What Is Back Buttering Tile

Back butter is defined as the spreading of a bond coat to the backs of ceramic tile just before the tile is placed. Bond is defined as the adherence of one material to another. Coverage is defined as a measure of the amount of material required to cover a given surface.

Is back buttering tile necessary?

Back Buttering Tile Can Be Effective Although not necessary for tile coverage, back buttering can be effective by increasing the bond of the mortar to the back of the tile which is an excellent benefit.

How thick should mortar be under tile?

Most tile installations require a 3/16-inch layer of mortar beneath the tile. A mortar layer 3/16 an inch thick is accomplished by spreading mortar with a 3/8-inch by 3/8-inch square-notched trowel. This thickness is ideal for most tile installations. However, sometimes a thicker layer of mortar is required.