SimpleSet® Pre-Mixed Thin-Set Mortar

Applicable Standards

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) ANSI A108.4 and A136.1, Type 1 American National Standards for the Installation of Ceramic Tile

Tile Council of North America (TCNA) TCNA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation, TCNA Method EJ171

Environmental Consideration

Custom® Building Products is committed to environmental responsibility in both products produced and in manufacturing practices. Use of this product can contribute towards LEED® v3 certification:

• Up to 2 points towards MR Credit 5, Regional Materials
• Up to 1 point towards IEQ Credit 4.1, Low-Emitting Materials – Adhesives & Sealants

Suitable Tile Types

• Porcelain
• Marble, granite, stone (white mortar)
• Ceramic, mosaic
• Quarry tile

Suitable Substrates

• For interior dry areas
• Suitable for some wet areas such as tub surrounds and shower walls.
• Concrete, masonry
• Plaster, gypsum wallboard (dry areas)
• WonderBoard®, cement backerboards
• Exterior Grade Plywood (dry areas)
• Existing ceramic tile

General Surface Prep

USE CHEMICAL-RESISTANT GLOVES, such as nitrile, when handling product.

Surfaces must be structurally sound, clean, dry and free from grease, oil, dirt, curing compounds, sealers, adhesives or any other contaminant that would prevent a good bond. Glossy or painted surfaces must be sanded, stripped and cleaned of waxes, dirt or any contaminants. Concrete must be cured 28 days and accept water penetration. Concrete must be free of efflorescence and not subject to hydrostatic pressure. Concrete slabs should have a broomed or brushed finish to enhance the bond. Plywood flooring must be structurally sound and meet all ANSI and deflection requirements. For questions about proper subfloor installation, call Technical Services. Smooth concrete surfaces, existing glazed tile, terrazzo, or polished stone should be roughened or scarified. Roughen the surface by sanding or scarifying, rinse and allow to dry. Expansion joints should never be bridged with setting material. Do not sand flooring materials containing asbestos. Ambient temperature, surfaces and materials should be maintained at a temperature above 50° F (10° C) or below 100° F (38° C) for 72 hours

Movement Joint Placement

Expansion joints and cold joints, as described in ANSI A108.01, should never be bridged with setting material. They must be brought through the tile work and filled with an appropriate elastomeric sealant, such as Custom's 100% Silicone. Contact Custom Technical Services for the proper treatment of control or saw cut joints. Refer to TCNA EJ171, F125 and F125A for placement of perimeter and field soft joints in the tile assembly.

Health Precautions

Contains Petroleum Distillates. If ingested, do not induce vomiting. Call a physician immediately. Use with adequate ventilation. Nonflammable. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY. KEEP FROM FREEZING.

Limitations to the Product

• Do not bond tile directly to lightweight concrete, gypsum surfaces, hardwood, Luan plywood, particle board, parquet, cushion or sponge-back vinyl flooring, metal, fiberglass, plastic or OSB panels. Contact Technical Services.
• Do not use over non-porous surfaces such as waterproofing membranes, coated tile backer board and vinyl flooring
• For clear or translucent glass, CUSTOM recommends Glass Tile Premium Thin-Set Mortar. When setting glass tile larger than 6" x 6" (15 x 15 cm), contact Custom's® Technical Services for recommendations.
• Can be used with tile with one side up to 15" (38 cm), but dry time significantly increases.
• Do not use on shower floors or areas exposed to prolonged water exposure or steam.
• Do not use to install fixtures, ungauged stone tile, Saltillo pavers or clear or translucent glass tile.
• Do not use to install backerboards to subfloors, over a waterproof membrane or to install heating mats or coils. We recommend using a Custom® polymer-modified mortar.
• When setting moisture sensitive stone, tile or agglomerates use EBM-Lite™ Epoxy Bonding Mortar 100% Solids.
• Do not use more material than is necessary to bond tiles. If floor is uneven use a LevelQuik® or LevelLite® Self Leveling Underlayment.
• Installation dry time varies depending on tile size and density, substrate porosity and ambient conditions.
• Not recommended for installing tile larger than 6"x6" over waterproofing membranes.

Bonding to Concrete Surfaces

Concrete or plaster must be fully cured and accept water penetration. Test by sprinkling water on various areas of the substrate. If water penetrates, then a good bond can be achieved; if water beads, surface contaminants are present, and loss of adhesion may occur. Contaminants should be mechanically removed before installation. Concrete must be free of efflorescence and not subject to hydrostatic pressure. Concrete slabs should have a broomed or brushed finish to enhance the bond. Smooth concrete slabs must be mechanically abraded to ensure a good bond.

For residential service rating, see TCNA F1160.

Bonding to Plywood Surfaces

Plywood floors must be structurally sound and must meet all ANSI A108.01 Part 3.4 requirements. Maximum allowable deflection: L/360 tile L/720 stone. See TCNA F142. For questions about proper subfloor installation, call Custom technical services.

Bonding to Backerboards

As an alternative to an additional layer of plywood, WonderBoard® Lite Backerboard may be installed over plywood subfloors. Refer to TCNA F144 and W244.

Bonding to Existing Surfacing Material

For existing well-bonded ceramic tile, mechanically abrade the surface. Rinse and allow to dry. When sanding, an approved respirator should be used.

Application of Product

INSTALLATION TO CONFORM TO ANSI A108.4. Use a properly-sized notch trowel to ensure proper coverage under tiles. Using flat side of trowel, apply skim coat of SimpleSet with appropriate size trowel. Apply additional SimpleSet with notch side of trowel held at a 45° angle to the surface, combing in one direction. Press tile firmly into place in a perpendicular motion across ridges, moving back and forth. Perpendicular pressing flattens ridges and closes valleys allowing maximum coverage. With some tile, back-buttering is advisable. Adjust tile promptly and beat in with a beating block and rubber mallet. Periodically pull up a tile and check the back to ensure complete coverage with the SimpleSet. Do not apply more than can be covered with tile in 30 minutes. If SimpleSet starts to skin over (not sticky), retrowel before setting tile. Do not apply more than is necessary to achieve a sufficient bond. SimpleSet thickness should not be more than 3/16" thick.

Drying Time

Minimum dry time for 8" x 8" (20 x 20 cm) tile is 24-72 hours before applying grout. Dry time will vary depending on tile size, substrate porosity and ambient conditions.

Cleaning of equipment

Remove fresh mortar from tile surfaces with a damp cloth. Clean tools in warm, soapy water.

Product Maintenance

Properly installed product requires no special maintenance.