Hi, a novice DIY tiler here.

A couple of years ago I tiled the upstairs bathroom floor using large ceramic tiles and adh for wooden floors. Over time one or two of the tiles became loose, and one cracked, so today I decided to sort them out.

So, it turned out that all of the tiles were loose: not one was actually fixed to the floor, as the adhesive hadn't bonded to the floor, they were just held in place by the grout.

The house is about 9 years old and the floor is made from sheets of some sort of board, with a black waterproof coating. Is that why the adhesive didn't stick do you think? What sort of adhesive should I use? Also, is there an easy way to clean up the backs of the tiles so I can reuse them?

What was supposed to be a 2 hour job, looks like it's now a lot bigger!

Thanks for any advice, Nige.

Not sure what the "black" coating is. The correct adhesive will be a cement based powder adhesive. If you floor is solid - no bouce - then my advice would be to overlay the floor with 6mm hardiebacker Tile backer board and then tile onto this. Use a fexible cement based adhesive NOT TUBBED stuff.

You may get away with cleaning the back of the tiles if you used a tubbed adhesive originally but will need to soak them in water for a time first and the scrape it off. Not an easy or quick job! maybe better to bite the bullet and get some new ones.

Welcome to the forums by the way, thanks for joining us.

Mmm, Hi Nige and to the forums.

Well need to know what the black coating is, is it a sheet / roll, painted on etc, as much info as possible, as Grumpy has said, well need to know the condition of the floor in terms of movement, it would seem that there is movement and this is possibly why one has cracked. As for cleaning the old tiles, if you have the time, an angle grinder will take of the old adhesive, wear eye protection, don't 'alf sting if you don't

Hope that helps, fire away with any more questions

Thanks Grumpygrouter and Alan P for your thoughts. The floor is pretty solid - it's made up of sheets of high density chipboard, about 20mm thick, and as I mentioned it has this black coating on the top, actually bonded to the boards, not a seperate sheet laid on top. I assumed it was to waterproof the boards, as it's a bathroom, but looking elsewhere, the same board has been used throughout the upstairs, so now I'm not sure.

I really need to get this done today, as I'm off on hols at the end of the week and so spending hours getting the tiles usable again is really not an option. Looks like I'll be looking for some alternative floor covering (lino?) for a stop gap until I can spend the time and money to do this properly.

Thanks guys,

Nige.

why dont you pay a pro/tiler to do the job while your away, and save the stress mate

Hmmm, if only....

Im wondering if the floor is the same as the ones they use in timber frame houses although they are normally grey it is to keep them waterproof while the house is being built and not yet water tight? maybe the adhesive has made it go black? or just a different make but does the same job?? just might be???

Yes, that could be it - this is a timber framed house.

Originally Posted by fatboy686

Yes, that could be it - this is a timber framed house.

If it is the boards i think they are,(sorry forgotten what there called) then the adhesive will not bond to them(go look at some at your builders merchants and they will tell you what they are called) I have phoned the adhesive manufacturer about these boards before and they dont guarantee there adhesives to be laid direct to these boards.
I have overboarded them and then tiled, hope this helps

OK, Thanks to everyone who's replied. I have bare boards in the bathroom right now, so the wife will have to grin and bear it for a few days. Then, when we're back from hols I'll overboard and retile with some new tiles.

Thanks again,
Nige.