacers between tiles?

[@asinger261]

Haven't been on for a while but definitely digging the beard my man

[@SalDiBlasi]

😊👍

[@johnbell1246]

Do you have a helper Sal? I've been without for many years but am considering a younger helper I can train properly from the start tho!.

[@squid_fish]

You are the man! Thanks for the videos ✔️🙂

[@SalDiBlasi]

My pleasure!

[@Hhhhhhlllll]

What about the dust/glue on the back of the tile, back butter right

[@SalDiBlasi]

Usually not a problem, but in some cases you have to wash and wipe down the tile.

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

I wipe the back of every tile with a clean sponge. It bonds very well. I rarely back butter the tile. Sal is the pro though and I would listen to him before me.

[@bigdaddy7670]

Fantastic explanation!

[@charlesgoodine8960]

What size grout gaps on these??

[@SalDiBlasi]

1/8"

[@mikew3012]

Is there a shade variation in those tiles Sal? Not sure if it's tile or camera angle 🤔

[@SalDiBlasi]

Yes lots of different shades.

[@mikew3012]

@@SalDiBlasi thanks sal I've just completed a large floor and all the the batch numbers are the same but the shade variation is terrible tbh

[@christianrice3113]

What specific wow collection is the tile in this video?

[@SalDiBlasi]

Shadow 2.5x5 White Glossy

[@leeedwards3783]

Hi Sal. Is there a particular depth you add on for tile adhesive when setting shower valves etc. Say you use a 24 x 24 tile and you use a 1/2 u shaped trowel, then that is 12mm + 12mm. When flattened it becomes 6mm spread of adhesive. Do you add more for back buttering? Hope that makes sense. Trying to work out depth of false wall before it has kerdi board, tile adhesive and tile. Thanks

[@SalDiBlasi]

It is the plumbers job to set the depth of the valve.

[@Dtileandremodeling]

awesome vid Sal !

[@SalDiBlasi]

Thanks!

[@leeedwards3783]

Thank you sir. Very informative

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cvzphotography]

Thanks, Sal.

[@SalDiBlasi]

You bet

[@shortsalesumo]

Is thinset or premixed mastic better for bathtub walls, where the base is cement board

[@KevinDiaz-kz9lt]

Mastic is not meant for a “wet area” application. It’ll return back to a liquid mush state. A thinset is needed.

[@jamesderbaum9678]

Why didn't you use Some type of water proof paint?

[@SalDiBlasi]

What suspicionofdeceit Said. You might want to look into sealed shower systems that use a bonding flange.

[@jamesderbaum9678]

@suspicionofdeceit , in our area we have seen that brand, thanks.

[@Apexjasonmorganllc]

Really good info.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad you liked it

[@Familyfun0811]

Good job

[@1badpete999]

How do you keep glue from oozing out between tile gaps especially on mosaic with narrow gaps once they are dried its a pain to clean or remove before filling joints ,what's your tricks ????

[@TonyVM775]

Make sure you use the right size trowel for the job. Mosaics I will use a 1/8 trowel or something. I also use a bristle brush (similar to toothbrush) and some water to “scrub” the thinset out of the grout lines if needed.

[@marks.5288]

Adhere the mosaic to Kerdi Band first with thinset using a 3/16 V notch trowel and let set up . Then adhere the the backed tile to the wall . No ooze except maybe at the outer edges.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Try knocking down the ridges of the mortar along with the correct trowel size.

[@KevinDiaz-kz9lt]

Yep a 6” drywall knife is what I use to knock down the ridges

[@FD-dh2fu]

Love it! Thank you

[@SalDiBlasi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@southpoleelvs]

Take a shot every time he says "back buddah"

[@SalDiBlasi]

😊👍

[@garygray4664]

Drunk in 2 minutes

[@oddopops1327]

👍👍😉

[@sykomike11]

Great video as always sal, but for god's sake it could have been half the length!

[@SalDiBlasi]

Onlky watch the half that you need. 😇😊

[@GCRAAY]

That’s a very thick tile.

[@marccas10]

I wish somebody would have told me that I didn't have to use butter? On the plus side my cholesterol has got lower.

[@SalDiBlasi]

You do have to use butter, who said you didn't?

[@marccas10]

@@SalDiBlasi One of the other tiling channels? He said to use margarine?

[@stevezartman7238]

Is back buttering necessary for a 16x4 subway tile on GoBoard

[@SalDiBlasi]

I would.

[@stevezartman7238]

@@SalDiBlasi thanks for the quick response

[@Cold_Queso]

Drink every time sal says butta

[@karenpayne3946]

Thanks Sal I’m dealing with Satan!

[@mk-jm5tv]

back butta!!!!

[@garytowne1548]

You said there would be a link on selecting notch size - not there. Just a bunch of money-sucking ads.

[@SalDiBlasi]

Cards and end screen. By the way it takes a lot of time and effort to make these videos, a little support can't hurt

[@cfomusic73]

Sorry I disagree. Back butter everything...... Just like you key in the substrate..... You need to back butter the tile for proper adhesion. Also that euro notch trowel way excessive size for that 3x6 tile. You stated that hydroban board wall flat then that euro notch is way to much for that size trowel unless you want to spend the entire next day cleaning all your grout lines.

[@travlangley1]

3:52 look at that vertical grout line