Advice Please

[ern]

Hello everyone, I would like to pick your brains about a project i'm doing indoors. I have completed a tiling course and do have an idea of things however some expert advice would be appreciated.

Iv installed an aquadec in an upstairs bathroom and have now reached the tiling stage. On the walls there are three seperate surfaces. In the wet area is sand and cement render and on the stud wall i put up aqua panel. In the area away from the aquadec I will put up plasterboard.

We are putting up ceramic tiles 30 x 45. Do the surfaces need to be primed, and if so which is the best product to use. Also which adhesive would be best to use.

On the floor in the wet area we are using porcelain mosaic, 30 x 30 sheet and the indiuvidual tiles in the sheet are approx 15mm square. This is going onto Impey's tilesafe membrane. I presume the adhesive and grout will need to be flexible but is there a special adhesive for Porcelain. Also is there a particular trowel size I would need for these kind of tiles? Presumabley the best way to cut these tiles, if neccessary, would be on a wet cutter?

Finally we are installing UFH. In order to reduce the risk of catching a wire with the notches in the trowel, do you normally set this in a bed of adhesive, let it go off then comb adhesive to lay the tiles?

SOrry there are so many questions probably with obvious answers but to get someone's advice would just give me more confidence to complete the job.

Many thanks

[Dave]

Originally Posted by ern

Hello everyone, I would like to pick your brains about a project i'm doing indoors. I have completed a tiling course and do have an idea of things however some expert advice would be appreciated.

Iv installed an aquadec in an upstairs bathroom and have now reached the tiling stage. On the walls there are three seperate surfaces. In the wet area is sand and cement render and on the stud wall i put up aqua panel. In the area away from the aquadec I will put up plasterboard.

We are putting up ceramic tiles 30 x 45. Do the surfaces need to be primed, and if so which is the best product to use. Also which adhesive would be best to use.

On the floor in the wet area we are using porcelain mosaic, 30 x 30 sheet and the indiuvidual tiles in the sheet are approx 15mm square. This is going onto Impey's tilesafe membrane. I presume the adhesive and grout will need to be flexible but is there a special adhesive for Porcelain. Also is there a particular trowel size I would need for these kind of tiles? Presumabley the best way to cut these tiles, if neccessary, would be on a wet cutter?

Finally we are installing UFH. In order to reduce the risk of catching a wire with the notches in the trowel, do you normally set this in a bed of adhesive, let it go off then comb adhesive to lay the tiles?

SOrry there are so many questions probably with obvious answers but to get someone's advice would just give me more confidence to complete the job.

Many thanks

1. I would prime( acrylic) the sand & cement wall( to seal any dusty bits), the others will be OK...and on that size tile i would use a cement based adhesive...pref: a single part flexi one..

2. With the UFH i tend to use a latex leveler and then tile over that , this gives a flatter floor to tile to if using sheet tiling...You will be using a flexible adhesive for the floor , so that if fine for porcelain...

The walls in the wet area apart from the aqua panel i would Tank..either soloution or membrane....

You want this area and the floor to be water tight....that includes taping any joints in the aqua boards and the floor and wall/floor joints as well......it's all in the prep work to get it water tight....

3. As for cutting them then if you can't cut them in your hand cutter then use the wet cuter......

hope this helps......

[ern]

Thanks for your advice Dave, is much appreciated. For the Adhesive I was advised to Use BAL white Star, is this 1 part cement based as u recomend? Also what primer should I use?

Also for the the latex leveller, is that ok to use on Impey's tilesafe membrane? If so can you recomend a particlar product? Does this need to be primed after it has set?

As for the floor the mosaic is only going to the wet area, the rest of the floor we are using the same porcelane tile but 40 x 40 so does your advice still stand? Impey recomed a 1 part cement based adhesive to go onto their tilesfae membrane, is there a suitable adhesive for porcelain.

Sorry to bug you but I want to be 100% Ive put too much work in to mess up now!!

Thanks for your help.


Ern

[Turkish]

Don`t use white star for that mate, something like BAL SPF will be fine.

Turkish

[Dave]

Whitestar is a tub dispersion adhesive and will take a lot longer to dry than a powdered cement based adhesive.....as for levelling over the tilesafe membrane then you should have allowed the height in the installation to compensate for the extra height of the leveller over the ufh....I ahven't used the tilesafe as of yet.....here is some installation advice from tilesafe.....but you can also contact wetdec as he sells them systems and he will talk you through it......

