Impossible tiling issue for newbie - Tile Advice

[phillipjko]

I had the bathroom done by someone a few years ago. All the tiles on the bathroom is ok except for 8 -9 tiles which keep on popping up even after I fixed it. I am uncertain what type of grout he used? He (the contractor) left some materials over but I am not sure which one he used to make the tiles 'Glued' down on the cement floor. He made the entire bathroom including the cement flooring which laid the tiles. Maybe it was uneven that is why it keeps coming out. I am not sure. I bought 2-3 other adhesive 'Instant' type cement for the tiles and somehow after 2-3 weeks my kids told me the tiles started moving again and came out as though it was never glued on it. The adhesive and grout I put on has eroded and turned soft. like clay (see images) I attached some photos and hopefully someone here can clarify which one to use for the Grout and do I use the grout to stick the tiles on the ground or I use something else?? I am nearing to just give up... if not for the kiddies!


1. Do I use the 'powder' type to grout the tiles into the floor?
2. What is need to 'glue' the tiles onto the cement floor? Use Grout or Glue? I tried some while adhesive from a local DIY (Homedepot) but it stayed soft even when I thought it had hardened internally and even turned black in color when the tiles popped out.


Grout the contractor used ( I did not used this as I did not know how much water to mix or do I need to add sand to it to use it)



I bought this 2 but they did not worked

This is what the tiles look like when it came out and after I scrapped off the thing.. there is still some. Do I need to scrapped it all off completely?

 

[SJPurdy]

The adhesive for sticking tiles to a cement floor is a cement based powder that you mix with water.
Most (all?) Ready mixed adhesive (paste - usualy white/off white) is for sticking wall tiles onto eg plaster walls.
Grout (the stuff to fill the joints between the tiles) is again (mainly but there are some other types) a cement based powder that has to be mixed with water.

 

[Sean Kelly]

All you are doing is throwing your money away. You are buying ready mixed 'instant' adhesive to stick/glue your tiles to the floor. This is the wrong adhesive to use. It will be safer for you to contact 2 or 3 tiling contractors to give you quotes for the work you want doing. It also sounds like you have not 'primed' the floor. i.e. you are trying to stick a tile to a dusty floor............try sticking chewing gum to a dusty floor.......it won't stick. The chances are that if 9 tiles have already needed to be replaced then there is a very good chance that the rest of your tiles will pop up.

You really need to get the professionals in to do a proper job.

Also, you have not attached any photos!

Good luck.