Surface Prep
Quality begins from the ground up. Preparing your surface is the most critical task of any tile or stone installation. Custom Building Products offers you one source for the needs of virtually any job.
Setting
The foundation of precise tile and stone setting. Whatever the application, CUSTOM® offers the broadest line of tile and stone setting materials in the industry to give the exact performance your job demands.
Grout
Tile grout with dependable performance and color. Look for tile grout with rock-solid durability, consistency and the largest color palette with Custom. Our grouts are easy to work with yet deliver hard, dense joints.
Care & Maintenance
Stains can RUIN Stone & Tile.Protect Yours Now! Stains on stone, tile or grout happen easily - and can leave permanent stains. Protect your surface against both oil-based and water-based stains with the right sealer.
Aqua Mix®
Professional Solutions for Professional Results Offering the largest selection of Sealers, Cleaners, Problem Solvers, Grout Colorant and Stone Restoration products, we provide professionals with the right tools and solutions; making us the #1 Contractor Preferred Manufacturer of Sealers and Cleaners.
CustomTech Flooring Prep
CustomTech – the industry’s leading collection of technologically-superior, easy-to-use, professional grade subfloor preparation products designed for all types of floor coverings.
Tools & Accessories
Precision demands the best. SuperiorBilt® Tools are professionally preferred for tile, stone and floor covering installations.
Products : Setting : Pre-Mixed : SimpleSet® Pre-Mixed Thin-Set Mortar
A no-mix, no-mess alternative to traditional thin-set mortars spreads quickly and easily. Recommended to bond porcelain, stone, marble, granite and ceramic or porcelain tile up to 8" x 8" (20 x 20 cm). Can be used with tile with one side up to 15" (38 cm), but dry time significantly increases. Call Technical Services at 800-272-8786 for more information. For interior wall and floor installations. Use white SimpleSet when installing lighter-color stone and tile. Exceeds ANSI A136.1 Type I.
Features/Benefits
Documents
Technical/Installation
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
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
As an alternative to an additional layer of plywood, WonderBoard® Lite Backerboard may be installed over plywood subfloors. Refer to TCNA F144 and W244.
For existing well-bonded ceramic tile, mechanically abrade the surface. Rinse and allow to dry. When sanding, an approved respirator should be used.
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.
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.
Remove fresh mortar from tile surfaces with a damp cloth. Clean tools in warm, soapy water.
Properly installed product requires no special maintenance.
Ordering Information
Warranty Information
Obtain the applicable LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY at www.custombuildingproducts.com/product-warranty or send a written request to Custom Building Products, Inc., Five Concourse Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30328, USA. Manufactured under the authority of Custom Building Products, Inc. © 2017 Quikrete International, Inc.
SQUARE FOOT COVERAGE PER GALLON (SQUARE METER PER 3.8 L)
Recommended minimum coverage (80% for dry areas and 95% for wet areas). Back buttering may be necessary.
Note that mortar coverage does not include backbuttering tiles. When backbuttering, consider the tile underside pattern and depth to estimate thickness and usage to add to your estimate.
Chart for estimating purposes. Coverage may vary based on installation practices and jobsite conditions. For more sizes, use the material calculator at CustomBuildingProducts.com or contact CUSTOM Technical Services at 800-282-8786.
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