I'm getting ready to install 12x12 ceramic tile on our tub walls. What type of thinset should I use?
Ancillary to that is the type of grout to use? Sanded or unsanded?
While researching the background for this question a bit, I learned that the 12x12 tiles we're considering are Semi-vitreous, and aren't recommended for wet areas like showers. If I thoroughly water proof the Durarock wall (using RedGard as recommended here), can I use those tiles? If so, what grout?
I'm interested in using these tiles specifically to cut material costs. This was an unexpected repair, not a remodel, so our budget isn't the greatest. We have approximately 56 sq feet to tile, plus materials and needed tools.
Edit: If I went with this tile, what thinset and grout would I need? This is not a good choice, as it's not impervious. It's not even semi-vitreous.
Edit: OK, I think I'm figuring out the choices. Home Depot has a 12x12 porcelain tile that's rated impervious. It's also $0.99/sq. But, with porcelain, do I use a sanded or non-sanded grout to avoid scratching the surface?
The bottom line is that I'm going with a porcelain tile that's rated impervious with less than 0.5% absorption. I'm prepping the walls by covering the seams with a kerdi band, then painting the wall with Redgard waterproofing. I'm using a fortified white thinset and then finishing with a sanded grout, the only determining factor there is the color. Thanks everyone for the answers, and I hope future readers find this helpful.
Thanks for the feedback and help. I did this job over the weekend (what I thought would take a few hours turned into two days -- mostly due to prep and cutting the tiles), and I'll be doing grout sometime today. I'll post the final picture once I get the grout in and the tiles cleaned.