I was recently asked to tile a kitchen worktop. When I arrived the customer refused to let me work with tile adhesive and insisted that if I was to do the job I must use silicon sealant (such as 'no more nails') to apply the tiles. Bewildered by this request i declined the job. I have only started tiling recently and was under the impression that only tile adhesive would work, but could I actually use silicon to apply tiles? Please help because now I'm banging my head against the wall.

no way mate,i wouldn't touch this guy with a bargepole if this is his idea of tiling!

Glad you walked mate! You were right, they were wrong.

WHHHAAATTTTT!!!!

Mind you I have a row of tiles in my bathroom that are stuck on a timber shelf with silicone sealant - solid as a rock they are.

Silicone will stick tiles, but I would never advise it to a customer. Silicone will allow alot of movement, the chances are the grouting will crack

I think you do the right think by declining the job

We use silicone to display tiles in our shop, they are only on for a short period of time

It depends what tile adhesive you took to do the job!
Obviously the customer thought they knew more than you on how to do it!
At least you walked before you got yourself into bother!
On the forum you will be able to ask the questions and get a variety of answers.

Timeless John.

Thanks for quick reply cause like I said I'm just starting out and wouldn't like to have been tempted to try it next time

Originally Posted by cerebrus

I was recently asked to tile a kitchen worktop. When I arrived the customer refused to let me work with tile adhesive and insisted that if I was to do the job I must use silicon sealant (such as 'no more nails') to apply the tiles. Bewildered by this request i declined the job. I have only started tiling recently and was under the impression that only tile adhesive would work, but could I actually use silicon to apply tiles? Please help because now I'm banging my head against the wall.

wonder if he's going to epoxy grout or plasticine?

Originally Posted by faithhealer

wonder if he's going to epoxy grout or plasticine?

very droll John..lol

customers know best,didnt you know that.

no more nails is not a silicone but an adhesive not the right adhesive for sticking tiles other than for displays

no way!

Walking away was right thing to do mate , as this would only have come back on you and bit yer bum bigstyle i reckon, customer is right untill it fails then you should have known better ( sorry what disclaimer are you talking about son). Right move let some cowboy do it for them it's probably what the would use anyway.

Out of interest..what adhesive did you intend to use..? type..

No more nails would definitely stick the tiles down, but i'd be concerned about all the voids, as you wouldn't aim for total coverage with that stuff. It'd be fine til they dropped something on the side, then tiles would start cracking imo. You definitely made the right choice walking away, but next time you can give them a reason why it could be a problem, and why you aren't prepaired to risk your reputation on it.

Was planning on using Bal Rapidset from Topps Tiles but if you think otherwise please let me know