Editorial & Corrections Policy – Thinset Calculator

At Thinset Calculator, we are committed to providing contractors, estimators, remodelers, and tile installers with the most mathematically accurate and code-compliant thinset estimation models available online. Because improper mortar coverage or incorrect mortar selection can result in expensive tile fractures, water damage, or structural delamination, we adhere to strict editorial and calculation auditing guidelines.

1. Technical Data Sourcing & Mathematical Verification

All calculation engines hosted on this site derive their underlying parameters from primary, verifiable sources:

Manufacturer Technical Data Sheets (TDS): Coverage curves, dry bag weights, and mixing water ratios are pulled directly from published documentation by manufacturers including MAPEI®, LATICRETE®, Custom® Building Products, Schluter® Systems, ARDEX®, Bostik®, and TEC®.
ANSI Standards: Mortar classifications adhere strictly to the American National Standards Institute specifications, including ANSI A118.1 (dry-set), ANSI A118.4 (polymer-modified), ANSI A118.11 (exterior glue plywood), and ANSI A118.15 (improved modified dry-set).
TCNA Handbook: Installation guidelines, minimum coverage thresholds (80% dry interior, 95% wet/exterior), and movement joint requirements reflect current Tile Council of North America (TCNA) methods.

2. TDS Audit Frequency & Maintenance Cycle

Mortar formulations, water ratios, and packaging sizes are subject to manufacturer revision. Our editorial team conducts quarterly audit sweeps of our product database to cross-reference published values against newly released manufacturer data sheets. When a manufacturer amends product yield charts, our internal database tables are updated accordingly.

3. Error Reporting & Public Corrections Policy

We welcome scrutiny from contractors, estimators, and manufacturer representatives. If you discover an outdated water ratio, a typographical error, or an altered packaging yield in our database:

Submit the correction via our Contact Page or by emailing support@thinsetcalculator.com.
Include the specific calculator URL and a link to the manufacturer’s official PDF Technical Data Sheet verifying the revised figure.
Our technical team commits to investigating and verifying reported data discrepancies within 24 to 48 business hours.
When material mathematical adjustments are implemented, we document the modification in our calculation updates log.

4. Artificial Intelligence & Algorithmic Transparency

Our calculation engines operate on deterministic trigonometric and volumetric code algorithms. They do not rely on generative language models to produce numerical outputs. When assistive computational tools or generative AI are utilized for editorial drafting or research indexing, all technical outputs, standards citations, and mathematical proofs undergo rigorous human verification against published trade codes before publication.

5. Independence & Commercial Neutrality

Thinset Calculator maintains complete editorial autonomy:

We do not accept paid placements from mortar manufacturers to skew coverage yields or prioritize specific products.
All calculations execute locally inside your web browser (client-side JavaScript). We do not collect, monetize, or broker project measurements.
Product recommendations are selected dynamically based strictly on the user’s chosen tile dimensions, substrate, and environment.

6. International Standards & Multilingual Governance

To serve tile tradespeople worldwide, Thinset Calculator maintains 18 localized regional portals. In strict accordance with search engine quality guidelines and Google Search Essentials:

Regional Standards Calibration: Rather than forcing North American standards globally, localized pages reference corresponding international specifications—including European EN 12004 classifications (C1, C2, C2TE, S1), ISO 13007, and Japanese JIS A 5557.
Packaging & Metric Defaults: International routes default to standard metric measurement units (square meters, 20 kg and 25 kg bags, millimeter trowels) while keeping an instantaneous toggle to imperial measurements available.
Prohibition of Unreviewed Mass Automation: We do not deploy autonomous auto-publish pipelines. Every localized portal undergoes structured technical verification against regional trade terminology (e.g., German Fliesenkleber, Spanish mortero cola, Arabic غراء البلاط, Japanese タイル圧着セメント).
Bidirectional Hreflang Clusters: All localized portals are linked via complete reciprocal hreflang tags, self-referencing canonicals, and verified XML sitemaps to prevent algorithmic duplication and ensure accurate local search discovery.

Trade Safety & Professional Inspection Notice

While our tools model physical ridge volume with extreme care, automated software cannot inspect jobsite substrate flatness, joist deflection under real-world dead load, or ambient temperature and humidity. Always perform an on-site mock-up, verify wet mortar transfer (by pulling up freshly set tiles to confirm 80% to 95% contact), and consult licensed structural engineers or certified tile installers for critical commercial or structural assemblies.