Hi

First time post here, but not first time tiling as always do my own.

I was looking for tiles for my bathroom and when passing Fired Earth I thought I'd look just for udeas, but there was a sale on.

Yesterday I bought their Urban Slate (grey) 400mmx 400mm floor tiles. £15/m2 was pretty good. I need 6m2.

They have added 2 x 20kg 'Grey floor adhesive - fast set', and 20kg 'limestone grout'. I think the use BAL materials re-badged.

I called them just now to ask whether it will be ok with underfloor heating - they said it should be. But they then suggested I add 'a flexi bond' as it is going on plywood (on top of chip board).

Would anyone on here be prepared to tell me whether these seem like sensible adhesive/grout, and what sort of 'flexi-bond' I should get to add to the adhesive (and the grout?).

Thanks in anticipation

Shona

Before adhesive companies made flexible adhesives for wood substrates you had to add a flexible admix to the adhesive and grouts. Biscem did a product called Flexi Bond.
You will have to tell us which adhesive they have sold to you for the UFH and a plywood floor before we could advise its suitability.
£90-00 for Fired Earth slate - sounds a good deal.
No doubt the adhesive and grout were expensive!

Timeless John.

Thanks John. I just rang their technical people and asked them to tell me the name etc of the adhesive and grout, but all they could say is that it is BAL - they don't know which BAL product it equates too, however.

Fired Earth Grey Floor Adhesive - 'fast set' - he says it has 'some flexibility' but they'd advise adding Fired Earth's 'flexi bond' to go on a wooden floor.

and Fired Earth Limestone Grout (there does seem to be a BAL flexible Limeston grout so it could be that.

The price wasn't too bad - I thought, but the alternative is I cancel the adhesive/grout from them and order it separately.
Hmm - what do you think?
thanks

If you are not sure of the materials you are using, i would cancl the order, and go to a proper tile shop for the materias, ie tile giant as they do need to be flexilbe

I think Phil is right!
If they can not give you a flexible fast set grey adhesive and limestone grout - I'd cancel and go to a tile supplier who will.
Mapei have some good adhesives and grouts and if we know where you are based someone will tell you a supplier.
One thing to note however - Fired Earth limestone grout is a particular 'look' and if that is your choice stick with it.
Did they supply you with a book/notes on fixing the slate ref : sealing etc.
If not come back with more questions!.


Timeless John.

You need to know what you are doing when adding additives to adhesives....my advice is to get a single part adhesive that you simply add water....but this also depends upon the strength of the substrate and how thick your over boarding is.?

I found this link which shows a table at the end with when you need to add the flexi bond etc.
But perhaps I should just tell them to forget the adhesive/grout and start from 'scratch' with eg BAL. I'll probably end up with the same stuff!!
Shona

As dave say's you do have to be careful when adding additives to adhesive, if you let us know where abouts in the country you are we could point you to a shop whereyou can get the proper addisive for the job, without worrying if what you have got, is right or not

Originally Posted by Dave

You need to know what you are doing when adding additives to adhesives....my advice is to get a single part adhesive that you simply add water....but this also depends upon the strength of the substrate and how thick your over boarding is.?

Sorry
forgot to say it is 12 mm marine ply

it all sounds "hit and miss" from Fired Earth, you'd have thought that they would have info readily available with regards to what they're selling. Personally I'd get my adhesive where stockists know what they're selling

I've just read Dan#'s post on adhesives from here and he's suggesting a 2 part addy would be needed for a chipboard floor with ufh. Am I understanding that right?

All this and I haven't even got onto the walls yet which I will actually need to do sooner (though if I'm going to cancel the stuff from FE I better do that quick).
I've bought 300x600 matt white tiles and slate mosaic so need to figure out what addy etc to use for them and whether I need to prime plasterboard for the shower or even use eg nomoreply - any advice gratefully received.

For reference, my local fired earth sells Dunlop adhesive.

Asked this question over a year ago http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/tile-a...other-bag.html

Originally Posted by grovetile

Thanks John. I just rang their technical people and asked them to tell me the name etc of the adhesive and grout, but all they could say is that it is BAL - they don't know which BAL product it equates too, however.

Fired Earth Grey Floor Adhesive - 'fast set' - he says it has 'some flexibility' but they'd advise adding Fired Earth's 'flexi bond' to go on a wooden floor.

and Fired Earth Limestone Grout (there does seem to be a BAL flexible Limeston grout so it could be that.

The price wasn't too bad - I thought, but the alternative is I cancel the adhesive/grout from them and order it separately.
Hmm - what do you think?
thanks

this means NO, abandon their adhesive and go to a tile shop