Expert: Jamie Yocono - 5/21/2009

Question
Dear Jamie,

 I am interested in tiling a tabletop with bisque tiles that I have glazed myself.  I read in an answer to another question, that the adhesive between the tiles should be flexible- you recommended silicone.  Can the silicone caulk also be used to glue the tiles to the table top, or is another adhesive required to initially glue the tiles down?

Thank you,
Kylie Funk

Answer
Hi Kylie,

The reason I suggest silicone caulk for adhering tile is that it is a flexible bond. See, wood moves as the humidity in the air changes, so wood will shrink and swell with variations in the weather. If the tile is  glued down and the wood shrinks, the bond has to be somewhat flexible, or the tile will crack.

That's why I like silicone, it lets the tile move with the wood a little bit.

So I use silicone for gluing down my tiles, but I don't use it for grouting. It's too artificial looking for my taste. Generally, I use a sanded grout, with a latex additive that also give a level of elasticity to the grout, thus allowing it to move a little bit with the wood movement. Combined together (the silicone adhesive and the latex fortified grout) - they make the tile much more able to withstand what the wood does.

By the way, many grouts come already fortified with a latex additive in them, so ask when you buy it. If it doesn't come that way, you can buy a latex additive separately. It looks like milk, it's thin and white. I use it to mix my grout, rather than using water. It works well.

I hope this makes sense, it's a little hard to describe, but I think I did a decent job. Good luck, write back if you have more questions or if you have more questions.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com