Backsplash Help--new groutless EMSR Link mosaic on drywall

[rockguy19]

Hi All, installing EMSR's new groutless marble link herringbone backsplash onto new drywall, and have a few questions:

1. Drywall has light orange peel texture on it and is painted, should I scrap off the texture before installing? Should it matter?

2. What do you recommend for the best thin set to apply it?

Thanks for your help.
Mark

[cx]

Welcome, Mark.

If the link I added is not correct, let me know.

Have you considered the maintenance aspect of that tile on a kitchen splash? 'Specially behind the stove?

I would want to rough up the paint with a very course sandpaper before trying to tile the wall. There is no best thinset mortar for your application, but there are many good ones. All you need is a good quality thinset mortar meeting the requirements of ANSI A118.4 when mixed with water. It'll say that on the bag.

I would use a white mortar.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[rockguy19]

Thanks for the link! We're installing different backsplash behind the rangetop, but yea we love the look even with upkeep issues.

Any suggestions for best thin set to get a really smooth level install? Or just anything decent will work? A few areas will be counter to ceiling.

[Snets]

The good quality thinset you choose per CX's advice plays a much smaller role in obtaining a "Really smooth and level install" than the following:

1) How truly "Flat" are your walls?
2) The consistent application of thinset on the wall. For example, a slight angle change of a trowel will lay a different amount of thinset in an area, potentially changing the depth of some tiles.

One other thing to consider is light sources on the wall. Different lighting angles can really accentuate slight flaws in installation, even when tiles are installed within acceptable standards. This is likely more true with groutless tiles.