Hold Heavy Materials Together With Mortar
Mortar is a powerful mixture of sand and concrete that helps
construction materials stick together. Mortar is a necessity for home builders,
letting them stack bricks and concrete blocks, hold tile down, and even repair
pre-existing construction work. There are many kinds of mortar you can buy
pre-mixed. Or, choose mortar mix if you prefer to create your own specialized
mortar.
The two primary types of mortar available are thinset and
medium bed mortar. Choose a medium bed mortar bag if you need to build
load-bearing walls or a foundation made of a thick material like stone or
concrete. Thinset mortar is thin when applied, but expands with air when
exposed to heat. This is a great option for tile mortar because of its high
moisture and heat resistance. Mortar commonly comes in gray, but thinset is
also available in white to look beautiful around colored tile.
Installing your own tile is rewarding, though it requires a
lot of care and expertise to do a professional job. Read our guide — How to
Grout Tile and Use Mortar — to learn the fundamentals on creating charming tile
floors.