Sag during the curing process is a major concern for vertical applications.
Moisture is another consideration.
Both materials can be confusing because of several overlapping applications.
The Spruce / Ashley Luciano
Which should you use and where should you use them?
Additionally, thinset comes in either unmodified or modified versions.
Unmodified thinset is composed of Portland cement, sand, and water retention agents.
A feature of thinset that is both a plus and a minus is that it is slow to set.
This is a plus because it affords a longer working time to fix any misaligned tiles.
Plastic tile spacers, liberally placed, are the solution for tile sag.
Henry 314 Ready Set Premixed Mastic Adhesive is one of the few exceptions that actually incorporates the word mastic.
Some areas wheretile masticmay be used:
Many shower walls are done with ceramic tile and mastic.
It is important to use a water resistant drywall or backer board when doing so.
Checking with the local building department would be a good idea before beginning the project.
Unused mastic can be saved.
When it comes time to demolish the tile, tile mastic makes it relatively easy to remove the tile.
Mastic’s quick-grab feature means that it is difficult to fix poorly aligned tiles.
Mastic cannot be used in high-moisture areas.
Mastic has a pronounced odor.
Dry-mix thinset is inexpensive and easy to use.
Excess thinset must be thrown out, as it cannot be saved.
During demolition, thinset requires considerable labor to remove.
The bonding is much better as apposed to wood or drywall.
Could be considered a “con” because of the extra step involved.
