Tiling Fermacell tile backer boards

[goldeagle]

I am in the process of renovating my bathroom and looking for some advice on tiling the walls (I'm tiling floor to ceiling).

I have used Fermacell tile backer boards on a new timber stud wall - the place I ordered them from had ran out of Hardiebacker, and I was offered this as an alternative. These are gypsum based rather than cement based. Couple of questions:

1. The instructions say when jointing/tiling to use 'non-cementitious' adhesive - I understand because the cement can react with gypsum. I can't actually find any non-cement based adhesive. Could I use a primer (acrylic?) and then use normal tile adhesive?

2. Should I be concerned about the weight of tiles on the boards/stud wall? I had a tiler round to quote and he seemed to be really concerned about the weight of the tiles on the wall (tiles are 350x750x10mm porcelain), not sure why he was so concerned, think it was because it was a stud wall more than anything. He ended up not quoting...

I am now thinking about half tiling the walls to reduce the weight...worked out the new wall (with tiles etc) will be putting around 400kg of additional weight through the first floor joists, not sure if that's something to worry about.

Thanks

 

[chappers]

that's going to be your problem, all the non cementitious adhesives are going to be premixed and they aren't really suitable for porcelain and certainly not of that format

 

[jctilingservices]

as above to be honest