Bathroom and kitchen tile adhesive and grout questions...

[Kingbroady]

Hi.

I am considering buying the following tiles:

Bathroom
http://www.tilegiant.co.uk/fatima-crema-wall-tile.html

Kitchen
http://www.tilehq.co.uk/products/metro-wall-tile-cream.html

Do I need to mist the plaster before tiling, please?

What adhesive and grout should I use, please?

Should I then use some kind of waterproofer once done, please?

I have read that BAL products seem to be the best for the job? If so, which should I use, please?

Many thanks, in advance.

Ian

 

[Richard C]

Is this new plaster? If so what is it over, plasterboard or blockwork? How long has it been up? What are the walls in the wet areas (shower cubicle & around bath) made of?

Plaster is not the ideal tile surface as it restricts maximum tile weight to 20 kg/sqm including adhesive & grout; this may be a problem with the 300 x 450 x 8mmm tiles you’ve chosen for the bathroom; do you know the tile weight?

I use BAL exclusively; correctly used you won’t have any problems but there are others equally as good. You will need a cement powder adhesive for the large tiles not tub ready mix & the plaster must be primed to avoid a reaction with the cement in the addy; tub mix will be fine for the smaller kitchen tiles. Once you advise the above detail I can tell which type specifically

Do not mist new plaster before tiling or your tiles are very likely to fall off!

 

[Kingbroady]

Thanks, Richard.

It is new plaster, mainly over plasterboard. It has been up around 4 weeks now and appears to be thoroughly dried.

The walls in the wet areas are made of brick but again have been plasterboarded and skimmed.

The large tiles weigh about 13kg.

What adhesives/grouts exactly would you recommend, please?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Richard C]

It is new plaster, mainly over plasterboard. It has been up around 4 weeks now and appears to be thoroughly dried.
The walls in the wet areas are made of brick but again have been plasterboarded and skimmed.

That’s long enough but it’s a shame you’ve plastered the boards; it’s not necessary or desirable when tiling as it creates more problems than it solves. I hope the boards are Moisture Resistant PB & not standard Wall Board? You will need to tank the wet areas before tiling if you want it to last, plasterboard (even MR) & water definitely don’t mix; next time use waterproof tile backer boards in these areas. How is the PB fixed to the wall? You should not rely just on adhesive dot & dab if you’re hanging heavy tiles off it, you will need additional mechanical fixings or the whole lot could end up on the floor.

The large tiles weigh about 13kg.

I assume that’s 13 kg/sqm? If it’s each tile you’re in trouble!

What adhesives/grouts exactly would you recommend, please?

As I said BAL is what I use; Rapidset Flexible powder addy for the large tiles & you must acrylic prime the plaster to avoid a reaction between the gypsum & cement in the adhesive. Only mix what you can use in 30 minutes or so as it has a short pot life; wash your bucket & tools thoroughly before mixing the next lot or it will shorten the pot life. You need to check the all up sq/m tile weight doesn’t exceed around 20 kg/sqm; the addy & grout will weigh up to 4 kg/sqm so if your tiles exceed around 17 kg/sqm you’ve made a mistake by plastering it.

For the smaller kitchen tiles, tub ready mix will be fine; always use flexible when tiling onto boards, White Star is the one I mainly use. Microflex grout will be fine in both cases.

 

[Kingbroady]

Thanks.

The plasterer didn't tell me whether it was MR PB or not. I doubt it, so moving forward, apart from pulling it all down and restarting, what should I do, please?

How and what should I use to 'tank' the wet areas, please?

Thanks, again.

 

[Kingbroady]

PS

Was in my local Tile Giant today and was advised by the tile 'salesman' (former painter and decorator he told me) to just emulsion the bathroom plaster and all will be well. Naturally, I nodded my head yet thought of what advise you'd kindly given me already. Would this be the same principle of applying the acrylic primer?

 

[tpt]

tanking it will solve the problem in the wet areas - do you have a seperate shower or is it over the bath?

dont need to worry too much in the non wet areas of the bathroom

 

[Kingbroady]

It's just a standard bath with a shower valve in the wall.

Silly question maybe, but what products shall I use to 'tank' the bathroom, please? I notice BAL do a full kit or will acrylic primer suffice?

Is there an idiot's guide to 'tanking' online, please? I've looked around but no joy.

Thanks.

 

[Richard C]

Is there an idiot's guide to 'tanking' online, please?

You don’t need the full kit containing tape, just the coating;
http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products/wp1-coating
& this should tell you all you need to know;
http://194.223.92.131/pdf/Technical...hnical Data Sheets/BAL_WP1_Tanking_System.pdf

dont need to worry too much in the non wet areas of the bathroom

Agree it’s too late to do much about it now, just remember to use MR board in kitchens/bath/shower rooms for the future; note that MR PB needs priming before it can be skimmed.

 

[Kingbroady]

So to clarify, I just use the BAL on the water areas (bath, shower etc.)? Do I need to cover the rest of the plaster with anything?

Thanks.

 

[Richard C]

So to clarify, I just use the BAL on the water areas (bath, shower etc.)?

If you mean the WP1 tanking yes.

Do I need to cover the rest of the plaster with anything?

For the large tiles where you will be using cement powder adhesive, prime with acrylic tile primer; http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products/prime-apd to avoid any reaction between the cement in the adhesive & gypsum in the plaster.

For smaller tiles using tub ready mix you won't normally need to prime but if the plaster is shiny or polished, brush thoroughly before priming with the same primer as above.

 

[tpt]

Richard - thanks, i posted a reply and then haven't been been online for days, thanks for picking up the thread

 

[Kingbroady]

Just about to order the complete BAL range of products for the bathroom and kitchen and am perplexed at their range.

So can anyone tell me precisely which I should be buying:

So far, I have:

Bathroom

Tanker http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAWP1C.html

Primer http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products/prime-apd

Adhesive cement powder adhesive ???

Grout Microflex grout???



Kitchen

Tanker http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAWP1C.html

Primer http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAPR25.html

Adhesive White Star adhesive???

Grout Microflex grout???

 

[Richard C]

So far, I have:
Bathroom
Tanker http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAWP1C.html[/QUOTE]
OK

Primer http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products/prime-apd[/QUOTE]
OK

Adhesive cement powder adhesive ???

Rapidset flexy or single part flexy

Grout Microflex grout???

OK

Kitchen

Tanker http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAWP1C.html[/QUOTE]
You don’t need to tank a kitchen

Primer http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/BAPR25.html[/QUOTE]
Please refresh my memory exactly what your tiling over, I’m not sure why you think you need a primer ?

Adhesive White Star adhesive???

OK with your size tiles

Grout Microflex grout???

OK

I think your getting rather confused & carried away with it all; just relax, take in the advice your being given & think logically about it before deciding.

 

[Kingbroady]

Thanks, Dad.

I do get hung-up on the details but in the detail lays no regrets.

I was just planning on using the leftover tanker for around the kitchen sink. HONEST!

How much should I buy of each, please?

Bathroom is 6 feet x 6 feet x 7 feet?

Kitchen tiles being used are 3/4 square meters.

Thanks.

(Upon the Rapture my tiles will be the only things left standing!)