BAL adhesive - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

tileform · 02-05-2008

Doing a bathroom floor 19sqm with 305 x 305 ceramic tiles
I've overlaid it with 12mm ply and was gonna use BAL rapid set flexi which i've already bought

Just checked powerspec and it states to use fastflex???

Can i not use the rapid set flexi?

bal tas 2 · 02-05-2008

Hi tileform
BAL would recomend that you use BAL FASTFLEX for a 12mm ply overlay,
the overlay would need to be a minimum of 15mm thick (WBP or Marine Grade) to use BAL RAPIDSET FLEXIBLE

tileform · 02-05-2008

Much appreciated mate

Just hope there's not much difference in price!

**Sir Ramic** · 02-05-2008

Yes Fast Flex is a lot more.

wayne · 02-05-2008

if the subfloor is solid and the ply is screwed every 6 inch single part flex should be fine to use. thats what i normally fix tiles with

Benny · 02-05-2008

Check BS standards for overlayes when using single part adhesives its 15mm unless using tile backerboard then you can use 10mm:yes:

**grumpygrouter** · 02-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benny

Check BS standards for overlayes when using single part adhesives its 15mm unless using tile backerboard then you can use 10mm

Strange that, as backer board doesn't really add any strength to the floor, just gives a better surface for the addy to grab on to and is more stable heat and moisture wise.

wayne · 02-05-2008

i know what bs is its just not practical at times. only my opinion though but nearly every job i have seen on bathroom floors the ply has been 12mm max. never seen one done with 15mm

**grumpygrouter** · 02-05-2008

Don't ever recall seeing 15mm ply personally, only ever 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 22 and 25.
Again, this brings up the discussion of the reason for boarding out a floor. Is it to strengthen a floor or to just give a nice surface to tile onto?

BAL powerspec gives information on materials "by the book" to cover their own warranties. In the real world, many chipboard floors are absolutely solid and require no further strengthening. In this case 6mm backerboard is fine to protect the chipboard from moisture induced movement. Appropriate adhesives do a fine job if the situation is suitable and not require any boarding out. My prefered straight to timber/board is Ardex 7001. It is considerably cheaper than Fast Flex.

All just my opinion obviously.

tileform · 03-05-2008

Grumpy,

Whats your approximate price for Ardex 7001? I can get this also
Whats the coverage on it?

And also, as long as my floorboards and ply are solid and fixed well - i could get away with using rapid set flexi? Altho the powers that be do not recommend.

**grumpygrouter** · 03-05-2008

Tileform, I (used) nto be able to get 7001 for about £26. I did a 7m2 entrance hall on my last job with 1 bag!

The beauty of it is that you mix it quite thin - it will run off the trowel - and assuming your floor is flat you can use a 6mm trowel for tiles up to 300x300. Because it is thin, you get 100% coverage much more easily.

Brilliant stuff IMO.

Prime with Ardex P51 (neat) first.

tileform · 03-05-2008

The postman has just delivered a copy of their tiling solutions brochure - brilliant manual!

I'm gonna price my next job on ardex and see what its like

Looking at this tiling solutions, using 7001 i can tile straight onto floorboards?