Last week we came across a viral TikTok video of a DIY project that caused us some concern. In it, a woman encouraged home owners to purchase MuscleBound, a sticky tile adhesive, and to stick the tiles right onto it (without mastic) for a DIY backsplash. If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know that we like to encourage DIY projects, as long as people are safe and informed. This DIY project however, was extremely misleading and we would not recommend this tiling method to anyone for the following reasons:
1. Uneven Grout Joints
Any experienced tile setter will tell you that achieving those straight and even grout lines takes finesse and experience! Because tile (even the Subway tile from the video) is never perfectly uniform, grout lines don’t naturally appear straight by simply stacking tile like the video insinuated. Thin set or mastic allows installers to make subtle adjustments to each tile, giving the appearance of perfection! This sticky adhesive will not allow the installer to make these slight changes. What you’ll end up seeing with this method is strange, wavy grout lines. If you look closely at the brief image this DIYer shared, you’ll see the beginnings of these wavy grout lines. Compare it with the photo below and you’ll see those straight grout lines we’re after!
2. Walls Aren’t Always Flush!
The other reason that professional tile setters use mastic is that walls and surfaces are often not flush and even. When an installer encounters uneven surfaces, they can use their mastic to cushion certain areas to help even everything out. Again, this sticky mat allows very little adjustment.
3. Short Lived Success!
The beauty of tile is that it lasts and lasts…and lasts. We estimate that one of these MuscleBound backsplashes will only hold up for a handful of months. Soon, tiles will begin to crack due to natural movement, and eventually entire sections will begin falling off. For all of the time and effort it takes to tile a backsplash, we recommend making sure it lasts! Here is an unfortunate review from someone online who tried the “recommended” Musclebound method.
4. Water and Steam Will Wear Down Backing
Tile is very popular in rooms of the home that hold moisture. The material holds up to splashes and steam if it is installed properly. With this DIY method, the only thing holding the tile to the wall is an adhesive that will eventually wear down with the presence of moisture. While it may seem like the grout she adds after will help the tile stay in place, that is not the case. Grout is not a bonding agent; It is just a filler. It will be of no help once that backing wears down.
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All in all, we don’t want any home owner spending considerable money to purchase DIY materials, only to need to call a professional to fix the job in the end. While we appreciate this woman’s tenacity and creativity, certain construction projects really do need to be done the right way! It is important for us all to remember that influencers on social media are not always experts, and sometimes the old fashioned way is simply better!