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Application of Tilesafe MembranePrior to the application of each length of Tilesafe Membrane, remove the plastic film from the underlying Tilesafe Reinforcing Tape.
Apply pre-cut lengths of Tilesafe Membrane to walls first, applying as vertical drops and terminating at the floor/wall junction (overlapping the reinforcing tape by 75 mm).
Tilesafe Membrane should be butt jointed rather than overlapped. All butt joints in the membrane should be positioned over the previously applied reinforcing tape, ensuring a gap of 2-3 mm is maintained which should be subsequently filled by the Tilesafe jointing compound. Continue in the same manner for floors, cutting membrane around any pipe entries, taking care not to damage the reinforcing tape below.

Application of Jointing Compound
Using an applicator gun, apply Tilesafe Jointing Compound at butt joints, pipe entries and at all wall to wall and wall to floor interfaces.
The compound should be gunned in to the previously formed 2-3 mm channels, which should be fully filled.
Tooling can be carried out with a profiling tool within approximately 10 minutes of application.
Allow Tilesafe Jointing Compound to cure overnight before applying tile adhesive.
The membrane surface and joints should be thoroughly inspected prior to tiling. Particular attention should be paid to the pipe entries, ensuring seals have not been damaged by following trades between application and tiling. If necessary a re-application of Tilesafe Jointing Compound can be made.
The plastic release film is left in place until immediately prior to tiling.

Application of Tile Adhesive and Tiles

Prior to application of the tile adhesive, which must be rapid-set, flexible and waterproof, the plastic backing film must be removed.
Application of tiles to Tilesafe is essentially the same as normal tiling. There are a few points to consider to ensure satisfactory application:

• If a batten is to be used for tile alignment, this should be secured to the wall through the backing release film, not after this has been removed.
  
• Remove the release film only from those areas where tile adhesive is to be immediately placed.
  
• Leave the backing film in place on the floor areas of Tilesafe while tiling the walls.
  
• Silicone sealant will react with Tilesafe. If silicone sealant is to be used, for example on bath surrounds, ensure it does not come into direct contact with the Tilesafe.
  
• In the unlikely event of the Tilesafe Membrane being damaged, it is easily repaired by applying a piece of reinforcing tape over the damaged area, ensuring a minimum overlap of 50 mm.

Good luck...

[andy-p]

you can self level the areas outwith the aquadec but since the the shower area is graded towards the drain smooth over with single or 2 part flex, it is very important to prepare the area properly where the mosaics are going , any dips or hollows will result in ponding... heres one i did with the aquadec, tilesafe and mosaics, be warned the floor is quite fiddly and tricky to do , preperation is very important ( bad piccy from my mobile)

[ern]

Thanks for the advice guys, ill start over the weekend. Ill let you know how we go.

Ern

[ern]

I have just come back in from work and been thing about the job ahead and also the answers ive received, (I do have a life just not until the wet room is finished!)

WHat is the difference between BAL spf and white star being a tub dispersion addy. Is it just the drying time or he size of tile and background. I only ask because I contacted one of the instructors where I did my tiling course and they recomended white star.

Can I also ask Andy P which adhesive he used for the floor in his wet room. Looks really good.

ta - Ern

[andy-p]

Adhesive on floor was bal spf rapid , grout was mapeis ultracolor..

[ern]

THanks Andy, im gonna start tomorrow, any tips you can give me for the mosaics in the aqua dec area would be appreciated, never worked with them before.

Ern

[ern]

Just a quick one fellas. On my staud wall where ive put Aqua panel, am I ok to fill joins with BAL SPF adhesive which is wha tIve got for the walls.

Also because ther stud work is old and far from perfect I have had to pack out some of the boards which has caused some dips under my straight edge. Not much , say 2- 3 mm over roughly 10 inches. I am using 31 x 45 tiles so presume the surface will need to be as flat as poss. Am I ok to skim these areas with the BAL adhesive, let it go off and tile as normal?

Cheers - Ern

[MICK the Tiler]

Any joins in the aquapanel or plasterboard should be tapped and set (PLASTERED) before tiling any unevenness in the wall you can rake adhesive onto the wall and pack tiles with extra addy as you go to get tiles flat.