Ceramic tiles in a shower - Tile Advice

[Qwerty]

Haha....yes I did......blooming auto correct!

 

[Qwerty]

Amended!

 

[andy8758]

I know most porcs have an extremely low absorption rate so don't soak up water (<0.5%) whereas ceramics soak up water like a sponge.

I will conduct an experiment this weekend to demonstrate!

Ah see, there are some uses for Bank Holiday weekends. If I can manage my iPad well enough I will post some tiling tool reviews to compensate for you giving up precious family time to scientifically add to this debate.

 

[Andy Allen]

Ceramics soak up water on the back of the tile.
So unless you don't read the instructions and fix them glazed side down then I don't see a problem ....
What would your concerns be Andy?

 

[Qwerty]

Shouldn't take too long. Will leave to soak for a few hours and work out % absorption

 

[Flintstone]

Ceramics soak up water on the back of the tile.
So unless you don't read the instructions and fix them glazed side down then I don't see a problem ....
What would your concerns be Andy?

My point being Andy , we tank walls because water gets past the tiles to the wall, which means, it will also get to the back of the tile and soak into a ceramic tile

 

[One Day]

My point being Andy , we tank walls because water gets past the tiles to the wall, which means, it will also get to the back of the tile and soak into a ceramic tile

Yes. If grouting is decent and fixing methods are decent then it will last twenty years under normal domestic use, two or three times a day.
Showers that are in use more, or loads more, need additional considerations. Ie tile choice, substrate choice, grout choice.
You put up cheap ceramics with tubbed adhesive onto bare plasterboard, then use the shower 20 times a day, it won't last.
Twice a day, good chance it will.

 

[hmtiling]

I believe porc absorption is found by boiling in water but you may get some strange looks in the kitchen witha 60x30 sticking out of a pan

 

[Qwerty]

Sweet thanks Harry. In that case i will try both hot & cold absorption. Shall I do stone too? (trav)

 

[Andy Allen]

Sweet thanks Harry. In that case i will try both hot & cold absorption. Shall I do stone too? (trav)

Hope you have a white coat on..

 

[Unused Account 1]

Tilers been fitting ceramics for years in showers ,ive done probably 500 like most guys on here never had one problem ,everything is porcelain now ,did my first cramics for a year last week ,got 12 houses to do

 

[Qwerty]

See my little test here.......

Ceramic - Tile water absorbtion experiment - http://www.tilersforums.com/threads/tile-water-absorbtion-experiment.83567/#post-866538

 

[Dumbo]

Tilers been fitting ceramics for years in showers ,ive done probably 500 like most guys on here never had one problem ,everything is porcelain now ,did my first cramics for a year last week ,got 12 houses to do

I did loads of units in a retirement home a couple of years back some with two bathrooms . All in ceramics with ready mix

 

[Qwerty]

ready mix

That's a dirty word on here!