Preparing toilet walls for tiling

[ALMcKINNON]

I'm planning on tiling the walls of my toilet but have some questions regarding preparation of the walls before I start.

1) The walls seem to be covered with an artex-like substance which has been painted over. This substance seems very hard. I was wondering what it could be and the best way to remove it from the walls.

2. I have removed the Artex-like substance in a couple of small areas to find out what is underneath. It seems like normal plaster - has a pink colour - but this plaster is crumbly. Oddly the plaster also seems to be slightly damp - has anyone come across this before? My question is, once I have removed the artex-like covering, is this plasterwork likely to be sound enough to tile upon?

3. Is there likely to be a need to "prime" (?) the plaster work before I start applying the tiling adhesive? I understand that using PVA on the walls before tiling is a big no-no.

 

[gcol]

I'd take off the high points of the artex using something like this http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=45940&ts=33068
give it a 5:1 coat of PVA then tile as normal.

 

[ALMcKINNON]

Thanks gcol.

Am I correct in interpreting the 5:1 PVA ratio as: 5 parts water to 1 part PVA?

 

[gcol]

You are indeed.