I am soon to do a conservatory floor 18msq that was concreted 4 months ago using 500mm porcelin tiles.Whilst ringing round to get the prices for the quote i was adviced by 2 main tiling companies to use Bal rapid set and i would not need to bond the floor and am fine to use any coloured grout as long as it as porcel bond plus.
I've also double checked with Bal who have recommened PTB flexible adhesive and use Bal Bond FBR to seal.
Are both methods fine to use as i've put in the quote i am using rapid set but don't want to disregard Bal.
Thanks for your thoughts
Kev

would clean and prime the floor also check to see if the porcelain tiles need sealing or are pre-sealed before grouting checking now saves future problems

Kev, if you are using BAL products then it isn't NECESSARY to prime a concrete floor, but doing so gives you the opportunity to "lock in" residual dust to the surface, giving you a better chance of good contact. As for the PTB, unless you are an experienced tiler, than I would probably agree with rapid set or rapid set flexy as a better option as PTB can be more difficult to use. Check out the data sheets for both products if you can, you will see what I mean. The big issue is getting 100% coverage which using PTB will give you easier, but the application is slightly more involved.

You may want to consider Mapei Adesilex P4 also. This is a pourable product as well that guarantees 100% check out this data sheet.

http://www.mapei.it/Referenze/Multim...ex%20P4_UK.PDF

Cheers for thoughts,
Have checked out the tiles and they are already sealed and am planning to prime the floor mainly to keep down the dust using Bal bond SBR.
As for the Bal PTB flexi the Bal rep did say as Grumpy mentioned it would give a very good coverage to a 500mm tile.
Checked the prices i could get the adhesives for today at trade and the Bal rapid set is £15.99 and the PTB is £26.00 so quite a differance.So am feeling inclined to go with the rapid set if using bal.Read the info on the mapei sounds ideal but very inexperienced so will look it up first.Is it usually around the same price as rapid set and any ideas who stock it?
Finally was practising on the rough garage floor today with a cheaper Topps adhesive,was using a half rounded 20mm wide and 10mm deep trowel and only getting about a 50% coverage.Is it my techniquethe floor or the addy that may be the problem.
Thanks for your views.
Kev

Originally Posted by kaharrison9

Cheers for thoughts,
Have checked out the tiles and they are already sealed and am planning to prime the floor mainly to keep down the dust using Bal bond SBR.
As for the Bal PTB flexi the Bal rep did say as Grumpy mentioned it would give a very good coverage to a 500mm tile.
Checked the prices i could get the adhesives for today at trade and the Bal rapid set is £15.99 and the PTB is £26.00 so quite a differance.So am feeling inclined to go with the rapid set if using bal.Read the info on the mapei sounds ideal but very inexperienced so will look it up first.Is it usually around the same price as rapid set and any ideas who stock it?
Finally was practising on the rough garage floor today with a cheaper Topps adhesive,was using a half rounded 20mm wide and 10mm deep trowel and only getting about a 50% coverage.Is it my techniquethe floor or the addy that may be the problem.
Thanks for your views.
Kev

The floor and the addy if the floor is bumpy being concrete you may need PTB but bal is far to expensive the tec dept are correct if its polished concrete but i doubt it is but you may need to prime if its to porous but not with neat SBR :Pete