Tiling thinset question (1 Viewer)

[2020 Rocks]

Hello,

Anyone have any tips on getting dried thin set off of tile. I was a little messy when I laid the tile and now it is turning out to be a real chore cleaning them up before grouting. I have been using green 3m scrubby pads, which do not work very vell. The wire brush I have is scratching the glaze up to much. TIA

 

[Cookiemonster]

Once the thin-set is set up on the tile, your pretty much up the creek. A standard screw driver and a stiff puddy knife. Nothing you have short of muriatic acid (and that will only dent it, not really remove it completely) will remove it short of scrapping. Just be super careful not to scratch the tile when doing so.

For future reference take either a standard screw driver or a spacer (white four leg type) & scrape the thin-set out of the joint(s) as you lay the tile. A little time doing so will alleviate this problem in future applications.

Good luck.

 

[fj40charles]

Cleaning up thinset the next day is generally not a problem with some scrub pad and warm water. The longer you wait, the harder it gets.

 

[rsrai]

you could be careful with a rotary tool. the dremel i know has a grout removal attachment if the gaps between tiles are full of thinset.

 

[Taco Blonco]

i use warm water with a large sponge comes off pretty easy within the first day.

 

[Carpe Discus]

I've heard vinegar helps. Whatever you, don't wait. That stuff continues to get harder if you leave it.

 

[hans747]

follow the advice here for scrubbing it off. However, try to CAREFULLY scrape whatever you can first. less scrubbing that way

 

[badmuthatrucka]

Don't get it on there in the first place.

Everybody else has given you good advice, pretty much what I've heard from pro-tile guys. Don't wait more than 1 day before removing excess. Good luck

 

[2020 Rocks]

I ended up using a steamer, the type you see on info mercials that are about the size of the coffee pot. All I can say is it was a lot easier cleaning up the thinset this way using a little brush attachment. Cut through it like butter.