What is Butter?
Definition of Butter in Construction
In construction the term to butter, references the spreading of mortar, mastic or other adhesive material on the side of a stone, brick, block, tile, etc.
The term buttering is a universally used reference to this application. In most instances the entire surface of the material to be adhered to the substrate is buttered with the adhesive or mortar prior to placement of the material. The tile, brick or other material is then normally lightly pounded with a rubber hammer or the handle of the mason trowel to ensure that the material is set and the adhesive or mortar is evenly distributed.